by Katie McCoach
Pairing up with a critique partner or group is very useful in strengthening your writing and getting an opinion on your work in progress before it’s published. Here’s the 101 on what you should know before you find and work with a critique partner:
It’s a partnership.
Working with a critique partner or group is a two way street. Be prepared to put in the same level of work and attention to their work as you expect them to give yours.
A partner should challenge you.
The point of working with a critique partner is to grow as a writer. A good critique partner will challenge you. Their job is to provide constructive criticism and be honest, even if you sometimes wish they weren’t. They are not there to only give you praise, because if that was the case then you would never know what you can do to be better. On that note, keep in mind if you are not willing to evaluate your work and make changes based on critiques you receive, then you aren’t ready for a partnership.
There needs to be trust and support.
In order for a partnership to work, there needs to be a level of trust and support. You should feel comfortable sending them your work. You trust their opinions, work ethic, and you trust that they want to see you succeed. They should root for you.
Establish expectations.
What genre do they write in and what do they like to read?
How often will you exchange? Will it be strict or more flexible?
Do sample critiques to determine the fit.
What level of critique are you looking for? What about them? If one partner is only looking for a basic gut reaction and the other wants detailed highlights, suggestions, and line notes then you two have a few things to talk about.
It’s impossible to please everyone.
You can’t possibly adhere to all the advice you receive. If you did that it wouldn’t be your story anymore! Be sure to take the advice that agrees to you, your story, your voice, and your goals. Leave the stuff that doesn’t work. A good critique partner will understand your choice, as long as you’ve given their advice the level of consideration it deserves. Remember, they want you to succeed.
Don’t ignore the masses.
To counteract the note above–if everyone who reads your work comes back to you and says the same thing, then it is more than just a pattern. It means there is an inherent flaw in your manuscript and something needs to change. If they all say your hero is rude and insensitive, but you want him to be caring and charmingly humble then it looks like you have some rewriting to do. Critique partners see what you don’t because this story may be all in your mind, but maybe not all of it is on the page.
Have you ever worked with a critique partner? What did you learn from it?
Katie McCoach is a freelance developmental book editor at KM Editorial and is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Editorial Freelancers Association. She wrote essays published in TrainWrite and Kalliope and is currently writing a contemporary romance novel. For advice on editing, writing, and publishing visit her blog.
A Writer's Path 
Reblogged this on J. B. Garner – Musings of a Starving Author and commented:
Having more people for beta reading and critiques is a vital thing.
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Excellent advice. Not sure I am advanced enough to engage with a partner for critiques, but this is great stuff to keep in mind for later on. 🙂 Having said that, I am always happy to consider advice when it comes my way. Very few good stories develop solely inside the vacuum of their own thoughts! 🙂
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Great advice!
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I hosted a writers’ group for several years, during which time members critiqued one another’s work. Two things are vital: 1) Finding people who are knowledgable about the craft; and 2) trusting that the critique partner or group is acting in your best interests.
If an author is looking for a general opinion about her story, she can pretty much give her manuscript to anyone. To hone one’s writing ability, however, requires critique partners with a bit more skill. I’d check with local writers’ groups first; it’s a good place to start.
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Very true. I have two writing groups, and they are great for understanding whatever strange new thing I am trying to do with my prose or characters. Their advice is wonderfully detailed and technical.
However, I also find that having two or three really good non-writer critiques is invaluable. My writing groups tend to be very understanding when I try hard things, which is great, but non-writers have less sympathy for how hard the strange thing was and will tell me flat out that the strange thing I tried didn’t work. They tend to give me my most brutal and most useful feedback.
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I need to get a good critique partner – thanks for the advice. I need a real sheepdog to control me – (loved the video).
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Reblogged this on A Writing Mama's Journal and commented:
Anyone looking for a critique partner? 🙂
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Reblogged this on B. Shaun Smith.
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Thanks for the reblog, B.
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Reblogged this on Books and More.
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I have belonged to a thriller fiction critique group for about eight years now. Because of the honest, thoughtful ideas they’ve put forth, I’ve been able to improve as a writer and story-teller. I’ve also learned to say things to partners in a way that is not threatening to them, so I’ve grown personally, too. They are the most influential aspect of my writing process.
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Reblogged this on adaratrosclair and commented:
Having a support system for writing is vital. This post helps to set realistic expectations in order for the process to go smoothly for both parties.
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Great suggestions. Too bad both partners don’t always believe the reality.
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I find it helps to get a partner with similar interests. Because if you send me twelve chapters of contemporary teen romance I may not be the best partner for you. But if you got a space opera then we’re good.
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