Deciding to take the worlds living in your head and putting them to a page is a special kind of magic. It’s intimate. It’s cathartic. It’s alchemy in that you make something from nothing. It’s private and it’s yours and it’s full of potential. It can also be lonely.
But it doesn’t have to be.
If I could attribute my growth as a writer to one thing, it would be having my work critiqued and critiquing the work of others (I suppose that’s two things.) New-writer-me thought that meant sharing with lots of people for lots of feedback (don’t do this). Sharing smaller snippets with a group of like-minded individuals helped me gain confidence, and also taught me how to critique for others. Be mindful and intentional about who you choose to collaborate with.
Having a ride-or-die Critique Partner (CP) was also something I yearned for when I first joined the writing community. But CP relationships take time. Following hashtags is a good place to start (try #findmywritingcommunity #meetmybookcommunity or #writerfriendschallenge) but don’t rush into swapping entire manuscripts to satiate that desire to have a CP. Get to know writing peers. Start with a positivity read of a chapter and see where it goes. There is no rush. Over on Storybeast Podcast, I talk with Ghabiba Weston (@ghabibaweston) and Courtney Shack (@cshackwrites) about our CP journey (hint, it’s like dating!). You can listen to that episode here.
Now for the logistics of finding writing groups. Here are some ways to find your writing community:
Interact with other writers on social media (Instagram, TikTok, Threads, etc). Like something they wrote? Tell them! Read and enjoyed the same book? Tell them! Laughed at a meme they shared? Tell them! The more you interact with others, the more conversations will come your way.
If you are comfortable, show your face on your videos, posts, or stories. I find I get more story interactions when I do this, and I also remember others’ profiles when I see their faces and hear their voices.
Offer to do positivity reads. This is one of my favourite ways to connect with other writers. It builds your skills as you practice giving positive feedback, but it also reminds writers of their talent and encourages them to continue their craft. I met one of my CPs when she offered to read a scene for me (after I had posted on stories I was struggling). The friendships I have gained through loving others’ words have been truly special.
Interact in the comments section of published authors. Writers are readers, and many in the #bookstagram and #booktok community love talking story. Follow authors whose work you love, and write in the same genre as you. These friendships are an invaluable source for future writing groups and/or beta readers.
Explore hashtags for mentorship programs. @authormentormatch @revpit and #roundtablementor have parties leading up to their submissions, as well as during their waiting period. Even if you aren’t ready to submit a manuscript to these programs, this is where you can find writers at a similar point in the writing journey to you. Follow the hashtags, comment on others’ posts, and create your own.
Writing Sprints. These are short, focused uninterrupted writing sessions. When I first started, or haven’t written in a while, my goal was to do 15 minute sprints. Post on your stories, feed, or DM someone asking if they want to join you. This could be saying “I’m clicking!” Or meeting over Google Meets/ Zoom. Before we were CPs, @ghabibaweston, @cshackwrites and I would meet every morning (5 am for me, 6 am for Courtney, and 2 pm for Gabi when she was in Germany). Our dungeon crawls were the reason I rolled out of my bed and finished my first-ever first draft.
Once you have found your community, it’ll be a little less scary to share your work. Here’s a checklist for when you’re asking for feedback on a project.
Acknowledge your feelings. What space are you in right now? Can you take critique? Do you need a confidence boost? Knowing what you can take changes what you ask for. There is no shame if you aren’t in a space for critical feedback.
Decipher what you need. Is it a positivity read? Fresh eyes with a summary? Brainstorming how to convey a certain feeling? A pacing check? In-line comments for prose and flow?
Be specific. When you say, “oh, just anything” what that really says is “I’m not experienced with feedback.” Based on what you need, try something like: How would you describe my voice? I’m working on pacing, did it slow down for you? And if so, do you have any suggestions? Did you notice any echoes?
Honour people’s time. It takes time and care to collaborate on a project, and not everyone will be available every time you need feedback. Consider the timeframe you need and be upfront and honest. If it works this time, great. If not, that’s okay too.
Take a moment to digest. Especially with critical feedback. Your instinct might be to dismiss their comments. If that’s so, take a day or two (or more) away. Then, come back, look at your feedback, and decide what is useful for your project.
Furthermore, when reading for another writer, it is not your job to “toughen them up” for the publishing industry. But it is your job to help them improve their craft, develop their voice, and tell the story they wish to tell. Here is a framework to keep in mind when critiquing another writer’s work.
Remember it’s a privilege to read others’ work. When we shift our mindset from "brutally honest" to "honoured collaborator," the lens through which we see the work changes. A writer has asked for YOUR feedback on their piece. How truly special it is to add another volume to the secret library.
Clarify expectations. What does the writer want you to critique? What would they like you to ignore this round? Each revision has a different purpose. For example, a line-edit might not be helpful during a developmental edit.
Align with their goals. Remembering it's the writer's vision, voice, and story is imperative to empowering their growth as a storyteller. It's not "How would I write this if it was my story?" and rather "How can I support this writer to tell their story?"
Use the sandwich method. In-line comments are helpful, but consider leaving a summary at the end, too. The sandwich method is simple: start with a positive, add some suggestions for growth, and end with more positives.
Finally, CPs are more precious than sea-sworn jewels. But what if I told you those friendships take time? What if I told you, you could get to know a group of talented peers, and one day find your story-person?
When I was looking for a critique partner, a lot of stories in circulation seemed to just have CPs that clicked. Adrienne Young and Kristin Dwyer. Shelby Mahurin and Jordan Gray. Rebecca Ross and Isabel Ibanaz.
But that wasn’t happening for me.
One day in July 2021, I joined an online writing sprint. My now best friend and CP, Ghabiba Weston, happened to be sprinting at the same time. During one of the breaks, the conversation evolved into “Well, I don’t have a writing group” and “Neither do I!” and “I’ll join if you make one!”
And because Gabi is Queen-of-All-Logistics, she set up a writing group, complete with members across many timezones.
I got up at 4:45am for the first meeting. I went out to my car so I didn’t wake my sleeping children. (We soon changed the meeting time).
But you know what I gained from our weekly one-hour sessions?
Community.
Each writer in that group contributed to my writing in some way. We built trust and confidence in each other. We brought different gifts and viewpoints and empowered each other to look at story through different lenses. I started hearing their voices as I wrote (in a good way!), anticipating the questions they would ask or the comments they’d make (read: they expanded my writing toolkit and taught me skills that became second nature).
Critique partnerships blossom. They are exceptional and without equal. But don’t underestimate the power of writing groups. They can be a low pressure way of putting your writing out there, receiving and providing critique, and interacting with writers outside the pressure of the label “critique partner.”
So friend, if you’re in that place where you have stories in your bones but are working up the courage to share your work, I see you. Every published writer has been where you are, and they all took that first step to find their community.
I believe in you. Keep writing.
Bio
Nadine Flint is a fantasy writer based near Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she lives with her husband, their three children, and a bouncy labradoodle. She is also the co-host of the podcast, STORYBEAST, where she talks with Ghabiba Weston and Courtney Shack about the transformative power of story. When she’s not writing, Nadine teaches first grade, gets her hands dirty in the garden, and devours books drenched in magic. You can find her on Instagram (@nadineflint_ and @storybeastpodcast) and TikTok (@nadineflint).