Finding a critique partner is at the top of my list of things I wish every writer would do BEFORE reaching out to an agent, editor, or book coach for help with their story.
Getting those fresh eyes on your early drafts can help you fill the gap between your vision for the story and what you’ve actually got on the page. And the friendship/support a critique partner can provide is invaluable on what can be a long and lonely journey toward publication.
But how do you find critique partners? It can be tough, especially with words as tender and personal as our stories. Now you don’t have to go it alone—I can help you find other like-minded writers and have a speed-dating inspired format to help you quickly identify if you’re a match!
In January, I’m running the seventh round of this FREE critique partner matching service, CP Meet Cute. Sign up today at pages.julieartz.com/cp-meet-cute and let me help you find critique partners!
Here are the key dates for Round Seven:
- January 1, 2024 – Round begins (but you can join the waitlist before-hand!)
- February 7, 2024 – Deadline for completing Matchmaker Survey
- February 14, 2024 – Cohorts announced
CP Meet Cute is a tribute to the romance novels that were my lifeblood at the start of the pandemic, but it’s not just for romance writers—it’s for writers of all genres and ages categories, including Picture Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adult, and Creative Nonfiction!
Writers at any level who are looking for a critique partner can sign up here and I’ll be in touch with more details: pages.julieartz.com/cp-meet-cute.
How Does It Work?
Think of it like speed dating! After you sign up, you’ll get an email with some ground rules and a link to my Matchmaker Survey. This brief survey helps me learn a little bit about you so that I can match you with a group of like-minded writers. That group of 3-5 writers will be your CP Meet Cute Cohort.
I’ll send you an email introducing you to your cohort and providing some resources on how to give great feedback and how to structure critique groups. Then your cohort will have about six weeks to exchange the first chapters of your works in progress.
Once the six weeks have passed, you’ll get a follow-up email asking whether you’ve found someone you think you can trust with your pages going forward. If so, congratulations! You’ve taken the next step in your writing journey and now you’ve got a buddy to walk with you. If not, do not fear, you’ll go back into the pool for another round of CP Meet Cute, which I run three times per year.
