How to Find Good Criqitue Partners

rewritewithari
Jun 21
3 min read

My Critique Partners and I at GDC 2024 together!

If you’ve ever left a writing workshop feeling crushed, confused, or completely misunderstood, you’re not alone. The right feedback can level up your craft, but the wrong feedback can derail your confidence. That’s why finding a good critique partner is one of the most valuable things you can do as a writer.

Here are 5 essential qualities to look for in a critique partner and one final truth that might be a little hard to swallow.

1. Mutual Respect: You Like Each Other’s Writing

Let’s start here: do you actually like their work?Not “it’s exactly like mine,” but does it spark something in you? Can you tell they care about craft? Do you respect their voice, even when it’s different?

Likewise, do they respect yours?

A good critique partner gets what you're trying to do, even if it’s outside their genre. You don’t need a clone, but you do need mutual trust. That trust creates a safe space to experiment, to fail, and to grow.

Tip: If you feel like you’re constantly defending your style or genre to someone, they might not be the right partner for you.

2. Diverse Perspectives Make Your Work Stronger

The best feedback doesn’t come from people who write exactly like you, it comes from those who see the world differently. A good critique partner might catch cultural blind spots, question flat character arcs, or show you a theme you didn’t even know you were writing.

Difference is not a weakness: it’s a strength.

Whether it’s age, background, genre, or even writing process, differing perspectives stretch your creativity. They help your story resonate with more people, not just more people like you.

3. They Offer Constructive, Actionable Feedback

A good critique partner won’t just say, “I didn’t like this scene.”They’ll say, “This scene dragged a bit, maybe raise the stakes or tighten the pacing?”

Vague opinions help no one. You need feedback that’s:

Specific (“this dialogue feels flat”)
Actionable (“try cutting this chunk or giving the character a clearer goal”)
Solution-oriented (“what if this tension came earlier?”)

They don’t need all the answers. But they should help you ask better questions.

4. You Have Different Strengths

It might sound counterintuitive, but a critique partner who writes in a different style or genre can actually improve your own.

Plot-first writers benefit from character-driven partners. Fantasy writers can grow from collaborating with slice-of-life writers. A comedy writer might teach you how to bring levity into dark scenes.

Think of it like cross-training for your creative muscles.

5. You Can’t Find a Great Critique Partner Until You Are One

Here’s the truth no one likes to say:You attract the critique partner you are.

If you want someone who gives thoughtful, honest, respectful feedback, you need to show up the same way. Read their work with care. Don’t flake on deadlines. Don’t make it about your ego. Take notes. Ask questions. Offer solutions.

Great partnerships are built, not found. You can’t just drop your manuscript into someone’s inbox and hope for magic. You have to give what you want to receive.