Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach To Find And Keep Your Writing Critique Partner

by Joy E. Rancatore, Meagan Smith

The writer’s life is solitary … only if you want it to be.

Writing critique partnerships could solve creative isolation, but confusion on the topic abounds. Where do you find one? How do they work? How do you move past a bad experience?

We’re critique partners who, over the years, cultivated a process, redeemed our mistakes and maintained our friendship.

Finders Keepers is our conversation analyzing six aspects of critique partnerships.
· Defining Critique Partnerships
· Evaluating Yourself for Your New Role
· Choosing a Critique Partner
· Preparing for a Critique
· Giving a Critique
· Receiving a Critique

We’re more than just talk, though.

Each topic has hands-on challenges to encourage introspection and strategic action, strengthening your relationship into an unstoppable team. With this dynamic, you can confidently launch more powerful, polished words that reflect your purpose.

We find our critique partnership personally fulfilling and professionally accelerating; we desire the same for you. Are you in it for keeps?

384 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2019

About the author

Legacy and identity, founded on hope-filled faith, infuse the tales of the soul written from the heart of JOY E. RANCATORE. Her Carolina’s Legacy Collection embraces everyday moments that constitute a lifetime and its heritage. Told around multiple related characters, this collection explores faith, life, death and the demons within through four mediums—novel, novella, short stories and epistolary.

An avid reader, student of human behaviors and unwitting empath, Joy absorbs emotions and spills them onto the pages of her work. Joy’s technical background includes more than two decades of professional writing and editing. Ongoing training in writing, publishing, business and counseling enables her to package soul-filled stories for her readers. An award-winning, multi-genre Indie Author, Joy believes extraordinary things await her characters and their tales.

Despite a fondness for her roles as author, editor, podcaster and speaker, Joy is a hobbit at heart with Bilbo’s zeal for mountains. She enjoys a life of quiet stillness with her husband, two children, dog and cat and more books than she’s willing to count. When daily homeschool lessons are complete, she eagerly prepares for teatime before writing your next favorite story.

Reviews

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough overview of what it's like working with a critique partner. It covered things I never even thought of and things I take for granted.
I was interviewed, along with one of my critique partners, for the book. Look for it in the QWERTY FRIENDS section in the back of the book.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great how-to on keeping critique partners, making the most of writing relationships, and creating good communication skills in all aspects of life. The interview-style made it an easy, conversational read that didn't feel bogged down and the exercises at the end of each section were super helpful in self-discoveries.

Recommended read for anyone looking to start this next step of their writing career and join the writing community.