~ CRITIQUE PARTNER ETIQUETTE ~

👉 Finding the right match

Critique partnerships are about reciprocation, which makes this relationship more comprehensive than a one-sided beta read. You will need to find someone who not only enjoys your style but who understands the subject matter. Select someone within your niche who knows the tropes of your trade.

For example: romance writers are expected to give their readers a happy ending but horror writers are not.

Choose a partner whose skills you admire. Take the time to evaluate their work and decide how committed they are to the craft. This might take the form of looking at the number of stories they've published/posted, how often they publish content, and what type of engagement they have with their audience.

👉 Be generous with your time, but spend it wisely

It takes time to do a thoughtful review of someone else's work. Agree on a realistic meeting schedule so both parties feel their time is respected. When you get someone's pages, you should read them at least twice: the first time to get a sense of the piece, then again to make margin notes. If possible, let a day or two go by to let your thoughts incubate before providing your final comments.

It will be helpful to decide ahead of time which areas each of you need help with. You probably know where your weaknesses lie, so convey this to your partner and ask them to keep an eye out for these things. Make a list of specifics to focus on, such as spelling, punctuation, overall plot, etc. And make your notes easy to digest. Either use Track Changes in Word or make your suggestions with comments in Google Docs. (See our chapter titled Critique Checklist for a helpful list topics to focus on with your partner.)

👉 When it's your turn to critique, start with the positives

Keep in mind that you are reviewing a work in progress, not a finished product. You are there to point out the good bits and the problems, and do it in a way that helps your partner improve so eventually they will notice these things for themselves.

If you've enjoyed a passage, try to stay away from words like "good" and "I liked it" because these don't explain why you enjoyed it. Be specific and give context, such as "This passage is strong. With just a few words, I feel as though I understand a lot about the main character's relationship with her mother."

The sandwich method is a long-trusted technique used when tact is needed to communicate difficult feedback. You basically sandwich it between compliments. Start with a positive comment, follow this up with the potential problem you found, then finish with words of praise.

For example: "This character has a great perspective on the conflict, however they are not the POV character in this chapter, so the transition to their POV took me out of the scene for a moment. You may want to take some time to decide which character's POV would be best for this chapter and use them, as I feel you have included a very interesting plot point here."

👉 Deliver your comments as suggestions, not judgments

Be clear and direct, and don't apologize for your interpretations, but keep a healthy measure of humility. Use your inner filter first before sharing feedback, and think how it might land on you if you were receiving it.

The objective is to offer helpful suggestions. It is up to your partner to choose whether they use your suggestions as they revise their work. Don't get too attached to your opinions, and keep a light hand. Just like you, your partner hopes to leave the session with a sense of "Aha!" — not "Oh, no!"

👉 Empathize with restraint, celebrate with abandon

We all know that writing is hard, and we've chosen to do it anyway. But beware of lengthy bitch fests or sour rants on the unfairness of the industry, the fickleness of the reading public, or how Amazon has ruined everything (it hasn't). Past a certain point, kvetching becomes a drag on your spirits. It's important to offer compassion, but spin it to encouragement as soon as possible.

On the other hand, when a crit partner has some success: a story published, a call from their dream agent, or the big one — a book deal, stifle that little green voice of envy and get busy popping the champagne corks. You are part of that writer's success, after all. It may be your name in their acknowledgment section one day, and you can hit them up for a blurb for your back cover when it's your turn.

👉 Stick to agreed upon deadlines

Treat your critique partner as you would want to be treated. Once you establish a turnaround time for feedback, make it a priority to meet that commitment, and if you can't, let them know right away. Again, this comes back to the matter of time and respect. Both are precious. If handled in the right way, a crit partner can stay with you for a lifetime, and a relationship like that is precious indeed.

~ CRITIQUE CHECKLIST ~

These checklist questions can be applied to the entire story for an overall critique, or they can be applied to each chapter for a more detailed critique.

📌Beginning, Middle and End

Does the first chapter have a strong opening?

Is the first sentence snappy and intriguing?

Do you get a sense of place and point of view within the first few paragraphs?

Does each chapter further the plot and stay on point?

Does each chapter close on a cliff hanger or ask a question that needs to be answered?

Is the end of the story satisfying and related to the plot?

📌Conflict and Tension

Does the chapter contain conflict, either physical or emotional?

Is the conflict plausible?

Does the conflict appear to forward the plot or is it just thrown in for excitement?

If not conflict, is there tension within the chapter?

📌Setting

How well is the setting described? Does it draw you in?

Is there too much description or too little?

Does the setting fit the mood of the chapter and serve the plot?

📌Characterization

Are you finding each character to be distinct? If so, explain what you like. If not, explain who might share too many similarities.

Are the characters' backstories being continually developed?

Is the protagonist(s) clearly represented as the main driver of the plot? Are they exhibiting growth and change as the story progresses? What is the protagonist's role in the climax?

Are there too many characters in the chapter? Is it difficult to keep track of them?

Are the characters interesting? What makes them interesting or not interesting?

Are they plausible and behave according to their backstories? What makes them plausible or not plausible?

Is there too much or not enough description of the characters? Is the description shown from the eyes of other characters and not just "told" by the author to the reader?

Is there too much time spent on secondary characters without clear evidence of forwarding the plot or enriching the protagonist's story?

📌Dialogue

Does the dialogue sound realistic?

Does the dialogue appear to forward the plot?

Do the characters have unique ways of speaking to distinguish them? Does it fit their personality?

Is there too much dialogue? Is there not enough?

📌Point of View

Does the chapter stick to a single point of view? If so, does the voice remain consistent? Does the setting and mood fit the POV character?

If there are multiple points of view in the chapter, is there an easy and clear transition between characters?

📌Plot

Does the overall plot come across and continue through the chapters?

Are there subplots that work well with the main plot?

Is the setting and time frame consistent throughout?

Are the scenes strung together in a cohesive fashion? Do they forward the plot?

Is the plot interesting and engaging? Are the themes and issues relatable?

📌Showing versus Telling

Does the chapter do more telling than showing?

How many 'cheat' words are used? (saw, noticed, heard, felt, knew, realized, thought, believed, wondered, recognized, wished, seemed)

📌Voice

First, a few words about voice. Voice can relate to the author's voice or the character's voice. Author voice is the way the author narrates the story through the eyes of the character. Character voice is the way the character's behavior, thoughts, mannerisms, and dialogue are expressed in the story.

Does the voice of the author come through? Is it fresh and original? Or is it bland or forced?

Does the chapter have too many clichés or include overly complex words or sentences that don't fit the character, genre, theme, or target audience?

📌Pacing

Is the pace too slow? Does it make you want to skim? Why? Too much narration or dialogue? Has the storyline veered off topic?

Is the pace too fast? Are you looking for places where you can catch your breath and reflect?

Are you finding repetition, such as words the writer overuses? Or it could be that the emotional beats (revelations) of the MC are repeated in every chapter when this only needs to happen once or twice, max.

📌Sentence Variation

Are the passages rhythmic and easy to read?

Are there too many short sentences, making a thoughtful scene feel rushed?

Are there too many long sentences, slowing down the pace and action?

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