Anyone else ever have a much easier time sharing their work with strangers over the internet (or strangers in general) then people they actually know?
Maybe I just have a complex, but for the longest time the only person I knew in real life who read anything I wrote was my sister. I don't know why, but I was terrified of people seeing what I worked and not liking it, and then having to feel like they have to say something nice or whatever.
But then my fiance came along and started to break me of that habit. He read my work and was so incredibly enthusiastic about it that I started to realize it might be a good thing to show friends and family, though I'm still depending on relative online strangers to give more direct honest feedback-lol.
Anyways, the big point of this post is that, since I've buckled down and gotten really excited about being in the final stages of editing my first completed novel, I've been talking about my writing desires more often, and now two coworkers have asked to read it. I'm nervous! It's so funny that I worry they'll read it and think I'm silly for pursuing my writing dreams or something, or that they'll feel obligated to say something nice.
The good thing is that one of them told me he's a pretty avid reader of sci-fi and warned me that he's going to provide honest criticism, and that he hopes I don't take offense to it, because he just wants to help. I think that was actually really awesome of him and told him that I consider constructive criticism a huge compliment and that's what I really need right now, not just a 'hey, that's really good' from my mom, fiance, and in-laws.
So, yeah, this was rambly, but the point is I'm nervous, though a bit stoked to get more feedback on my work.
Anyone else have a hard time sharing your work with people you know versus people you don't know face-to-face?
And anyone else here wish your friends and family would stop gushing about your work? lol. Don't get me wrong, I love the gushing and love that they're supportive, but yes... constructive criticism is what I'm looking for (though they do pair their gushing with constructive crit as well, so they really are the best family and in-laws I could ask for. I'm just strange, I suppose)
Maybe I just have a complex, but for the longest time the only person I knew in real life who read anything I wrote was my sister. I don't know why, but I was terrified of people seeing what I worked and not liking it, and then having to feel like they have to say something nice or whatever.
But then my fiance came along and started to break me of that habit. He read my work and was so incredibly enthusiastic about it that I started to realize it might be a good thing to show friends and family, though I'm still depending on relative online strangers to give more direct honest feedback-lol.
Anyways, the big point of this post is that, since I've buckled down and gotten really excited about being in the final stages of editing my first completed novel, I've been talking about my writing desires more often, and now two coworkers have asked to read it. I'm nervous! It's so funny that I worry they'll read it and think I'm silly for pursuing my writing dreams or something, or that they'll feel obligated to say something nice.
The good thing is that one of them told me he's a pretty avid reader of sci-fi and warned me that he's going to provide honest criticism, and that he hopes I don't take offense to it, because he just wants to help. I think that was actually really awesome of him and told him that I consider constructive criticism a huge compliment and that's what I really need right now, not just a 'hey, that's really good' from my mom, fiance, and in-laws.
So, yeah, this was rambly, but the point is I'm nervous, though a bit stoked to get more feedback on my work.
Anyone else have a hard time sharing your work with people you know versus people you don't know face-to-face?
And anyone else here wish your friends and family would stop gushing about your work? lol. Don't get me wrong, I love the gushing and love that they're supportive, but yes... constructive criticism is what I'm looking for (though they do pair their gushing with constructive crit as well, so they really are the best family and in-laws I could ask for. I'm just strange, I suppose)
