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Although it might seem to non-writers that writing is a solitary task, and the process of actually putting words down on the page is most often done alone, most writers thrive when they are part of a writing community.

Whether it’s a group that meets regularly to write together (in person or online), or one or two writer friends that I can meet for coffee and a chat, for me, writing in the void without contact with other writers, leaves me less productive and challenges my creativity.

Many, many years ago (not sure of the exact number, but likely sixteen or more), a group of women writers formed a critique group through an online writing site. We were all writing books in various genres, and we submitted chapters and short stories to be critiqued, resulting in all of the current members now having their books out in the world.

I’m a driven person, but without the encouragement and feedback from other writers, I know I wouldn’t be as far as I am today without my group.

My biggest piece of advice when choosing critique partners or groups is to find people who are kind and supportive, who don’t compete or compare themselves to the other members, and whose opinions prove valuable and constructive. (I have belonged to a couple of other groups where the feedback was mean spirited and lacking substance)

So here are my top 5 reasons to belong to a critique group:

ACCOUNTABILITY

If you’re like me, sometimes the best laid plans can go sideways, and that can include securing enough writing time in my schedule. Our critique group would assign each writer a specific Monday within the month in which to send their submission. Then, members had a given amount of time to provide them with a critique. Knowing that deadline meant that I had to have something to submit, therefore keeping me motivated with my project. Nothing says accountability to me like a deadline.

FEEDBACK

Feedback is a broad term and giving specific direction to the members of your group can be most helpful. For example, if I wrote something in past tense, then decided it worked better in present tense, I could ask the group members to look out for any tense issues. Or it could be POV, especially in the book where I wrote the protagonist’s chapters in 1st person present and the other chapters in 3rd omniscient. We’ve given feedback on endings, pacing, character development…anything that helps make the writing stronger.

BRAINSTORMING

There are times when I can get stuck and unsure which direction to take next. Asking my critique group members what they think and getting them to help me decide which direction seems more suited to what they’ve read of my story, has been very helpful. Brainstorming is also a fun way to get out of the mire of writer’s block or sort out a new story idea.

EXTRA EYES

No matter how many times I go over a manuscript, there always seems to be something new I catch, like a missed dialogue tag, or a repeated word. Critique group partners are so great at seeing your work with fresh eyes. I can’t tell you all how many times I thought I had a clean copy after proofreading, and then someone finds a mistake. Those extra eyes are invaluable in ensuring that you’re sending out the best version of your manuscript when you query.

NETWORKING/PROMOTION

Eventually, when your book or short story is finished, and you’re seeking out an agent or publisher, or even offering your product for sale, it’s great to have some close writer friends to help you network. These colleagues can help promote your book on their socials. They might suggest your book to someone they know who reads your genre. Or they might even have suggestions for an agent they’ve seen who was open to queries that represents the type of book you’ve completed. Perhaps they belong to a site that offers courses, and they see one that would be perfect for something you’re finding challenging. For those of the group who have author newsletters, members could not only subscribe to each other’s, but perhaps they could pass it on to one of their connections who might be interested in what you’re offering.

Being in a critique group means I’m not alone in your writing journey and that’s a nice place to be.