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I have really wanted to share a few samples here to get some feedback but I guess I am feeling overly protective of my writing. Anyone else feel that way? I guess it pretty silly but I think what if someone take my idea and runs with it? Any suggestions on ways to get feedback from other writers? Maybe if it were not online I would feel more comfortable. TIA
Not knowing what your genre is . . . there are several professional organzations where you can submit your work for critique. For example, I am a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. It is a world wide organization and they have monthly critique meetings in various cities around the nation. Another benefit to belonging is that there is an online message board that not only provides a ton of information, but is open to manuscript submissions for critique.
I don't know of any one website that can provide an all inclusive list of reputable organizations, but the book "2009 Writer's Market" published by Writers Digest Books is a great resource.
I've been in a few workshops and am very selective about readers. Not everyone is good at critique. Plus you have to be careful about putting your work online in forums - there are literary magazine editors who consider that publishing.
The only caveat I'd give would be this direct quote from City Data's Terms of Service:
By registering and posting on City-Data.com's Forums you grant owners of City-data.com forum a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive right to license, use, modify, or publish your posts in any media and manner whatsoever.
If you hope to some day publish a particular piece, it might be best not to post it (or excerpts from it) here.
I have learned that I can't make everyone happy. When writers create, we have to become channelers, sometimes. I have a problem writing believable dialogue, so I often read it out loud. A character might have terrible grammar, so I use it. I envy writers who can describe something so well that I feel like I am there, and I especially like reading a story that I never want to end. Writing from a past era can be tricky, too. Writing can help keep the mind sharp. (she said, getting a gold star and graham crackers from her teacher)
I have really wanted to share a few samples here to get some feedback but I guess I am feeling overly protective of my writing. Anyone else feel that way? I guess it pretty silly but I think what if someone take my idea and runs with it?
I know someone that this has happened to, I have to say it does make me think twice.
Writers develop little quirks, and habits. No one can write exactly like we do in the long run. No one can come up with the same characters. We fingerprint our work. Many writers take great pains to use obscure words, and do it well. Some of us are fixated on tiny details that may escape the average reader, but delight that one lone reader who adores what we do. Why would some of us ever need to plagarize when we have a whole world living inside our heads ? My characters have to eat, and walk on carpets. They don't just get folded away. When I'm writing, they are part of my life, as well. I find myself at a buffet staring at strangers, thinking : "Dang ! He looks like Roger, the gay jeweler who hates the new mannequin".
I've been in a few workshops and am very selective about readers. Not everyone is good at critique. Plus you have to be careful about putting your work online in forums - there are literary magazine editors who consider that publishing.
yup, that's another concern I've been hearing a lot. from my understanding, publishers prefer to have the rights to a story first, and if it's "published" online, it can no longer get those first rights. but I've never gotten a straight answer about this b/c the folks I've been asking are a bit older and not quite sure how the 'net will influence this
me, personally, I don't plan on posting any writing samples here. I like CD, but there are a few too many trolls floating around to make me comfortable posting something like that here. I'm lucky to have access to critiques via my school and classmates/professors, though I may check out other, more restricted sites like the Writer's Digest one and the one sailorgirl mentioned (I'm also trying to write a few childrens' stories)
I am a little overprotective of having strangers read too much of my writing.. I guess I just can't handle rejection without being hurt..
I love criticism as to my writing, good or bad. I will listen attentively and try to intuit how the critic is seeing my work...that may help me to improve (in the long run) or give me brand-new ideas. Criticism doesn't hurt me, it helps me grow.
We all need to keep "Dear Reader" in mind! They buy (or reject) the finished product.
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Maybe They can even a few bucks from it
