Even if you’re Jane Austen reincarnate, you’re going to need reader feedback before you start querying your manuscript. It’s pretty common knowledge. Authors are just too close to the text to step back and get a fresh take, and critique partners are one of the oldest strategies for novel development. But before you assume it’s the right choice for you, you should know everything you’re getting into. So, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to seeking a critique partner:
Critique Partner Pros
We are not here to bash on authors who chose to work with critique partners over hiring an editor. There are a lot of good reasons to do it! Here are some of the bigs:
Take Part in a Longstanding Tradition
There is a long history of authors trading their work to sharpen each other’s abilities that goes back as far as history itself, and it’s clear why. Drafting, editing, querying—there aren’t many easy parts to the writer’s journey, and having an author you know and trust by your side as a system of support is a great way to encourage yourself to keep at it when things get hard and give you a place to consider for questions when they arise.
Fewer Monetary Costs
Probably one of the most common reasons authors take on critique partners after the tradition is because other options cost money! Being a critique partner is going to cost you as well, but if money is the resource you find yourself most tight on, it can be a real relieving way to get insight from a reader.
Learn From Others’ Mistakes
When you’re a critique partner, information is not just incoming. It’s flowing outward as well. You’re going to be reading for other authors, but every reading comes with an opportunity for growth as well. When you see authors doing something that doesn’t strike a chord with you as a reader, you have the opportunity to use it as inspiration to write your own version where a different narrative choice is made.
Give Back to the Writing Community
Being a critique partner is an act of service. It’s not something you’re doing to get paid, but being part of a community means making sacrifices to lift up everyone knowing they’ll do the same for you. It’s something you can feel good about and know that your insight is valuable when it comes to your turn to read for others.
Critique Partner Cons
Though there are many great things about having a good critique partner, there are some pitfalls you could come upon as well. Here’s what to watch out for:
Long Turnaround Times Possible
If you work with an editor, you’ll have an agreement on timeline and set expectations as to when you’ll receive your work back before getting started. This is standard because it’s a service you’re paying for. But when it comes to critique partners, that person is essentially volunteering their time to help you develop your story and give you a reader’s point of view. Not all critique partners will take a long time to return feedback, but if something in their lives gets in the way, your story is likely to be one of the first things they push back for a little while. The best way to mitigate this is by being as open and honest as you can about timelines from the very beginning. That way, no one’s feelings get hurt.
Pay in Time, Not Money
Not only are you more likely to wait to hear feedback on your story. You’re also going to need to put time and effort into someone else’s if you’re going to have a good critique partnership. A lot of authors are happy to do it, but for some, time is money and they’d rather pay with one over the other. Knowing where you stand before you get started can save a lot of heartbreak later on. And if you’re someone who would rather dish out the dough, we’d suggest reaching out to a professional to minimize other cons.
Uncertainty in Quality
Did you know Lord Byron and Mary Shelley were critique partners for each other? It’s clear they each got a lot out of each others’ insight, but not everyone is going to get someone as awesome as Mary Shelley to help them with their craft. Again, critique partnerships are a volunteering rite of passage for the writing community, but the best of the best can’t critique every book before it comes out, and you likely won’t know how useful their feedback will be until it’s over. If you’re looking for someone to vet and get samples from, hiring a professional beta reader can often be more reliable.
Less Impartiality
Critique partners have their own stories to edit, query, and publish. In many cases, you’re more likely to get a partner who is familiar with your genre if you’re writing for the same one, but that also mean they’re your competition to get a publishing deal. I’m a believer that a rising tide lifts all boats, but not everyone is. But even if they don’t feel competitive, they certainly have a manuscript for a story they absolutely love, and yours isn’t it. It’s not uncommon for partners to give biased advice without realizing it just because they think more stories should be like their own. After all, that’s why they wrote it!
The Possibility of Compromise
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for authors who want help on their writing journey, and thank goodness that’s the case. You have options if you find a tactic isn’t working and you need to take a new approach. You can still get published without a developmental editor, critique partner, fleet of beta readers, or proofreader if it doesn’t seem like the right choice for you.
It’s also okay to take part in several of those things along the way! Just knowing when you need help and the best options for you to take once you get there can be a huge relief. So, don’t feel stuck inside traditions or money traps. Your story will get there if you want it to so long as you keep following the next best choice for you.
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