How to choose a *fabulous* critique partner
Hey. Psshhh. You. The writer without a critique partner (CP). Maybe you don’t know how to find one. Maybe it’s hard to trust someone else with your precious words. Maybe you’re feeling left out, like everyone else seemingly already has CPs they adore and mesh with. Possibly, you’re feeling desperate to partner with someone, *anyone* who’s willing to read your stuff. This post is for you.
This post is also for those of you who have possibly been working with someone/s, but you’re not getting that Goldilocks feeling just yet, i.e., the work with your critique partner/s feels too hot, too cold, too big, too small. Not quite “just right.”
If you want to succeed as a writer, having a CP is vital, but you’ve gotta be savvy about it. Finding a good CP is like dating–sometimes you have to experiment with a few to find the one you want to stay with. Give yourself permission to be selective about who you choose to invest your time in and who you let guide your work.
To aid your in your CP-finding process, here’s a series of questions to ask yourself (using “she” pronoun for sake of brevity, but men and non-binary folks of course make excellent CPs, too):
1) Do I like and see potential in her writing? (Because you’re going to be reading a lot of it, and you need to be working with someone whose work you believe in.)
2) Does she offer a balance of challenge and support? (You need both.)
3) Does she get my jokes/is she able to banter with me when we chat? (If she can’t, she’s not going to be able to help with the dialogue you write, either.)
4) Do our expectations line up? e.g., Can I read and revise at the pace she desires (and vice versa), does my style of editing match her needs, etc.?
5) Do we write in the same genre? (Working with those who write at least something close to what you write is a help.)
6) Does she READ in your genre? (Seriously: you have to read your genre to effectively write OR CP that genre.)
7) Do we have similar goals? (Again, not a dealbreaker, but this is useful in pushing each other.)
8) Do I feel worse or better after I chat with her about my work? (NOTE: sometimes feedback is hard and I’m not saying you need to feel amazing about it all the time. BUT, if you consistently feel down on yourself or not understood after receiving feedback, or consistently feel like CP is rejecting your feedback, it’s possible your CP isn’t a good fit for you).
9) Do I see myself growing as a writer through our work together? (THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT)
I can give enthusiastic YES answers to all of the above in regards to my CPs, who I admire and implicitly trust with my writing (and more–I’m so close with these ladies that I can say, with no hyperbole, that I love them). Find yourself someone who makes you grow like Laura Taylor Namey and Joan F. Smith have done for me.
What other factors help you choose? What factors are deal breakers for you? What do you LOVE about working with your CP? Comment below, let’s start a conversation!
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For more on my lovely and talented critique partners:
https://lauranamey.wpengine.com/
https://joanfsmithbooks.com/