Recently I've seen the popularity of CPs or critique partners for writers growing. What are they? These are fellow authors in your genre or who have similar tastes as you do, and you exchange pages of your manuscript. This can be a few chapters at a time, or the full book and the both of you agree when to return the drafts to each other.
How do you find them? While there are many ways, I've found Twitter to work best for me. Yes there are other social media options, along with face to face ones (writer's meetings and conferences), but in our world, the internet has taken over. I do plan to participate in YA Kim Chance's #Chance2Connect (2nd Tuesday of every month), and there's also #CPmatch by Megan Lally. What do you do with these? You use the hashtag, see who interacts, and you direct message them to get their information. If you're a right fit, awesome! If not, keep looking for the right one.
How did I find critique partners? I have two currently, and one of them I met five years ago on Goodreads. She's a fellow romance and women's fiction author. While she lives out of state, email works for us, and she has mailed physical copies of her work to me. My second CP, I met recently through Twitter. This took some bravery on my part, but I went to her author website after we interacted on Twitter. I contacted her through her website cold turkey. I know OMG, that was putting myself out there. In my case, it worked! Nothing happens inside your comfort zone, so don't be afraid to step out.
With her, I was just honest, so I encourage you to do the same with your potential CPs. I should have copied what I said to her to post here, but basically it was along the lines of "I hope this is not too weird, but I realized we write in the same genre of sweet romance. I don't know if you already have a CP or are even looking for one, but I am and would like to work with you. I'm new to critiquing, but I do have an eye for inconsistencies, head hopping in POV, etc. Whatever you decide, I look forward to reading your work as a reader and fellow author."
This is extremely similar to what I sent to her around 7:30am one morning. She responded by 1pm! Do you need more than one CP? I think it depends on what you're looking for, and while there is no right answer, make sure you remember that you're the author at the end of the day. Some have ten CPs while some have only one. No, you don't want "too many irons in the fire," so make sure you sift through the input given back to you. Use what works best for you and your story.
Until the next tip! 😄😃😁
How do you find them? While there are many ways, I've found Twitter to work best for me. Yes there are other social media options, along with face to face ones (writer's meetings and conferences), but in our world, the internet has taken over. I do plan to participate in YA Kim Chance's #Chance2Connect (2nd Tuesday of every month), and there's also #CPmatch by Megan Lally. What do you do with these? You use the hashtag, see who interacts, and you direct message them to get their information. If you're a right fit, awesome! If not, keep looking for the right one.
How did I find critique partners? I have two currently, and one of them I met five years ago on Goodreads. She's a fellow romance and women's fiction author. While she lives out of state, email works for us, and she has mailed physical copies of her work to me. My second CP, I met recently through Twitter. This took some bravery on my part, but I went to her author website after we interacted on Twitter. I contacted her through her website cold turkey. I know OMG, that was putting myself out there. In my case, it worked! Nothing happens inside your comfort zone, so don't be afraid to step out.
With her, I was just honest, so I encourage you to do the same with your potential CPs. I should have copied what I said to her to post here, but basically it was along the lines of "I hope this is not too weird, but I realized we write in the same genre of sweet romance. I don't know if you already have a CP or are even looking for one, but I am and would like to work with you. I'm new to critiquing, but I do have an eye for inconsistencies, head hopping in POV, etc. Whatever you decide, I look forward to reading your work as a reader and fellow author."
This is extremely similar to what I sent to her around 7:30am one morning. She responded by 1pm! Do you need more than one CP? I think it depends on what you're looking for, and while there is no right answer, make sure you remember that you're the author at the end of the day. Some have ten CPs while some have only one. No, you don't want "too many irons in the fire," so make sure you sift through the input given back to you. Use what works best for you and your story.
Until the next tip! 😄😃😁
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