Three reasons to give critiques

Most writing advice I've gotten focuses on getting your own work critiqued. It's good to get feedback from someone outside of your family or circle of friends. But, I think critiquing other writers' work is helpful too. There aren't any writing groups in Kingston that I've been able to find, so I joined very recently online critique groups. Giving critiques isn't just a way to pay back critiquers for taking the time to help me, but because there are benefits:

1) Eases the pain
Getting critiques is emotionally tougher than giving them. The agony of having my baby ripped apart just doesn't compare to critiquing someone else's work. But, giving critiques helps to get through the pain because I know how a critiquer thinks. If someone points out something that doesn't work, I know, more than likely that it's nothing personal. Critiques are designed to help a writer improve. That's how I try to think as a critiquer. What can I suggest that will make this better? That way, when I send my own work to be taken apart I know that it's just help.

2) Improves writing
Critiquing has helped me edit my own work better. I'm slowly learning how to take my work apart and figure out what exactly I'm trying to say. I used to timidly edit line by line, but now I realize that I have to do so much more. I can rip out entire chunks of writing now. It's still hard, but now I can actually remove something that doesn't move the plot along even if it sounds good.

3) Creates a community
I alluded to this one earlier. Writing is lonely. Learning from and helping fellow writers makes it less lonely. And I've encountered all kinds of writers already. Some are older than me, some are younger. Some have children, some don't. Most never have enough time to write, but they make the time. All of them are very brave people. Not every aspiring writer has the courage to send their work out into the world to be looked at. Some lock their work away and nobody ever sees it. Writers have to be brave. Even if they're scared. So the courage of other writers makes me courageous as well.

Everyone has reasons why they critique, and these are just mine. Why do you critique? How has it helped you?

Photos courtesy SXC