Writers, Show, Don't Tell

Have you ever had a really great novel or short story idea and got to blabing about it to the wrong person. They then gave you negative or even neutral feedback about it, and you got discouraged and lost the energy to move forward with it?

Then you definitely want to check out this weeks blog. Everyone has the right & wrong people around them in which to share their ideas. The key is using those who support you to help you move forward, and later after the book or short story is done, share it with the rest.

Writers, the key is to share your ideas with the right people.

When determining who to share your ideas with, consider the different "types" of feedback and who is best suited to provide them:

1. Close Friends and Family

Best for: Early-stage brainstorming and general "cheerleading."

Pros: They can be are supportive, easy to talk to and can help you build confidence in your ideas before sharing them with a wider audience.

Cons: They are usually biased and unlikely to give you the objective, critical feedback you need to polish your prose.

2. Fellow Writers and Critique Partners

Best for: Refining plots, identifying plot holes, and discussing craft.

Pros: They intimately understand the writing process, the fear of sharing imperfect work, and how to give constructive criticism.

Cons: It takes time to build a genuine, mutually supportive relationship.

3. Beta Readers (Target Audience)

Best for: Assessing the pacing, tone, and overall engagement of a completed draft.

Pros: They are impartial readers who are familiar with your specific genre and can tell you if a story is actually captivating.

Cons: Their feedback can sometimes be overly subjective, requiring you to look for recurring patterns in their critiques.

4. Editors and Industry Professionals

Best for: Professional development, structural editing, and line editing.

Pros: They provide expert, actionable advice to elevate your manuscript to a publishable standard.

Cons: Professional editing services are a financial investment

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Talking about your story idea too much satisfies your need for an audience, which can psychologically drain your motivation to actually write the book. Only share what you are comfortable with!

Thanks for checking out our blog this week. Each week on Mondays, we try and bring something to help you on your writing journey. We hope this has been helpful. If so, let us know in the comments. If you have ideas on this subject, please share it with the other's that follow this blog!