The Best Thing About Having Critique Partners

With the upcoming release of my novel, Impossible, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how I got to the end product and about everyone who helped me in some way to reach my end goal. There are so many people I want to thank, but most of all my critique partners, Erica and Michelle.

If you’re a writer, then having a great critique partner is extremely valuable. A good critique partner is someone who has a great eye, can help you find your mistakes, and will give you feedback that will improve your story.

A GREAT critique partner does all that and MORE. Wait, there’s more? There sure is! A great critique partner “gets” your writing style and what you’re trying to do with the story even if it’s not quite there yet. A great critique partner is invested in your story and believes in your characters. A great critique partner laughs at your jokes (yes, this is a requirement), shares book boyfriends with you and listens to you while you vent about your bad day.

I am lucky enough to have not one, but TWO great critique partners.

You’re probably wondering, “Where do I find myself a great critique partner?” Well, there isn’t one answer for that. Your critique partner could be a family member, a friend, another writer or someone who lives halfway across the world who you’ve never met before. It could be anyone really.

I honestly can’t remember how I met Michelle. I just remember finding her blog one day, almost two years ago, and then never leaving. Or maybe Michelle found me? Since Day One, Michelle has believed in my WIP. It took over a year before she read ANY of my work. Now that’s dedication. When I was having doubts about my story, Michelle said to me, “Get over it.” Tough love? Yes, but it made me realise that I needed to be more confident about my work. That was the best advice anyone has ever given me and I remind myself that whenever I start having doubts.

You will never believe how I found Erica. Look up at the top of the blog. See that button that says “Next Blog”? When you click on it, it will send you to a completely random blog. Every single time. Completely RANDOM. One day, I clicked it. I found a blog where a mommy of three sometimes reviewed books in between blogging about her adorable children. That’s how I found Erica. The thought scares me that I could NOT have found her if I’d never clicked that button. I email Erica every day, so I can’t imagine what it would be like not knowing her.

Guys, what I’m saying is that above everything else, a great critique partner should be your friend. Someone you can talk to you when you’re at your lowest and someone who is able to help you be the best that you can be.

So, what are you waiting for? Click that “Next Blog” button. Who knows who you could meet?