Do you need a critique partner?

Here's how to write your novel with a little support along the way.

There are many ways to approach critiquing, with marked differences compared to beta reading (although the terms are sometimes interchanged). While beta readers can be pure readers or simply friends or fans, you and your critique partner(s) should all be writers who understand the good (and not-so-good) that comes with the job. 

Writers in general want to help other writers, and there are plenty of resources to help you find each other.

Finding the right critique partner can be a game changer. 

Where to find critique partners

If you are a member of writing communities or associations, look for critiquing calls and invitations. You can also find formalized writing groups across the country, possibly in your local city or accessible online. The library and local book stores are also great places to start looking.

Social media offers another way to build your online community and meet writers in and out of your genre. It’s also a great way to build rapport and find people who are looking for someone to critique their work and vice versa. 

Bianca Marais, co-host of the popular podcast The Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing, hosts frequent beta reader match ups where writers pay a nominal fee to be matched with a small group for reading and critiquing. This is usually done by genre, and you don’t need a complete story to join. 

Why you should find critique partners

Having an early reading and critiquing partner or group comes with benefits, such as giving you opportunities to make changes and catching tricky plot holes before they become too big of a problem. Critique partners are also great at pointing out bad writing habits or turns of phrase you use too frequently. 

Having other writers available to help when you have questions or a writing dilemma can also be incredibly valuable.

Getting started

Together as a group or in partnership, you and your critique partners need to decide how you want to organize your meetings and distribute comments. 

Also, agree on your critiquing approach (are you only considering scenes holistically or looking at individual lines?) and communicate timelines and expectations in advance. Will you submit a certain number of words and/or chapters at a time? Will you review revisions face-to-face or between meetings?

Finally, don't forget to encourage each other as you go. Writers support writers, but writers also understand writers. Our feelings of discouragement, frustration, and sticking points can be managed, worked through, and celebrated with the right encouragement. 

TIP: 

Use StoryBilder to draft your novel, then download your work in total or by scene to share with your group!

Ready to learn how to be a great critique partner? Read our blog post: Tips for Critiquing.