Between terms like “Big Five” and “worldbuilding” to “telling” and “denouement,” new writers have a lot of lingo to learn. Two terms that get tossed around but aren’t explained very often are alpha readers and critique partners. And since knowledge is power, I’m going to break them both down for you: what they are, what’s the difference between them, and when you need them in the writing process. I’ll keep this short and sweet.
What Are Alpha Readers and Critique Partners?
Simply put, both alpha readers and critique partners are your first set of outside eyes on early drafts of your manuscript—ideally, eyes that do not belong to people who already love you and think you’re awesome!
They should be writers themselves, working either within your genre or in a genre that is at least somewhat adjacent. Alpha readers and critique partners read your writing, whether it’s chapter-by-chapter or as a whole manuscript, to tell you what works in your writing and what doesn’t from their point of view. This feedback is typically directed toward the story-level elements of your story and less toward mechanical elements like grammar and punctuation.
What’s the Difference Between Alpha Readers and Critique Partners?
So what’s the difference between them? Nothing much, actually. These terms are fairly interchangeable. In my experience, “critique partner” is the more common term.
That said, there is a slight nuance to each term. “Critique partner” implies a two-way relationship, and you’ll see this language associated with writing organizations that help people find other writers to trade work with. I’ve seen “alpha reader” commonly used in conjunction with the term “beta reader,” (someone who reviews later drafts of your work from a reader’s perspective). “Alpha reader” also doesn’t have that partnership connotation (although I always highly encourage swapping work to prevent ghosting and to develop your own writing evaluation skills).
When Do I Need Alpha Readers or Critique Partners?
As I mentioned above, these folks come into play when you’re still working on very early stages of your manuscript—anywhere from a detailed outline to a first or second draft. Working with critique partners/alpha readers early on will help you find and stay on the best track for telling your story as successfully as possible.
Where Can I Find Alpha Readers/Critique Partners?
There are many places to find critique partners or alpha readers online. Try looking up local or national writing organizations—especially those focused on your genre—or searching in social media groups for writers. Your local library also likely has a critique group you can join. Attending and networking at writing conferences or workshops is another way to find critique partners/alpha readers.
Wrapping Up
Every writer needs a good critique partner or alpha reader. Giving and receiving feedback—this is how we grow our writing skills. This is how we learn what we’re already doing well and how we need to improve. I hope this quick guide helps you get started on finding these important members of your writing community!
What term have you heard used more often—critique partners or alpha readers? What are your tips on finding and working with them?
Happy writing!