Sharing your work
Sharing your work takes a lot of bravery. When you give your words
to someone, you are pretty much literally giving them your hopes, your
aspirations, the thing you dream about at night. I believe that every piece of
writing someone does (or art, or design, or math equation, or whatever) has a
piece of themselves in it. Giving that to someone puts you in a
raw, vulnerable position and that's scary. That's terrifying, actually,
especially if you give it to someone to critique because even though we always
say that it's not personal, it really is. This is your child you are giving to
someone, hoping they will tell you how you've raised them wrong.
That takes courage.
It's also a very beautiful thing, though. As writers, we recognise our
words are powerful. We all know the power of propaganda or a movie or a novel.
Words can lift someone up or tear them down, it all depends on how you use
them.
I always find it beautiful when someone shares their work with someone
else, though. That writer is finding their courage and saying, you know what?
My words are powerful on their own, and it's terrifying to give them to
someone else. What if they don't like it? What if they don't understand
it? But my words are so much more powerful in our hands as opposed to
just mine.
Isn't that just beautiful?
Ok, I usually avoid editing my
pictures but I liked this one too
much to not post it. So in other words, this is not actually what the
beach looks like (but I like it anyways, so... :) )
Well, that was deeper than usual. Does it scare you to give your
writing to someone else?
It's also a very beautiful thing, though. As writers, we recognise our words are powerful. We all know the power of propaganda or a movie or a novel. Words can lift someone up or tear them down, it all depends on how you use them.
I always find it beautiful when someone shares their work with someone else, though. That writer is finding their courage and saying, you know what? My words are powerful on their own, and it's terrifying to give them to someone else. What if they don't like it? What if they don't understand it? But my words are so much more powerful in our hands as opposed to just mine.
Isn't that just beautiful?
 |
Ok, I usually avoid editing my
pictures but I liked this one too
much to not post it. So in other words, this is not actually what the beach looks like (but I like it anyways, so... :) ) |
Not really, in fact, I love it when people take a look at my work. The problem is that I live in the middle of nowhere, and consequently have no connections with the larger writing community, which doesn't lend itself to getting criticism. Actually, that's a lie... I have no connections who have the time or desire to keep up with the intensity with which I pursue writing. What scares me is posting on a random blog that I found by complete accident...
ReplyDeleteWell, you are a lucky duck, let me tell you. Yeah, I feel for you, I live in the middle of nowhere too. Good luck with finding someone who'll keep up with you :) And thanks for commenting!!!
DeleteWelcome to the blog! I'm way out in the boonies getting some much needed away time, so Victoria was kind enough to fill in for me. That's great that you write that much!
DeleteThank you so much for having me, RM! I had a great time working with you :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping me out! :)
DeleteGreat post, Victoria! I am simultaneously terrified and desperate to share my novel. On the one hand, I love it so much and I want other people to love it too -- to be excited by my plot twists, ship my ships, mourn my deaths, love my world. And yet the thought that they might not like it is so hard -- I've been working on it for not much under three years now! But you'll never know until you try.
ReplyDeleteIt is really encouraging getting good responses from you guys when I post stories on le blog. But gee. A novel is a much bigger deal!
PS Hi, RM! ~shakes hand~ I've never been here before but I'm Emily, a friend of Victoria's :)
*shakes hand* Welcome to the blog! I always love having new people stop in :)
DeleteIt's really a shame more people don't shake hands anymore.
Thanks for the comment!