The Lost Hubs of Writing (And Why Critique Partners Matter More Than Ever)
Not so long ago, writers had hubs. Conferences, workshops, local critique groups at the library — places where you could meet other people who were just as obsessed with story as you are. You’d swap chapters, trade notes, and slowly learn that writing doesn’t have to be lonely.
But these hubs are disappearing. More conferences are virtual. Local groups are harder to find. And in a world where everyone is supposedly more connected than ever, authors are more isolated than I’ve ever seen.
Here’s the problem: writing requires community.
You need other eyes to help you see where your story sings and where it stalls
You need practice looking at someone else’s work so you can learn to look more critically at your own.
And maybe most importantly, you need the confidence of knowing you’re not alone when you hit the messy middle of your draft.
No one knows exactly what to do the first time they write a book. Some writers rewrite the same book a hundred times. Others write a hundred first drafts. Either way, the truth is the same: you get better by repeating the process — but the process is a lot less confusing when you have critique partners to help with gut checks, perspective, and direction.
I would rather see an author work with three different critique partners and send me their best version of a manuscript than hand over a first draft that’s still raw simply because they’ve been tinkering with it alone for years. Community makes the difference. It teaches you how to revise, how to trust your instincts, and how to grow.
That’s why I’m working to bring some of that community back through House of Braus. Soon, I’ll be sharing ways to connect with critique partners, find your match, and step into a salon-style hub where authors aren’t just learning in isolation, but growing together.
Because writing might be solitary — but becoming an author doesn’t have to be.
Why Every Author Needs Critique Partners (Before They Ever Hire an Editor)
Writers aren’t known for being extroverts. Sitting alone with your story comes naturally. But here’s the truth: you can’t grow in a vacuum. Community is where authors learn to see, to trust, and to revise — and critique partners are one of the most powerful ways to build that muscle.
Learning to See What’s Possible
When you look at someone else’s draft — work that isn’t finished, isn’t published, still malleable — you’re forced to imagine what it could be. That’s a powerful skill. And here’s the secret: it’s much easier to see potential in someone else’s work than in your own.
The more you practice identifying what could change in a peer’s story, the closer you get to seeing it in your own. You’re strengthening your creative brain, not just for commas and punctuation, but for imagination and possibility.
Learning How to Give Feedback (Without Hurting People)
This part is harder than it sounds. I taught middle schoolers and high schoolers how to give constructive feedback — and I can tell you, plenty of adults still haven’t mastered it. Too often, critique boils down to:
“I want you to do it my way.”
“This is wrong.”
Neither helps anyone. Learning to give feedback that’s specific, actionable, and compassionate is a skill in itself. Critique partners teach you to support another writer’s vision, not overwrite it with your own.
Learning How to Receive Feedback (and What to Do With It)
Then comes the tougher part: sitting in the chair while your own work is critiqued. It’s vulnerable. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s where you’ll learn some of the most important lessons about yourself.
How do you react when someone says, “This isn’t working”?
Do you shut down, or do you get curious?
Can you tell the difference between feedback that’s useful and feedback that’s just noise?
Because let’s be honest: not all critique is created equal. Sometimes another writer is having a bad day and goes harder than necessary. Sometimes a published author suggests a change that just doesn’t fit your story, and you have to sit with the discomfort of not taking their advice. Sometimes your gut says no — but you still have to ask, why did they suggest this?
Learning when to accept, when to adapt, and when to gently decline critique is a skill you’ll use over and over again.
Preparing for Professional Editing
This is why critique groups are more than just a peer-to-peer exercise. They prepare you for the next stage: working with an editor.
Because here’s the thing: editing isn’t about following orders. It’s about dialogue, trust, and discernment. A good editor will help you see the why and the how behind changes. But even then, you’ll have to learn to filter suggestions through your own vision.
Critique partners give you that practice first. They’re your rehearsal space before the big stage.
Why Multiple Eyes Matter
And one last thing: no matter how strong your critique partner is, you can’t rely on just one or two people forever. Writing is subjective. You need multiple perspectives. Multiple pairs of eyes. The process of learning from several voices will stretch you farther than sticking with the same two forever.
The Bottom Line:
Critique partners help you grow your imagination, strengthen your craft instincts, and prepare for the realities of editing. They teach you how to give, how to receive, and how to trust your gut without shutting out the possibility of growth.
Writing may be solitary, but becoming an author takes community. And critique partners are where that begins.
