We writers tend to be solitary types. We work alone, isolated inside our heads, creating characters and worlds only real to us. Granted, some of us write with a partner, but these are few and far between. And for some of us, the first time any eyes but our own see our work is when we hit SEND and the manuscript whooshes through cyberspace to our editor.

Brave souls, indeed, in my opinion.

I don’t know the percentages, but from my observations maybe 50-60% of romance authors work with a critique partner or group. We’re still brave, but we want a little feedback before we hit SEND. That’s where the critique group or partner comes in.

Every group works differently, but usually critique groups operate something like this: members submit chapters from their current work-in-progress and the other members use Track Changes to make comments and suggestions. Some groups prefer to meet in person at a restaurant or coffee shop. Their members might take turns reading chapters and receive oral feedback. Other groups meet solely online. Still others are a combination of the two.

I’m not even sure how long I’ve been working with my current critique partner, Christina Hergenrader. I think we started working together in 2003, but it might have been early 2004. In any case, it’s been so long that she’s now one of my best friends. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding, and she and her husband are godparents to my daughter.

There’s something about writing and sharing that writing that engenders close friendships. Maybe it’s because in those early drafts of our work, we feel vulnerable. There has to be some element of trust in order to share such a personal part of ourselves.

I started critiquing with Tina and another friend, Courtney, before I was published. I hadn’t even told some members of my family I was writing romance novels. It wasn’t a secret, exactly, it just wasn’t something I wanted people laughing at me about. I wanted to see if I would have any success before I started calling myself a writer. I can’t tell you how much my CP’s praise and encouragement meant to me at the time. They believed in me, so I believed in me. They shared my successes and commiserated with me on my defeats. They understood in a way that no one who isn’t an author can understand. When I signed with my agent, I called Tina first. When I got that first contract, I called Tina first. And when I found out I was pregnant, I told my husband first (I’m not stupid!). But I told Tina second.

Do you have close friends who support you like this, friends with whom you can share those most vulnerable parts of yourself?