Sharing Your Writing

Everyone faces challenges within their writing journey. Some more than others but a common one is the fear of sharing your work. *collective gasp*

I get it. It’s hard. It’s something I still struggle with even though I’ve come a long way in that area. To a certain extent it may always be hard for some people. But if your goal is publication then you have to learn how not to become overwhelmed by it.

Here are a few tips.

Learn

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, feedback is one of the most valuable things for a writer. You can learn so much about the craft simply by sharing your writing and asking for thoughts.

But how are you supposed to learn if you don’t share your work?

Grow

Feedback on your writing can help you grow as a writer and change—for the better—as a result of it. Think about it. If you don’t share your work then you’ll never get others opinion/advice and you will never grow. Maybe that’s a touch dramatic, there are other ways to grow as a writer, but sharing your work is so important!

But if you let fear control you, how are you ever going to find the courage to grow?

Courage

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ~Joshua 1:9

Yes, courage.

Because it takes courage to share your work.

It takes faith to know it’ll all work out.

And it takes a heart willing to learn and grow to accept whatever the feedback may hold.

Not everyone will like your story. Be okay with that. Not everyone will have positive things to say. Accept that it will help you grow. Not everyone will love your story the way you cherish and adore it. Remember why you love it so much and don’t forget it. Hold onto that through the hard days.

The hard truth is: your story is not for everyone. Accept that now to help you later.

But this truth applies to every book out there—even bestselling ones. For example, I do not like The Hunger Games. I couldn’t even finish it. But I know that there are hard core Hunger Games fans out there that are appalled by my opinion. But the same truth applies: not every book is for everyone.

However, you will have fans. You will have people who absolutely adore your stories. But you can’t find them if you don’t share your work.

It’s like this quote says:
“’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” ~Alfred Lord Tennyson
It’s better to gain fans as well as haters than never to have known at all. I don’t know about you, but I would rather share my work and find my fans, even if that means I find the people who don’t like it as well. It’s worth it to me.

What about you?

Your turn!

Do you struggle to let other people read your work? Have you ever gotten feedback on your writing? Which would your rather, to have fans as well as the people who will hate it or never share your work at all?

Blessings, Allyson

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