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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Sep 04, 2019

49 Places to Find a Critique Circle to Improve Your Writing

Contrary to popular belief, writers aren’t solitary creatures by default. In fact, we’re often better when we write together , swapping trade secrets and exchanging manuscripts for mutual critique. Unfortunately, accidents of geography can stop us from congregating as often as we’d like. We don’t all live in literary hubs like London and NYC, so finding a critique circle in real life can be a bit of a challenge.

Luckily, you don’t have to be limited by the vagaries of place: there are plenty of online spaces where you can find writing partners ( and their excellent tips ). From the Critique Circle — the internet’s most famous writing group — to the more intimate critique groups studding the netscape, it’s easy enough to find gimlet-eyed readers ready to bring out the potential in your works-in-progress.

We’ve rounded 51 places to get feedback on your work. General writing critique groups are at the top, and genre-focused communities at the bottom. Because, to paraphrase the Starks of Winterfell , if the lone wolf dies while the pack survives, the lone writer struggles while the critique circle thrives.

GENERAL CRITIQUE GROUPS

1. Critique Circle

Most of this list is in alphabetical order, but Critique Circle is so well-known it’s worth breaking the mold. This Iceland-based community has a no-frills aesthetic. But since it opened in 2003, it’s offered more than 700,000 critiques for over 140,000 stories. Members sign up for free and earn credits — needed to put their work up for review — by offering feedback to other users. Every 3 reviews earns you enough credits to “buy” an opportunity to post.

Freshly enrolled writers have their work scheduled in a Newbie Queue, which sends their writing out for feedback faster than the regular queue. Word to the wise: the quality of feedback can vary — especially if they come from newbie members still learning the art of constructive criticism. But experienced members stand by to help to newbies as they get comfortable with the process.

Perfect if: You want to check out the internet’s most famous critique group

2. Reedsy Writing Prompts Contest

Yes, this one is facilitated through our very site! Here at Reedsy, we host a weekly writing contest where writers are invited to submit a short story based on one of our writing prompts. Shortly after launching this contest, we noticed a cool thing happening: writers started leaving constructive criticism and feedback on one another's stories — completely un prompted. We decided we wanted to encourage this initiative, so we created a critique circle within the contest.

Here's how it works: sign up for a free Reedsy Prompts account , and submit a short story to one of our contests. Once the contest ends, you'll receive an email asking you to leave feedback on other participants' stories — and the other entrants will likewise be encouraged to leave feedback on  your story.

Perfect if: You want the opportunity to earn cash prizes as part of your critique circle experience

3. 10 Minute Novelists Facebook Group

This support group for time-crunched writers runs a weekly #BuddyDay thread every Tuesday, where members can post their work for review. Excerpts are fair game, as are blurbs , author bios, cover art, and the like. If you’d like to test drive a couple of different packages for your indie masterpiece, #BuddyDay might be a good place to start.

Even if it’s not Tuesday, 10 Minute Novelists is a great place to “hang out.” Members commiserate about how real life gets in the way of your literary dreams — and encourage each other to stick it out anyway.

Perfect if: You know you’ve got a novel inside you, but you can’t seem to carve out more than 10 minutes a day to actually write it

4. ABCTales

This free writing community lets members post their own work and comment on each others’ — think WattPad, with way less emphasis on One Direction fanfic. Discussion seems to revolve around how to write a poem to best effect, although some short story writers frequent the forums as well. The feedback tends to be earnest and encouraging. Members happily dole out congratulations at one another’s literary triumphs.

ABCTales emphasizes slow and steady writerly development more than hustling for bylines. The pieces posted on its forums likely won’t be eligible for publication at many mainstream outlets, so they tend to be exercises written for practice, or from sheer love of the craft. That said, there is a forum full of writers swapping tips for publication .

Perfect if: You want a wholesome community to help you hone your craft in a low-stakes way

5. Absolute Write Water Cooler

This sprawling writers’ forum can be a bit of a maze, but there’s a wealth of material to help you along on your writing journey. If you’re in search of critique, you’ll want to make your way to the Beta Readers, Mentors, and Writing Buddies board. It works a little like a craft-focused version of the old Craigslist Personals section. Just post a description of the piece you’re working on, and forum members who fancy giving it a beta read will get in touch.

While you’re waiting for your perfect beta reader to respond to your post, you can hang out on any of Absolute Write ’s other craft-focused message boards. Many are genre-specific: check out Now We’re Cookin’! if you’re into food writing, or Flash Fiction if you’re a fan of pith.

Perfect if: You harbor romantic fantasies of finding your One True Reader on a personals site

6. Christopher Fielden

Christopher Fielden’s website offers tons of free resources – ranging from how to do research, how to keep your creativity fresh, and advice about self-publishing. He also curates a list of writing competitions – whether you’re looking to submit a short story or a poem, there are tons of options to choose from. You can pay for a critique from his team as well and a seasoned writer like Dr. Lynda Nash or Allen Ashley will go over your short story, novel, or poem.

7. Beta Readers and Critique Partners Facebook Group

This Facebook group has been helping writers find beta readers for two years now, and it’s still going strong. Almost 500 new members joined in the last month, bringing the total up to over 7,000. Rest assured, the mods won’t tolerate any nonsense: scorched earth critiques are forbidden, and members are encouraged to be kind at all times.

The Beta Readers and Critique Partners group welcomes members of all skill levels. Participants do their best to keep in mind whether they’re reading a seasoned pro, or someone just getting started as a beta reader . Self-promotion is banned, so don’t worry about being spammed.

Perfect if: You want a group where newbies can freely mingle with seasoned pros

8. Critique It

This peer review tool works like Google Docs on steroids: a group of collaborators can work on the same project, leave each other feedback, and feel like they’re all gathered around the same desk even if they’re actually scattered across the globe. Unlike GDocs, Critique It makes it easy to drop in video and audio files as well. That way, critics can leave their feedback in whatever format they like.

It won’t actually help you find a critique group. But it will let you form one with whoever you choose — no matter where in the world they’re based.

Perfect if: You want to form a writing group with friends from afar

9. The Desk Drawer

Here’s a critique group with high standards: send out multiple submissions that haven’t been spell-checked, and the group just might kick you out. This ultra-active, email-based workshop is a perfect fit for the kind of scribblers who thrive off prompts —  and who want to use them to hone their craft in the (virtual) company of fifty-odd like-minded writers. Every week, The Desk Drawer sends out a writing exercise. Members can respond directly to the prompt with a SUB (submission) — or offer a CRIT (critique) of another writer’s response.

To stay on the mailing list, workshoppers have to send out at least three posts a month: 1 SUB and 2 CRITS, or 3 CRITS. And membership is selective: if you’d like to join, you’ll have to send in a short, 100- to 250-word writing sample based on a prompt.

Perfect if: You want some disciplined — but mutually encouraging — writing buddies to keep you honest as you build up a writing habit

10. Fiction Writers Global Facebook Group

Despite its name, this community welcomes writers of fiction and non-fiction alike, although those who work specialize in erotica are encouraged to find an alternative group. At 13 years old, it’s one of the longer-running writing communities on Facebook. The mods have laid down the law to ensure it continues to run smoothly: fundraising, self-promotion, and even memes are strictly banned.

If you’re still weighing the pros and cons of traditional versus self-publishing , Fiction Writers Global might be the perfect group for you. They have members going both these routes who are always happy to share their experiences.

Perfect if: You’re determined to go the indie route — or thinking seriously about it

11. Hatrack River Writers Workshop

This 18+, members-only workshop was founded by renowned speculative fiction writer Orson Scott Card, of Ender’s Game fame , and it’s now hosted by short fiction writer Kathleen Dalton Woodbury. Both these writers cut their teeth on genre fiction, but don’t feel limited to tales of magic and spacefaring — anything goes, except for fanfic.

At the Hatrack River Writers Workshop , members can submit the first 13 lines of a WIP for review — an exercise designed to make sure the story hooks the reader as efficiently as possible . A loosely structured Writing Class forum offers prompts, called “assignments,” designed to help blocked writers start (or finish) stalled works.

Perfect if: You want to polish your story’s opening to a mirror-shine

12. Inked Voices

Unlike the cozy, Web 1.0 vibes of older online critique groups, Inked Voices is as sleek as they come, with cloud-based functionality and an elegant visual brand. Its polished look and feel make sense considering this isn’t so much a writing group as a platform for finding — or creating — writing groups, complete with a shiny workshopping app that has version control and calendar notifications built in.

Each workshop is private, invite-only, and capped at 8 members. You can sign up for a two-week free trial, but after that, the service costs $10 per month, or $75 for the year. Membership also lets you tune in for free to lectures by industry pros.

Perfect if: You’re willing to pay for an intimate, yet high-tech, workshop experience

13. Litopia

This website calls itself the “oldest writers’ colony on the ‘net,” a description that probably proves its age. One of its main draws? The writing groups that allow members to post their WIPs for peer review. The community tends to be friendly and mutually encouraging — probably the reason Litopia has lasted so long.

There’s another major draw: every Sunday, literary agent Peter Cox reviews several 700-word excerpts from members work on-air, in a podcast called Pop-Up Submissions. Cox tackles this process with a rotating cast of industry professionals as his guests. They’ve even been known to ask for a synopsis from a writer who impresses.

Perfect if: You’ve always wanted to spend some time in a writer’s colony, but you can’t jet off to Eureka Springs just yet

14. My Writers Circle

This easy-going discussion forum is light on dues and regulations, but members seem to be friendly and respectful anyway. A stickied thread on the Welcome Board encourages new members to read and comment on at least 3 pieces of writing before posting their own work for review. But this isn’t the kind of hard-and-fast rule that’ll lead to banning if you fall short. Members go along with it because they genuinely care about one another’s writing progress.

My Writers Circle has three dedicated workshop boards that allow forum users to seek feedback on their writing. One, called Review My Work, accepts general fiction and nonfiction, while additional spaces allow poets and dramatists of all kinds to get their verse, plays, and TV scripts critiqued.

Perfect if: You want a community where people are nice because they want to be — not because they have to be

15. Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Nathan Bransford worked as an agent before he switched over to the other side of the submissions process. Now, he’s a published middle-grade novelist and the author of a well-rated, self-published craft book called How to Write a Novel . In the midst of all his success, Bransford gives back to the literary community by running his ultra-popular Forums.

A board called Connect With a Critique Partner functions as matchmaker central for writers seeking their perfect beta readers. And if you’re not looking for something long-term, there’s the Excerpts forum, where you can post a bit of your WIP for quick hit of feedback.

Perfect if: You want to be part of a writing community that’s uber-active, but low-key

16. The Next Big Writer

Since 2005, this cult-favorite workshop has provided thousands of writers with a friendly forum for exchanging critiques. The site boasts an innovative points system designed to guarantee substantive, actionable feedback. To gain access, you’ll have to pay: $8.95 a month, $21.95 a quarter, or $69.95 for the whole year. Fortunately, there’s an opportunity to try before you buy: a 7-day free trial lets you get a taste of what the site has to offer.

The Next Big Writer also hosts periodic contests : grand prize winners receive $600 and professional critiques, while runners-up stand to gain $150 and 3 months of free membership. Meanwhile, all entrants get feedback on their submissions.

Perfect if: You like the sound of a members’ only writing contest with big prizes — in both cash and critique

17. NovelPro

This fiction writing workshop is one of the more costly online communities to join. But it has the rigor of an MFA program, at a tiny fraction of the price. Members — their numbers are capped at 50 — pay $120 a year. And that’s after a stringent application process requiring the first and last chapters of a finished, 60,000-word fiction manuscript and a 250-word blurb. Think of it as a bootcamp for your novel.

Even if an applicant’s writing sample passes muster, they still might not make the cut — there’s also a critique exercise that asks them to pass judgment on a sample novel chapter, with a 2-day turnaround. No wonder prospective NovelPro members are urged to reconsider unless their prose is “accomplished” and their fiction skills “advanced.”

Perfect if: You want a critique group that’ll take your work as seriously as you do

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18. Prolitfic

Launched by University of Texas students frustrated by the vagaries of the publishing process, this slick, Gen Z-friendly site encourages emerging writers to help each other out with thorough, actionable reviews. Members critique one another’s critiques — dare we call it metacritique? — to keep the quality of feedback high.

Prolitfic 's rating rubric, which assigns all submissions a star rating out of 5, insures that all reviewers are coming from the same place. Reviewers with higher levels of Spark, or site engagement, have their feedback weighted more heavily when the site calculates each submission’s overall rating.

Perfect if: You’re a serious, young writer hoping to find support in a tight-knit community built by your peers

19. Scribophile

One of the best-known writing communities on the web, Scribophile promises 3 insightful critiques for every piece of work you submit. Members earn the right to receive critiques by stocking up on karma points, which they can get by offering feedback on other works. You can get extra karma points by reacting to other users’ critiques — by clicking on Facebook-like buttons that say “thorough,” “constructive,” and the like — and by having your critiques showered with positive reactions.

A free membership lets you put two 3,000-word pieces up for critique, while premium memberships won’t throttle your output — but will cost you either $9 per month or $65 for the year.

Perfect if: You’d like to play with a critique system that has shades of Reddit — but far more civil!

20. SheWrites Groups

This long-standing community for writing women boasts a treasure trove of craft-focused articles. But the site also hosts a wealth of writing groups, split into genres and topics. Whether they work on screenplays, horror novels , or depictions of the environment, women writers can find a group to post their work for feedback — and commiserate on the travails of writing life.

In addition to their articles and writing groups, She Writes also operates a hybrid publishing company that distributes through Ingram and, naturally, brings women’s writing into the light.

Perfect if: You’re a woman writer in search of a friendly community full of like-minded, mutually encouraging folks

21. Sub It Club

Gearing up to submit finished work can be even more daunting than writing it in the first place. If you’d like to get some friendly eyes on your query letters or pitches — in a virtual walled garden away from any agents or publishers — this closed Facebook group might be the perfect place for you.

If you’re in need of more than a one-off review, Sub It Club runs a Critique Partner Matchup group to pair off writing buddies. The group moderators also run a blog with plenty of tips on crafting cover letters, dealing with rejection, and all other parts of the submission process .

Perfect if: You want a private, low-stress setting to get some feedback and vent about life as a yet-to-be-published writer

22. WritersCafe.org

This sizable — but friendly! — community boasts over 800,000 users, all of whom can access its critique forums for free. Members offer feedback to one another at all stages of the writing process: from proofing near-finished pieces to leaving more substantive feedback for still-marinating works.

For more quantitative-minded scribblers, WritersCafe ’s graphs make it easy to visualize how their work is being received. The site also allows members to host their own writing contests — and even courses to share their expertise with fellow Cafe patrons.

Perfect if: You’re a visual, data-driven writer who prefers to think in charts — even when it comes to writing!

23. Writer’s Digest Critique Central

Writer’s Digest is an institution in the literary world, and its critique forum is as popular as you’d expect: it’s collected more than 10,000 threads and nearly 90,000 individual posts over the years.

Critique Central boasts dedicated boards for a variety of genres — poetry is the most popular, with literary fiction next in line. You can also find spaces dedicated to polishing query letters and synopses, and a board that aggregates critique guidelines to make sure every member is giving — and getting — the best feedback possible.

Perfect if: You’d like a one-stop shop for critiquing your WIPs, queries, and synopses

24. The Writers Match

Founded by a veteran children’s book author, The Writers Match aims to, well, match writers with their comrades-in-craft from around the world. Think of it as okCupid for critique partners. Just fill out a profile and then shop for matches on the Members page, where writers will be sorted according to experience and genre.

If you find any promising would-be partners, shoot them a message and see if the literary sparks fly. And if it turns out you don’t quite vibe, there are plenty of other fish in the sea of critique.

Perfect if: You live somewhere without a robust writing community, and you’re tired of missing out

25. Writers World Facebook Group

Founded by veteran editor and sci-fi author Randall Andrews, this critique group welcomes serious writers of book-length prose. Members aim to shepherd each other’s manuscripts through all stages of the publication process, from the developmental edit to the query.

Andrews himself remains heavily involved in Writers World ’s day-to-day activity, pitching in with critiques informed by his 30 years of experience in the publishing industry. He’s also happy to explain his comments, and weighs in periodically with links to useful resources on craft.

Perfect if: You’ve got a book in the works, and you’re in the market for a critique group headed by a mentor who’s extremely generous with his time

26. Writing.Com

This sprawling community has been a meeting point for writers of all levels since 2000, whether their goals are to be published in a top-shelf literary magazine or to score an A in English Composition. Writing.Com users, who work in every genre under the sun, make use of the site’s portfolio system to post their writing and seek feedback from fellow community members.

Free memberships allow users to store up to 10 items in their personal portfolio, while the various tiers of paid membership gradually increase the limit — starting at the 50 items afforded by the $19.95 per year Basic Membership.

Perfect if: You want to be part of an enormous community where you’re sure to encounter a diversity of viewpoints

27. Writing, Prompts & Critiques Facebook Group

Writing, Prompts & Critiques is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. Members seek critique on posted threads and can also comment on one another’s responses to the group’s daily writing exercises.

Speaking of which: unlike conventional writing prompts, which encourage you to write new work, WPC’s daily challenges try to get you thinking more deeply about your existing projects. So come with a manuscript in hand, and see if the folks here can’t help you make it even better.

Perfect if: You’d like to get some feedback on a WIP — and experiment with some writing exercises to refine it

28. Writing to Publish

This 25-year-old critique group might have an American flag gif on its homepage, but its membership is worldwide. Writing to Publish members meet live in a chat room every other Monday at 7 PM Pacific time — which the website helpfully specifies is lunchtime on Tuesday for Australians.

New members have trial status until they’ve sat in on a handful of live-chat sessions, after which point they can start offering critiques themselves. Only after two critiques can they become full-fledged members, with the ability to submit their own work for review. Discussion tends to be lively and honest — but unfailingly polite.

Perfect if: You want your critique circle to operate in real-time — even if it includes folks from all over the world

29. YeahWrite

This writing community’s home page describes it as “part workshop, part competition, and all focused on getting from where you are to where you want to be as a writer.” Its biggest claim to fame? Free weekly writing challenges in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, where writers submit 750-word pieces in response to curated writing prompts.

If you fancy more concentrated feedback than the weekly challenges can give you, YeahWrite also offers paid editorial evaluations — one for $25 a year or two for $50. Send a 1,000-word piece of writing for review, and an editorial staff member will get back to you with a developmental edit or a line edit, depending on your manuscript’s needs.

Perfect if: You find that nothing sparks your creativity energies more than a good writing prompt

30. YouWriteOn

[update 4 Feb 2022: YouWriteOn seems to be temporarily inaccessible]

This free service boasts Bloomsbury and Penguin Random House reps among its members. So if you join and upload a story or chapter, you stand a chance of getting some very discerning eyes on your work. With such powerful people roaming the joint, it’s no wonder that some first-time authors have been discovered through YouWriteOn: historical fiction writer Doug Jackson, for instance, sold his Roman epic Caligula to Penguin through the forum.

Reviews come in one at a time and assign each piece a star rating in 8 different categories: characters, story, pace and structure, use of language, narrative voice, dialogue, settings, and themes and ideas.

Perfect if: You want some Big Five eyes on your work, in a supportive, low-stakes setting

GENRE-SPECIFIC CRITIQUE GROUPS

31. Allpoetry

This poetry site allows free members to join a writing group and post their verse for review, while premium members can use it to host their own private writing critique groups. A silver membership, for $5.95 a month, allows you to form a group, while a $14.95 gold membership provides analytics to track your visitors.

Allpoetry boasts 238 currently active groups — the biggest weighing in at 50 members while the smallest hover around 6 or 7 members. The site also offers free, self-paced poetry classes for beginners to the craft, on topics ranging from sonnets to beating writer’s block .

Perfect if: You’re a poet who wants the ability to choose between several critique groups of various sizes

32. Chronicles Science Fiction & Fantasy Community

This sleekly designed forum is primarily a fandom space — a thriving community for dissecting the works of your favorite speculative fiction authors. But Chronicles also operates a suite of craft-focused forums for sci-fi and fantasy fans who double as writers themselves.

The Chronicles Workshop forum hosts frequent, 100-word writing challenges that combine a theme and a genre, say “Crime & Punishment” and “Urban Fantasy.” Members tend to respond to these with enthusiasm, but they also have the option of posting their own, freestanding work for review in the writing circle.

Perfect if: You’re both a speculative fiction writer and a speculative fiction reader, and you want a community that can indulge both your inner creator and your inner fan

33. Critters Workshop

A passion project run by a former VP of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Critters has been helping authors polish their sci-fi, fantasy, and horror for almost a quarter century. The workshop is a space for serious writers, whether they’ve been showered with accolades or are still unpublished.

Critters stands out for treating critique itself as a craft deserving of careful attention. Participants learn to read with both acumen and empathy, offering substantive, yet tactfully framed criticisms of one another’s work. To remain in good standing, every “critter” writes an average of one critique a week.

Perfect if: You’re willing to learn the art of constructive criticism — and eager to get 15-20 thoughtful responses for each piece of writing they submit

34. Critique.org Workshops

The Critique.org workshops act as an expansion of Critters — including 16 furthers genres and media. The resulting spin-offs cover every form of writing you can think of, from thrillers to screenplays. Some are more highly trafficked than others, but all of them echo Critters’ dedication to the art of critique.

Multi-genre writers who work on, say, both romance and thrillers have to sign up separately for every workshop they’re interested in.

Perfect if: You like the sound of Critters but don’t like the idea of writing sci-fi, fantasy, or horror

35. Eratosphere

This online workshop might be named for the muse of love poetry, but versifiers working on all subjects are welcome to post. Eratosphere isn’t for the faint of heart: the site’s guidelines stress high standards of craft and emphasize that the forums might not be suitable for beginners or “those who mainly seek mutual support and praise.” But if you’re a practiced poet serious about refining your craft, you won’t find a more knowledgeable workshop.

The site is especially helpful for poets specializing in metrical verse forms. Poets who already produce polished, near-publishable work can make use of The Deep End, a forum tailor-made for metrical poetry gurus thick-skinned enough to deal with intense — but constructive — critique.

Perfect if: You’re an experienced poet eager for gimlet-eyed critique

36. FaithWriters

This online hub for writers of faith operates a Christian Writing Critique Circle. Unlike many groups with more stringent requirements, members only need to submit one critique for every piece of writing they put out for feedback. The FaithWriters moderators occasionally pay professional editors to come in and review pieces that haven’t gotten enough love from members-at-large. So there’s no fear that your work will remain forlorn and ignored.

Writers too pressed for time to offer critiques can pay in cash for the ability to receive feedback. FaithWriters limits submissions to 1,000 words each, and allows every member 4 per month.

Perfect if: You’re a Christian writer who’d appreciate a guarantee of feedback from your critique group

37. Fantasy & Science Fiction Writers in America Facebook Group

This group for serious, craft-focused speculative fiction writers actually welcomes members from all over the world, as long as they write in English. Members post small excerpts from their work for critique, but they also like to swap trade secrets — about both the craft and business sides of writing life.

Because Fantasy & Science Fiction Writers in America welcomes writers of all ages, members need to keep it PG-13. The four admins keep an eye on things to make sure the discussion stays civil and safe for work.

Perfect if: You’re an aspiring sci-fi or fantasy author not interested in smut or gore

38. Fiction Writing Facebook Group

This 90,000-member Facebook group is moderated by a triumvirate of published authors who’ve banded together to create a space where their fellow writers can swap WIPs. The moderators run a tight ship in terms of hate speech, bullying, and spam, and the resulting community is full of serious writers despite its daunting size.

Fiction Writing members can share the occasional bit of verse in the dedicated #poetry thread, but for the most part, the focus is on short stories and novel excerpts. The moderators also make occasional postings drawing the community’s attention to publishing opportunities, usually in the anthology series they help curate.

Perfect if: You want to dive into a community where you won’t be subjected to endless self-promotion or straight-up hate speech

39. Historical Novel Society Manuscript Facebook Group

This closed Facebook group provides dues-paying members of the Historical Novel Society with a private space to get into the weeds of mutual critique. Manuscript Facebook Group members can, of course, post their manuscripts for general review. They can also use the group to find long-term critique partners.

Membership in the Historical Novel Society costs $50 per year and nets you a free subscription to the Historical Novel Review , a listing in the group’s directory, and notification of the many conferences and colloquia it hosts every year. In addition to its manuscript critique group, the HNS also operates a more general Facebook group where members swap research tips and writing inspiration.

Perfect if: You’re serious about bringing the past to life by writing top-notch historical fiction

40. The Internet Writing Workshop

This site aggregates several genre-specific mailing lists that allow writers to submit their own work and critique one another’s. Dedicated lists for short fiction, book-length projects, romance, poetry, and YA ensure almost every author can find a place to get feedback. Another list dedicated to writing exercises encourages members to respond to weekly prompts — and critique each other’s responses.

To remain in good standing as an Internet Writing Workshop member, you’ll have to commit to a minimum participation requirement. But it’s a pretty modest one, coming down to only half an hour a week. The workshop also runs an active writing advice blog that dates back to 2007.

Perfect if: You want a free, email-based workshop with pretty light participation requirements

41. Kingdom Writers

This email-based critique list provides a home on the internet for Christian writers, both published and unpublished. While encouraged to post work explicitly aimed at their faith community, members can also share more secular writings — as long as they’re PG-13. Civility is a must: works criticizing other religions won’t be tolerated.

Thanks to their fellow Kingdom Writers ’ critiques, participants in this online fellowship have managed to publish a number of books, from devotional texts and Bible trivia to romance and historical fiction.

Perfect if: You’re a Christian writer hoping to join a tight-knit community where you won’t encounter anything NSFW

42. Mystery Writers Forum

This forum for latter-day Arthur Conan Doyles has been around since 1997. With nearly one thousand members roaming its 22 discussion boards, it’s nothing short of an institution.

Still, mystery writers of all kinds can patrol the Writing Advice forum in search of genre-savvy critique partners. There’s plenty more to explore. Whether you’re interested in nailing down the elements of a cozy mystery or confused about how courtroom procedure should work in your trial scene, the Mystery Writers Forum will have something to point you in the right direction.

Perfect if: You have some very specific burning questions that only a fellow mystery buff can answer

43. Online Writing Workshop for Science, Fantasy and Horror

This genre writers’ paradise has a modest price for entry. After a month-long free trial, members pay $49 a year for access to the site’s critique group. But the workshop also operates a scholarship fund for writers having trouble making ends meet. Both agents and publishers keep an eye on submissions through free professional memberships, so a discerning, influential eye just might fall on your manuscript.

Submissions are limited to 7,000 words each, and members of the Online Writing Workshop are required to review if they want to be reviewed. Plenty have found success through the workshop, winning Hugos and scoring Big Five contracts.

Perfect if: You don’t mind paying in exchange for access to a genre-savvy community where some agents and publishers tend to lurk

Speaking of scholarships, if you're a student scraping together tuition, why not apply to writing scholarships to supplement your funds?

44. The Poetry Free-for-All

This online workshop encourages poets to work seriously towards the refinement of their craft, by embracing constructive criticism and learning to offer it in turn. As is standard among critique groups, members have to provide 3 reviews for every piece they submit for feedback.

The Poetry Free-for-All is an offshoot of EveryPoet.com, an archive of poetry designed to instill a love of verse in all visitors. Whether your posting your own verse for critique or browsing through the classics — from Chaucer to Edna St. Vincent Millay — you can easily lose a couple of hours on this site.

Perfect if: You’re a poet who’s serious about your craft, but you want a workshop that’s less structured than some of the other options out there

45. Romance Critters Yahoo Group

This 18+ Yahoo group has been helping serious romance writers refine their craft since 1998. They’ll look at squeaky-clean teen romances, bona fide erotica, and anything in between , where’s it’s historical or set in outer space. However, you’ll have to apply to get access to the community.

Romance Critters members submit a chapter at a time for review — and only once they’ve submitted 2 critiques of other pieces. Ten full critiques can also earn you an in-depth beta read.

Perfect if: You want some well-trained eyes on your meet-cutes — or your sex scenes

46. Screech Poetry Magazine

Despite its name, this isn’t so much a publication as an open forum for posting and critiquing poetry. Think of it as a democratic, crowd-sourced compendium of contemporary verse.

Occasional writing contests tempt entrants with the promise of Amazon vouchers. But for the most part, Screech emphasizes open-hearted sharing over competition. The community has a collective soft spot for Japanese verse forms, from the humble haiku to the lesser-known renga. But poetry of all kinds is welcome, from the the kid-friendly to the NSFW.

Perfect if: You like to experiment with Japanese verse forms and want a critique group that takes them seriously

47. Seekerville

In 2004, 15 women writers with big dreams met at the American Christian Fiction Writers annual conference. Seven years later, all 15 of them had snagged book deals. Now, they run the Seekerville blog to pass their tips on to the next generation of Christian authors.

The Seekerville ladies host periodic Open Critique Days, where they offer feedback on short passages posted by their devoted readership. The most recent one yielded 105 comments.

Perfect if: You’re a Christian woman writer wanting mentorship from some warm-hearted authors who’ve been there before

48. SwoonReads

This YA-focused writing community is owned by Macmillan, one of the storied Big Five publishers. Still, its business model is far from traditional. For one thing, it’s also a publishing imprint. Aspiring authors upload unpublished manuscripts for community members to rate and review — all in the interest of helping Macmillan sniff out the next The Fault in Our Stars or To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before .

SwoonReads accepts YA manuscripts of all kinds, from contemporary romance to supernatural horror. Authors chosen for publication receive a $10,000 advance. Those who find their manuscripts passed over are welcome to revise and resubmit.

Perfect if: You’re a YA novelist dreaming of a Big Five book deal

49. Women’s Fiction Writers Association

This professional association caters to writers of women’s fiction — mostly, though not necessarily, women themselves. According to the group’s homepage, the important thing is that members’ work centers on a well-developed character’s transformative emotional journey. Membership costs $48 a year, but gives you access to a number of perks. In addition to an annual retreat and periodic online pitch sessions — where members can, well, pitch potential agents — the Women's Fiction Writers Association runs two critique programs.

The WFWA Critique Forum Facebook Page allows dues-paying members to swap loglines, query letters, and synopses for feedback, or find fellow writers to arrange manuscript swaps. There’s also the WFWA’s Critique Group Matching Service, where organization leaders break match up interested members based on their interests.

Perfect if: You write emotionally intricate, character-driven fiction

Do you have a go-to writing circle for helpful critiques? Tell us about it in the comments below!

5 responses

Robin Gaster says:

11/09/2019 – 16:39

fascinating that you found almost nothing on nonfiction

11/09/2019 – 22:28

A lot of forum and email based groups along with Facebook. If you only have the online ones that actually workshop the manuscript it will drop down to maybe a 16-17. That does include several closed/not for public groups.

Gregory A. De Feo says:

11/09/2019 – 23:26

Did you hear of www.writersvillage.com? What's your opinion of it, if so?

Ned Marcus says:

18/09/2019 – 00:19

Thanks for the list. It looks good. One other point. You don't need to live in a literary hub to find fellow writers—as long as you do live in a city, you'll probably find other writers. Starting your own critique/writers group can be very productive. It's worked very well for me, even though at the beginning I didn't know what I was doing. I asked an experienced writer and workshop regular (from another city), followed the advice, adjusted it, and now I have a great group with really talented writers as members. It took a few years, but it was worth it.

Bev Hanna says:

20/09/2019 – 18:02

Do you know of any critique forums for memoir and autobiography?

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Welcome to Critique Circle .

Improve your writing skills in one of the largest and longest-running writing communities on the web.

Vibrant writing community

Thousands of writers working together to improve their writing.

It's all about reciprocity

Critique the stories of others and in turn they will crit your stories.

Wide array of tools

CC has many tools to help you improve your writing.

Active forums

Discussion groups on nearly any topic under any sun.

Here's how Critique Circle works.

Continuously improve your writing by critting the works of others and building relationships with other authors who will help you with your own manuscript.

Crit a couple of stories to gain enough credits.

Use your credits to submit your own story for review.

Use the crits to improve your manuscript.

Our members are our biggest fans.

We don't like to brag, but we don't mind letting our members do it for us. Here are a few nice things folks have said about our platform over the years.

“I find CC a brilliant place to polish my ability in writing and read really intriguing chapters from other creative people. I am relatively new to writing but with some more practice on here I am pretty hyped for entering this years NaNoWriMo.” David Arnett, Hartlepool. England.

“"Me like Critique Circle - it good!" That's how I USED to write, before joining Critique Circle. Now, thanks to the many fine members of CC, my writing is much, much gooder. Okay, I'm still a newbie, but it's an improvement. ;)” Mark Dimig-Mathis, I'm from Joisey (exit 10)

“Critique circle has one of the widest scopes of ensuring improvement for real writers. A brilliant step to publication.” Shandana Khalid, Pakistan

“The set-up is really great, and honestly, I couldn't think of a better way for aspiring authors to hone in on the craft. The people are typically nice and it's great to forge, if not friendship, at least mutual respect for other writers.” Kayle Kess, USA

“I’d like to thank members of Critique Circle (www.critiquecircle.com), an online international writing site for all authors, many of whom critiqued my book and significantly improved it. Christine Merritt” Christine Merritt, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

“All with one interest - writing. Mixed ages, sex and abilities, genres and opinions. Helpful and encouraging to all would-be writers. In the many years I have been a member I have benefited enormously from the support. Come and join us!” Dilys White, Cheshire England

“I first learned about Critique Circle from Writers Digest. It is the only writing forum I visit everyday!” Keven Pirritano, CA, USA

“Your story couldn't be shredded in a more constructive manner so: Abandon pride all ye who enter here. This is where you start to improve...” Len Morgan, Hullbridge, Essex, England

“ This site is superior to other ones I've joined. The quality of the reviews and reviewers is exceptional. I have even gone so far as to advertise this site on other critique websites, because I really do think that this one is best!” Anne Jordan, Northern California

“Critique Circle is my new favorite writing workshop! I might just make it my new Home Page!” E. Madison Cawein, Wenatchee,WA. 98801 USA

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Is Critique circle free?

Membership is free and always has been. There is also a premium subscription that you can buy which unlocks additional features and perks.

When was the website started?

Critique Circle first came online in October 2003 and has been running continuously ever since. It is one of the oldest writing websites out there.

How active is Critique Circle?

We have thousands of members that are actively using the site and are closing in on one million served critiques.

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Stories submitted to CC are not considered 'published online' and cannot be found on search engines. You can manage your story accessibility yourself and delete them at any time.

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Free writing critiques.

Quick links on this page:

free writing critique list - professional critiques - rana's biography

Constructive criticism can help you become a better writer. Your family and friends might read your stories and help out, but they're not writers. Their feedback is going to be limited as they're unlikely to be experienced in fiction writing.

So, if you're a beginner, how do you gain helpful writing feedback and good advice without shelling out loads of money for a professional critique service you're not yet ready for?

Simples (please accept my apologies - I can't quite believe I'm quoting a meerkat in a blog post... I must be overtired) . You can seek help from a respected writing community offering encouraging free writing feedback.

I was recently contacted by one of my readers, Rana Tarakji. She suggested that a list of free fiction critiquing opportunities would be a good resource to build. I agreed.

When Rana was researching critiquing services, she came across a number of websites that offer free writing feedback, so she very kindly put a list together for me. You can see the list below - it details some of the best online services available.

After the free writing feedback list, you will find details of professional critique services. These are useful when you have developed your writing and are in need of help from someone with detailed knowledge and direct industry experience.

After that, you will find Rana's biography, as this was her brain child.

If you know of / use / run a website that offers writing feedback or critiquing services, please contact me and I will add the details to the lists below.

Free Writing Feedback

Here are some of the best websites and online writing communities that allow writers to gain writing advice, tips and feedback on their stories free of charge. Websites are listed alphabetically.

1. ABCtales

At the time of writing, ABCtales hosts over 100,000 short stories written by nearly 20,000 authors. Their forums allow writers to share their work with an active community of writers who give feedback and constructive criticism.

In 2016, it looked like ABCTales might close . The writing community were hoping Tony Cook (who runs it) could find someone to either help out with costs, or take it over. While the 'ABC will Tales close' message still exists, the blog is up to date and there are regular new postings (this written in 2018 (and checked again in 2019)) so it looks like the site is still running. I'll leave this listing live until I hear otherwise.

It's worth noting that stories published on ABCTales are made public, so by using the site you might be giving away first publication rights to any stories you post.

Bookrix is a self-publishing platform that allows you to engage with community members and promote your work. They help you with publishing and distribution via Amazon and other major online retailers.

3. British Science Fiction Association

There are currently 7 groups, called Orbits, looking at short story or novel length stories. They are all online, usually by simple email, and focus on SF, fantasy or horror. Members of the BSFA enjoy free entry to one or both groups which are small and have been successful for many years now. The original Orbits were actually postal.

The normal ‘round’ is bimonthly, with a maximum submission of 15,000 words.

The aim is to improve writing skills so while all members are polite, and invariably very friendly, the feedback aims at professional standards. Members range from complete beginners to multi-published, and live in quite a surprising number of countries, so being a Brit is not a requirement.

Please note, you do have to be a BSFA member to take part, but their membership costs are very reasonable.

4. Critique Circle

Based in Iceland, Critique Circle is an award winning website that has been running since 2003. At the time of writing they have posted almost 120,000 stories which have received over 550,000 critiques. They offer active forums and a great community.

Here is a comment from one of my website users, Alex Guerriero, about his experiences with this website:

I have tried Critique Circle and I found it very helpful. Reading somebody else's work makes you more aware of your own mistakes.

5. DeviantArt

A website that is primarily aimed at artists, but is also aimed at any form of art, including fiction writing. DeviantArt has been running since August 2000 and has over 38 million members.

6. Indie Novella

Indie Novella are a non-profit cooperative. Their team comprises authors, writers and illustrators who hold MAs in literature and publishing. They have worked and studied with publishing houses such as Curtis Brown and Faber.

You can submit the opening 10,000 words of your novel / novella to them and they will provide feedback. If they like your story, they may request your full manuscript to read.

Inkitt offer publishing advice, free writing competitions and encourage kind and constructive feedback from community members. Their content is curated, but they boast a 24 hour turnaround time for any submission.

They employ a strategy to get authors to the top of Amazon best seller lists. You can learn more about that on their website .

There are 2 case studies about Inkitt on my blog. The first is by HR Kemp and the second is by Simone Elise .

Mibba is a creative writing website with a growing audience. It was developed for writers to share their stories, poems, blogs and books and then gain feedback from community members.

9. Pen Factor

A platform that is passionate about giving emerging writers more encouragement and feedback. To participate, you have to give feedback to other writers before receiving feedback on your own stories.

This was recommended by Chris Nelson, one of my website users. He said:

Reddit's r/Writing subreddit has a weekly 'critique' thread with the week's current submittals out for review and comment.

It looks quite active, so it well worth checking out.

11. Scribophile

Aimed at writers of all skill levels, Scribophile encourages members to share their experiences and give respectful feedback in their friendly community forums. At the time of writing they have served almost 650,000 critiques for almost 110,000 submitted works, so it's a highly active community.

American author, Rebecca Henderson, has written about her experiences of using Scribophile for my website. In her post, she shows how she used the critiques she received from Scribophile users to improve her short story 'The Keymaster'. She then submitted her story to BLYNKT - they accepted the story and published it.

You can read Rebecca's story and case study here .

A note from Poornanand Goswami, one of my website users, about Scribophile:

I personally checked out each site listed on this page and I found Scribophile to be the best. Let me tell you how this works. You've got to critique at least 4 works to earn karma points. Your critique should be at least 125 words. If you spend 5 karma points, your work is placed in the 'spotlight'. 1 story will gainat least 8 critiques, some short, some long. The longer the critique, greater the credit.

Scrib is good and free, but only let's you post 2 works at a time. I'll have to wait for at least 30 days for everyone to critique my work. Then I'll delete them and post another story.

12. Story Write and All Poetry

Story Write and All Poetry were suggested for inclusion on this page by writer Seay Donovan, who has been using the platforms for 20 years. Shay said:

The community is wonderfully kind and attentive, and made up of everyone from amateurs to published authors from all over the world. They offer free courses, contests, and author pages for posting to gain feedback. They provide paid memberships as well for writers who want to add art to their words or wish to post more and comment less. Author’s maintain full rights to their work on these sites.

Peer review system aimed specifically at short stories, giving objective feedback via an online community.

This website was recommended for the lists by Dianne Bown-Wilson, one of my website users. Dianne has used the site and found it very helpful and learnt lots from it. For more information, see Dianne's notes in the comments at the bottom of the page.

A note from Poornanand Goswami, one of my website users, about Taylz:

I'd say Taylz is a good option, but the style of critique is not as good as Scribophile. The options are limited. It asks various questions regarding the story. It doesn't let you choose what work you'd like to review.

A response from Taylz founder, Jonathan. He contacted me after one of his users saw Poornanand's comments and felt that Taylz was being done a bit of a disservice, as Poornanand seemed to have missed the point of the website.

Taylz was designed for writers, not readers. It is indeed not in the style of other sites and, yes, the options are limited, but this is by design. The stories are allocated randomly and reviewed anonymously, so that there is no way to ‘game’ the system (back-scratching is very common on sites that allow users to choose the stories they review), and I maintain that it thus provides the most honest, frank reviews on the web. We are working hard to add more functions to Taylz, on a limited budget, but for the time being are focussing on delivering useful reviews, rather than the bells and whistles that other sites provide.

We want Taylz to be the place that serious writers choose.

Jonathan also shared the email exchange he had with Poornanand with me. His responses were polite, professional and explained everything very clearly.

Another note, from user Jack Effron:

A good British site! They are the only free site that has some good discipline (you must critique what they give you, no mucking about and you can complain about unfair critiques).

The administrator of Taylz is good, with a great vision, but his site has problems which I run to him with daily. He does sort them, though, patiently and supportively.

14. The Phare

The Phare is magazine that also offers a community forum where members can support other writers by offering feedback, advice and guidance. Members also have access to extras such as online workshops and events.

15. WritersCafe.org

A community offering proofreading, constructive criticism and general advice and feedback on both fiction and non-fiction writing.

16. YouWriteOn

Another site suggested by Dianne Bown-Wilson, who has used the site and found it really useful. Again, her notes can be seen in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

YouWriteOn is associated with FeedARead. Every 4 months, the authors who sell the most books on FeedARead receive feedback from publishers of authors like Dan Brown, Terry Pratchett and Ian Rankin.

A note from Jack Effron, one of my website users, about YouWriteOn:

YouWriteOn is still good but seems to have a small base of participants and some trouble getting stories critiqued. They also get bulk spammed in the forums which can be annoying.

A note from Pete Pitman, in July 2020:

Hi Chris, I've been trying to get into YouWriteOn's website for weeks, but can't get in. So, finding your helpful website has given me the opportunity to try a couple of alternative sites.

I had a look and YouWriteOn's website is inaccessible. After a bit of digging, I found some information on Paul Samael's website. He said, "... in December 2019, YouWriteOn announced that it is to close, although it is hoping to re-emerge following a kickstarter campaign to fund a new website." You can see more information on Paul's website .

I'm assuming the kickstarter campaign was unsuccessful, although those types of crowdfunding efforts can take a long time. So, for now I have disabled the link but left the listing here. I shall update it if YouWriteOn re-emerges at a later date.

Another Useful Resource From Reedsy

Reedsy have a useful resource titled 50 Places to Find a Critique Circle to Improve Your Writing . This also gives details of other places you can get writing critiques / assessments and feedback.

back to top

Professional Writing Critiques

Free writing critiques are great - they can be helpful and give you great advice when you're starting out. However, as you become more accomplished, you will need an expert to work with.

These professional services cost money, but you are usually receiving feedback from a successful editor, publisher or writer who can draw on extensive real-life experience to help you develop your stories so they have a much better chance of being published.

Here are details of some professional services that might be of interest to you. My writing services are included in this list, but I also link to other well reputed services so writers can research the market and see which appeals to them most.

1. Christopher Fielden's Critique Services

I relaunched my professional short story and poetry critique service in 2018 after putting together a team of highly experienced proofreaders and editors.

All are award winning writers and editors, some with backgrounds in education. Each member of the team has lots of real life experience to draw on, including extensive experience with writing critiques and helping authors develop their skills.

You can learn more about all my writing services here .

2. Flash Fiction Masters

Flash Fiction Magazine run a Flash Fiction Masters program that offers 1 flash fiction critique a month (for stories of 300 to 1,000 words). There's an annual fee, or you can pay monthly. They also run an active Facebook group, where writers comment on each other's work.

3. Henshaw Press

Henshaw Press run regular short story competitions and offer reasonably priced critiques to entrants. They also run a separate critique service, and a proofreading service, both of which are very reasonably priced.

I used Jacqui Bennett Writers Bureau to critique and edit my first novel, Wicked Game . I worked closely with Doug Watts and found his feedback invaluable. JBWB offer an excellent service at an affordable price.

5. Lynn Love

Lynn is a widely published writer. She is a reader for the Bristol Short Story Prize and is represented by Susan Armstrong at C&W. And she is also a critical reader. You can find out about her services on her website.

6. The Next Big Writer

Launched in 2005, The Next Big Writer give members access to constructive criticism from 1,000's of writers living all over the world. They also run writing contests.

They offer a 7 day free trial, although the trial does not allow you to post anything, so you need to part with cash to make proper use of the platform.

7. Writer's Digest

I haven't used these services myself, but have heard good things about them from my website users a few times. Writer's Digest offer reasonably priced services for all aspects of writing, including short stories, picture books, synopsis and query letters.

However, I have also received some negative comments about WD's services. Here is a comment from one of my website users, Alex Guerriero, about his experiences with Writer's Digest services:

Writer's Digest was a big disappointment because their critique was very superficial and although I was told a follow up was part of the process I had to send several messages before I got a reply. It was very frustrating, I had to wait a month. I don't recommend it.

While Alex's experience wasn't great, I have left the details here so you can research the company and make up your own mind. They do have a good a reputation.

Rana Tarakji's Biography

Rana Tarakji is an American/Lebanese female entrepreneur, writer and digital marketer.

After having worked in one of the fastest growing companies alive - Groupon - Rana has launched and funded an internet start-up called Cary , a pre-owned marketplace based in the United Arab Emirates.

Since then, Rana has remained a co-founder at Cary but ceased being involved in the operations in order to start he own small online business Stylerail , an online beauty shop and blog.

Rana has been focusing mainly on her online business as well as on freelance writing, and has had articles published on dozens of respected websites and blogs.

You can connect with Rana on:

Big Thanks To Rana

I'd like to say a massive thank you to Rana for coming up with the idea for this resource and helping me develop it.

If you have any ideas about other useful writing resources that could be developed on this site, please get in touch with me using the comments form below or visit my contact page .

This page may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy .

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Dianne BW Hi Chris, thanks for your excellent post on this – and the basis of a very useful list. Two additions you might want to consider are:

Both of these sites run a peer review system of writers reviewing other writers’ work. While this means that some reviews may not be of the highest quality, in general, most are fair and helpful and also, as a writer, one learns a great deal by reading/reviewing other writers’ work. That’s my experience anyway and I use/have used both these sites. NB they can also help writers understand that regardless of its quality, ultimately not everyone will like your work, for whatever reason.

By the way, ABC Tales is currently due to close on Dec 31st – you might want to check this later to ensure your list is up to date.

Thanks again for all your helpful input to the writing community. Much appreciated! :-)

Chris Fielden Thanks very much, Dianne. I’ve added those sites to the lists and credited you as suggesting them.

That’s a shame about ABCTales. I'll keep an eye out and update the site.

Brendan OM Hi Chris, when I see anything on the Internet with the word 'Free' in the caption, I always take it with a pinch of salt. The 'Critque Circle' is just that. Convoluted, punctuated with you don't have 'enough credits' yet to submit your story for critique, the 'notorious' join 'premium membership' and access this and that for a monthly direct debit... NO says I. The other sites are likely no different. Nothing is free on the internet!

Chris Fielden Hi Brendan. I see where you’re coming from with this comment, but websites like these are a full time job to run, so they have to offer paid services or they wouldn’t exist. At some point I’ll have to figure out a way of making a living from my site as my savings are depleting rapidly and a man has to eat. I’ve been trying to make income by displaying adverts, but am well short of making enough to live on. I don’t want the ads to become too intrusive. It’s difficult to strike the balance between offering a supportive platform that people can use and earning a living.

Also, writing communities require input to get output. I don’t think anyone should expect others to critique their work for no monetary payment without reciprocating. Many writers are very strong advocates of sites like these and I’ve heard some great success stories from people who get involved. Critiquing other people’s work is a great way of improving your own writing. However, I appreciate they aren’t for everyone and do understand your point. Maybe ‘free’ is the wrong word – any suggestions for a better one would be gratefully received :-)

Brendan OM Thank you for your reply, Chris.

Maybe it was just me sounding off my frustration at so many site using the word 'free'. In far too many sites, generally speaking, 'free' usually means free to join using your name and email. After that the fine prints hits you. Of course I understand your point about costs involved and I know you've been trying your best to promote important services and provide advice and guidance. I have already bought both your books - How to Self Publish and How to Write a Short Story. I also refer to your table of short story competitions regularly.

Chris Fielden Hi Brendan. Yes, I do know what you mean. I share your dislike of fine-print and wish more sites were a little more open about that kind of thing from the off.

Thanks for buying my books – I hope you enjoyed them/found them useful :-)

Sylvie S You are actually quoting a fictional meercat in the intro (paragraph three)!

Having spoken to a few meercats in our local zoo, I can report that they are highly scornful of the carricature and have shown this by refusing to repeat the word 'simples' to me during any of our, rather one sided conversations!

First time on your site and am enjoying the information, thank you.

Chris Fielden So you're telling me that talking meercats aren't real?

You'll be telling me Santa doesn't exist next... :-)

Glad to hear you're enjoying the site.

Sylvie S When discussing Santa with zoo reindeers recently, it appears their believe in the generous saint remains undaunted! The real controversy surrounds Rudolf who they believe was actually a bit of a Port guzzler, hence the red, shiny nose and the ridicule he suffered from the others. Perhaps this led to the tradition of leaving out a mince pie and a glass of sherry. Mince pie for Santa whilst a  frenzied search for more alcohol by Rudolph aids the speeding sleigh.

Chris Fielden Thanks, Sylvie, that makes complete sense and puts my mind at rest :-)

Alex Christopher, many thanks for these recommendations. I have tried Critique Circle and I found it very helpful. Reading somebody else's work makes you more aware of your own mistakes.

Also I tried Writer's Digest. It was a big disappointment because their critique was very superficial and although I was told a follow up was part of the process I had to send several messages before I got a reply. It was very frustrating, I had to wait a month. I don't recommend it.

Chris Fielden Thanks for your feedback, Alex - much appreciated.

I've placed your comments in the relevant listings :-)

Emily T Hi there. My co-worker gave me a little bit of what she started writing and I thought it was pretty good. She is Indian and has had quite a life. She started to write a little and gave it to me. I was curious as to what you would say to her about her writing. If you can give any feedback, that would be wonderful!

Chris Fielden Hi Emily. I'm afraid I receive many requests like this and have to turn them all down - I simply don't have time to read other writer's stories for free.

You can learn about my paid proofreading service here .

You can find out about other websites that offer free feedback on the page above - there are many listed. However, these are community sites, so your colleague would have to sign up and engage with the community to receive feedback.

I hope that's helpful and wish your friend the best of luck with their writing :-)

Poornanand G Hey there. I'd like to tell you that you haven't mentioned how any of these site works. I personally checked out each site and I would say I didn't find any of them as good as Scribophile. For those who wanna know, lemme tell you how this works. [See main page for Poornanand's comments on the different websites - CF]

Which site will you liked the most? Comment and let me know.

Chris Fielden Thanks for your comments, Poornanand. I've added the ones about Scribophile and Taylz to the main page. I didn't add the ABC Tales comment as it didn't explain why you thought the critique wasn't constructive. If you supply a bit more detail about 'why' I will add your comments to the page. Thanks for the information you've provided - very helpful and much appreciated.

Chris N This is a good list.  I'll start to work through it - from the 'review and comment' side, since I don't care much to do my own writing any more, but I do like to encourage and assist new writers and see new material.

But I'm surprised that you didn't mention Reddit.

[NOTE - the rest of Chris's comment has been added to the resource above]

Chris Fielden Hi Chris. Glad to hear you found this resource useful.

Thanks for letting me know about Reddit. I've added details, along with your comments, to the page above.

Jack E A great idea but you ought to try to sign up with one each month and see what happens.

Several of these are not critique sites or have bad reputations on the internet.

The best one I have seen is YouWriteOn but I am trying them now. If they do prove better than the others - or don't - I will come back here to say so.

Chris Fielden Thanks, Jack.

I'm so busy I don't have time to sign up and use all these sites myself, so any feedback from users is much appreciated.

Some of the sites are writing communities, rather than specific critique sites, but you can ask other users for feedback and critiques by using them.

I hope you find the sites you sign up to beneficial. Any feedback would be very much appreciated.

Jack E Dear Chris. The list of recommended sites need periodic review. Some sites do not work, have negative reports on the internet or are publishers rather than writing sites. The only really good and really free one I have found is You Write On, so far excellent after a few days of service. Sponsored by the British Council and apparently has links with major publishers who may lurk there reading. Their members have got published by traditional publishers. Yes, you have to write reviews (like a commune, if you eat you have to grow food) but 1 point and 1 critique per critique you write: clear and fair. I did not try Trailz, Next Big Writer or Writer's Cafe so I cannot comment.

Hope that this feedback is helpful.

Chris Fielden Hi Jack. Thanks for this, very useful.

This post was written by a guest author, Rana Tarakji, who did have experience with all of the sites. I run lists of thousands of writing resources (competitions, magazines, writing platforms and much more). There is no way any one person could test all of them, unfortunately.

I have added details of a few extra resources to this list over time, as users have suggested them. This website is run like a community, with input from lots of users who share their experiences, so that’s how the sites are ‘tested’ if you like. The more people, like yourself, who share their experiences and opinions, the better. It helps give a balanced view. The aim is to help writers discover potential avenues that might be of interest to them. They then have to do the research and see which ones they’d like to consider using. Everyone is different, so it’s down to the individual.

Re publisher sites, agreed, but they offer a platform with many users who can give authors feedback on their work, so they are relevant to this resource.

I have seen many negative reports about a lot of the businesses and platforms I detail on this site. I have also seen many positive ones. As an example, I work directly with Inkitt and know their team. They are good people who genuinely try and help authors. They also have some excellent results and case studies to prove it. Their negative reviews largely refer to marketing tactics that were used when the company was in its infancy. These are not used anymore and Inkitt have evolved in a positive way. You will always find positive and negative reviews about platforms like this – it’s down to the individual to research each one and form their own opinion.

Thanks for your comments about the other platforms. I have added what you said about YouWriteOn to the main page.

Jack E A big 'Shukraan' to Rana Tarakji. This is a brilliant idea which has helped me and, I'm sure, many other writers.

Chris Fielden Awesome, thanks Jack. Will let Rana know :-)

Rana T Thanks a lot, Jack, I hope you've found this useful! :)

John L With each passing day, I find that the only thing I am looking for is feedback. There can be no growth without it. I have looked at some sites, and understand some of the frustrations contained within the comments. I have been a member of Critique Circle for six months now and it has been beneficial.

It's true that nothing is for free, but if you cannot invest a few moments to help others why should they do so for you? It's a fair trade, and you can pick and choose those sites that you wish to go 'premium' with, or not.

I have been unsuccessful in finding a critique partner that I could work with closely. If you have any information to that end it would be highly appreciated. Maybe you could put an article together on the subject.

I enjoyed the post. Thanks. I will be looking into most of them.

Chris Fielden Hi John. Thank you for your message.

I couldn't agree with your assessment more. Another thing worth noting is that a writer can learn just as much from critiquing other writer's stories, as they can from receiving critiques on their own work. It all helps you develop as a writer.

I've found the best way to gain insightful critiques is to join a local writing group. I'm in a small group with 7 members and we all regularly meet up and critique each other's work. Having a variety of reading tastes in the group really helps - if more than one person picks up on the same issue, you know you have a problem. And different people pick up different problems too. Still, I'd recommend a small group as too many opinions can be overwhelming. I've found that since joining the group, my publication success rate has more than doubled. You might find that better than just working with a single partner, but you may also find someone in a group who you could partner up in. So it's worth exploring.

Putting a post together on the subject matter is on my 'to do' list already, but as my list of tasks is a tad epic, it is unlikely to happen any time soon.

Anyway, I hope my comments are useful :-)

Lynn C Hi Chris. Having read your comments on JBWB, I decided to have a look at their critique services and sent off my 300-word free critique. I received a wonderful email reply and immediately decided to have my first novel critiqued by Doug. I know it's in safe hands and he will help me get to the best my novel can be.

I only found your website yesterday by chance, but I have listed it amongst my favourites on my PC.  I will be a frequent visitor. Thank you.

Chris Fielden Hi Lynn. That's great news. Doug is a total legend and I'm sure you will find his help invaluable. I wish you the best of luck with your novel and thank you for bookmarking the site.

I run an email newsletter, which you can sign up to here . I send out an email every week or two or three about all sorts of writing related stuff. Just thought I'd mention it, in case it's of interest :-)

Pete P Hi Chris, I've been trying to get into YouWriteOn's website for weeks, but can't get in. So, finding your helpful website has given me the opportunity to try a couple of alternative sites.

Taylz are in the process of updating their site, so I've left my email address for them to notify me when it's ready.

Chris Fielden Hi Pete, thanks for letting me know about YouWriteOn - much appreciated.

I found some information on Paul Samael's website. He said, "... in December 2019, Youwriteon announced that it is to close, although it is hoping to re-emerge following a kickstarter campaign to fund a new website." As it's now July, I guess that didn't happen. You can find more info on Paul's website .

I have made an update to the listing on my website and will update it if it reappears.

Good luck with Taylz - I've heard good things about them and Jonathan, who runs it, is great.

Thanks again for your help :-)

Edward S Hi Chris, you are doing quite a service to the community. But what about us memoir writers. Where's our list of free? Fiction ain't everything. If you ain't got no list but know of one or two,  please send them to me.

Sorry, I can't prove I'm a human.

Chris Fielden Hi Ed. Thank you for your message.

Many of these platforms are set up for fiction and non-fiction. I simply mention fiction more often as that is what my website is focussed on. So I'd recommend looking at the platforms listed to see what they do. You may find many accept memoirs and other forms of non-fiction.

I have a list of memoir competitions on my website. But there are very few that I'm aware of... If you know of any to add, then please do let me know.

I hope that helps :-)

Marge P How do I join your club? I am 87 years young, and have written over 150 books on personal development, senior issues, and some poetry. I need help and guidance on query letters and book proposals. Any advice?

Chris Fielden Hi Marge, thanks for you for your message. I usually advise writers to keep their query letters concise and to the point, listing relevant information and experience, but it depends on the agent / publisher that you intend to approach and what they request in their submission guidelines.

I'd recommend starting by researching who you wish to approach, find out what they ask for and then tailor your proposal for them. The most recent Writers' & Artists' Yearbook and Mslexia's Indie Publishing Guide are a good places to start this type of research.

I hope that helps and I wish you the best of luck with your submissions :-)

Marge P Thank you so much for the info!

Chris Fielden No problem, Marge - all the best :)

Mark Hey Christopher, thanks for this summary and making the extra effort to include your members comments. I found them very useful.

This is just my 2 cents rather than anything actionable. I'm not expecting it to be added as a comment. Just wondering what your experienced view has to say re my experiences.

With the aim of getting two short stories critiqued, I read the observations and chose Scribophile and Critique Circle. I then signed up and made an attempt on Scrib. to leave a critique.

As an aside, I was surprised that the first three stories that I read had a significant number of grammatical and word choice issues. One so much so that it was almost unreadable.

Nevertheless, I ploughed on with the  third story as it had a wonderful narrative and plot.

I tried the inline and prose reviews but found the site's tools extremely cumbersome. Most people remark on how adept I am at using technology and thus I was surprised at how I struggled to produce a quality review in a reasonable amount of time.

Sorry for the diatribe - my question is really this: do these sites really expect reviewers to spent 1-2 hours (the time I would expect to do a descent job on 3,000 words) for one review and then repeat this X number of times to get some feedback?

I'm quite happy to put in the time and love to help others. It's just that I don't want to feel like I'm fighting the site as I'll eventually lose my cool with the result that the review will be a shortened version and perhaps not as constructive as I would have wished.

I wonder if you have any recommendations for a more manageable platform?

Chris Fielden Hi Mark, thanks for your message.

Personally, I favour face to face writing groups. My experience with those is that you find like-minded writers you can work with in a constructive and positive way. I haven't used sites like Scribophile etc. because I've never need to. I'm fortunate to have a local writing group that works really well - we critique each other's work and run spoken word events. I have heard from other writers that free writing critique sites can be really useful, but can also be a bit hit and miss with quality. You have to spend some time finding what works best for you. Many writers use them to find other writers on their wavelength and then develop relationships outside the platforms, undertaking critiques for one another etc.

My advice would be to try the platforms for a while and see what works best for you as a writer. Also, research local groups or online groups you can join that might offer what you're looking for. You can start by looking at this writing groups resource on my site.

I hope that helps and wish you the very best with your writing in the future :)

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Critique the stories of others and in turn they will crit your stories.

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Crit a couple of stories to gain enough credits.

Use your credits to submit your own story for review.

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Critique vs. Criticism: How to Write a Good Critique, with Examples

by Daniel Rodrigues-Martin

Understanding critique vs. criticism

We all assign merit to the information we experience daily. We “judge” what we hear on the news. We “evaluate” a university lecture. We “like” or “dislike” a movie, a meal, a photo, a story. We’re all critics.

Some writer-readers struggle with this point, especially if they are young to writing and editing. Sitting in a judgment of another writer’s work often feels distasteful, and doing so may conjure negative memories of when we were misunderstood or dismissed by others.

Conversely, we might be willing to share our opinions with other writers while struggling with our competence. We can’t seem to say anything constructive. If we’re critiquing on Scribophile, we may feel that we are wasting one of the author’s coveted “spotlight” critiques.

Having used Scribophile on-and-off since 2009, I’ve seen countless readers qualify their commentary on my own work (“I don’t read your genre,” “I haven’t read your previous chapters,” “I’m not good with grammar,” etc.) and I’ve seen even more cry woe on the forums about how they can’t critique because they’re not experienced enough, not educated enough, or not talented enough. Others decry the very sort of criticism writers’ groups and workshop sites like Scribophile foster, suggesting that the perfunctory nature of such criticism is ultimately more harmful than helpful.

Scribophile as a community thrives on the principle of serious commitment to serious writing, and the foundation of that commitment is reading and responding to others’ work. If you want to explore some elements helpful to improving your critiquing skills, I invite you to get yourself some hot caffeine, strap on your thinking cap, and read on.

How to write a great critique in 3 steps

Listed here are some ideas I’ve found helpful for approaching others’ work; these tips are about your mindset as a critic. These ideas are by no means exhaustive. The best teacher is experience, and I encourage all writers to reflect on the ways in which they approach others’ work as well as how they can best contribute to the growth of others on and off of Scribophile.

1. If you’re genuine, you’ll be constructive

Being constructive means coming to the critique with the ultimate goal of helping the writer improve. It means always criticizing with good intentions for the writer. It does not equate to coddling—being so nice you’ll never say a hard thing—nor does it equate to browbeating—being so hard you’ll never say a nice thing.

Being dishonest or refusing to offer valid criticism where you’re able is a disservice to the writer. Don’t shy away from honesty. Few things are more constructive than hard truths delivered by critics who genuinely want to help and who tailor their criticism with an attitude of genuine interest.

As you interact with works on Scribophile or elsewhere, remember to always approach the task of criticism with a desire to be genuinely helpful. If your criticism is built on this foundation, your commentary will be constructive regardless of your competence and experience.

2. No jerks

As for literary criticism in general: I have long felt that any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel or a play or a poem is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae or a banana split. —Kurt Vonnegut

Few things will more quickly deflate a writer than unnecessarily harsh criticism. Being honest and being brutal are not the same thing. Critics must learn to express hard truths without coddling and without being jerks.

Even rude people can be good writers with valuable insights into the craft. The problem is that if you express valid insights obnoxiously, the author won’t care. In order for people to listen, they must feel that the person criticizing them has their best interest in mind, and being harsh doesn’t communicate your best interest.

In my earliest days writing, I received some negative criticism from a writer who decided to berate me for penning a bad phrase rather than explaining to me why the phrase didn’t work. Because he was rude, I insulated myself to his criticism. Years later, I reviewed the work and realized his criticism was valid. The problem was not the content of his criticism, but its malicious delivery. Had he come to my work with the desire to be genuinely helpful, I would have listened to what he had to say, and I might even have gained some enlightenment during a formative time in my writing career. The critic did me doubly wrong not only by being obnoxious, but by retarding my growth as a writer.

Unnecessarily harsh criticism is a sign of literary and personal immaturity. Don’t be a jerk.

3. Don’t be too timid

Flattering friends corrupt. —St. Augustine

Every writer likes to be praised, especially by those not obligated to praise them due to marital status or having given birth to them. But depthless praise can be just as damaging as heartless criticism. The reason for this is that it offers no real commentary on the work.

Refusing to offer criticism where it’s needed is one of the greatest disservices you as a critic can do for other writers. Some critics may fret that their criticism might be too discouraging if fully disclosed. Critics must contend with the reality that writing is art, people have opinions about art, and those opinions are not always going to be eruptions of praise. There is no safer environment to honestly and succinctly point out problem areas in a piece of writing than a forum designed for that very purpose.

None of this is to say that you shouldn’t commend a piece of work if it truly is fantastic or that you should not highlight the gems within a work. Again: constructive criticism is honest criticism. If a work is so well-crafted in your eyes that nothing worse than grammatical hiccups are present, tell the writer. They deserve to know they’ve done a fine job. Sometimes people genuinely deserve a “well done.” Don’t skimp on encouragement where it can be authentically offered. Even if a piece is messy, do your best to find a few strong points to highlight. It will express your best interest—especially if you had a lot of hard things to say.

The difference between a critique vs. criticism is whether it’s constructive

Be constructive , meaning, have the best intentions for helping the writer. This may mean telling hard truths. If hard truths must be told, do so respectfully. If praise is deserved, offer it. Highlight the strong points of a piece—even if they are far outweighed by the negative points. Be genuine in your motivations, and genuine action will follow.

Considering authorial intent while critique writing

This section concerns authorial intent and has as its purpose the critic’s growth as an interpreter of that intent. This section is not so much about judging an author’s intent as it’s about being aware of that intent and factoring that awareness into your commentary.

1. Context is king

It is important to appreciate the amount of subjectivity and pre-understanding all readers and listeners bring to the process of interpreting acts of human communication. But unless a speaker or author can retain the right to correct someone’s interpretation by saying ‘but that’s not what I meant’ or ‘that’s not even consistent with what I meant,’ all human communication will quickly break down. —Craig L. Blomberg

While interpreters are always within their rights to read whatever they want however they want to, what they are not at liberty to decide is authorial intent —what the author desired the audience to receive from their work.

As a reader and a critic, you must be careful to understand an author’s work on their own terms while also interpreting those words. There is a substantial difference between, “This is how I’m hearing what you’re saying,” and, “This is what I say your words mean.” Don’t presume to tell an author what their work is supposed to mean, but do tell them how you’re interpreting what they’ve written.

A work-in-progress can suffer from a variety of ailments. Contextual questions are not cut-and-dry like questions of syntax, grammar, or, to a degree, plotting. Questions of context have to do with the interaction of author intent and reader interpretation. They’re murky waters to navigate because you as the reader have to exercise a bit of telepathy; you have to try and get inside the author’s head, ultimately “What is the author trying to convey with this sentence, this piece? Who is this piece for, and will it successfully communicate with that target audience? Is it clear that there is a target audience?”

Some authors are great at genre pieces; they know all the chords to strike, they know what the tone of the piece should be, the kinds of characters who should appear. Other authors can completely muck it up. They’ll write a romance piece that reads like a technical manual or a flowery memoir with a tangle of dead-ending tangents. It’s not always easy and natural for new critics to explain why something does or doesn’t work, but innately, we know. When those moments come up, let the author know.

2. The unintended/unspoken

Asking the question, “Is that really what you meant?” isn’t always bad. All of us have been misunderstood. Sometimes the results are humorous, but other times, we’re grateful for the opportunity to correct misunderstandings.

If in your criticism you find yourself questioning the use of a word or phrase, or even of a character, idea, or plot point, it’s advisable to bring such questions to the writer’s attention. It may just be you, but it may not just be you. Unless the writer has a philosophical axe to grind, they probably mean to communicate clearly, and it should at least be made known that they may have botched it up.

Conversely, there are instances where things left unwritten speak volumes. Perhaps a character “falls off the radar” in mid-scene, and it leaves you scratching your head? It may be appropriate to point out confusing instances of the unwritten for the author’s consideration.

Because my own novel employs many neologisms, critics jumping in mid-story often highlight those neologisms to make sure I’m using them as intended. While it can get tedious to say to myself, “Yes, that is what it means,” I am always thankful for keen eyes. This is the kind of sharp, considerate criticism each of us should aim for and be thankful for if we receive it.

3. Accounting for genre and intended audience

A genre is “A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, marked by a distinctive style, form, or content.” When reading an author’s work, it’s crucial to take into account its genre and intended audience. If you’re even-handed in your critiquing, you’ll at some point be reading a story in a genre you might not otherwise touch, and while you might wish Twilight had been a one-off rather than a worldwide phenomenon, it’s inappropriate to harshly judge an author’s work simply because you don’t like their sort of story.

Consider the question of author intent and how that intent will resonate with an intended (or unintended!) audience. Sometimes, you must ignore whether or not a story resonates with you personally. Instead, ask yourself if it would resonate with your vampire-novel-loving daughter. Are the story, plot devices, characters, and verbiage appropriate for the intended audience? If yes, why or why not? If no, why or why not? Your personal tastes should not dictate the quality of your criticism. Train yourself to offer valuable insight even on writing you’d never pay money to read.

Remember these principles when reading work outside your sphere of interest. Being constructive doesn’t mean you have to love or even like the work. If something is written well, it’s written well—prejudices aside. If you’re truly unable to be objective, you would do the writer a better service by moving on.

4. Don’t pretend to be a non-writer

A film director watches other films differently than a moviegoer. A chef tastes a meal differently than the average person. As a writer, you necessarily see stories differently than non-writers. That’s not a bad thing.

We can be helpful to other writers by sharing our gut reactions no differently than an unversed beta reader. On the other hand, writers should be able to explain with more clarity than the average person why something does or doesn’t work in a story. A writer’s insight is of a different quality than a non-initiate’s insight. Both are needed for success, because if a writer one day moves on to pitch their work to those in the literary establishment, that work will not be judged by average readers until after it has survived the professional gauntlet.

All readers have the ability to share their gut reactions, but not all readers can slip on their “writer glasses” and offer critique on that level. Good critiques provide both types of insight, so as a fellow writer, bring your full experience to bear in helping others embarking on the same journey.

Understanding intent is part of a good critique

As best as you’re able, judge an author’s work on the basis of their intent—this includes noting instances of the unintended! In consideration of genre, judge the work not on the basis of your interest in the genre, but on the author’s skill at writing a piece that strikes the proper chords within the genre they’ve chosen. It’s not possible for you to read as a reader only, so don’t pretend to be something you’re not.

What makes a good critique?

A good writer may come out of any intellectual discipline at all. Every art and science gives the writer its own special ways of seeing, gives him experience with interesting people, and can provide him with means of making a living… It is not necessary—or perhaps even advisable—that the young writer major in literature. —John Gardner

Contrary to the belief of a lot of new writers, learning to write and critique doesn’t require sixty-four credits of college English or an MFA. Plenty of writers and editors don’t hold English or Creative Writing degrees, and while I in no way wish to discourage those who choose to improve their writing and reviewing by taking the high road of formal education, neither do I wish to discourage the 98% of you reading this who haven’t and won’t be able to front the money and time for such an education.

The ability to forge valid criticism is an applied skill learned through a combination of technical knowledge and experience. We’re fortunate to live in an age where vast quantities of technical information are available at our fingertips. Contemporary writers are able to write informed literature like never before. So, too, are critics able to fact-check writers like never before.

Just as you’re willing to fact-check history or science before you include something in your story, it doesn’t hurt to do that for those you critique. Granted, they should do that themselves, but maybe they’re writing a genre you write, or maybe they’re writing about your field of work or interest? Being educated or experienced in any field will enrich not only your writing, but your critiquing. If you’re a fry cook, your ability to write or critique a scene in a modern commercial kitchen is better than that of someone who hasn’t had that experience. Because you know what it’s like to really work in a kitchen, you can speak to the authenticity of any such scene, and you can speak to the authenticity of the kinds of people who work in commercial kitchens. Your grammar may not be the best, but you still have something valuable to contribute.

Great writers are keen observers of life, and their writing both informs and is by informed by life. Bring the authenticity of your life to your writing and your criticism. You have perspectives, knowledge, and experiences others don’t. As you read and respond to authors, employ the skills and knowledge you already possess. Put your formal and informal education and your life experience to work. This is what it means to “write what you know” and, in our case, “critique what you know.”

Immerse yourself in all sorts of stories to get better at critiquing

One of the cardinal “writing for dummies” rules is that if you want to write well, you need to read a lot. I don’t doubt the validity of this statement, but books are only one medium of storytelling among many. My contention is that by immersing yourself in movies, television, and other storytelling mediums, you can learn about dialogue, plot, characterization, and all the other aspects of “storytelling” that appear no matter what medium you choose.

If you want to understand what makes a story great, seek out great stories. Immerse yourself in them. Though you may not be able to verbalize it, your innate understanding of what makes a narrative work will grow. This will improve both your writing and your critiquing.

Steal critiquing techniques from smart people–yourself included

Consider the critiques that have been most helpful to you. Why did they work? Reread them if you must. Then find a way to adapt the good things from those critiques into your own criticism.

Consider the critiques you’ve shared that have been helpful to others. What stood out to the author? You may even consider asking an author for feedback on your critique. Ask how you could have been more helpful.

Critiquing is a skill you can improve over time just like writing itself. But like writing, it takes practice and discipline. Make it easier on yourself by nurturing what works.

A reading list to improving your critique writing skills

There are many solid books on writing that will not only improve your writing, but your critical reading skills. Rather than provide you a hundred sources, here are a few I’ve been able to get my claws on, have dug into, and can personally vouch for:

Good Prose , by Tracy Kidder & Richard Todd. The writer-editor combo of The Atlantic share their wisdom through a tightly-edited, insightful, and entertaining survey of nonfiction writing that has plenty of benefit for writers of all stripes. The book’s section on “proportion and order” in narrative has revolutionized my own thinking about how stories should be structured.

How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy , by Orson Scott Card. A good resource if you write these genres, Card provides practical advice on publishing, agents, etc., in addition to familiarizing the reader with dos and don’ts for writing Sci-Fi/Fantasy, including some technical questions. The book’s a bit dated by now—especially the parts about the publishing world—but there are some nuggets of timeless truth within.

On Becoming a Novelist , by John Gardner. Despite the Modernistic tendency of abusing the pronoun “he,” this may be the most formative thing I’ve read about novel writing. It’s slim, readable, practical, and comprehensive.

On Writing , by Stephen King. Something of an autobiography penned by one of the most successful authors of all time, this book is snappy, humorous, entertaining, and more than a little instructive for anyone looking to write and read better. King reminds his fellow writers that “Life isn’t a support system for art; it’s the other way around.”

Story , by Robert McKee. Considered by many to be the “screenwriter’s bible,” Story belongs in the library of every serious writer whether or not they ever aspire to the silver screen. McKee is a master of properly balancing a plot to satisfy an audience, and all writers should glean from his wisdom.

The Modern Library Writer’s Workshop , by Stephen Koch. Koch flexes his student’s muscles by providing copious citations from the masters who have graced the past few centuries of literature. The author fades into the background at points while readers are treated to the musings and experiences of Dostoevsky, Flannery O’Connor, Hemingway, and others.

The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers , by Christopher Vogler. Vogler is one of the most proficient living writers of the entertainment industry. Working primarily from the theses of the late cultural anthropologist, Joseph Campbell, Vogler illustrates the plot devices and character tropes that underlie the world’s oldest stories. Recommended for new writers of the speculative fiction genres and those who wish to write epics.

The value of criticism and critiquing

The arts too can be taught, up to a point; but except for certain matters of technique, one does not learn the arts, one simply catches on. —John Gardner

The value of criticism is twofold: First and most obviously, it helps others. Second, and maybe not as apparent if you’re new to critiquing: It improves your own writing.

As you examine the work of others, you’ll be able to see what works and what doesn’t work. You will begin to notice patterns as you edit your own writing, and you’ll begin to sift out the problem areas. It’s difficult to judge your own work objectively. Doing it for others helps you get a clear head and recognize the ways in which you do the very things you criticize others for doing.

This article hasn’t had as a goal the outlining of a criticism “process.” The reason for this is that I could no more outline a criticism process than I could outline a fiction writing process. There is no single monolithic “right way to do it” that will unequivocally work for everyone. Herein are general guidelines and considerations that I’ve found helpful over the years and that others have appreciated. If you write critiques constructively, taking consideration of what the author is trying to do, and if you do so authentically, drawing on your experiences and knowledge, you’re on the right track for writing great critiques. The details of how exactly you accomplish that will become clearer to you as you engage in criticism. As in any discipline: Seek feedback and keep going.

Appendix I: “Line edits” and “critiques”

“Line edits” and “critiques” are not the same thing. These two types of reader responses address different issues, and in order to ensure that you receive the kind of criticism you’re seeking, you need to know what you’re displaying.

A “line edit” is a thorough, line-by-line examination of a manuscript. A good line edit requires an editor with a keen eye for detail and a working knowledge of contemporary grammar, syntax, and idiomatic English. The purpose of a line edit is to make a manuscript as readable as possible by removing technical errors. Typically, works that receive line edits receive them because they’re in need of them.

A “critique” is an in-depth review, touching on characterization, plot, theme, scene structure, poetry of language, and other related factors. Notice how I didn’t list anything about spelling or proper comma usage? It’s because that’s not critiquing; that’s editing. Typically, works that receive criticism as described here are free or mostly free of errors that distract readers from the story.

No one is perfect, and one of the best tools at our disposal on Scribophile is the inline critique option. Having never read nor submitted a flawless piece of writing for review, I can tell you that no one should be ashamed to receive a line edit. There are many sharp eyes and sharp minds browsing Scribophile, and even the best writer’s eyes glaze over after so many hours of staring at a white screen.

That said, part of what is absolutely necessary to receive genuine criticism as described above is a readable text. An unreadable text has never, in my experience, provided foundation for a fantastic piece of writing. Messy prose screams “messy story.” If you want criticism of story, your text must be as clean as possible.

If you’re willing to admit that your mastery of the technicalities of writing is not the sharpest, by all means, employ the knowledge and expertise of those on this site who do; it’s a wonderful resource. Readers can’t truly resonate with your story until you weave a piece of art that makes them forget they’re experiencing a piece of art. When you’re able to achieve this, you’ve removed the hurdles preventing your reader from authentically engaging with the story you’ve created. It’s at this stage in your writing that you can consistently receive deep criticism.

This is, of course, not to say that imperfect prose can’t be critiqued. Part of writing great critiques is learning to spot the gems in the story and encouraging the writer to press onward in spite of any shortcomings. If you’re honest and genuine, this won’t be a problem.

If all else fails, list at the top of your submitted piece the sort of critique you’re seeking by highlighting specific questions. “I’d love to know how you reacted when X happened,” for example. This will encourage readers to engage with the sorts of questions you’re asking.

Appendix II: The Benefits and Limits of Critique Groups

If you understand how to best leverage critique groups, they will be helpful and formative to your growth. As written above, critiquing others helps you grow; but there is more. The benefits of critique groups are threefold.

First, broad exposure. Want to know what people outside of your social circle will think of your work? A critique group will expose your work to people of different backgrounds. You can learn how a teen writer with big dreams or a Native American ex-botanist writing a memoir in retirement reacts to your story. This is the type of demographic insight you’d pay good money for when it comes time to sell your book. Even in small chunks, it’s valuable to know how different people experience your work.

Second, many eyes forge sharper prose. If three different people all trip over the same thing in your text, the problem is most likely not those three people, but your text. Especially if your text is hot off the press, you can catch errors early, and writers tend to be sharper with these sorts of things than the general population. Go look up the cost of a professional manuscript editor in your area, and you’ll be glad for many eyes combing over your writing.

Third, and most importantly: networking. The goal of sites like Scribophile and in-person critique groups should be to develop a network of people who will read the entirety of your work. Don’t get angry at forks for not being spoons—a reader jumping in mid-story will never give you the same level of commentary as someone who’s been reading since chapter one. If you’re ready for that level of reading, you need others to agree to read the book from start to finish. Use critique groups and sites like Scribophile to build relationships. Be attentive to others and share good critiques with them. As your relationships deepen, you’ll eventually find yourself with a list of contacts to trade with. But this requires you to be the kind of person people want reading their work. Behave professionally, and over time, you’ll find yourself surrounded by likeminded individuals who will give you the kind of meaty, informed commentary you need. The rule of thumb with critique groups and workshop websites is: You get out what you put in to them.

Appendix III: Still confused?

If you have questions I have failed to address in this article, I encourage you to contact me privately here on Scribophile or to reach out on social media. I’m happy to help.

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• Spartanburg Community College Library
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• Writing a Critique
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• How to Write Critical Reviews (The Writing Center - University of Wisconsin - Madison) This guide from the University of Wisconsin - Madison will explain how to write a critical review.
• Writing a Critique (Hunter - RWC) This resource from Hunter College will explain how to write a critique for both a fiction and a nonfiction source.
• Writing Critiques (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) This guide from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will explain how to write a critique for a variety of sources, such as articles, book reviews, and more.
• Critique Sheet for Informative Speech (Whitman College) This worksheet from Whitman College will show how to write a critique for an informative speech.
• Film Analysis (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) This guide from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Writing Center will explain how to write a critique of a film.

All of the above sources were consulted in the creation of this guide.

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Our free writing forums provide an unlimited opportunity for writers to discuss their work with other forum members. Forums are genre specific. Forum topics include: creative writing,  poetry, prose,  fiction Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying individuals, events, or places in ways that are imaginary or inconsistent with history, fact, or plausibility. In a narrow sense, “fiction” refers to written narratives in prose – often referring specifically to novels, novellas, and short stories.[4][5] More broadly, however, fiction encompasses imaginary narratives expressed in any medium, including not just writings but also live theatrical performances, films, television programs, radio dramas, comics, role-playing games, and video games…. , non-fiction Non-fiction, a genre anchored in reality, offers a deep dive into actual events, lives, and ideas. It spans various forms, from historical analyses to memoirs, providing insights into our world’s fabric. This genre educates, informs, and challenges, inviting readers to explore and understand complex concepts, cultures, and individual journeys. Whether it’s uncovering scientific breakthroughs or personal narratives, non-fiction enriches our… , plot, narrative, story  structure, and more. 

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Critique Your Manuscript

Just the word critique makes many authors cringe. Why? Because it reminds us of another word that has a negative connotation: criticism .

Yet, as authors we understand the need to have another pair of eyes look closely at our manuscript and give us constructive advice and direction so we can make our book the absolute best it can be.

And the best person to give a critique is someone with years of experience in the publishing industry.

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Some copyeditors claim you should never get a critique because it is entirely subjective. They say you should just get your book edited by a copyeditor and fix all the grammatical mistakes.

Getting a thorough copyedit  is essential. But few writers think about getting their book critiqued first.

However, in my thirty years of experience writing novels,  becoming a multipublished author, and working professionally as a copyeditor and writing coach in the publishing industry, I have come to conclude that most authors—whether a new writer or seasoned published author—need a critique and preferably in the early draft of their manuscript.

Yes, Critiques are Subjective

Sure, critiques are subjective. But when your novel or nonfiction manuscript lands on a literary agent’s desk, or is placed in an acquisition editor’s hands, it will be read subjectively as well.

But here’s the thing authors need to understand: a professional in the publishing industry will temper a subjective read with years of experience; an understanding of current market needs and trends; an understanding of established or accepted writing styles, structure, and formatting; and a honed sense for an original and compelling writer’s voice.

There is no such thing as an objective critique, but that should not be an issue.

A Kind and Gentler Critique

As an author who has gone through the frustrations and disappointments along the road to publication, I bring to my critiques some things that perhaps a copyeditor or even another critiquer may not.

When I critique your manuscript, my goal is to not only help you make your book shine, make it all you envision for it, but also to encourage you, instruct you, and help you along this rocky road.

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A good critique should not come across as a nice pat on the back with a few muttered words like “Good job. Keep it up.” However, we as writers grow attached to our words, and an insensitive editor can cause a lot of pain.

It takes courage to hand your project over to someone—this book you’ve spent months or perhaps years writing, sweating over, all the while second-guessing yourself and the merits of your book—only to have someone heartlessly rip it to shreds. For that’s our greatest fear—that despite all our hard efforts, we may have produced something that should go in the round file.

It’s a great idea to get a critique on a partial manuscript to see if the story is building well and all the necessary novel elements are in place and working. You may not be sure how to bring the story to a climax and resolution, or tie in your themes and drive your point home at the end.

A critique can help you with suggestions and feedback on your ideas before you write that last section of your novel. I often work with writers at the scene outline stage, and I’ve found that’s the best way to iron out all the structural problems, so if you haven’t gotten far with your first draft, consider this as a next step.

My critiques do not include any line editing, although I often point out things writers might be doing repeatedly that are grammatically incorrect. I’ve found it makes little sense to correct grammar and punctuation at the stage in which a writer may need to delete entire scenes or completely rewrite passages.

It’s like putting pretty icing on a yucky-tasting cake. Wait until the cake is perfect, then ice it. Make sense?

Get Stretched

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I find the greatest satisfaction in helping my clients with their manuscripts. I have seen some of the worst manuscripts—poorly constructed, wordy, almost unreadable—turned into beautiful, well-crafted books that their authors are proud of. I have gone on to see many of my clients get agents, land contracts, win prestigious awards, and get published because they were willing to work hard to take their rough work and perfect it to the best of their ability.

Of course, there is no guarantee that if you follow all the suggestions in your critique that you will get an agent or land a book contract. So many variables affect those outcomes.

But applying yourself to make the changes suggested in a good critique will stretch you and teach you how to be a better writer, and as you apply the things you learn, your chances of reaching your dreams will improve immensely.

So, do you have . . .

• a manuscript you’ve completed but you’re not sure if it’s any good?
• a manuscript that needs work but you don’t know how to proceed?
• a book proposal you want to polish in order to attract an agent or publisher’s attention?
• a few chapters written but you’re not sure if they’re the best they can be?

I can help you!

I offer a thorough overall critique of your book proposal or manuscript (complete or just a few chapters) that will provide practical suggestions for how you can improve your writing. For outline critiques, I charge by the hour, so just contact me to discuss!

• Why Get a Critique?

Your critique will give you the help you need to get your manuscript or proposal in shape. Your book is competing with hundreds of thousands of others to grab the attention of an agent or publishing house, so you want to do everything you can to make sure your proposal, query letter, synopsis, and book stand out from the rest. Learn more

• What Is Included?

Unlike many critique services, my critiques are thorough and in-depth analyses of all the major components needed in a manuscript. I do an annotated critique—which means I make notations and comments in the margins on every page using Word’s Track Changes. Learn more

How Do I Sign Up?

It’s easy! Just fill out my simple online order form, choosing the service you’d like to have. But first, be sure you have formatted it according to the formatting requirements . Learn more

What Happens Next?

Once your payment and material are submitted, I will put your critique on my calendar and email you to discuss. I am sometimes backlogged a few weeks and can give you a general estimated date for your critique. So if you’re still working on your manuscript and think you will need a week or two more to be ready, this is a good time to get in touch and get put on the schedule (with no obligation on your part). Please keep this in mind:

If you have never had a professional critique, and especially if this is your first novel, I highly recommend you submit the first fifty pages only. See how much work you need to do to get the story structure sound, introduce the settings and characters correctly, and set up the premise and protagonist’s core need.

Too often writers spend years of their life writing a novel when they don’t have a compelling concept or a well-structured story. It makes little sense to pay hundreds of dollars to ultimately be told you really don’t have a story.

If you’re in a rush to meet a submission deadline, I can probably work you in sooner; just let me know your needs. I want to give your manuscript the serious attention it deserves and do not rush through the critique process. I am here to help!

I’m ready! Take me to the order form

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Testimonials

Without Susanne Lakin’s expert editing, expertise on how a book should be put together, and her special literary insights, I would not have my newest novel, Love, Sometimes , with an agent and a film option, and now sold to Simon and Schuster for publication. I can’t wait to give her the rest of my books. Not only is she a great writer, but she’s a rare combination, also knowing how to edit.

Susanne went above and beyond, making important plot suggestions and pointing out holes in the story, along with providing an excellent job of line editing and proofreading. Nice job, quickly and effectively done.

Susanne is a wonderful editor with the soul of a teacher. She has a rare gift for combining honesty, kindness, and encouragement. Her critiques inspire me to dig deeply into my story and her suggestions empower me to improve my craft. I am so much more confident in my skills and excited about my writing, and I look forward to learning even more from her feedback on my sequel.

Susanne doesn’t change the mood of your work, she smooths out the wrinkles. She taught me things to spice up and improve my style. Her help resulted in my first novel winning the CSP Book of the Year 2010 Award for fiction. The publisher could not have made a better choice.

Susanne is a writer with a wonderful imagination and also a gifted copyeditor, able to point out a wide range of necessary improvements in manuscripts while remaining completely positive and encouraging. A great writing mentor!

Our lives are shaped from the books we read; therefore, the most valuable job to both publisher and author is their editor. Editor Susanne Lakin is a gifted wordsmith, coach, and mentor. Our authors have grown and learned from Susanne’s professional editorial direction without losing their voice. As a small book publisher, we are grateful to Susanne for always completing projects ahead of schedule and under budget.

Working with Susanne has been fabulous. She has a wonderful sense of what works and what doesn’t without moving away from the heart of the story. I am thrilled with the job she has done on my current work in progress, and I no longer have to stress about how my book is going to turn out. I have a great editor to take all the hassle out of the process! I am so excited to have found her. Thanks, Susanne–you are a blessing!

Susanne is more than an editor; she cares about your book as if it were her own. As a first-time author, I appreciated Susanne’s help, which was essential to me publishing a quality book.  I simply can’t thank her enough. My book went on to win first place in the 2015 Feathered Quill Book Awards!

After a thorough search, and following numerous editing samples, I selected Susanne to edit my first novel. I could not have been more thrilled with her expertise, coaching, and attention to detail. She is the quintessential editor!

Susanne’s critique service is really top-notch. I love the fast but thorough work that she does every single time. My book she critiqued called I Won’t Cry hit three best-seller lists right away, and I could not have done it without her.

“The book every novelist must have!”

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Available in print and ebook format!

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AutoCrit takes care of the details!

Nothing is more important in my process than autocrit. it takes care of all the details my eyes just don’t see anymore. repetitive words check. passive voice check. too many adverbs check. my overabundant use of probably, usually, and definitely check, check, check. each chapter gets the autocrit treatment until the words flow. i’ve edited four novels with autocrit, and i won’t go without it ever again., s.j. pajonas, autocrit is my online editor of choice, autocrit is my online editor of choice. a prime reason my debut book has become an amazon best seller, larry j. dunlap, autocrit is the online home for writers., i’ve improved both my novels as a result of my membership – it makes my editing process so much easier and my stories read better than ever, crystal king.

Author, Feast of Sorrow & The Chef’s Secret

A really useful tool for writers!

Autocrit calls a writer’s attention to word repetitions, clichés, sameness in sentence construction, and many other issues easily overlooked., renni browne, i’m convinced my work is stronger, i have to admit, i was skeptical … and concerned that a formulaic approach could do more harm than good. but, having used autocrit for the first 5,000 words (so far), and having subsequently read through the result, i’m convinced my work is stronger. i’m impressed. (100,000 words to go.), unlock your book’s brilliance with world-class tools, the only online writing and editing platform that guides your hand based on data from real, bestselling books, autocrit is built to match the genuine demands of publishing professionals and discerning readers..

Plan as much or as little as you like, with Digital Note Cards and Noteboards displayed alongside your writing. Also find p re-built Digital Planning, Plotting, and Character Note Templates to help you quickly get organized.

Get a productive boost with the help of built-in accountability and motivation tools. Set custom daily word goals, track words added and removed, plus fashion your own writing sprints and workdays with custom timers including real-time feedback.

Ferret out the fluff and take your manuscript from hard-to-read to clean-and-crisp. From adverbs and filler words all the way to exactly how you start your sentences, AutoCrit’s interactive editor helps you eradicate problems and tighten your prose faster than ever.

Nothing pulls us into a story faster than when characters start talking, yet writers often fall foul of relying on overblown dialogue tags and unnecessary adverbs instead of the raw emotion of their characters. AutoCrit quickly makes clear where you can give your dialogue added depth and punch by removing these crutches.

Forge better storytelling by quickly finding opportunities to write more precise descriptions, “show” instead of “tell,” maintain active voice, avoid clichés, and steer clear of mind-numbing repetition.

Your editor, agent, publisher and readers will all thank you.

Only at AutoCrit: Gain an extra layer of confidence in your work by directly comparing your manuscript with a wide range of popular genres. Choose between Thriller, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal Romance, Cozy Mystery and many more, and with the click of a button, you’ll get fully customized editing guidance that helps your writing align with the stylistic expectations of that genre.

THE Online Home For Writers.

Beat Writer's Block with the Inspiration Studio

Develop new ideas or map out existing ones with AutoCrit’s Story Builder. Fill in your premise, world-building details and characters, and then map the story out in a variety of integrated beat sheets. If you’re stuck for ideas, AutoCrit’s AI assistant can generate suggestions for you at every step with the click of a button.

Attach your completed plans to any project in the Writer’s Desk… and then get to writing!

Inject some extra life into every scene with the Change the Mood tool. AutoCrit’s AI assistant will analyze your story so far, and offer contextually relevant suggestions to meet the emotional tone you’re aiming for. With options ranging from joyous to somber, furious to disgusted, and everything in between, you’ll receive a tailored series of proposals that could help shift the tone of your story in the desired direction.

Say goodbye to writer’s block and hello to an endless wellspring of inspiration! By analyzing your writing, this groundbreaking tool will suggest plot twists, character revelations, ways to heighten tension, and outlandish events that will keep your readers guessing and have them clamoring for the next chapter.

Find the right words fast with AutoCrit’s smart thesaurus, which takes into account the context of the sentence you’re writing and offers the most fitting options to keep you moving.

Enjoy Instant, Expert-Level Feedback with the Story Analyzer

With just a click, receive developmental feedback on your story's timeline, character arcs, conflicts, plot progression, potential contradictions, foreshadowing and more. are there lingering questions your story hasn't answered plot threads unresolved stretches where nothing important seems to happen experience it all from a reader's point of view, so you never drop the ball., write & edit like a pro, just a few of the 30+ interactive reports you can explore inside the autocrit platform., summary report, get a quick overview of your text, highlighting trouble areas you should prioritize, along with an overall summary score to track your improvement over time., find those pesky adverbs in the blink of an eye. simple highlights draw your attention, and numbered guidance helps you zero in on how many you should remove to match today's bestselling standards., sentence starters, starting sentences the same way too often can distract or bore your reader. find out how often you start your sentences with a pronoun, character name, or conjunction, and ensure your writing is varied and interesting., productivity tools, productivity is key to success, and with integrated accountability and positive reinforcement tools, autocrit is here to keep you moving. set your own custom writing goals and manage your day with built-in timers., dialogue tags, overzealous use of dialogue tags is a hindrance, not a help. let your dialogue do the talking by easily tracking and balancing dialogue tags throughout your book., planning & notes, whether it's a brand new idea or you're already putting words on the page, a fully integrated note board helps you stay on track. keep research at hand, complete with images, for easy reference without leaving your manuscript. save character profiles, plot your story beats, and more., compare your writing with genre conventions, choose your genre to learn more.

Strap on your shield, sharpen your sword, and prepare for an epic fantasy adventure!

With AutoCrit’s specialized tools, you can choose to have your editing guidance focus on the needs and expectations defined by bestselling works of fantasy.

Choose between an overall genre focus, or compare your work directly to some of your favorite contemporary and classical novelists.

Top Fantasy Authors

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• J.R.R. Tolkien
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New genres and authors are added to the platform on a continuous basis, keeping you at the forefront of industry trends and reader demands.

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Share your ideas with fellow members inside our private community, and get feedback on which are the most compelling. Join us for live events, courses, workshops and even one-to-one Story Doctor sessions to help you refine that initial intriguing concept into a full-blown story that captivates the mind and heart.

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Interactive note boards and character profiles help keep all your personal notes and research to hand while writing, so you’re never distracted from your work and pulled down an endless online rabbit hole. Reclaim your writing time and feel safe with regular autosaving and secure storage of your manuscript inside the AutoCrit platform.

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Build your workflow however you like it, and track your own choice of words or phrases throughout each manuscript. If you have a bad habit you’re working hard to conquer, AutoCrit will let you put your focus where it matters most.

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CRITIQUE SERVICE

Find out what’s working in your manuscript, what’s not, and how to fix it.

The best person to give a manuscript critique is someone with years of experience in the publishing industry. As seasoned editors and/or published authors themselves, our instructors understand market needs and trends. 

It’s essential to receive constructive feedback from an objective source. Set your manuscript apart from the rest with a professional critique — before submitting it to an editor or agent.

Take your manuscript to the next level with an  in-depth analysis 

by a  publishing industry professional.

You’ll receive a professional, objective review of the quality of your manuscript from an ICL or IFW instructor.

Learn exactly how your characters, voice, plot, dialogue, setting, and style are resonating with readers.

Your critiquer will identify strengths and weaknesses in your manuscript through an annotated critique. You’ll receive edits in the margins of your story using Word’s Track Changes. 

You’ll also receive an instructional letter with in-depth suggestions for how to make your manuscript shine.

Whenever you’re ready! Best practice is to submit for a professional critique sooner rather than later. It’s best to have an early draft revised, to set you on the right path!

Once your critiquer receives your manuscript, we’ll get it back to you within 2-3 weeks.  

At the Institute, we understand the importance of Show, Don't Tell .

“Now that I have some feedback about my story, I am determined to continue to work on it. Some of the suggestions were things I had thought about, but not being in this business, honestly, I was confused about where to go next. Giving up was my next option. I don’t have the background to know what to add or what to leave out. This critique was so incredibly helpful and well worth the money. I have renewed motivation!”  – Joan Porter

Manuscript Critique Services FAQs

Constructive feedback through an annotated critique using Word Track Changes, two pages of analysis on what’s working and what’s not, recommendations for how to improve your story structure, setting, characters, plot, dialogue, grammar, and spelling, plus guidance on your next revision! Check out an example of a Critique Service submission here .

The purpose of a critique is to improve the story: to identify overall problems in a manuscript in order to allow the writer to revise in a focused and productive way. When a manuscript is critiqued, it’s an opportunity to find out if your reader is confused, believes your character, and whether your scenes ring true, feel right, and make sense. An ICL/IFW instructor looks at your submission with a professional eye, points out inconsistencies, unnecessary characters, scenes, or dialogue and offers suggestions to make your manuscript shine!

Yes! You are welcome to submit as many manuscripts as you have ready for critique.

We advise you to submit your manuscript for a professional critique sooner than later. It’s best to have an early draft revised, to set you on the right path! If you submit the first fifty pages, the feedback you receive will help determine how much work you need to do on your story structure, setting, characters, plot, dialogue, and writing style.

Click any of the Manuscript Critique Service offerings listed above—depending on your preferred audience, genre, and word count. Once you make a selection, you’ll be taken to our online bookstore. Add the critique offering of your choice to the shopping cart. We’ll follow up immediately with directions and a form to submit your manuscript. 

Once you submit, your critiquer will make their edits and get your reviewed manuscript back to you within 2-3 weeks.

One of our instructors at the Institute. You can check out their stories and all of their great work here

No worries! Send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at (800) 243-9645 with any questions. We’re happy to help you through your potential submission and find the critique offering that best fits your needs. 

Not a problem. Send us an email at [email protected] or call us at (800) 243-9645 to discuss pricing.

You only get one chance to make a first impression. 

Let us help you make it the best it can be.

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Welcome to Critique Circle .

Improve your writing skills in one of the largest and longest-running writing communities on the web.

Vibrant writing community

Thousands of writers working together to improve their writing.

It's all about reciprocity

Critique the stories of others and in turn they will crit your stories.

Wide array of tools

CC has many tools to help you improve your writing.

Active forums

Discussion groups on nearly any topic under any sun.

Here's how Critique Circle works.

Continuously improve your writing by critting the works of others and building relationships with other authors who will help you with your own manuscript.

Crit a couple of stories to gain enough credits.

Use your credits to submit your own story for review.

Use the crits to improve your manuscript.

Our members are our biggest fans.

We don't like to brag, but we don't mind letting our members do it for us. Here are a few nice things folks have said about our platform over the years.

“I find CC a brilliant place to polish my ability in writing and read really intriguing chapters from other creative people. I am relatively new to writing but with some more practice on here I am pretty hyped for entering this years NaNoWriMo.” David Arnett, Hartlepool. England.

“"Me like Critique Circle - it good!" That's how I USED to write, before joining Critique Circle. Now, thanks to the many fine members of CC, my writing is much, much gooder. Okay, I'm still a newbie, but it's an improvement. ;)” Mark Dimig-Mathis, I'm from Joisey (exit 10)

“Critique circle has one of the widest scopes of ensuring improvement for real writers. A brilliant step to publication.” Shandana Khalid, Pakistan

“The set-up is really great, and honestly, I couldn't think of a better way for aspiring authors to hone in on the craft. The people are typically nice and it's great to forge, if not friendship, at least mutual respect for other writers.” Kayle Kess, USA

“I’d like to thank members of Critique Circle (www.critiquecircle.com), an online international writing site for all authors, many of whom critiqued my book and significantly improved it. Christine Merritt” Christine Merritt, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

“All with one interest - writing. Mixed ages, sex and abilities, genres and opinions. Helpful and encouraging to all would-be writers. In the many years I have been a member I have benefited enormously from the support. Come and join us!” Dilys White, Cheshire England

“I first learned about Critique Circle from Writers Digest. It is the only writing forum I visit everyday!” Keven Pirritano, CA, USA

“Your story couldn't be shredded in a more constructive manner so: Abandon pride all ye who enter here. This is where you start to improve...” Len Morgan, Hullbridge, Essex, England

“ This site is superior to other ones I've joined. The quality of the reviews and reviewers is exceptional. I have even gone so far as to advertise this site on other critique websites, because I really do think that this one is best!” Anne Jordan, Northern California

“Critique Circle is my new favorite writing workshop! I might just make it my new Home Page!” E. Madison Cawein, Wenatchee,WA. 98801 USA

Newest blog posts

The Critique Circle blog is written by our members and is filled with interesting articles about writing.

Midnight Muse

As an unpublished wannabe, I have very little advice to impart to my fellow writers. But here’s one little tip I’ve learned through my experience with chronic insomnia that I feel qualified to share.

Lulu Oberkotter

Describing people of colour

Giving rich visual descriptions of characters can help bring your story to life! Here are some helpful tips I found for describing people of colour.

Katie Johnstone

Writing fiction with Sudowrite

Sudowrite proves to be a powerful tool bridging an LLM and a writer to quickly and flawlessly write fiction. You can maintain control by doing your homework well and guiding the AI within the framework of your Genre, Synopsis, Characters, and Outline when generating Beats and Chapters.

Is Critique circle free?

Membership is free and always has been. There is also a premium subscription that you can buy which unlocks additional features and perks.

When was the website started?

Critique Circle first came online in October 2003 and has been running continuously ever since. It is one of the oldest writing websites out there.

How active is Critique Circle?

We have thousands of members that are actively using the site and are closing in on one million served critiques.

How safe are my stories?

Stories submitted to CC are not considered 'published online' and cannot be found on search engines. You can manage your story accessibility yourself and delete them at any time.

It's easy and free to join.

Come on in, you're in good company.

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6 New Books We Recommend This Week

Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times.

• Share full article

It’s a happy coincidence that we recommend Becca Rothfeld’s essay collection “All Things Are Too Small” — a critic’s manifesto “in praise of excess,” as her subtitle has it — in the same week that we also recommend Justin Taylor’s maximalist new novel “Reboot,” an exuberant satire of modern society that stuffs everything from fandom to TV retreads to the rise of conspiracy culture into its craw. I don’t know if Rothfeld has read Taylor’s novel, but I get the feeling she would approve. Maybe you will too: In the spirit of “more, bigger, louder,” why not pick those up together?

Our other recommendations this week include a queer baseball romance novel, an up-to-the-minute story about a widower running for the presidency of his local labor union, a graphic novelist’s collection of spare visual stories and, in nonfiction, a foreign policy journalist’s sobering look at global politics in the 21st century. Happy reading. — Gregory Cowles

REBOOT Justin Taylor

This satire of modern media and pop culture follows a former child actor who is trying to revive the TV show that made him famous. Taylor delves into the worlds of online fandom while exploring the inner life of a man seeking redemption — and something meaningful to do.

“His book is, in part, a performance of culture, a mirror America complete with its own highly imagined myths, yet one still rooted in the Second Great Awakening and the country’s earliest literature. It’s a performance full of wit and rigor.”

From Joshua Ferris’s review

Pantheon | $28

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY Cat Sebastian

When a grieving reporter falls for the struggling baseball player he’s been assigned to write about, their romance is like watching a Labrador puppy fall in love with a pampered Persian cat: all eager impulse on one side and arch contrariness on the other.

“People think the ending is what defines a romance, and it does, but that’s not what a romance is for. The end is where you stop, but the journey is why you go. … If you read one romance this spring, make it this one.”

From Olivia Waite’s romance column

Avon | Paperback, $18.99

ALL THINGS ARE TOO SMALL: Essays in Praise of Excess Becca Rothfeld

A striking debut by a young critic who has been heralded as a throwback to an era of livelier discourse. Rothfeld has published widely and works currently as a nonfiction book critic for The Washington Post; her interests range far, but these essays are united by a plea for more excess in all things, especially thought.

“Splendidly immodest in its neo-Romantic agenda — to tear down minimalism and puritanism in its many current varieties. … A carnival of high-low allusion and analysis.”

From David Gates’s review

Metropolitan Books | $27.99

THE RETURN OF GREAT POWERS: Russia, China, and the Next World War Jim Sciutto

Sciutto’s absorbing account of 21st-century brinkmanship takes readers from Ukraine in the days and hours ahead of Russia’s invasion to the waters of the Taiwan Strait where Chinese jets flying overhead raise tensions across the region. It’s a book that should be read by every legislator or presidential nominee sufficiently deluded to think that returning America to its isolationist past or making chummy with Putin is a viable option in today’s world.

“Enough to send those with a front-row view into the old basement bomb shelter. … The stuff of unholy nightmares.”

From Scott Anderson’s review

Dutton | $30

THE SPOILED HEART Sunjeev Sahota

Sahota’s novel is a bracing study of a middle-aged man’s downfall. A grieving widower seems to finally be turning things around for himself as he runs for the top job at his labor union and pursues a love interest. But his election campaign gets entangled in identity politics, and his troubles quickly multiply.

“Sahota has a surgeon’s dexterous hands, and the reader senses his confidence. … A plot-packed, propulsive story.”

From Caoilinn Hughes’s review

Viking | $29

SPIRAL AND OTHER STORIES Aidan Koch

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“Many of these pages are purely abstract, but when Koch draws details, it’s in startlingly specific and consistent contours that give these stories a breadth of character as well as depiction.”

From Sam Thielman’s graphic novels column

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‘Young Sheldon’ Is Ending. So Is Its Idea of Science Versus Religion.

My mom was the one who told me to watch The Big Bang Theory . It was a show about nerds—and I was a nerd. She thought I’d enjoy it. A friend had already mentioned that the main character, Sheldon Cooper, was “exactly like” me. After I watched the show, at Mom’s encouragement, I joked that I had mixed feelings about the comparison.

The Big Bang Theory was extremely popular and not just with my mom; at its height, it averaged 20 million viewers a night . But it never really resonated with actual dweebs. Its audience was largely Gen X women —not people who were Sheldon but people who “knew a Sheldon,” not the geeks themselves but their mothers and friends.

It’s fitting, then, that the even-more-popular Big Bang spinoff would be Young Sheldon , a prequel about the title character’s childhood in East Texas—and that Sheldon’s relationship with his mom, Mary, would be at the heart of the show. Young Sheldon sits at the top of the prime-time rankings ; one recent week, the show (which streams on Netflix, Max, and Paramount+) topped all streamed content across US household televisions.

As Young Sheldon comes to an end (its series finale airs May 16; a spinoff starring two breakout characters—Georgie and Mandy— has already been announced ), so too does the onscreen dynamic between Sheldon and Mary. So too does a nostalgic vision for how the “science vs. religion” debate plays out in our families.

Mary is Sheldon’s opposite in nearly every way. He’s a logical atheist physicist with no people skills; Mary is a warm, folksy conservative Christian. In many ways, she serves as an audience surrogate. (For what it’s worth, Mary was my mom’s favorite character on TBBT ; she stopped watching when she felt like the writers disrespected her faith by making her violate her Christian sexual ethics.)

Brainy Sheldon loves comic books and doesn’t believe in God; his working-class family includes not only his deeply religious mom but also a football-coach dad, an eye-rolling sister, and a charmingly slow-witted brother. They don’t understand Sheldon; he doesn’t understand them. Therein lies the fun. Like many sitcoms, Young Sheldon makes comedy out of clichés. Jokes abound about how emotional and unreasonable women are, how lazy and dumb men are, how annoying kids are, and how out-of-touch parents are.

The portrayal of Mary’s faith is just as stereotypical, if lighthearted. In season 7, she attempts to secretly baptize her granddaughter at her Baptist church out of fear her daughter-in-law Mandy’s mother will make her a Catholic first. She temporarily gets duped into giving money to a televangelist. She pushes her son and daughter-in-law, who are “living in sin,” to get married.

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These scenes are played for laughs. But Mary’s faith is also an obvious sticking point in her relationship with Sheldon. In season 7, episode 1, when Sheldon asks whether everyone in the family is okay after a natural disaster, Mary says, “Thank God, yes.” “You’re thanking the Deity who sent the tornado?” quips Sheldon. “I’m not in the mood for this!” she retorts.

“I don’t need to seek help from an invisible man,” her son says in episode 4, rejecting Mary’s offer to pray for him. “You’re right. You’ve got your invisible strings,” she replies.

Young Sheldon ’s portrait of the Christian-atheist divide conforms to old clichés about these two groups. We still associate religion with less education and secularism with more education; faith with emotion and atheism with logic; faith with women and atheism with men. Religious people are backward and narrow-minded, though wholesome and grounded. Atheists are smarter and arrogant. We laugh at Sheldon’s mom—how silly she is to care so much about which church a baby is baptized in! But we also cheer for Sheldon’s humiliation; he constantly brags about how much smarter he is than the rest of his family, and that’s annoying.

Some of these clichés are partially grounded in reality—at least, they used to be. More women than men have long been dedicated churchgoers . Post-Enlightenment, intellectual life in the West has been largely synonymous with secularism and science, while religion has been the domain of the non-college-educated working class.

But today, these demographic realities are flipping. Gen Z is the first generation in ages where men outnumber women as regular churchgoers. Statistics show that the higher education you have, the more likely you are to be religious .

Young Sheldon ’s portrayal of the atheist vs. Christian divide might be familiar, understandable, even funny—but it’s no longer entirely accurate.

Today, someone like Sheldon might have more in common with his mom than not. Like many young men, he might listen to Jordan Peterson; he might agree that Christianity is at least metaphorically true , if not literally accurate. He might appreciate how Christians stand up against various strands of “woke” ideology, which is increasingly rejected by young men and their married mothers alike.

As Young Sheldon comes to a close, Sheldon and Mary haven’t reconciled their disagreements. But they have learned to appreciate each other. Sheldon recognizes that his mother’s love has given him what he needs to thrive; he’ll miss her when he leaves for Caltech. Mary acknowledges her son’s brilliance; she knows that he needs to leave to access greater opportunities than she or his family can provide. They don’t understand each other. But they love each other. (Loving despite differences also defines Sheldon’s relationship with his father, George, whose shocking death in the pre–series finale changes how Sheldon thinks of the family patriarch. )

The sitcom trope of an atheist young man and Christian older woman might be outdated in a few generations. But the vision of a family amicably “agreeing to disagree” is already old-school. For all the Sheldons aligning with their conservative Marys, there are plenty more parents and children experiencing estrangement over political, theological, and cultural debates.

“I’ll go [to church] with you, Mom,” Sheldon says in an earlier season. His sister replies, “Why are you going? You don’t believe in God.” “Nope,” Sheldon agrees. “But I believe in Mom.” “I’ll take it,” Mary says.

Can we imagine a similar scene playing out today?

Christians and atheists, men and women, older and younger generations— Young Sheldon doesn’t take these conflicts too seriously, or at least, it sees them as less important than love. No wonder the show’s been so successful; since 2017, it’s provided relief from the rancor of a particularly angry time in American life. Grace may be unpopular at the level of today’s culture wars. But for seven seasons, audiences have found it worth watching.

Joseph Holmes is a Christian culture critic and host of the weekly podcast The Overthinkers .

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iPad Pro 2024 review: The tablet I’ve been waiting for

The new ipad pro has it all if you're willing to pay a premium.

Tom's Guide Verdict

The iPad Pro 2024 has it all: a fantastic OLED display, powerful M4 performance, a thin yet solid design and unbelievably long battery life. Though some of its peripherals and upgrades are pricey, Apple has delivered its best premium tablet in years.

Super thin and light design

Gorgeous OLED panel

Powerful M4 performance

Epic battery life

Pricey peripherals and upgrades

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

• Cheat sheet

I won’t mince words — the iPad Pro 2024 is one of the best tablets I’ve ever reviewed. Its predecessor, the iPad Pro M2 once reigned supreme as my favorite premium tablet. But the latest model has everything I love about iPad Pro, only enhanced and updated. Right now, it’s the premium tablet to beat.

So what makes the new iPad Pro so great? For starters, the Ultra Retina XDR display is the finest OLED panel my eyes have ever seen. The 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio delivers deep blacks and eye-scorching whites that pair perfectly with the sharp 2,360 x 1,640 resolution. Everything from videos to games and comics looks stunning.

Then we have the thin yet sturdy aluminum chassis that makes the iPad Pro appear more like the iPad Air. Ironically, both 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro models are thinner and lighter than the new iPad Air 2024 tablets, making you question which are the true “Air” slates in Apple’s roster. Thanks to the thinner and lighter design, the iPad Pro is more portable than ever — not to mention more comfortable to hold for long periods.

Apple skipped an M3 iPad Pro and dropped an M4 -powered beast on us instead. Our testing reveals this beefy processor runs circles around its predecessors. It can run graphically demanding games like Resident Evil 4 or editing apps like Premiere Pro with ease thanks to the M4 chip. 

There isn’t much I don’t like about the iPad Pro. However, there are a couple of drawbacks — both related to price. Adding nano-texture glass at checkout costs an additional $100 and requires an upgrade to 1TB of storage, which ups the cost to $1,699 for the 11-inch Pro and $1,999 for the 13-inch model. And if you want the updated Apple Magic Keyboard to go with it, you’ll need to plunk down an additional $299 or $349, depending on the iPad Pro’s size.

Costly add-ons and peripherals aside, the iPad Pro more than delivers. Find out more in my full review.

iPad Pro 2024 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? Apple’s premium tablet, featuring an all-new design and a powerful M4 chip.
• What does it cost? The iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch variant, both of while are on sale via Apple’s website . Each is $200 more than their respective predecessors.
• Who is it for? For folks who want an OLED tablet with blazing-fast performance and all-day battery life.
• What do we like? The thin and lightweight design, gorgeous OLED display, and speedy performance.
• What don’t we like? Upgrading to a model with nano-texture glass raises the price of the 11- and 13-inch models to $1,699 and $1,999 (respectively). The Magic Keyboard is also very expensive. 
• Anything I should know? All iPad Pro 2024 models currently come with an Apple M4 chip inside, but they aren't all equal. iPad Pro 2024 models with 1TB or more of storage get the full-powered M4 with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, along with 16GB of RAM. But iPad Pro models with less than 1TB of storage come with only 8GB of RAM and a 9-core CPU on the M4, so they will likely perform slightly worse than the 1TB model we review here.

iPad Pro 2024 review: Specs

Ipad pro 2024 review: the ups.

The iPad Pro impresses thanks to its slim design, outstanding OLED display, powerful performance, epic battery life and repositioned front camera. Apple managed to one-up its excellent predecessor with this beast of a tablet. 

Thinner than Air

Visually, the new tablet isn’t a radical departure from its predecessor. It’s a solid piece of aluminum featuring a large display and thin profile. However, holding the tablet reveals that you’re dealing with an all-new device.

The 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro are thinner and lighter than their predecessors and the new iPad Air tablets. The size and weight differences might not look like much on paper, but they make a huge difference in the real world. For instance, I constantly have to reposition my hands when reading comics on the old 12.9-inch iPad Pro because the big tablet is so cumbersome to hold. That's no longer the case since the new tablet is easier to hold over longer periods.

Speaking about changing positions, the tablet’s front camera is now landscape-oriented instead of portrait-oriented. Most people hold tablets in this position, so it’s great that Apple finally moved the front camera (much like it did with the iPad 2022 ). This makes participating in video calls, taking selfies and using FaceID to unlock the iPad Pro feel more intuitive. I’m a fan of this repositioned front camera.

Like the previous model, the new iPad Pro only has a single USB-C port. That’s a bummer, but not a deal-breaker.

Amazing OLED display

People have been clamoring for an OLED iPad Pro for ages, and now it’s finally here. The new design is nice but the Ultra Retina XDR display (as Apple dubs it) could be this tablet’s main selling for some people. To my eyes, the screen is both bright and colorful. The contrast between dark and light elements is astonishing, delivering beautiful photos and videos. It’s really quite striking.

I watched a YouTube video called “LG Jazz HDR UHD” and was floored by how magnificent it looked on the iPad Pro. The pure black elements served as an excellent contrast to the vibrant colors. On top of that, the 120Hz refresh rate ensured everything moved silky smooth.

If you like digital comics, you’ll have a great time on the iPad Pro. Color comics like Conan the Barbarian #9 and monochrome books like Savage Sword of Conan #2 look equally fantastic. The former’s rich colors and dark shadows make the story feel more alive, while the latter’s deep black inks let me see individual lines in great clarity.

Moving over to our display test, the new iPad Pro’s color reproduction, color accuracy and brightness aren’t much different than the previous model. However, the OLED display helps everything appear much richer — especially colors. Even if the iPad Pro 2024 has comparable color values to the previous model, the overall picture quality is much better thanks to the display’s OLED technology.

I’m a professional writer but I have a hard time conveying just how good the iPad Pro’s OLED display appears. This is arguably the best OLED display I’ve ever seen on a tablet. You need to see it to believe it.

Incredible performance 

Our 13-inch iPad Pro review unit packs an M4 chip with a 10-core CPU, a 10-core GPU and an updated Neural Engine (which the rest of the industry calls an NPU). Our tablet has 1TB of storage but no nano-texture glass. Toss in Wi-Fi + Cellular, and this review unit is valued at $2,099 as configured.

Like the M3 chip which also utilizes 3nm technology, the M4 processor features hardware-accelerated mesh shading, ray tracing and Dynamic Caching — all of which are a first for the iPad platform.

I used the iPad Pro as a laptop and the tablet had no problem handling my regular workflow, which usually has me juggling multiple open tabs and applications. The iPad Pro never slowed down even when I tossed a YouTube video into the mix. The tablet also handled digital comics without a hitch.

The iPad Pro also did well in our benchmark tests. On Geekbench 6, which tests overall CPU performance, the M4-driven iPad Pro performed almost twice as fast as its M2 counterpart. 

However, there is one caveat: We’re comparing Geekbench 6 scores for the iPad Pro 2024 to older Geekbench 5 scores for the 2022 model, since we switched versions a little while back. The important thing to know is that Geekbench 5 results are not directly comparable to Geekbench 6 scores, but the huge difference between the two here tells you all you need to know: The iPad Pro 2024 is significantly faster than its predecessor. The new tablet also performed faster in our Adobe Premiere test, but not by a staggering amount of time.

What about gaming? Resident Evil 4 runs fairly well, though it was short of the 60 frames per second standard most gamers like myself desire. I didn’t have a way to see the game’s exact frame output, but to my eyes, it seems to be a steady 30 fps. That’s not great, but it’s still playable.

Lastly, we ran the 3D Mark gaming benchmark on iPad Pro. Not only did it score better than the previous model, but it also pumped out more frames per second. I’m eager to see how iPad games optimized for the M4 chip will perform.

All-day battery life 

Before this review I wondered if the iPad Pro’s OLED display and beefier M4 chip would negatively impact battery life. Thankfully, this isn't the case as the iPad Pro lasts much longer than Apple claimed, at least according to our testing.

In our battery test which involved continuous web-surfing over Wi-Fi with the display set to 150 nits of brightness, the iPad Pro lasted for an astonishing 13 hours and 13 minutes. That not only beats the 10 hours Apple promised but also breezes past the iPad Pro M2’s 10 hours and 39 minutes of battery life. 

This is an incredible result that makes the iPad Pro 2024 the new premium tablet to beat in terms of battery life. 

iPad Pro 2024 review: The downs

As a device, the iPad Pro is a marvel of engineering. Unfortunately, if you want to kit the tablet out with upgrades or peripherals, it’s going to cost you. A lot. 

Nano-texture glass is a pricey upgrade

You can upgrade both iPad Pro models to include nano-texture glass, which makes the display more anti-reflective. This should be a useful feature when using the tablet outdoors or in a space with overhead lights. However, upgrading to nano-texture glass isn’t cheap.

Nano-texture glass is only an option for the 1TB and 2TB iPad Pro models. Upgrading to 1TB at a minimum raises the price by $600 for both models on its own, but when you toss in the extra $100 for nano-texture glass, that’s a total of $700 extra!

If you already wanted more than 512GB of storage or the extra comforts of the 1TB models (they come with a full-powered M4 and 16GB of RAM, while iPad Pros with less than 1TB of storage have a weaker M4 and 8GB of RAM) then perhaps this won’t be an issue. But unless you’re a creative professional who needs to store lots of videos and photos on the iPad Pro, most people (arguably) don’t need 1TB of storage on a tablet. In that sense, you’re expending the better part of $1,000 for something you don’t need just for nano-texture glass.

Great peripherals at a steep price 

The Apple Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil have always been useful peripherals that help you get more functionality from the iPad Pro. Both have received updates that enhance the iPad Pro experience.

The new Magic Keyboard’s palm rests and touchpad have an aluminum finish that’s reminiscent of a MacBook. Similarly, the larger touchpad also reminds me of an Apple laptop — as does the new Magic Keyboard’s flatter hinge. As a bonus, this peripheral feels lighter than before and doesn’t add a lot of weight to the iPad Pro.

Typing on the new Magic Keyboard is quite nice thanks to how pleasant the aluminum feels against the palms. The large touchpad also feels smooth and is as responsive as ever. I also enjoy the keycaps, which feel thicker and have more travel distance.

The new Apple Pencil Pro ($129) has some nifty extra features over the basic Pencil. This includes a rollable barrel you can rotate to intelligently switch pen styles, haptic feedback and squeeze to control the input in newer ways. The new barrel roll feature is particularly impressive since you can change a line’s thickness by twisting the pen’s orientation. The Apple Pencil Pro feels exactly like its predecessor, which is great since that’s my favorite stylus.

I like both peripherals but they don’t come cheap. For instance, the Magic Keyboard costs $299 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 for the 13-inch model. If you want to use the 13-inch inch iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, you’ll have to spend at least $1,648. At that point, you might as well get a MacBook Air M2 , which costs $999 to start.

At $129, the Apple Pencil Pro won’t crush your bank account. If you’re a casual or professional artist, I don’t think that price is too bad. But if that’s still too expensive, you can always opt for the $79 Apple Pencil with USB-C , though it lacks the Pro's advanced features and doesn’t wirelessly charge when magnetically attached to the iPad Pro.

iPad Pro 2024 review: Verdict

The iPad Pro 2024 is an exceptional tablet. Its vivid OLED display is a marvel to behold and the new thin and light design makes it more portable than ever. I’m also a fan of its speedy M4-powered performance and astonishing battery life. Sure, its peripherals are expensive, but as a device, the iPad Pro has everything you could ever want from a tablet.

The only loose thread is the iPad Pro’s AI capabilities. This has been a sticking point for me whenever I review an “AI” computer since there just aren’t many applications that take advantage of a chip's NPU (Neural Processing Unit) in any appreciable way. Apple says the M4 and its onboard Neural Engine NPU is an “absolute powerhouse for AI,” but I’ve yet to see that. Hopefully, the company will go into further detail during WWDC 2024.

Even if the iPad Pro never becomes an AI powerhouse, it’s still an incredible tablet for people who want a powerful slate with a gorgeous OLED display. The iPad Pro has set a standard for all premium tablets to follow.

Tony is a computing writer at Tom’s Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.

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https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/05/16/new-rshe-guidance-what-it-means-for-sex-education-lessons-in-schools/

New RSHE guidance: What it means for sex education lessons in schools

R elationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is a subject taught at both primary and secondary school.  

In 2020, Relationships and Sex Education was made compulsory for all secondary school pupils in England and Health Education compulsory for all pupils in state-funded schools.  

Last year, the Prime Minister and Education Secretary brought forward the first review of the curriculum following reports of pupils being taught inappropriate content in RSHE in some schools.  

The review was informed by the advice of an independent panel of experts. The results of the review and updated guidance for consultation has now been published.   

We are now asking for views from parents, schools and others before the guidance is finalised. You can find the consultation here .   

What is new in the updated curriculum?  

Following the panel’s advice, w e’re introducing age limits, to ensure children aren’t being taught about sensitive and complex subjects before they are ready to fully understand them.    

We are also making clear that the concept of gender identity – the sense a person may have of their own gender, whether male, female or a number of other categories   – is highly contested and should not be taught. This is in line with the cautious approach taken in our gu idance on gender questioning children.  

Along with other factors, teaching this theory in the classroom could prompt some children to start to question their gender when they may not have done so otherwise, and is a complex theory for children to understand.   

The facts about biological sex and gender reassignment will still be taught.  

The guidance for schools also contains a new section on transparency with parents, making it absolutely clear that parents have a legal right to know what their children are being taught in RSHE and can request to see teaching materials.   

In addition, we’re seeking views on adding several new subjects to the curriculum, and more detail on others. These include:   

• Suicide prevention  
• Sexual harassment and sexual violence  
• L oneliness  
• The prevalence of 'deepfakes’  
• Healthy behaviours during pregnancy, as well as miscarriage  
• Illegal online behaviours including drug and knife supply  
• The dangers of vaping   
• Menstrual and gynaecological health including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and heavy menstrual bleeding.  

What are the age limits?   

In primary school, we’ve set out that subjects such as the risks about online gaming, social media and scams should not be taught before year 3.   

Puberty shouldn’t be taught before year 4, whilst sex education shouldn’t be taught before year 5, in line with what pupils learn about conception and birth as part of the national curriculum for science.  

In secondary school, issues regarding sexual harassment shouldn’t be taught before year 7, direct references to suicide before year 8 and any explicit discussion of sexual activity before year 9.  

Do schools have to follow the guidance?  

Following the consultation, the guidance will be statutory, which means schools must follow it unless there are exceptional circumstances.   

There is some flexibility w ithin the age ratings, as schools will sometimes need to respond to questions from pupils about age-restricted content, if they come up earlier within their school community.   

In these circumstances, schools are instructed to make sure that teaching is limited to the essential facts without going into unnecessary details, and parents should be informed.  

When will schools start teaching this?  

School s will be able to use the guidance as soon as we publish the final version later this year.   

However, schools will need time to make changes to their curriculum, so we will allow an implementation period before the guidance comes into force.     

What can parents do with these resources once they have been shared?

This guidance has openness with parents at its heart. Parents are not able to veto curriculum content, but they should be able to see what their children are being taught, which gives them the opportunity to raise issues or concerns through the school’s own processes, if they want to.

Parents can also share copyrighted materials they have received from their school more widely under certain circumstances.

If they are not able to understand materials without assistance, parents can share the materials with translators to help them understand the content, on the basis that the material is not shared further.

Copyrighted material can also be shared under the law for so-called ‘fair dealing’ - for the purposes of quotation, criticism or review, which could include sharing for the purpose of making a complaint about the material.

This could consist of sharing with friends, families, faith leaders, lawyers, school organisations, governing bodies and trustees, local authorities, Ofsted and the media.  In each case, the sharing of the material must be proportionate and accompanied by an acknowledgment of the author and its ownership.

Under the same principle, parents can also share relevant extracts of materials with the general public, but except in cases where the material is very small, it is unlikely that it would be lawful to share the entirety of the material.

These principles would apply to any material which is being made available for teaching in schools, even if that material was provided subject to confidentiality restrictions.

Do all children have to learn RSHE?  

Parents still have the right to withdraw their child from sex education, but not from the essential content covered in relationships educatio n.  

You may also be interested in:

• Education Secretary's letter to parents: You have the right to see RSHE lesson material
• Sex education: What is RSHE and can parents access curriculum materials?
• What do children and young people learn in relationship, sex and health education

Tags: age ratings , Gender , Relationships and Sex Education , RSHE , sex ed , Sex education

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8 expert-recommended online resume writing services to use in 2024

I n the mix of college assignments and perhaps your 9-to-5, piecing together an attractive resume for employers can be a difficult feat.

Not only is this one-pager the bread and butter of what will lead to a first-round interview (fingers crossed!), but it’s an excellent portrayal of your skillset, employment history and unique skills that help a company’s HR department gauge if you’re the right fit.

Let’s cut to the chase — more specifically, let’s answer the question, “ How can I make my application stand out? ” One of the most influential steps is, without a doubt, rendering your resume to tip-top shape. And fortunately, there are online resume services like TopResume and Resumble to help.

• Best Overall: TopResume
• Best Budget: Resume Companion
• Best Optimization for Applicant Tracking Systems: Resumeble
• Best Customizable : Brand Resumes
• Best with Career Consulting: Top Stack Resumes

Whether you’re a senior in college applying for your first full-time job or you’ve been in the biz for years and are looking to segue into a different role, we rounded up the top online resume writing services you can use to help get your application in tip-top shape. Plus, we’ve enlisted Shannon Conklin, director of career and leadership development at The College of New Jersey to help!

Hop to her picks below or check out our FAQ for more details on things to look for when picking the right resume builder for you.

• Packages with unlimited resume revisions
• Free resume review
• 60-day interview guarantee
• Several customers who wrote reviews on Trustpilot mention having poor communication with their resume writers

TopResume is a beloved favorite — and for a good reason. It has four different packages depending on your career goals, some of which include unlimited revisions, a LinkedIn makeover, a cover letter and two interview prep sessions.

“TopResume continues to be a solid option,” Conklin shares. “It has strong descriptions, where the website and interface are easy to navigate to understand its process, its three packages, as well as testimonials.”

She also loves TopResume’s FAQ section, coupled with the various packages, that makes its process clear and timeline. “There is also plenty of mention about AI and ATS technology,” she adds. “If you need a resume quickly, one that accounts for technology, and a budget of only about $150, it looks like this service would be one to strongly consider.”

With TopResume, you’ll also get a 60-day interview guarantee. If you don’t get twice as many interviews, the platform will rewrite your resume for free. It’s pretty top tier, to say the least, and is minimal investment for those hoping to find free resume writing services.

• Self-directed service
• Template-based
• Must renew subscription to edit resume in the future

“Resume Companion is a clean website with a clear message — build a resume quickly!” Conklin highlights. “It offers templates, examples and advice on how to craft a resume, as well as cover letter, as a self-directed service within about 15-minutes.”

What’s more, the service also makes it clear it offers a variety of templates based on industries and functions. “This can really help if you are trying to transition to a new field or your resume needs to be updated to reflect the latest in your industry,” she adds.

With Resume Companion, you’ll be able to build your resume step by step, from selecting a professional template to answering a few simple questions to have your experience and skills added directly to your digital file. Namely, if you’re not much of a writer, you’ll appreciate its pre-written work experience bullet points to craft your resume in minutes and then apply away.

Not to mention, it’s only $8 a month, so if you want a one-and-done service, this one’s your best bet. Keep in mind that you will have to renew your subscription to edit in the future, but it’s a great budget-friendly option to pursue if you don’t want to be completely in the dark.

• 4-day turnover on resume drafts
• Three free revisions with standard resume package
• Only the premium resume package includes a job guarantee

Resumeble not only has a fun name, but it includes a resume and cover letter in its baseline package. If you’d like to upgrade, you can receive a LinkedIn write-up, a second resume version, thank you and follow-up notes and cold emails to recruiters.

“Have you applied to dozens of jobs, only to never get through?” Conklin questions. “If this resonates because your resume is not optimized for ATS platforms, Resumeble might be the choice for you. Mention of ‘ATS,’ as well as their outcomes and ROI, are weaved throughout its site.”

Conklin told The Post that she’s seen many clients apply to dozens and dozens of companies, only to be vetted out due to ATS. “When that happens, I often advise networking to complement a revised, ATS-optimized resume.” she tips off. “This brings me to one other noteworthy element to their various packages, they support your full professional profile; resume to LinkedIn to recruiter communication support.”

For those who want to spend less than $200 for online resume writing services, this all-in-one option is fairly priced, making it one of the best affordable resume writing services. If you’re only looking to refresh your LinkedIn, you’ll just pay a one-time $99 fee. For just your resume, it’s a one-time purchase of $129 for the service.

• Has a self pace job search course
• Helpful step by step resume building guide
• Some customers who reviewed the service on Trustpilot report time delays in receiving their resume

BrandResumes made the cut as one of our top choices for online resume services for a few reasons: it’s one of the platforms best for ATS keyword optimization and formatting for interviews, LinkedIn branding and a customizable interface. If you buy the deluxe package, you’ll have your resume distributed across the 60 top job boards (including industry-specific ones), so you’ll spend less time applying.

“Learning the fundamentals of resume writing is a skill that will carry you throughout your career, and BrandResumes offers courses and resources to accomplish just that,” Conklin highlights. “Once you understand how to format a strong bullet point, or the style you find reflects your story and values, you can start crafting various resumes to appeal to different audiences and fields.”

BrandResumes also offers resources to launch your own resume writing business — a tool that can be valuable for career experts seeking professional resume writing services. “If you’re seeking to dig into how to revamp your resume, or you find yourself (like many in HR or career services) consistently asked to help a friend or family member with their materials, this service will align with your goals,” she adds.

• Pay only after you’re satisfied with resume
• According to TopStack Resume’s site, resume complete takes up to 2 weeks

TopStack Resume is a force to be reckoned with in the career development sphere. Notably, it’s one of the only services to provide career consulting. So, in addition to resume and cover letter formatting, you have the option to partake in one-on-one sessions with a career advisor.

“Five steps is all you need to follow for your resume review by TopStack,” Conklin puts it simply. “The simplicity of this service, and the range of offerings (from a resume for $139 to career consulting for its Premium Package ) can be valuable for any job seeker or career explorer.”

More, if you find yourself in need of more career support, maybe you’re changing fields or returning to work after time off, this is a strong contender. “Be mindful of your budget and timeline, so you take full advantage of a career consultant; a solid service should focus on the process, as much as a strong career outcome,” she adds.

Plus, TopStack Resume is unique in that it has a team of well-qualified writers to ensure your one-pager is the best it can be. At a fair price point, you can always upgrade to add on more benefits in the future.

• Baseline package offers a lot more than competitors, including phone consult, optimized draft and two edits
• Cover and thank-you letters are added to packages at an additional charge

ResumeSpice is ready to add that much-needed spice to your resume. It doesn’t just provide three different package options, but it specifically tells you which one would work best for you. For example, if you have no more than two years in the workforce, you should select its baseline package ($449) that includes a phone consultation, an eye-catching resume format, keyword optimization, a personalized draft, two rounds of revisions based on your feedback and finalized versions in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats.

“Solid service is evident across ResumeSpice, and its focus on Executive Resume stands out from others,” Conklin pinpoints. “If you find yourself wanting to get to that next level in your career, you really do need to consider an executive coach with an eye towards that goal for your materials.”

You might, for example, realize you have decades of experience and unsure where to start to consolidate — Conklin offers. “This is one of the most frequent concerns when making this transition, and a third-party like ResumeSpice can be an invaluable resource and sounding board,” she adds. “Finally, its site is clear in terms of turnaround, which shows they value your time and manage expectations — a positive sign on what you can expect service-wise.”

ResumeSpice offers other à la carte services, too, including cover letter help, LinkedIn profile revamping, interview preparation and career coaching.

• Unlimited revisions
• 5 day delivery
• Some reviewers mention time delays

Craft Resumes has an engaging, user-friendly interface that makes resume-building a fun, less stressful process. With ATS keyword optimization and a dedicated writer on your resume, rest assured that it will be in a healthy state to pass along to recruiters and job posters.

“Craft Resumes cleary focus on the ‘craft’ and design of writing resumes, where a distinguishing factor that caught my eye is their unlimited evaluation ‘at any reason’ for four days,” Conklin says, recommending the service. “This is valuable for job or graduate school seekers and career explorers, as you’ll likely have questions once you find an opportunity of interest.”

Similar to other services here, there is a one-on-one aspect that can be quite valuable, especially if you have the time. “There are also a variety of services and prices, not just resume writing,” she notes. “This is helpful for you budget, and evolving needs. Often times once you get a resume underway you start to realize that you’ll want other materials to be updated and aligned with your personal brand.”

For its most popular package, The Basic, you’ll have access to a single writer and unlimited revisions (which is a score compared to some other services on this list), strong and optimized words, unique formatting and a cover letter to increase your chances of landing an interview. However, Craft Resumes has other great packages worth exploring.

• Consultation included with every package
• Executive Concierge Service that includes 10 days of unlimited revisions
• Quality writers and customer service, based off reviews
• No academic CVs or federal resumes

Humorous name aside, resume service Let’s Eat, Grandma has a laser focus on punctuation (as you can tell because nobody intends to write that they’d like to eat their grandmother on a professional document) — as well as resume formatting. What’s great about this platform, specifically, is its vast packages, ranging from drafting your resume to offering cover letter and networking services to help boost your career trajectory.

“Let’s Eat, Grandma hones in immediately on its ‘custom-tailored’ approach,” Conklin says. “While every resume review should be tailored to account for your story (as mentioned above), it’s clear this is a value of this service. Client outcomes are also front and center, where a mix of employers and schools are listed; this is notable if continuing education is a goal of yours.”

With four packages available, and FAQs on the homepage highlighting its range (i.e. academic, federal government and more), Conklin appreciates how it’s clear that this service is distinguishing themselves from others, especially given the range of specialty materials they can help you create. 

What’s more, you’ll be assisted by a team of highly skilled writers who create targeted documents to help boost your chances of getting an interview. They’ll also speak to your unique strengths — and, therefore, amplify them on your resume — to tie your entire professional portfolio of experience together. They also have a package tailored for executives, making the platform a solid option for those needing executive resume writing services.

The golden question, right? This depends mostly on your career goals. A range of services are available, and many are now even offered through LinkedIn. 

“When considering a resume service, it is important to consider the extent of guidance you are seeking,” Conklin, who’s 15 years of experience in higher education — tells the New York Post.

“Are you overhauling your resume? Are you transitioning industries and need to consider a different format or approach? What are your financial resources to pay for one, or should you explore services offered from your alma mater or current institution if you are a current or graduate of higher education?”

You’ll also want to consider the resume services’ reputation, Conklin suggests: Are there reviews or endorsements of a service, especially if you are paying for one? What is the background, and is the resume service aligned with your industry of interest? 

“It depends on the service and one’s circumstances as to whether it is ‘worth’ paying for the service,” Conklin says. “There are very reputable services out there, especially for more experienced career seekers. If you’re transitioning to a new field, or you are seeking to move to a senior or executive level, it could definitely be worth the cost.”

As a preliminary step, Conklin advises to really make sure you are an informed consumer when considering a resume service, and if you should pay or if you have a network or connections you can leverage for advice first. 

“When an individual pays for a resume service, there may be a flat rate, or it is calculated on an hourly rate and requires at least two sessions,” Conklin explains. “For example, it could cost $150 for a single session.”

However, there are resume services that can significantly exceed that rate and are part of a package that might include a quick return and other support, from LinkedIn to interview coaching, that is over $600, she highlights.

“Your story is the focus of your resume, and it is critical to be honest and reflect on how you want to tell that, ultimately,” Conklin notes. “The order also depends on the stage of your career (early, mid, senior, executive) and the industry you are seeking.”

In academia, for example, you’ll see a curriculum vitae (CV) that is pages long to reflect one’s research, publications, and roles held. In financial services, you would have a one-page resume until you have significant work experience. Or, in the creative fields, you may have a one-page resume and then an online portfolio or website that exhibits your work to complement your resume, she explains.

“No matter the field you are pursuing, you always want to make sure you list your experiences in reverse chronological order, you include your education/training, think of the keywords and skills (and make sure those are prominently displayed and included), and also think of what is most relevant,” she lists. “The most relevant should be at the top.”

It is also key to consider Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), automated review systems that scan resumes as part of an organization’s vetting process. “The format could align or cause issues with an ATS system,” Conklin adds. “This is why it’s important to do your research, leverage any connections you have to gain insights into a field and their preferred format and get advice on keywords, skills and experiences to include.”

“If you do your homework, you should find clues to answer the questions above and guide your resume writing approach,” Conklin shares.

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