Found an Awesome Critique Partner

[D.M.Sigee]

This has been a long process for me but I finally did it. I took the plunge and found a Critique Partner. In all honesty I wasn't sure how I felt about advertising for a CP over the internet or even in my own local RWA chapter. Aside from the few gracious published authors that offered to look over some of my work, I had very few people I trusted to eyeball a couple of pages here and there. We all have the fear of one day looking up and seeing your Novel sitting on the shelves at Barns and Noble or on an E-Publisher website with someone else’s name attached to it. But I need to bite the bullet and take chance. At best I'd find a CP and at worst I wouldn't find anyone crazy enough to wanna work with a newbie. Well finally I set aside my fears, I said a boat load prayers and jumped in feet first looking for my CP. Well the Lord must have heard and took pity on me because he sent me an awesome person. Not only are we CP's but we are starting to build a friendship that to will help my embrace (s)he criticisms better. I mean let's face it; you know if it's coming from a person that have your best interest at heart, you’re probably less likely to go on the defensive and feel like they are attacking you. Well that works best in my case since I’m still a little shy about show my work to people. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a CP?

Advantages: Having someone to bound ideas off of. I can’t tell how many times I thought my ideas was brilliant and once I ran it by someone they looked at me like I was crazy. Having someone to keep you motivated when you hit the preverbal “brick wall” or suddenly get those “middle of the book” blues.

Disadvantages: Doing more talking that working. Yeah I’m a talking and it easy for me to get all “chatty Kathy” with someone. Also if you and your CP really don’t click personality/writing genre wise. Now I’m not saying you need to write in the same genre, maybe it’s better if you don’t. However , regardless of that it’s important to be open minded to reading new things your CP’s is working on. I think so anyway.

In closing, I’ve only been working with my CP for a little while but I’m looking forward to see how this plays out.