How to Find & Work with Critique Partners (CPs)

[@absolutelycitron1580]

I would love to see a 2024 version of this video

[@gingerreadslainey]

I feel like I just came out of a cave because I've been binging your videos for the past 3 days at work. Your videos are so so informative and I love them, Alexa. And you're so well spoken with all these topics. Can't wait to watch future videos!

[@telekineticguineapig7419]

My favorite mismatch was a guy who read the whole first 10/30 chapters and gave me a very passionate and long lecture about how he reads action novels and I should make my novel into an action novel... then when you try to say that's just not what you're writing they get upset that you won't take "constructive criticism." I've had someone tell me before that they're "just not into" what I'm writing and I actually appreciate those people. It's a bit of a harsher way of saying no but I appreciated the honesty of "This just isn't the type of thing that I would read so I'm not the right person to give you feedback."

[@emilykbee6601]

It's good to know that "hit and run" critiques happen to other people too! It's happened to me a couple of times over the years and it made me feel awful for weeks after, but I try to remember it's part of the process. In some cases I think people over commit to swaps and end up feeling overwhelmed and not responding. Overall my experience with critique partners has been really positive :-)

[@MandiLynnWrites]

I loved my critique partner for my first novel, definitely going to use your tips to find another great partner!

[@cemo255]

I've been binge watching your videos lately. They're all so good! Thank you!

[@amazonorchid1321]

Thank you for this, Alexa. I've been part of a writing group for a long time now, and I'm just now feeling comfortable with sharing my work with a couple of the people in the group. However, their reactions to my work were immature, in my opinion. Their comments ran along the lines of "I don't like this character" or "this isn't my genre", and didnt offer any in-depth comments. I thought if people offered to be a CP, they would be open-minded to any genre, and would focus on critiquing the work objectively. With this video, I now know that it's as hard to find a good critique partner as it is to find a good friend. Thanks!

[@vanyadolly]

I got really lucky with my camp nano cabin and made good writing friends there. There are usually cabins forming on the forums where you might be able to find people who have a better chance of suiting your writing than if you're randomly sorted.

[@TheEccentricRaven]

You've given some of the best writing advice on KZbin ❤

[@tometimetea6621]

This it such an amazing resource thank you. I really want to get my current work in progress ready to send for queries but I had no idea where to start to find good CP’s.

[@casscutting1573]

The timing for this video could not have been any better. Thank you Alexa. I am currently trying to find a CP so this is a huge help :D

[@AlexaDonne]

Just saw this come up on Twitter! writersblockpartyblog.com/2018/01/11/wbps-critique-partner-match-up/

[@savannahray9507]

I found this video and the resources listed INCREDIBLY helpful :) Thank you!

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

So helpful! I'm on the hunt right now and am using these tips with a partner. Thank you!!!

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

@TheRebels_Live Ya sci fi (novel WIP) and ya contemporary short stories. How about you?

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

@TheRebels_Live ditto, thanks!

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

@TheRebels_Live sorry I haven't sent anything, yet. I'm doing a 24 hour readathon! Haha. [e-mail]

[@pippajackson3027]

Thanks for this. I've heard of beta readers before, but not critique partners. I'm happy to have resources like the ones you mentioned--even though the process of integrating into so many new (to me) communities is a bit daunting. But I was recently reminded of why it's so necessary. I posted two short blurb-sized stories for my friends and family on social media. Half (Maybe more than half 0_o) of them misunderstood and thought the first story resulted in the second. But they weren't! haha Anyway... it was a reminder that sometimes what I write makes sense to me, but not to an audience. And having a few people run into the same conclusions is a red-flag that things have to be clarified...

[@olivia_simone]

I’ve been learning this with my academic writing! The leaps in logic make sense in my brain but I end up confusing everyone that reads it 😂😅

[@wulfhshado]

Just discovered you. Love your videos. Thank you. Are these sources still available or would you update them for 2022 as some of them are now closed.

[@Supvia]

German here! Where can I find German critique partners? Falls das hier noch andere Deutsche lesen: Kennt ihr eine Plattform für Kritikpartner? Die im Video genannten treffen wohl eher auf englische Autoren zu. Ich hab es mal mit einer Facebook-Autoren-Gruppe versucht, aber bin gescheitert.

[@renab.7390]

Suchst du CPs für deutschsprachische Werke oder schreibst du auf Englisch? Bei Ersterem würde ich an deiner Stelle nach deutschsprachigen Seiten und lokalen Schriftstellergruppen oder entsprechenden Facebook/Twittergruppen Ausschau halten (passende Schlagwörter googlen).

[@Supvia]

@@renab.7390 Danke dir für deine Antwort! Inzwischen habe ich Kritikpartner gefunden für meine deutschen Texte. Es gibt eine Gruppe „Testleser gesucht“ auf Facebook, aber auf Instagram war ich bisher am erfolgreichsten 😊 Welche Hashtags werden denn vor allem auf Twitter in der deutschen Autorencommunity verwendet? Irgendwie habe ich Twitter nicht so wirklich durchschaut ...

[@renab.7390]

@@Supvia Das weiß ich leider auch nicht, bin nicht auf Twitter und schreibe auf Englisch. 😅 Aber ich freue mich, dass du CPs gefunden hast. 👍😁

[@AuthorBrittanyWang]

Thanks for always being so detailed and practical in your advice Alexa!! ❤️ I think this is probably the most helpful CP how-to-video I’ve seen so far! I’d love to see the subsequent videos you mentioned at the end too. Did you already make them or are they still to come? Thanks again!! 😁

[@AlexaDonne]

I did! I have a playlist with all the videos that relate to editing (which will grow this summer!): kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnTIiYN8ZriGZ5I

[@arceydear7078]

Thank you so much for this I never thought about looking for a critique partner online. I was looking for the library writers groups, but wasn't sure how it worked. I have finished the book and wanted to get some feed back. Do you think there is any danger of just connecting with a random stranger on line? Are there some safety cautions, ie they stealing your work ect? thank you for all your help I listen to your vlogs and love ALL your help you give :)

[@ibidun6985]

Thanks for the tips.

[@עדיעקיבא-ד4ו]

I give brutal honesty, mostly negative feedback. I don't see the point of dwelling on something that works, unless it absolutely shines. But I warn my victims up front, and give them a sample feedback, and a chance to flee.

[@olivia_simone]

Bless you for this video!!

[@heidsterzsoups2133]

I hate to sound paranoid, but how worried should I be about my work being stolen by anyone I meet during the critiquing and publishing process? How can I protect my work while still putting it out there for feedback?

[@laszlob1294]

cool. Cold contacts: sound good. I will try the 'elevator pitch'. Second tip: offer help to get help. When did this not work? ;)

[@rachelcoughlin894]

This video was very helpful for me because I've been struggling with figuring out how to find critique partners and the first time I found one, who happened to also be my friend, stopping critiquing my book after the eighth chapter, even though she was enjoying it. I'm getting that book published now and for the second book, I want to find good critique partners who can help me get better, but I'm worried that I won't receive the critiques I need if they haven't read the first book, since the second books follows the first book. Can I still have people critique the second book if they haven't read the first one?

[@INKNOTBLOOD]

This video was EXTREMELY helpful! Thank you for the quality content!

[@Blastarr1]

How to do you feel about MeetUp groups for finding Critique partners?

[@icyangel13]

I LOVE YOUR EYESHADOW! WHERE DID YOU GET IT?? Also, great video!!

[@AlexaDonne]

It's been such a long time that I don't remember BUT looking at it... my best guess is that that is Colourpop Supershock shadows, specifically Twitterpated. It was my go-to rose gold shimmer in fall 2018, so that's your best bet!

[@icyangel13]

@@AlexaDonne thanks so much for the reply, will have a look!! I love your channel

[@KatharineFrancis]

I always tell people to RIP my chapters apart. I want the honest truth so the book can be the best it can be. And if said in the right way it doesn't have to feel like a dream crusher comment. It's hard to find CPs that will do this for me. They give nothing but positive stuff. So I don't know if they just don't want to be mean or if they actually think its good but I'm stuck in my head thinking that it isn't good. Haha

[@KatharineFrancis]

@Gargi C what kind of books do you write?

[@olivierballou392]

You should link this video in your original critique partners video.

[@clifforddean232]

I am so skeptic about having a CP, I am afraid of my ideas being stolen. I am my best critique.

[@PhuongHoang-gu6gz]

I am not English writer and crying right here. T.T Those sound great.

[@johnnam1380]

Okay but..........how do you break up with a critique partner? 😅

[@CanaryQuillAstrology]

I joined a club, where once a week we bring in what we worked on, and everybody gives everyone feedback on it. I like it a lot. I do the compliment sandwich, and write in little comments on what made me laugh, and what little things I liked best. And instead of telling people I didn't like something, or to scrap an aspect of their story, I encourage them to take it out and pin it for later (a more appropriate scene, or a different story altogether). I also made myself a Scene Checklist, to help go over everything and make sure that there is tension, conflict, motivation, etc. It's a lot of fun. :D

[@LindsayPuckett]

Bless you for the links ❤️ your girl is floundering lol

[@AlexaDonne]

This just came up today! writersblockpartyblog.com/2018/01/11/wbps-critique-partner-match-up/

[@LindsayPuckett]

Yes! I'm filling out my info for it tonight! :D

[@pinkypinks4336]

HELP! S.O.S! Mayday! Lol. I'm currently critiquing a chapter of someone's work, and holy cow. Literally, every sentence, is a steaming gumbo of terrible grammar and bizarre word choices. This person is writing on an elementary level. I've written two pages of notes just to tell them what needs to be corrected regarding THE FIRST FOUR SENTENCES! I don't know how or what to tell them. For example, "On the ceiling hung a many beautiful grand candelabra chandeliers." And, yes, English is (believe it or not) their first language. I'm wasting my time, but I also don't want to discourage them from writing and growing.

[@AlexaDonne]

I would reply politely that you're finding their work needs a higher level of editing on a sentence level than you had anticipated, and thus you are not a good fit. You can recommend to them they seek out writing resources, such as my channel (and any other Authortubers who do 101 grammar/usage/craft), to help them with self-editing--which is probably the only polite way to say someone is at a 101 level and needs to do more work until they are ready for CPs. You can offer some small hints, such as some issues with word choice (they probably mean very instead of many, but that they didn't land on very is... troubling; though to that end they should probably read up on overuse of adverbs and adjectives, as well), and redundancy (candelabra chandeliers). I like to say to some newer writers that less can be more, and not to use a $1 word where a 1 cent word would do. That might give them a place to start?

[@pinkypinks4336]

@@AlexaDonne Brilliant, as always. Thank you. ❤

[@pinkypinks4336]

I wanted to post specifically how I'm handling this, just in case someone else runs into this issue. So, I broke down their first paragraph, sentence by sentence. For each sentence, I told them, basically per word, why that was a bad choice. I also provided a sample of how I would write it. After that, I only gave generalized notes, paragraph by paragraph. Check grammer, repetitive wording, timeline issue, ect... Taking Alexa's advice, I (gently) told them that their work really isn't ready to be checked by a CP. Based on the errors I found in their work, I provided links to some KZbin videos, along with some other online resources. Hopefully, this person will try and correct their own problems. Otherwise, they really can't be helped.

[@LauraPalmerD]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

[@golfertex]

I think mentor -protégé is a better term.

[@CharlieHorse4363]

What's the difference between a critique partner and a beta reader?

[@ronaldgarrison8478]

The drewaded double-is, at 6:41. Grrr...

[@ronaldgarrison8478]

Oops, dreaded...

[@Angel-gd2sj]

I'm here because I've just had a bad cp experience.

[@antimatters6283]

"Find writers at the same level as you. If you are new, find new writers" is terrible advice. Instead, find people who are better, more experienced, know more, so you can get the best advice and learn from them. The last thing you want is to take advice from someone who isn't good, an expert, highly experienced. And that is the crux of the problem: why take advice in a video from someone who isn't top level, highly experienced?

[@AlexaDonne]

But why would a highly experienced writer want to take on a novice? Mismatched experience levels don't make good critique partnerships/exchanges. If you want to learn from someone experienced, that's mentorship, and that's labor on the part of the more experienced author. You have to seek out and earn a spot (or pay for) that kind of mentorship. I do mentor writers, but I would never CP a novice. Also... so tell me how many books have you published? My 5th book will be published by Penguin Random House next year. I believe I'm pretty damn experienced, but you do you.

[@johnmcdonald6742]

Sweet! Time to look up CP on Twitter! EDIT: Don't look up CP on Twitter. It's not what you think...