Critique Partner Match Guidelines & FAQ

The Critique Partner Match is a free service offered by WriteOnCon to our awesome writing community. You do not need to purchase admission to the online conference to participate, just sign up for a WriteOnCon.org account and create a listing!

We have lots of ways you can browse and filter the listings, including age category, genre, critique styles & strengths, writer’s approximate location or timezone, and more.

This page contains instructions for Finding Critique Partners, Creating a Listing, and Editing a Listing.

Finding Critique Partners

Start on the Critique Partner Match Home. Here you can dive into listings by age category, genre, or writer’s (approximate) location. Clicking on one of these points of entry will take you to the directory.

The directory shows a list of all the CP Match listings with some details like genre and word count.

In the top-left of the listing is the Filter button. It looks like three horizontal lines with dots on them.

Clicking this button will open the Filter Menu.

Preview of the CP Match Filters

Turning these filters on and off will let you narrow down listings. The counter next to each setting will change to reflect your chosen filters.

When you see a listing that interests you, click on its headline or image.

Screenshot of a listing in the directory.

Read the listing thoroughly. It includes information about the writer and their current project, and even a sample of their writing.

If you like this listing, you can use the Bookmark button at the top of the listing to save the listing for later. The button is on the right.

Screenshot showing the Bookmark button

When you’re ready to reach out, scroll to the bottom of the listing to the Contact this CP section

Screenshot of the Contact this CP section

Fill out the email form on the right with your name, email, a link to your CP Match listing (they’re free!) and a message explaining why you’d like to be CPs with this person. We have guidelines on the left with suggestions for starting this relationship on the right foot.

If you see something in a listing that shouldn’t be there, you can report it using the link on the bottom-left. Let us know about spam, inappropriate content, or violations of our community policies. Thanks!

Creating a Critique Partner Listing/Profile

First, make sure you’re logged in to WriteOnCon.org. Accounts are free, and do not include admission to the February conference. Register here.

Look in the CP Match Menu for a link to your Dashboard. Your Dashboard displays all the listings you’ve made, and all the listings you’ve Bookmarked.

Click on the blue New Listing button in the top-right.

This will take you to the Create New Listing page. It’s a long, detailed page, but you don’t have to fill everything out at once! Only a small handful of fields are mandatory. We do encourage you to be as thorough as you feel comfortable with.

You can choose whether your listing will be included in searches (public) or not (private). At the top of the page, look for the Publish Listing header. If the checkbox is checked, your listing can be found when searching the CP Match database. If it’s not, your listing disappears from the search, but you can still share it with potential CPs using the direct URL. When set private there will be a message on your listing discouraging people from using it to contact you.

If you want to save your listing to come back and finish later, simply unclick the “Publish Listing” box to start. Save with the “Submit” button at the bottom as you go, and when you’re all done and ready to share, click the “Publish Listing” box again to make it available to search.

If you want your listing deleted altogether, just drop us an email at [email protected].

Please note that you may have one active listing per age category.

Editing a Listing

To edit your listing, go to your Dashboard and select the gear icon next to your listing. This will give you the option to Edit.

General FAQ

What does this service cost?

It’s FREE! You don’t have to purchase anything, just make a WriteOncon.org account.

Do I need to be an experienced writer/critique partner/beta reader?

Nope! Just be honest about what you’ve done so far and what you haven’t. Remember, the right CP for you will understand where you’re coming from.

Do I need a completed manuscript?

You do not, CPs come in all combinations. You may want a brainstorming buddy or an accountability partner while you draft. Just make sure to fill out your listing accurately so CPs can understand where you are in the process.

How many listings can I have?

One per age category. That means one Picture Book listing, one Young Adult listing, etc. If you have more than one project in an age category, please select only one for the database. You can mention them under Other Projects. Note that you can make a listing visible in the search, or remove it from the search (deactivate).

Will my contact info be visible?

Your email address is hidden by default. When another user wants to contact you, they’ll use the email form on your page. An email will be sent to the address you specify, but the person reaching out to you won’t get your email. If you reply to the email they send then they will have your email. You can choose which social media accounts to include on your profile. Keep in mind that people could try to contact you via these instead.

Can I deactivate my listing?

Yes!

When you edit your listing, look at the top for the “Publish Listing” option. If the box is checked your listing will appear in the search. If it’s unchecked, it won’t.

Keep in mind that deactivating is not the same as deleting. Your listing will still be available via the direct link, but the contact form will have a warning not to contact you.

Can I delete my listing altogether?

Yes!

Send an email to [email protected] with your profile’s URL and we’ll take care of it.

Keep in mind that if you delete your listing it’s really gone. You can always create a new one, though!

How many projects can I showcase per listing?

One. Remember, this listing is primarily for one project at a time, not your whole body of work. You can include a statement about what else you’re writing under the Other Projects field. Keep in mind that you can have one active listing per age category.

How many genres can I select?

Five. This is to keep the search targeted and meaningful. As a writer in the real world you’ll need to choose one primary genre for each project, so it’s a good time to practice! Remember, this listing is primarily for one project at a time, not your whole body of work. You can include a statement about what else you’re writing under the Other Projects field.

How do potential matches contact each other?

At the bottom of every listing is an email form that will send a message to the owner of the listing. Your email address is kept private and not shown on the display. When someone emails you, you may choose whether or not to reply. If you reply to them, they will then have your email address.

What should I say when I reach out to a potential match?

Introduce yourself a bit, and then say what in their profile made you want to contact them. Make sure you include the link to your CP Match profile in the appropriate box. Invite them to swap materials with you, like a first chapter.

Any advice for starting a new CP relationship?

While we’ve done our best to make the CP listings as thorough and useful as possible, you won’t really know if your styles mesh well until you get around to swapping some writing. We suggest swapping a small sample of your work, like a first chapter, rather than committing to an entire novel or an ongoing relationship. Remember that either party can opt not to continue and that it’s nobody’s fault. Finding the right CP can take time.

What do the Critique Styles & Strengths mean?

A Critique Style is how you like to critique, like in-line track changes or an edit letter. A Critique Strength is things you’re good at as a CP, like dialogue or plot. We have a handy definitions list here.

How do you define the genres?

We have a handy definitions list here.

When I set up all my filters I don't get any results. What gives?

Your chosen filters may be too specific, or our database may not be large enough yet. To increase the odds of matching, share the link to the CP Match with your friends and on social media. In the meantime, try relaxing your filters until you start to see listings. For example, if you said you only wanted to see writers who have an agent, if you uncheck that box you’ll see everyone who doesn’t have an agent.

How do Tags work and why should I use them?

Tags are where you flag all the nifty features of your manuscript, from tropes to sub-sub-genres to identities and representation. Tags are for all the cool, searchable things that aren’t already in your listing.

For example, here’s how we might tag some popular books:

Harry Potter: magic, wizards, witches, England, contemporary
The Hunger Games: violence, futurism, love triangle
The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe: portal fantasy, royals, talking animals, multiple protagonists
Where The Wild Things Are: monsters, dreams
The Lorax: environmentalism, rhyming

Note that you don’t need to use genres, age categories or critique styles as tags, because they’re found in other places on your listing. Tagging is the catch-all for things that aren’t listed elsewhere.

When you create or add a tag other users will be able to click on it and see all the other listings that are also using that tag.

How many Tags can I use?

There is currently no limit on Tags. Please do not abuse this feature.

How do I create a Tag?

First, make sure a similar tag doesn’t already exist. In the Tags field, begin typing the term you want and pause to give the system time to make suggestions. If you find a similar tag, it’s better to use what’s already there than to make a new one.

If it doesn’t yet exist, finish typing and hit Enter. Your text will turn into a tag like the others.

Reporting Listings

I saw something on a listing that violates the WriteOnCon terms. What should I do?

At the bottom of every profile is a link to email us. Please include the URL of the profile in question, and what you think the problem is. We will make a decision about what to do. Please do not contact the user yourself.

What are the WriteOnCon terms of use?

You can find our Harassment and Accessibility Policies here.