What Kind of Critique Partner are You?
The are two unshakable truths about writers (and people in general):
It’s Dangerous to Go Alone
We Love Us A Good Personality Type Sorting Tool
So today, as #authorlifemonth celebrates writer friends, I thought it would be fun to present a variety of ways that our personal supportive approach can show up in one another’s lives! Our uniqueness makes the world go ‘round, and each individual strength can buoy and sharpen our creative work when we learn to appreciate the love that’s being sent our way for what it is.
And maybe it’s because it’s February in the PNW and I’m craving my native southern sunshine, but I’m sorting the Writer Types into LIGHT SOURCES.
These types are based on people watching, interactions with my own (dearly beloved) writer circles, and information that I’ve shamelessly yoinked and reinterpreted from other personality typing systems (MBTI, Big Five, Enneagram, D&D alignments, etc. You know. SCIENCE.)
My suspicion that everyone utilizes some of every type, but tends to have one they really shine at.
LET’S GO INTO IT.
The Spotlight
Spotlight CPs not only believe in you, but they also won’t stop until everyone else does too. They’re a little extroverted, want to see you succeed, and tend to know how to work a room! The mantra of The Spotlight is: “LOOK AT THE CREATIVE GENIUS MY FRIEND HATH WROUGHT! SEE THEM! APPRECIATE THEIR GLORY!!” And honestly, where would we be without these people? We all love bragging on our CPs, but The Spotlight has it down to an art form. They can help you form connections with other people without missing a beat or breaking a sweat.
How to appreciate Spotlights: Thank them, and remember to return the favor. While you both know you’ll never rock it quite as hard as they do, they tend to notice and appreciate the effort.
The Flashlight
Drafting is weird. You have to go spelunking into unexplored parts of your brain, searching for the perfect plot twists and figuring out where the dead ends are. There be monsters. Never fear: Flashlight CPs have got your back! The Flashlight tends to have a unique combination of qualties: they’re non-judgemental, they give solid feedback in real-time, and they’re down for the gritty exploration of your plot ideas (before the tourist safety rails are added). It’s no wonder that Flashlights tend to make excellent ride-or-die CPs!
How to appreciate Flashlight CPs: Be there for their journey, too, and let them know they’re essential. Every Frodo needs a Samwise!
The Laser Pointer
Everyone has that one CP friend who can eyeball the problem you’ve been spinning your wheels on for days, and summarize exactly what you’re trying to convey. Laser Pointer CPs tend to conserve their energy, and then, when you need them most, they focus a concentrated beam of problem-solving precisely where it’s needed. To the untrained eye, conserving might look like disinterest or detachment, but showing up for you in a focused moment of problem-solving is the Laser’s way of communicating a deep level of belief in your writing, and care for you as a person! They wouldn’t expend that kind of concentrated effort unless they really admired you!
How to appreciate Laser CPs: trust that their need for space isn’t personal, and be sure to appreciate them in front of others! Given their quiet, pinpoint nature, it’s often easy for their care and skills to go overlooked!
The Commonroom Hearth
I’m not gonna lie; I have no idea how Hearth CPs do it. Hearth CPs are warm, welcoming, gracious rallying points for other writers. They eat/live/breathe/sweat/radiate team ethic, start challenges, respond often, build community effortlessly, and are incredibly socially adept. They’re good at connections, helping people find networks, boosting community morale, and communicating with clarity and grace. Their Twitter account isn’t a place to dump thoughts; it’s a living room for others to gather in.
How to Appreciate a Hearth CP: Check in with them quietly from time to time, and see how they’re doing. Remind them they get to be human too!
The Gothic Candelabra
Ah, writers. Where would we be without our dark, dramatic feels and dark nights of the soul?
Occasionally, we fall through the rotten, twisting staircases of our imaginations and need an accepting friend to listen without judgement, then toss us a line and fish us out of the basement. Gothic Candelabra CPs take some time to find (you can’t blast new friends with your writing fears full throttle, after all), but once they identify themselves, they can lend a trustworthy ear and offer a hopeful glow of wisdom/objectivity.
How to appreciate Gothic Candelabra CPs: Don’t take them for granted. Remember them when you’re feeling successful and happy, too. Resist the urge to use them as your therapist, and practice healthy communication rather than dumping on them. Don’t ghost them when they’re sad.
The Firework Show
The Firework CP is a brainstorming machine, always playing the “what if” game, planning exciting new events, thinking up perfect merch angles, and spinning 23 plot plates at once. If you’re stuck on ideas, you shan’t be for long! They’re hyper creative, enthusiastic, and planning your next dozen steps on your author journey in their sleep!
How to appreciate the Firework Show CP: Tell them they’re brilliant (they are), remind them to work on finish their WIP (they probably aren’t), and credit their skills when recalling to others what inspired your brilliant projects!
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
End of the Tunnel CPs are possibly the most underappreciated (and most important) of all the CP types.
They’re having none of your crappy excuses about why you can’t finish your draft. They DM you and tell you to stop doinking around and go write already. They show up, they’re consistent, they finish things, and, by golly, they’re going to make sure you do, too. They do this because they believe in you, they like you, and they understand that the world could use your valuable stories and perspective. They’re a little bit scary. That’s okay. They need to be.
How to appreciate the End of the Tunnel CP: finish your danged draft already! DO IT! DO IT NOW!!
That wraps it up! Which CP are you? A hybrid of a few of these, or something else entirely?
Remember to love and support your fellow writers, and, for gosh’s sake, go finish your @%@%& WIP!
