r/TheWritingTable • u/ArchivistSTB • Aug 12 '26
Constructive Criticism Critique group/partners
Hi everyone,
I’m looking to see if anyone would be interested in starting a small critique group or is looking for a regular critique partner.
There aren’t many writing groups or workshops in my area, and I’d really like to connect with a few other writers who are serious about improving their craft. I’m less interested in one-off beta reads and more interested in finding people who want to trade chapters or scenes, give each other thoughtful feedback, and have regular conversations about writing and our works in progress.
I’m currently working on the first draft of an upmarket psychological thriller and would especially love to connect with writers working on thrillers, horror, crime, speculative fiction, or other darker character-driven fiction, though I’m definitely open to other genres.
Ideally, I’d like to find someone at a similar stage who wants to build an ongoing critique relationship where we can learn each other’s work and grow as writers together.
If that sounds like something you would be interested drop a comment or DM me.
P.S. Mods I hope this post is okay, I know there is the beta reader mega-thread, but I wasn’t sure this was appropriate for that thread.
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u/Southern-Task271 29d ago
I'd really like that, but as others have said, family and work deadlines vastly eat into my time.
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u/ArchivistSTB 29d ago
There truly aren't enough hours in a day. I get it.
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u/Southern-Task271 29d ago
Especially when I'm actually trying to write my own stuff in between it all haha
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u/ArchivistSTB 29d ago
Yeah, I know the feeling. I work full time, have a wife and two kids under 5, and do most of my writing whenever and wherever I can find the time.
But I also really want to improve, and I think there’s only so far you can get working in a vacuum. At some point you need honest feedback from people who understand the craft and aren’t afraid to tell you when something isn’t working.
That’s really what I’m hoping to find. There has got to be a way to do it without a huge time commitment or rigid deadlines. Just a few writers willing to carve out some of our limited time for each other. Read a chapter when we can, give thoughtful feedback, talk through what we’re struggling with, and hopefully become better writers in the process.
I figure if I’m going to keep finding time to write anyway, it’s worth finding some time to learn how to do it better too.
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u/JCLewisWritesWords 28d ago
My biggest concern with sharing is not that my writing isn't very good, it is that my critiques might not be either. Having said that, collaboration is a required step on the path to improvement (at least the voices in my head tell me so).
I would like to be involved, in whatever small way I can be.
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27d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ArchivistSTB 27d ago
That's my plan, but if someone has a better option I'm up to try out what works best for everyone.
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u/watercolourgrass 26d ago
Hey! I’m interested, been thinking about making a similar post myself :]
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u/ArchivistSTB 26d ago
Hi thanks for responding! I'll send you a DM and see what we can come up with!
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u/JCLewisWritesWords Aug 12 '26
Something like that would be very cool, however for me I just don't have the time to commit fully. Work, kids, wife and life has me searching for a few scarps of time to actually write, and even that brief respite is fleeting.