Do they really work? That’s a tough one. Maybe, maybe not. My first experience with a critique partner was lousy. She wrote Scottish historicals while I wrote contemporary romances. Although she was a good writer, and she gave me a few good pointers, we just didn’t mix. She dropped me as a partner, and that was fine with me. We were online partners.

My second critiquing experience was with a group of writers through an online critique group. All of us were at different stages in our writing careers, so some of us needed more guidance than the others. I loved the group, but in the midst of getting married (therefore, I was planning a wedding), I didn’t contribute as much as I wanted to. It just got to the point where I wasn’t contributing anything at all. I’d sold a book to Love Inspired while I was with this group, and eventually, I dropped out of the group, however, I did mention the group as a great help to me in my dedication in First Mates.

My third experience wasn’t an official group. Some of the Love Inspired authors merely wanted another set of eyes to look over a proposal, so a few of us agreed to do this. I did get some positive feedback on a book I was working on, and I was grateful for the help.

Right now, the only critique help I get is through a Christian writers group that meets locally. I’m the only one doing fiction. I’m also one of the few who is commercially published (one other woman is commercially published, however, she does not come very often due to the travel distance). I’ve gotten some great feedback from this group of people, however, I feel that I don’t contribute much when I critique their stuff since I don’t really read much poetry, short stories, or non-fiction.

So, critique groups are really hit or miss for me.

Until next time,
Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com