Finding and Working with Critique Partners and Groups

When writers ask me, “How do I know if my story is any good?” I always give them the same answer:

Send it to a critique partner.

As writers, we’re often too close to our stories to see them clearly. What feels perfectly obvious to us might be confusing to readers. Meanwhile, plot holes we fail to see are glaringly obvious to fresh eyes. (I could regale you with countless times this has happened to me, but don’t get me started!)

And that’s exactly why every writer needs at least one trusted person who can look at their story with fresh eyes and say, “This part isn’t working, but here’s what might.”

That’s what a critique partner or critique group does. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship where you take turns sharing your work and offering each other feedback. And it’s hands-down one of the best things you can do for our writing and your storytelling skills.

But not all critique partnerships are created equal, and just like in a dating app, not everyone is going to be the perfect match for you.

That’s why in this post, I’m sharing where to find critique partners and groups, what to look for in a good match, questions to ask potential partners to avoid headaches down the road, and a few golden rules for giving and receiving feedback to keep these relationships productive and long-lasting.

One caveat: If you’re working on a first draft, I recommend holding off on exchanging pages with any critique partners. (As I explain in my book Page One to Done, sharing your writing too early, when in its roughest and most vulnerable form can hurt your confidence and slow your momentum.) In my experience critique partners are most invaluable before writing (during the brainstorming stage) or while revising.

Where to Find Critique Partners

Online Critique Communities:

One of the best places to find critique partners is in online writing communities that are specifically built for exchanging feedback. Here are a few to explore:

Writing Mastery Community — My community of writers with a dedicated space for finding critique partners and beta readers. We also run a regular “Critique Partner Match-Up” program to help you connect with other committed writers who show up consistently, and who give the kind of feedback that actually makes your story better.
Critique Circle — A free peer critique community that’s been running since 2003. You earn credits by critiquing others’ work and use those credits to submit your own. A great system for keeping the exchange balanced.
Scribophile — An award-winning critique community with a similar points-based feedback system. Free and premium tiers available.
CritiqueMatch — A platform specifically designed to match writers with critique partners and beta readers. Free tier available, with paid plans for additional features.
Critters.org — A free, volunteer-run critique workshop that’s been going strong for 30 years. Specializes in science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
SCBWI — If you write for children or young adults, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has 22,000+ members with regional chapters that often run critique groups.

In Person:

Meetup.com — Search for writing or critique groups in your area.
Your local library — Many host free writing workshops and critique circles.
Local bookstores — Independent bookstores often host writing events where you can meet potential partners.
Writing conferences — Both virtual and in-person conferences are a great chance to network and connect with writers who might be a good critique match.

What to Look for in a Critique Partner/Group

Not every critique partnership is a good one. Before you commit, here are some things to consider:

Writing level – Try to find someone who’s roughly at the same stage as you, so you can grow together. Bonus: if your strengths complement each other’s weaknesses. For instance, if you’re great at plot but struggle with dialogue, find someone who can write witty banter all day long but needs help with structure.
Personality – You’re going to be sharing work that you’ve poured your heart into with this person. Make sure you actually like them and enjoy being around them. Personality compatibility is a huge piece of a successful critique partnership.
Goals – Your level of dedication and what you hope to get out of the relationship should match. If one person wants to talk seriously about craft and the other just wants to chat, someone’s going to leave frustrated.
Genre – You don’t have to write the same genre, but your critique partner should read and enjoy the genre you write. If you’re writing fantasy, you don’t want a partner who doesn’t read fantasy! (Sometimes it’s actually helpful to have a partner who reads widely in your genre but writes in a different one.)
Process – It’s easier to talk about plot when you both speak the same plotting language. (If you both use the Save the Cat! method, for example, that’s a built-in shorthand.) Not a requirement, but a nice bonus. (Hint: Members of my Writing Mastery Community get unlimited access to the same writing courses, which means you’re all learning the same methods and speaking the same language from day one!)
Critique style – Do you prefer the blunt truth or a little sugar coating? Do you need a “feedback sandwich” with a lot of padding on the outside, or do you just want the meat of it? (See below for more on “feedback sandwiches!”) Make sure your styles match, or at the very least, that you talk about this up front.
Timing and availability – How often can you realistically exchange work and give thoughtful feedback? Some partnerships do a chapter a week, others swap a set number of pages twice a month, and some only exchange full manuscripts when they’re ready. Anything goes! (As long as you agree.) Just be upfront about your bandwidth so neither of you ends up waiting around or feeling overwhelmed.

Questions to Ask Potential Critique Partners

Before you commit to a critique partnership, have a conversation. Here are some questions to help you figure out if it’s a good fit:

Where are you in your writing journey?
What are your current writing goals?
What are you looking for in a critique partner?
What do you think your strengths are as a writer? Your weaknesses?
When you read other people’s work, what things do you notice first?
What genre do you prefer to write in? What genres do you love to read?
What craft books do you swear by?
What writing courses have you taken that you found helpful?
How would you describe your writing process?
What writing tools do you live and die by?
How do you prefer to receive feedback?
How often would you like to exchange work? (Weekly, biweekly, monthly, or only when you have a finished draft?)
How quickly can you realistically read and turn around feedback? (while also working on your own pages!)

The Golden Rules of Giving and Receiving Feedback

This is where critique partnerships either thrive or fall apart. So it’s important to take the time to learn these rules and follow them. (Also feel free to share this post with your new critique partner or group to make sure you’re all on the same page)

When receiving feedback:

Be grateful and open-minded, even when it’s hard to hear.
Don’t shoot down ideas right away, even if your gut reaction is, “No way.” Write them down, thank the person, and let it all marinate before you decide. (You never know what exciting ideas might develop later, but you need to have an open mind first!)
Sometimes feedback that feels wrong in the moment turns out to have a kernel of truth in it. Give it time. (If you’ve read my book Page One to Done, you already know about the magic of the “story marination” process. The same is true for feedback!)

When giving feedback:

Be encouraging and constructive. Always. Give the kind of feedback you want to receive.
No one wants to hear that their idea is “bad.” And the last thing you want to do is discourage a fellow writer from starting or finishing their book.
Instead of just pointing out what isn’t working, suggest a way to improve it.
Build a “Feedback Sandwich” by sandwiching your criticism between things you do like about the work. Start with what’s strong, address what could be stronger, and end on a positive note. For example, “I love that scene where the main character meets her long-lost father. I wonder if you could go even deeper into what she’s feeling in that scene. She’s already such a relatable character but would make us empathize with her even more!”

A good critique partnership can make you a better writer, a better reader, and a better storyteller. A bad one can knock your confidence for a loop. So “choose wisely,” as the saying goes, communicate openly, and always treat each other’s work with the respect it deserves.

Ready to find your critique partner? The Writing Mastery Community makes it easy to connect with writers in your genre, get matched with dedicated critique partners, and receive the kind of feedback that actually makes your story better.

April 3rd, 2026