How to Find Beta Readers, Writing Groups, and Critique Partners

I’ll be the first to say I’m no expert. But even I know you gotta get eyes on your words. Otherwise, publication will be tougher than it already is and attracting readers will probably remain a fantasy.

Where do you find these wonderful souls willing to give honest opinions on your writing?

Where To Find Beta Readers

These are the people who don’t write, but love to read. They give an important readers’ perspective that’s not mired in the idiosyncrasies of craft.

Look to those people in your life who love to read and who you trust to be kind.

Otherwise, check social media sites offering beta readers. But be wary of sending your work to anyone who wants to be paid. Beta readers are not educated and experienced professionals. They’re volunteers.

Where To Find a Writing Group

These are usually the writers you meet locally. Especially if you’re meeting in person. I found my current writing group through my local writers’ association. That’d be your best bet too.

Many writing groups meet and take turns reading their work aloud. In my experience, this approach is ineffectual.

Instead, in our group, we send our excerpts to one another a week prior to the meeting date. Critiques are supposed to be returned by midweek, giving each of us time to consolidate questions on said critiques.

At the meeting, alongside pizza, we discuss one another’s work using the critiques and questions as a launching pad. I find this format incredibly effective. Several people having a conversation about an aspect of your work can be a game changer.

However, writing groups can only assess small excerpts at a time instead of a whole manuscript at once. So, their review isn’t as in depth or developmental as say a critique partner.

Where To Find Critique Partners

These are usually the writers you meet online. You trade manuscripts and give one another honest and thorough assessments.

If I’m remembering correctly, I found most of my critique partners from The Manuscript Academy’s Ten Minutes with an Expert Chat Facebook page. Check it out. You can’t go wrong reading the fantastic posts from writers who are in the traditional publishing game.

Also, if you’re Canadian, CBC has a writerly Facebook page called Canada Writes.

Bianca Marais from The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast puts together online writers’ groups. It’s unlikely your group will stay together, but you may end up with a critique partner out of the deal.

I started posting here on Substack only recently. Seems like a decent place to meet promising critique partners? Try it. Let me know what you think.

Test the Waters Before Diving In

Start by swapping one chapter or one short story.

If you’re compatible, it’ll feel like the writer understands your writing. Some of their recommendations may create goose bumps of excitement, while other comments will have you saying, “Damn, how didn’t I see that myself?”

If you can do the same for them, it becomes a heavenly partnership.

But I have to admit, it doesn’t usually work out this way. Likely, you’ll have to evaluate lots of critiques before finding your people.

Sometimes the writer cannot accept criticism. Or their critiques on your manuscript are full of writing rules they think should be rigidly followed. Or my personal favourite, they rewrite my paragraphs because it’s not the way they would’ve written it, thereby changing said paragraph from my voice to their voice.

Another consideration: Make sure you like their writing enough, because you’ll have to review it time and time again. If you know it’s not a match, be kind. Thank them and bow out gracefully.

Still frustrated with your results?

How to Find Writers Who Know How to Critique

You want eyes on your words, yeah, but you also want the writer to be effective at deconstructing and articulating possible improvements to your manuscript. You want the damn critique to be useful.

The answer, in short, is to gain the critiquing skills to do the same for them. Learn how to properly critique other writers’ work and you’ll attract those who can do the same for you.

• Know the rules of storytelling and craft while not being blinded by the rules of storytelling and craft. Meaning, every rule can be broken if done artfully.

• Give recommendations in praise sandwiches. Telling a writer what’s working in their manuscript is just as important as commenting on what fell short.

• Critiquing is a different skill set than writing. Just because someone’s a good writer, doesn’t mean they have the deconstructing skills (or the selflessness) to puzzle out how to improve your story.

Bonus: Nothing will level up your own writing skills like learning to critique others’ work.

Best of luck!