I once wrote a chapter that made an adult scream.
That’s actually very true. But it’s not the takeaway I hope you get from this post.
Two years ago, if you would’ve asked me to share the first few chapters of what was then called Loyalty Book I, I would’ve cringed and imagined their horrible reactions. And I did. I imagined anyone else reading what I was writing and just barfing their heads off.
I’ve always been double-minded. Half of me thought, This is such a stupid story. No one else would ever like something like this. Only I would.
The other half of me knew, You know, this is kinda awesome. I’m totally gonna publish it one day.
So what changed? What shifted? How did I get from hoarding my writing away in embarrassment to posting chapters, enlisting beta and alpha readers, and racing toward publishing that sucker?
I’m going to share with you today what happened that made me know I am a writer.
Why You Should Never Be Afraid to Share Your Writing:
1. You’ll Get the Feedback You Need
I didn’t know I was a writer until I got feedback on the story I was writing.
I’m begging to be pinned. Just over over me!
I was 12 and riding home from a three-day ministry training trip with my peers. I was sitting next to my best friend, wanting to get her feedback on this story I was writing called Loyalty.
It was only the first chapter, but my friends sitting behind us asked me to speak up so they could hear. Before the end of the chapter, the entire busload of tweens/teens was hanging on to every word. When we arrived at our home church and I had to put my phone away, the entire bus erupted. Everyone was giving me their email so I could send them everything I had of my story.
The adult on the bus had to scream and yell over the gushing to get everyone’s attention.
And I’m not saying this to brag about the coolness of my book, because it was not cool. A year later I realized how amateur it was and IT SHALL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY AGAIN BECAUSE IT’S UNDERGONE TWO HUGE REWRITES.
I’m begging to be pinned. Just over over me!
But when I got their feedback, I knew I had a story that resonated with people. One that piqued their interest. One that demanded they know what happen next.
And that’s the day I started calling myself a writer. I knew I wanted to publish this and continue creating stories that enthralled people; and not the cheesy Christianity type. Stories that were both God-honoring and awesome.
Never be afraid of getting feedback on your writing. Whether it’s positive or negative, feedback will help. And try to get it from people who aren’t afraid of hurting your feelings; your family and best buddies may be a little soft.
I’m begging to be pinned. Just over over me!
(Well, okay, my brother is my hardest critic. “That’s so stupid, I’m going to die. *clutches throat* Suffocation! *makes choking noises*” … thanks, Russell.)
2. You’ll Get the Critique You Need
Months later and 80,000 words into the novel, I decided I wanted more people to read it. I wanted more feedback. Charis, Liz, Blue, and Bella became my first alpha readers. (I’m really sorry for putting you through that hunk of junk, guys.)
I got my first critiques. I learned what works and what doesn’t in fiction. And I learned that, contrary to my I’m-The-Best-Writer-Like-Everrr belief, I’m a super terrible writer and have a lot to learn! ?
Never be scared of letting people critique your writing. Otherwise, you’ll never learn. You’ll never grow. And you’ll certainly never get traditionally published (which is my goal).
I’m begging to be pinned. Just over over me!
I had to learn to “cut the fluff” out. I had to actually learn what foreshadowing was. I had to learn to nip those melodramatic run-on sentences.
As a writer, you’re always learning. Never be afraid of learning something new and applying it to your writing, because with every word you write, you’re becoming a better writer.
3. You Might Impact Someone With It
I write fiction, but I write non-fiction too; like this blog post!
Sometimes I have high expectations for posts on my Christian lifestyle blog Madi Grace before I publish them. Sometimes I’m afraid to send them out. But I always do it, and I’m never sorry I did.
God can use you to impact someone with your words. He says in Mark 13:11,
Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
God can use your action story to show those who read it that He’s with them in the midst of life’s adventures. My prayer for my Warfare series is that God uses it to show people 1) their worth should always be securely in Jesus or they’ll chase crazy things and 2) no one is too far from God’s redemption, grace, and mercy.
God can use blog posts, like ones I do on Madi Grace, to answer a prayer for someone. Encourage them during a rough time. Even introduce them to topics they had no idea about.
I’m begging to be pinned. Just over over me!
If you feel compelled to share something with someone, do it! You never know what impact God can make on people through you!
Note: What I would’ve done recently is only share my best to people who weren’t alpha readers. But the experience was still beneficial to my writing journey.
Takeaway:
Never be afraid to share your writing. You might get the feedback you need to discover that you have a story that’s really something, or valuable critiques you need to take your skill level up a notch. And when you put something in God’s hands, just watch what He can do through it.
Too many people are afraid to let themselves be heard. They’re afraid of rejection, persecution, or what people are going to say or think. But the world needs your voice; and God needs vessels for His Voice to speak through.
“I’m really sorry for putting you through that hunk of junk, guys.” Lol, i didn’t think it was bad but I forgive you! Lol, i have learned a lot about writing from you which is making me think I want to retry with my Monica book, so thank you for teaching me more about novel writing!
And thanks for linking my Etsy shop! 😀
Aww thanks Liz! XD Oh my goodness, your Monica book was amazing. You should totally retry with it! Awww, you’re so welcome, Liz! 😀
LOL this was great! My April nanowrimo project is going to be rewriting (slightly) my novel I wrote in November last year so that people can read it and tell me what they think. And you can be one of those peoples….if you want XD (Yeah right, Tess, like Madi has time to beta read your stupid novel. XD) Anyways, I know that part of getting good is being bad. And even though I cringe hard when I read the really dumb stuff that I’ve written in past, I take it as a victory because I obviously learned something. 😀
I would totally LOVE to, but my parents have me on a super strict schedule that’s made me drop all of my alpha / beta reading ambitions… ? GIMME SNIPPETS THO PLEASE.
YES, same. I can’t read the second draft of Loyalty without making barfing noises and cringing so much it hurts. ?
LOL aw dang it. Will give snippets. 🙁
YAY
YES GIRL PREACH
I’m absolutely terrified of letting people read my writing but guess what?? This totally inspires me to give my core friend group a bit of my writing today *squeals super high*
GASP ABBY YESSS YOU CAN DO IT. ?
GREAT post, Madi!!! I totally agree!!! I didn’t think I was that great of a writer until a girl at my church read a fanfiction I wrote and said it was really good, and that really inspired me to keep trying!!
Thanks, Hope! And YESSS, exactly!!
Oh my gosh! I have the same problem! Random story: I was literally crying and shaking as I hit the post button on my first photo story. I was terrified by the fact that people would be reading my story, I’ve loved writing stories for a long time, but never showed them to anyone before my blog, and after I did a writer actually said how much she liked my stories and that I should be a writer. I was astonished! I couldn’t believe that an author actually thought I was good. So she and the awesome comments on my blog inspired me to maybe try someday to publish a book 🙂 this is such a great post, your posts are always so inspirational. I love that people reacted to your story that way, it makes me really want to read your book! ?
-Katie 🙂
YESSS, that’s exactly how the experience impacted me! You can totally publish a book someday. Go for it!! ?
Awww, thank you so much, Katie! That means so much! 😀
That was great! Often I randomly write short stories, but I never share them with anyone. XD
That’s how the first few years of my writing career went. Just imagine eight-year-old me cackling evilly to herself under the covers at midnight writing random short stories on her phone no one would ever see… it was quite fun. XD
Madi, can I just say this is amazing? I like pinned every last one of them!
WAIT SERIOUSLY. AMIE YOU GET THE “AMIE IS FOREVER AWESOME” AWARD FOR PINNING THEM! THANK YOU!!! ???
You are so welcome, and you better make that an actual award…’cause how many Amie’s spell it Amie?????????
*waves hands with a flourish* Consider it done!
Well….Maybe more then I like to think
you made a grown-up scream? oh, was it what you mentioned, where they had to scream to be heard over the kids in the bus?
you cut too much fluff out. 🙁 *remembers when you could binge read ten LONG cute chapters at once* I miss it. *sniffs* but this ones good too, i guess. XD (did you catch the emphasis on long? hint hint. XD)
Most crazily, ~Olive
Indeed, that’s what it was! It was scary. I felt so bad for making an adult yell because of me. ?
I mean fluff like:
“I will always and forever hate you,” Hinoki hissed furiously.
Which is amateur as opposed to:
Hinoki’s eyes blazed. “I hate you.”
The second example is a much tighter narrative. BUT FLUFFY AS IN ROMANCE? HAHAHA NO I JUST CHANGED HOW SOON IT HAPPENS. LOTS OF FLUFFINESS TO COME. >:)
That’s not fluff, exactly, that’s more wording. But yes, the second example is better. ?
WELL GIVE IT NOW, I NEED IT. ?
Most crazily, ~Olive
True, but “cut the fluff” is more catchy to say. XDD
I FINISHED THE BOOK AT 1:30 THIS MORNING AHHHHHHHHHHH CHAPTERS COMING SOON
? ? ?
YAAAAAY NOW GET A FULL NIGHTS SLEEP TONIGHT!!!! ???
Most crazily, ~an Olive who needs at LEAST seven hours of sleep every night and is horrified at the suggestion of less
BUT I HAVE OTHER WRITING PROJECTS TO WORK ON TOO. NO SLEEP FOR ME!! >:)
(I’m so glad you sleep!! I actually think I do sleep? I just sleep in, which is probably not the best. ?)
???
GAHH don’t you go a-spoiling, Madison Grace Lorfing!
AHH WHAT YOU FINISHED IT I’M SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You caught me! ? OKAY I WON’T.
I DID!!! AWWWW THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! ❤️ I’M SO SUPER EXCITED! AS SOON AS ALL THE ALPHAS FINISH I CAN START RE-OUTLINING AND EDITING. *screams and squeals*
*Screams and squeals with you*
[…] Madi’s Post: Why You Should Never Be Afraid to Share Your Writing […]
Wow. I’m always a bit scared to share it, but this post is honestly so true!
Thanks, Enni! Doing something that scares you is almost always rewarding.
Yes, that’s totally true!
Thank you so much for this, Madi! I’m actually quite afraid and embarrassed to share my writing because I think it’s cringy and people might not like it so it’s been always stashed away. But now my English teacher gives me feedback and that’s good enough for now. I hope. *gulps*
Thanks so much for commenting, Starling! Same — I was exactly like that. Hey, that’s a great step in the right direction! ?
Np! Thanks 🙂
Honestly, I’m not afraid to share my writing. I just HATE–no, I just ABSOLUTELY ABHOR–doing it verbally. On the spot. I’m more like, “Y’know? How about you just gimme a second to write it down and you can just sit there and read it. ‘Cause I have no idea how to explain it.”
That probably made no sense.
Explaining writing verbally is the worst! I much prefer people to read it, preferably somewhere where I can’t watch them read it otherwise I’ll cringe. ?
LOL I KNOW. Watching them read it is a little awkward, but it’s better than FAILING AT TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT WITH MY OWN MOUTH.
kirstyntodd.com
LOL YES. ?
Great post .
If I were a critic I would say that was……………………………………………AWESOME!!!
Awwww, thank you so much, Zoe!!
This is AMAZING! And so true! I really need to learn to share my writing. (And WORK ON IT! ?)
Thank you for this post!!
Thank you so much!! AND YESSS. ? Thank you for commenting!
You’re welcome! Yeah… ? You’re welcome!
Thank you so much, Madi! It is true, I find it hard to share my fiction writing sometimes, mainly because certain aspects of it are vulnerably *me*. It is definitely helpful to hear encouragement to share our work!
(you are an amazing writer :))
Aww, you’re welcome, Kendall! For sure — sharing your writing is pretty vulnerable. But always rewarding!
(Awww, thank you so much!!)
[…] 4) Why You Should Never Be Afraid to Share Your Writing: How I Knew I Was a Writer: another encouraging and helpful post. […]
MADI. I NEED YOU TO ALPHA READ MY BOOK IMMEDIATLEY.
Well…more like when I actually start writing it….XD
I’m sure the adult was screaming in anticipation of the next chapter. I’m absolutely positively sure of it.
AHHHH I WANT TO SO BAD BUT BECAUSE OF A NEW SCHEDULE MY PARENTS HAVE ME ON I HAVE TO TURN DOWN ALL MY BETA AND ALPHA READING OPPORTUNITIES. *sobs* Please give snippets tho. LOTS OF THEM HEHE.
Awwww! Thanks!! I hope so. XD
ITS OKAY MADISON WELL SURVIVE. MAYBE.
Madison, I seriously never thought that your story was junk, I’ve stayed up many a night re-reading the first draft for the nostalgia and awesomeness. Aaand I’m pretty sure you’re in your head going “OH NO BLUE WHYYYYYYY’ now that you’ve read that sentence.:P
AWWWWW! ❤️? Well, I’m so glad you liked it. You da best!
I really needed this, Madi! I’ve been writing a book for awhile and I’m very inconsistent in it, but my hope is really to self publish it yet I’m always afraid that people will thing it’s boring! Though the people whom I have shared it with really loved it, so your advice was super helpful! Thanks for the encouragement! 😀
Awww, thanks so much, Olivia!! You can totally do it — go for it!! Thanks for reading! 😀
[…] This Epic Writing Post […]
… can’t … resist … answering … questions …
(What? I have a weird obsession with answering questions after blog posts … they’re so much fun! And I struggle with commenting sometimes – HEY IT’S HARD ALL RIGHT – so it’s like a commenting outline, y’know?)
Have you ever shared your writing, whether it was a story or a blog post?:
Yep!
(And, after rhapsodizing over the questions, I give you a one-word answer, haha!)
What feedback or critiques did you get on it?:
Well, I’m gonna pick the most recent thing I had beta-readers tear apart – my novel, At Her Fingertips. Well, I got some good advice … and some negative, of course! My most favorite thing was all these different beta-readers were really supportive while still saying that one plot point needed some major revisions. And then they all stuck around and helped me rewrite it and gave me suggestions!
Honestly, I’m a feedback hog, positive or negative. I think it comes from being a little sister. “Notice me, notice me, even if I’m super annoying!” 😛 Okay, not really, but I do love it when people read my posts or books or whatever and tell me what they think! 😀
Have you ever shared something God used to impact others?:
I doubt it. I don’t write much impactful stuff. Even when I try to. 😉
A commenting outline! That’s a perfect way to look at it! XDD
Awww, beta readers are so nice! I’m so glad they gave you the help you needed! I don’t know what I would do without my readers. XD
XDD I love getting feedback, too! Mostly positive… but I can handle critique if I must. XD
Of course you have! Your Great Makeup Debate and Why I Celebrate Halloween were very impactful, I’m sure. 😉
I need my outlines. xD
Yes, they are! Definitely don’t know what I’d do without them. <3
I think I just like people talking about me. 😉 My conceit knows no bounds … 😛
Awww, thank you! Though more like started-some-arguments, haha. But people were actually really respectful … the most flak I've ever gotten was from what I considered to be a pretty tame post about putting others before yourself! XD
Right? XD
HAHA, that made me laugh out loud. ?
Aww. XD Well I’m glad they weren’t mean about it. XD
Always love reading your posts, Madi! 🙂
Awww, that means so much, Zielle! <3
My pleasure! <3
Awesome post! I have always been afraid to share my writing, because I always think that people will laugh at me, or make fun of my terrible amateur writing, but I shared it with my friends when we were having a writing competition, and they loved it so much I won! This post inspired me to push past my fear and share my writing and thoughts with the world. Thanks so much! I love this post. <3
~Charlotte
Aww, that’s amazing, Charlotte! I’m sure your writing is wonderful! Thanks for reading and commenting!
You’re welcome, and thanks for the compliment! 🙂