After a full year of critting, these are the things I'm actively reminding myself:
1. The first few crits you receive are hard, no matter who you are or who they are from.
You’re putting your work—your blood, sweat, and tears—out into the world and asking fellow writers to evaluate it at a structural level. Writers are nitpickers when it comes to text, and this is a good thing; it makes your writing stronger. If you're willing to listen, keep an open mind, and put in the work, the process elevates your skills dramatically.
2. Never let anyone overwrite your voice.
It’s the thing that sets you apart and makes your writing worth reading.
3. You are not writing by committee.
Not everyone will like your writing, and that’s okay. You have to tell the story only you can tell. Trust your instincts.
4. Sometimes you need to walk away and come back to feedback later.
It's cool; take a hot minute. Critiques are commentary on the words written, NOT on you as a person. Try not to internalize.
5. Critters want to help you.
We want to see you succeed. And most (not all) of us want to invest in you so that you invest in us. It's an inherently selfish system, but it works when we lift each other up.
6. In general, the more time you invest, the more energy you focus, the more you get out of the site.
That goes for anything in life. Commit, sow the seeds, and the fruit will follow.
While there are plenty of critique sites, I choose to invest all my time into this one. I keep my focus on my current partners first and foremost, and every week, I aim to crit someone new-to-me as well (because partners come and go). For me, this effort and focus has paid off in spades.
7. The more you crit, the more crits you get back—usually from people you critted first.
The site runs on tit-for-tats. Crit widely. Crit anyone once. And don't be discouraged or disappointed if they don't crit back. Don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone, either.
Every time you crit, you're upping your own craft game. You develop a deeper understanding of the craft of writing, which makes you a stronger writer. You bring these skills back to your own work, whether you realize it or not.
8. When starting out, seek to crit stories in your own queue/genre.
This will ensure your return crits have the most impact for you, because they will come from other people writing and reading within the genre.
In the long term, people jumping in from other genres can give you a great idea of how wide your market is. They can also unintentionally inspire ideas for how to make your work appeal to a wider audience. However, their feedback always needs to be contextualized; changes shouldn't alienate the target market.
9. Anyone can see any of your crits on any story, so always put your best effort forward.
People (outside of the writer) will read them and judge you for them, and they may want to be your partner if your crits resonate with them. Leading to:
10. A good way to find crit partners is to look at who else is critting the stories you crit.
Read over their crits, and if their crits resonate with you, consider critting that critter's story. If that person crits you back, keep it going.
11. Crit partnerships take time to get off the ground.
I’ve found I need a good three to four crits back and forth with someone to genuinely get a grasp for their style and their goals and to get into my groove as their partner.
12. Don’t be afraid to jump into a later chapter of a novel, especially if you yourself are posting a novel.
This is a potential crit partner who has already proved they’re sticking around and is posting consistently. Critting isn't the same as reading. You don't have to start at chapter 1 to be able to offer helpful feedback.
Read the prior chapter summaries if available to get caught up before you dive in, keeping in mind the writer wrote them specifically with important notes you need to follow the story.
13. Some critters won’t gel with you, and that’s okay.
Not everyone is meant to be your crit partner. Be kind, say thank you, and move on. Don’t disparage them or their crit. You never know when you'll need someone/something in the future, so it’s best not to burn bridges.
14. What works for someone else may not work for you, and that’s okay, too.
Everyone is different. Everyone’s needs are different. It makes things more interesting.
15. Comparison is the thief of joy; your measuring stick is your own.
I have dreams and goals—and my focus needs to be the steps I need to take to achieve them. Every step forward is worth celebrating. Everyone is at a different point in their journey, and everyone’s journey is going to look different in this insane publishing landscape.
Thank you to my wonderful crit partners for all your guidance and encouragement. ❤️