Too shy

[Deleted]

I keep writing, reading and editing my stories, three started, not finished, one up to like 139,531 words on 175 pages on my "Word Document" but I can not imagine ever letting anyone read my stuff. I like it but that doesn't mean others will like it the same way and I think it would hurt me if what I like so much and is dear to me will be rejected by others. It scares me to let people in on this, because it seems too personal and so intimate that I don't think I would ever get the courage up to let anyone read my stuff. It is like letting people look into my soul and somehow I don't think I will ever be able to do this.
How do you writers out there overcome this fear of rejection, the fear of outing your most inner secrets to others?
Then sometimes I feel I am wasting my time on my writing anyways but it is like an addiction. If I can't write on it or have "writer's block" I have to read what I have already written. If I can't do that for a while I get almost a bit sad....
My writing acts as a vent for my longings I guess and it is o.k. but I don't know how long that can last until the writing it not good enough anymore.....

[janewheeler]

You're perfectly welcome to tell someone what kind of feedback you're comfortable with. I have a friend who was pretty sensitive to criticism, so she told me she only wanted to know about the parts that I liked, and the things she should play up.

But I completely understand. I am fine with criticism of my nonfiction writing in my day job, but fiction writing is difficult to share with even my closest friends -- because they don't know about this part of me, and I'm hesitant to share it. Even after I told my husband about my devness, it took me a really long time to share my writing, and it was only one of my many stories (probably the least divvy, actually).

People around here can relate. If you ever feel up to it, we're here.

[Ath]

Writing has become a vent for me too. When I dont write Im probably thinking of how to add or edit what I just wrote.
You could try deciding beforhand that the text is for others, and see how that affects your writing. It doesnt have to be that long.
Writing about secrets is like .... you start small and when you learn that the world did not end because of it,
Its easier to write about the next. Kind of like when we decide to join the board after having read it /lurked for a while.

[Ath]

Hey how about, you pick a theme, and a few of us write a set number of words on it, and we can
"compare" and discuss it. Maybe that could ease you into sharing something written.

[ruthmadison]

I don't know how I got past that.

I definitely used to feel it. I would write my stories in code just in case anyone passing by might read over my shoulder!

[Deleted]

Thanks ladies...I just sometimes feel like I am the only one who feels that way, all this dev stuff does not just come easy to me, I still struggle with my feelings along with other stuff and I sometimes feel everyone here is so strong and so o.k. with themselves...just like I can't join the Skype chats when you guys have that, I can't imagine talking about all of this...

[Inigo Montoya]

It honestly took me a long time and many conversations with other devs, dis guys, and friends and family to get to get OK with myself over my dev-ness.

Sent from my MB860 using proboards

[Pigeon]

I get *so* freaked out about dev stuff. Well, sex in general. And then trying to write romance/sex. I've gotten a little better, but not to the point where I've very good about sharing most of it.

[Dreamer5678]

Its okay not to feel comfortable with the dev side of yourself... we all put too much pressure on ourselves to fit in or conform even with a trait as different as being a dev... there are no rules except being true to yourself! So take your time and know that we all have our doubts sometimes ...

[Deleted]

I think for starters that 175k words is impressive. I think about all those things you've said but i think i just skrew my eyes shut and send my writing off into the ether. Most people will be polite unless it is completely awful but i would imagine or anyway hope we'd already know that ourselves in the first place. Is your story fantasy fiction or romance. How have you managed to get the story to work over that many words. How long has it taken you? I really hope you pluck up the courage and share your writing one day. I bet it will be really good.

[Deleted]

How would Ath's idea work? I don't really get it...

[Deleted]

Tabby, I guess it is not really just a short story, it is more of a fictionous romance novel in the making...I have others which I have hand written and not finished that are almost the same length and I have to get around to typing it all out...this one particular is my best I think so far and I have typed it on my computer right away....I can see a pattern in my writing style from like four years ago to now....I know so much more now and I have gotten better at expressing stuff....I like details and so I keep rewriting and editing a lot...I want it to be something that could really be.....