I love my critique partner! Do you have one?

Nothing improves my writing like honest feedback.

Recently, I was able to get together with my critique partner in person. We committed to getting together once a month to read each other’s work, bounce ideas off each other, and yes, drink some wine.

My amazing critique partner writes stunning descriptions and settings. She paints masterpieces with words. When I hand her one of my crappy drafts, I ask her to rip it to pieces. I’d rather have her give me a harsh critique so I can fix the problems before my stories make it to the hands of readers. What I get back is honest feedback wrapped in hilarious comments.

For this get-together, we both had things we wanted to hash out. I have some world-building questions and problems I need to resolve. She’s working on plotting out a series of three books.

It’s so helpful to bounce ideas off each other, give each other a moral boost, and even just sit quietly and work in the same room. When my confidence is flagging, she’s there to cheer me on.

If you write and you don’t have a critique partner, I recommend you get one. It may take a few tries to find the right fit, but when you find them, it’s magic. Look for someone to read your work who has experience that you don’t. For example, I’m female, and I’m not always confident that I’ve portrayed my male characters in a masculine way. I have a male alpha reader to help me with that. More eyes on your manuscript can provide you with the feedback you need to elevate your writing.

If you love or hate your critique partner, leave me a comment. I’d love to hear about your experiences.

Happy writing!