5 Reasons It’s Time to Stop Hiding and Show Your Writing to the World

By:

There are a lot of things scarier than showing someone your writing. Photo courtesy: Amblin Entertainment

There are a lot of things scarier than showing someone your writing. Photo courtesy: Amblin Entertainment

So, how do you know when you’re a real writer? This is one of the toughest questions for any writer to answer. Some say it’s when you first get published. Others say it’s when you’re actually paid for your work. But the only true way to know if you’ve earned the right to call yourself a “writer” is by doing something that almost every writer overlooks.

Owning up to it.

And to own your identity as a writer—a real writer—you’ve got to show someone your writing.

Need more proof? Here are five fantastic reasons to show someone your work and how it can totally change your writing life:

No. 1 – Facing your fear makes you stronger

Why is it so tough to show someone your work? Because it’s scary. It’s like walking a tightrope or speaking in front of an audience or maybe even holding a spider. Whatever it feels like to you, I guarantee you’re not the first writer to hesitate showing his or her work.

But as we all know, showing your work is the only way to get notes and feedback on what you’ve done. (It’s also the only way to sell something, so we’ve all got to get used to it).

Once you let go of your writing, you can take a step back and with the help of friends or colleagues get a sense of what’s working and what isn’t. You don’t want to suffer the alternative — letting your fear overcome you to the point of stalling your growth as a writer.

The good news is that the more you show others your writing, the less scary it gets. “When you avoid something that scares you, you tend to experience a sense of failure. Every time you avoid a feared object or situation, your anxiety gains strength while you lose some,” says Noam Shpancer in a 2010 article for Psychology Today.  As a professional writing coach, I can tell you that this is more than true in the case of writers and artists, who are so emotionally tied to their work.

Every time we avoid showing someone our writing, that critical voice inside us pipes up, “See? I told you it’s not good enough.” But by facing our fears, we take back our power and in the process become better writers.

Some critics are just that, critical. Photo courtesy: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

Some critics are just that, critical. Photo courtesy: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

No. 2 – Showing your work tells you who your audience is… and isn’t

When I finished my first book, I gave it to ten people.

Then, I waited. All I heard was the sound of crickets. Finally, one person finished the book and loved it, but the other nine? Eh, not so much. Most of them never got back to me.

At the time, I was devastated, but then I gained more experience with being a writer and with finding good readers. I realized that I had made a huge blunder. I picked people who weren’t interested in the kind of writing I was doing. It was a rookie mistake, but one that I had to make to learn how important it is to carefully research your audience.

If I had asked more in-depth questions about my readers’ interests, I wouldn’t have wasted my time the unhelpful feedback. Professional writers build networks of people who like the kinds of topics they write about, and they rely on those networks to find good first readers.

So, before you send your screenplay for the pilot episode of a gritty gangster drama to your best friend who only reads country western romance novels, check to see if you know someone who might be a better fit.

No. 3 — You gain confidence

Humans are social creatures.

Another person’s opinion of our abilities, whether good or ill, can heavily influence our own belief in those abilities. According to an article on self-confidence and career in Fast Company, “A psychology study from Ohio State University found evidence that an individual’s career path is influenced by their own levels of self-confidence and, to some degree, the amount of social validation they receive along the way.”

So, when you screw up the courage to show someone your writing and he or she not only likes it but loves it, that validation can go a long way toward strengthening your potential to create future works of brilliance.

Learn how to receive compliments on your work graciously and take them to heart. Knowing where you shine is just as important as knowing where you need improvement.

Sandy got over it and so can you. Photo courtesy: Paramount Pictures

Sandy got over it and so can you. Photo courtesy: Paramount Pictures

No. 4 — You get better with rejection

No writer likes rejection, no one.

The thickest-skinned, crustiest old battle-worn writer among us all still gets that inner quiver, even if it’s ever-so-slight, when faced with scathing criticism. But rejection is part of the process, and to be the best writer you can be, it’s most helpful to see rejection as a teacher, rather than an enemy. The more you show your work to other people, the better you’ll get at differentiating between uneducated opinion and objective feedback.

You’ll also get better at shifting into neutral when faced with any type of criticism and at strategizing how to improve the writing the next time around.

Rejection might not be pleasant, but it doesn’t have to sting every time. Use each rejection as an opportunity to practice gaining perspective.

Do it! Photo courtesy: Warner Bros.

Do it! Photo courtesy: Warner Bros.

No. 5 — Get support and get rid of your stress

Years ago, when I started asking around to see if anyone would read my writing, I found out that two of my closest friends were writers, and I didn’t even know it. They hadn’t shown anyone their work either. But once I opened the door, we all started sharing our writing, and each of us became stronger.

“The support offered by a caring friend can provide a buffer against the effects of stress. In a study of over 100 people, researchers found that people who completed a stressful task experienced a faster recovery when they were reminded of people with whom they had strong relationships,” according to an article from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing.

Our writing friendships not only give us the support we need to keep going, but they decrease the stress we feel whenever we experience a low period in our writing. Every time you show someone your work, you give yourself greater opportunity to forge one of these precious relationships.

The time to do this is now—no procrastinating! Sit down and make a list of at least three people to who you can show your writing and then start contacting them. Pick up the phone, send that email, get it done.

As scary as it might be, at the end of the day you’ll be proud of yourself for doing it. And your writing career will thank you!

13 Replies to "5 Reasons It’s Time to Stop Hiding and Show Your Writing to the World"

  • comment-avatar
    chask September 20, 2016 (6:28 am)

    Good post, great tips.

    • comment-avatar
      Lauren Sapala September 20, 2016 (9:06 am)

      Thanks Chask!

  • comment-avatar
    Diana September 20, 2016 (9:12 am)

    Thanks for the information, I am one more step closer to sharing my writing with someone other than my best friend. Thanks!

    • comment-avatar
      Lauren Sapala September 20, 2016 (9:20 am)

      Good luck Diana! I think you’ll find it’s a lot more fun than you expected 🙂

  • comment-avatar
    Frank Ramisch September 20, 2016 (9:37 am)

    Hi Lauren! Good clear points, but perhaps a #6 would be: ‘The rejection reinforces a writer’s typical Doom and Gloom mindset’. I’m a thick-skinned, crusty, old, battle-worn writer who’s motto is ‘Pessimists are Never Disappointed’ (coined when I was 12ish). Is there hope for me?

    • comment-avatar
      Lauren Sapala September 20, 2016 (10:54 am)

      Haha! Well, I believe there is hope for everyone Frank. 😉

      Perhaps your pessimism is a strength that gives you an advantage when it comes to writing characters who are die-hard realists. Dr. Gregory House is one example of a charismatic cynic that television viewers can’t get enough of. There is always a place for that character who shows us the darker side of our expectations.

  • comment-avatar
    Mike Cregan September 20, 2016 (11:57 am)

    Very “to the point” article. Knowing the exact truth of a situation is always best. Certainly, many write for the pure outlet of expression, but most of us write with the hope that others will like what we’ve done. For the chance of people liking something to exist, the chance that they won’t must also exist. It can’t be only one possible outcome–otherwise, it’d be zzzzzzzzzz all day long. Not everyone liked The Beatles, and if THEY had some detractors, you will too. So, it’s not really that bad, never think you’re the only one.

    • comment-avatar
      Lauren Sapala September 20, 2016 (3:39 pm)

      That’s a great perspective Mike, and one I try to adopt when I’m faced with the fact that one (or a few) of my readers doesn’t like a certain piece of work. I remind myself that many great artists experienced rejection or had, as you say, detractors, and most grew stronger because of it. Love this point of view!

  • comment-avatar
    Karen Crider September 20, 2016 (12:03 pm)

    If writing is a passion, how can a writer not admit he/she a writer. I can’t remember when I started, perhaps between the ages of 12-14, but I believe the earlier one one is addicted, the deeper the hunger. No matter what age, or how long one writes, writing is what you do, who you are, and who you’ll continue to be, even if for some reason one must stop. I have written all my life and one thing I have learned is, A writer may leave the writing, but writing never leaves the writer. And for that I am thankful.

    • comment-avatar
      Lauren Sapala September 20, 2016 (3:38 pm)

      “A writer may leave the writing, but writing never leaves the writer.”

      That is so true Karen! I couldn’t have said it better!

  • comment-avatar
    Michael October 3, 2016 (4:02 am)

    I am new to writing.but writing isn’t new to me……have you ever had some beautiful lady you missed………

  • comment-avatar
    Abiodun October 3, 2016 (7:33 am)

    Fear as been my greatest enemy. I pray I have the courage to stand up and hope to see someone to work with

  • comment-avatar
    Desmond October 3, 2016 (9:20 am)

    Blah, blah, blah. A more helpful subject would be about how to access people who might actually read your script, book… whatever.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published.

Join Our Magazine
Get a free subscription to Screenwriting Magazine and download over 40 Academy Nominated screenplays.
No Thanks
Thanks for Joining ScreenwritingU Magazine!
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Join today!
×
×