Why Critique Partners are Amazing

Every writer should have a critique partner. Practically every blog, book, or website that has ever mentioned critiquing for writers has probably said that. Yeah, sure, there are probably plenty of posts out there that talk about getting CP's, what makes a good CP, why you should have a CP, and so on. Well, you know what? I want to join that group and write a post about why CP's are complete amazingsauce (Do ya like what I did there? Get it? Get it? Not, awesomesauce but amazingsauce. Yes, I know I'm weird. :P)

<And here I am happy-dancing and smiling like an idiot about my first writing post>

Anyways, on to the actual post, in which I will make a list because I like lists.

Critique Partners are Amazingsauce Because:

• They catch things you don't see. Let's be honest with ourselves here. We might be able to catch a ton of mistakes in our stories/novellas/novels/etc, but there are still going to be tons more that we can't really see. Or maybe...
• They make you fix that one mistake you kinda noticed but avoided. You know what I'm talking about. You're reading back through your first/second/whatever number draft, and you get that feeling that something's not right with the character's reaction in that one scene, but you just ignore it. No one will notice it anyway. Well, your critique partner did, and she's going to point it out to you, and you are going to be a good little writer and go back and fix it. Right?? 
• They're like your own little cheerleaders. An Amazingsauce CP will not only catch your mistakes and kindly point them out to you, but they'll also encourage you when you're in one of those moods where you just want to give up on the idea and start something new. Or *gasp* you just want to stop writing. Your CP simply won't let you just get away with something like that just because you're having a less-than-great day. 
• They probably are some of your biggest fans. A critique partner will not only point out the mistakes in your writing, but they'll also rave about the fantastic stuff! They'll find those little golden nuggets that are sure to be hiding in your project and help you show them the light of day. They'll be able to watch the book take form over "x" numbers of drafts, getting better and better with each one, until, finally, you've reached that point when you look at your manuscript and say, "This is the best I can make it."

So now that you've read that, you want to go out and get a critique partner, right? That is, if you don't already have one. I will tell you one thing: I have 3 Amazingsauce critique partners, and there is definitely a reason why there are all kinds of posts out there on the Interwebs about just why you should have a critique partner (or three!).