Shielding or Sharing?

[Rowan]

During the course of your writing, as it's being developed, do you ever find with some people in your life, you're willing to share the most intimate details of your story, while with others you don't even want them to know you're writing anything at all?

[Lauryn]

I'm not at the point yet where I have much (or anything) to show anyone, but I do know there are people in my life who would be in each of those camps. I further suspect that I would be selective in what individuals got to read prior to the completion of my first draft. This is an embryo story, and I'd like it to grow and develop to a reasonable point in its cocoon before exposing it to someone else's eyes.

Wow, I didn't realize I'd get to feeling so defensive about something that has barely even begun!

[Divia]

My family rarely asks about my stuff. They are interested but they've learned that I don't talk about it. Ever since I asked one person about their story and got a 20 min long ramble on every little detail I decided I dont want to be that person. So I just stay quiet.

[Rowan]

Wow, I didn't realize I'd get to feeling so defensive about something that has barely even begun!

LOL Thanks Lauryn. I have a group of about 5 people I've placed trust in to read it. A friend at work from whom I've asked for help regarding a few things relating to my plot and she asked when she could read it. I told her at least not until the first draft was complete because she's the type of personality who'd nag me incessantly about it. I told her this outright and she actually agreed. The last time someone read as I was writing, I got nagged endlessly and in an attempt to appease this person, I wrote and wrote and it turned into something that wasn't mine.

Thanks for your response, too Divia. I can appreciate your view as well. My problem is if I'm asked what mine is about or what genre it will be, I can't quite convey that info. yet. So I'm hardly likely to fall into that 20 minute shpeel.

[Lauryn]

A friend at work from whom I've asked for help regarding a few things relating to my plot and she asked when she could read it. I told her at least not until the first draft was complete because she's the type of personality who'd nag me incessantly about it. I told her this outright and she actually agreed.

Seems like a fair deal to me! :eek: I just read that over again - you told her you were afraid she'd nag you?!? BRAVE woman! :D

[Rowan]

No, I told her flat out I knew she would. She tried to deny it at first, but when I gave her the look that said, "Yeah right." She caved in and agreed. LOL

[Divia]

I dont think anyone should see something before the first draft. But thats just me. I mean you are still working things out in your mind as you go along, ya know.

I have a pretty good friend who is willing to look at my stuff. He's critical though, which rocks.

But I'm like you Lauryn. I don't know how to convey what I am writing about in a short, simple easy yet interesting way. It hinkI need to work on that before I go to the conference.

[Margaret]

I've worked with other writers in critique groups, and it has really improved my writing. But -- with my current project, I want to get the complete first draft finished before I show it to anyone. I don't know a lot of other writers in my area who are working on historical projects, and I suspect my last project may have suffered a bit because I was writing, to at least some extent, to please people who are not readers of historical fiction. I did share a few bits of my current project with a workshop I took in January, which was great. It was specifically geared toward historical fiction, but even there, a lot of the writers in the group were working on projects that are stylistically very different from mine.

It's important, I think, when getting feedback, to get it from people who understand and appreciate the style and tone one is aiming for. After all, where would Dan Brown be today if he had showed his drafts only to highbrow literary writers? ;)

[juleswatson]

It's important, I think, when getting feedback, to get it from people who understand and appreciate the style and tone one is aiming for. After all, where would Dan Brown be today if he had showed his drafts only to highbrow literary writers? ;)

I agree. I am always telling budding writers to be very careful who they share their writing with; and what sort of feedback they ask for (forgive the split infinitives). I've had people react strangely to the tiniest things and it's obvious they are jealous or put out in some way. Some people can't do constructive feedback. And if you are asking people to read something they would never like in a million years, you can't really get any decent critique either. It depends on the friend. I have a highly logical journalist friend who only ever dispensed brutal truth, and another who reacts only from the heart and just loves everything. I'd ask them different things depending how vulnerable I felt. :) Seriously, I think it's about you being specific about what you want - detailed feedback on writing, or just an overall idea if it seems interesting. And I also agree not to do it too early in the process. To have a hope of coming up with something that is unique to you, and expresses something real from inside you, you need to ferment in your own juices as it were. Hence why I even shield myself from many reviews and ranking things. I write better in a cocoon. Protect the book as if it's a widdle baby :)

[Libby]

I've never shared my work whilst I'm writing it. The only time I allow someone else to read it is when I'm satisfied it's finished and I've distanced myself from it.

I think it's because I wrote secretly all through my childhood and teens and I've never changed the habit of keeping my fantasy world to myself.

[Divia]

I was in a critique group, which was nice, if they understood HF, which they did not. And it was very evident by the person running the group they he had no clue, and thats a problem. He wanted my main character to act as if she was a woman from 200X instead of 1860. :rolleyes:

[Rowan]

Well now I feel like an idiot.

Anyone know where I can go for help? Writing help. Not being an idiot help. I don't need help with that. I manage just fine.

[boswellbaxter]

Well now I feel like an idiot.

Anyone know where I can go for help? Writing help. Not being an idiot help. I don't need help with that. I manage just fine.

Are you looking for a critique group? This one is for historical fiction writers and has a good reputation from what I've heard. Anne Whitfield, one of the members, used to post on the old site from time to time. Not sure if she made it over here. Anyway, it seems to be pretty active.

http://www.geocities.com/historicalfictioncritique/

[Rowan]

Are you looking for a critique group? This one is for historical fiction writers and has a good reputation from what I've heard. Anne Whitfield, one of the members, used to post on the old site from time to time. Not sure if she made it over here. Anyway, it seems to be pretty active.

http://www.geocities.com/historicalfictioncritique/

Thanks boswell, but I don't write historical fiction. I'd rather keep what I love to read and what I write completely separate so they're never at odds with one another.

I think what I need most is mental help because I'm clearly an abnormal writer.

[LoveHistory]

But abnormal doesn't have to be bad. And normal's not that interesting.

I share what I'm working on with my sister who also writes, and she does the same with me. We have thought processes that are widely different but mesh well together. And sometimes I'll have my mother go over something since she's the one who taught me to write. Other than that I don't let anyone read before the first draft is done.

[Lauryn]

I can see where having a particular expert read a scene here or there as you go might be useful, if you can bring yourself to do it. For example, having gotten your medical friend's advice on suturing a wound, asking her to read the scene where that knowledge is put to use for medical veracity. But even so, she may have opinions on modern best practice which might not be period appropriate - "Wine! You shouldn't use wine to disinfect a wound!" :D

[SarahWoodbury]

The only person I show anything before I have a first draft is my daughter, and even then, I've only done it once, just to see if she thought my idea was reasonable or totally insane. I don't think I could do a writing group where people share chapters as they are writing them. The writing is still too personal at that point, and subject to change at any moment. I do have an awesome writing partner and she and I exchange ideas all the time, but rarely the actual writing before the first draft.

[Anna Elliott]

I too have an awesome writing partner :) and totally agree with Sarah--it's absolutely invaluable to have someone to bounce ideas off of, check historical facts, be able to talk about your characters' emotional journey with someone you trust and who completely understands your work. But that's definitely key for me--that kind of trust.