What is a Critique Partner and How to Get One

A critique partner is someone you switch manuscripts, or any work with and you each critique and edit each others'. Even published authors have CPs! To keep it less bitter and more sweet,  I suggest being up front about what kind of critique you want. Whether it's a soft or hard critique. If you feel you'd get offended easily, then make sure to ask for a soft critique. I always ask for critical critiques, because an agent is going to be very critical, so it's a good idea to already have had someone who tore your work to pieces. (In a good way!)

NEVER  send your work out before having it critiqued by real CP. By real CP, I mean not your mom, sister, husband, best friend or brother unless they too, have writing experience. The best advice you can get is by another writer, who is writing in somewhat the same genre as you. Such as fiction, YA, maybe even fantasy. If you've never wrote a non-fiction adult book, then you probably wouldn't be much help critiquing it. And usually someone that has written a YA book has read a lot of YA books, so their advice should be pretty sound.

I say critique partners can be bittersweet because sometimes things can go a little bitter. I, thankfully, have not had this happen to me. As of right now, I have three critique partners that I adore. All three of them have been immensely helpful, and I hope I have been just as helpful! With all three of mine, we have critiques each others' queries, synops, and manuscripts. And I would not be where I am today had it not been for them. The great thing about CPs is you also build a relationship with them that makes you feel not so alone in the literary world. Yes, your family and friends may be super supportive, but if they aren't writers, they just don't get it. But with CPs, they are going through everything you are. You can compare your agent lists and switch great articles you've read. 

Best of all is celebrating when each others' manuscripts are fully critiqued and revised!

Before you send any work out to a CP, make sure they are legit. Check out any forums they belong to, check their posts, see if they have a query posted. Start by sending queries, then move on to chapter one. There's nothing worse than sending your whole manuscript to someone and then never hearing back from them. 

If you love reading and writing, you'll love having a CP. Not only do you get great help, you also get to read great books, and help polish them. It's a lot of fun! Just remember to be respectful, genuine, supportive!

Hi Dawn!!