Post them on your profile. Or create a blog - its the easiest thing in the world, go to www.wordpress.com or www.blogger.com and create it - or post them on article sites like www.articlebase.com .
You will get plenty of feedback.
First, re-read them. Time away from something can give you new perspective and better gauge their worth. If you still think they are good ideas or well-written works, then give them another try. Even if you decide to scrap an old story, parts of it could be used in new projects. We are constantly evolving as people and writers. Our views and opinions change as we grow older. Reading older works not only teach us about who we've become, they bring a new level of learning and understanding to further develop what's been written in our past.
Dig them out of the drawer and show them to a trusted friend first, remembering that friends tend to love what you write. Press the friend to give at least one constructive criticism. If he or she can't, then move on to someone else, someone who doesn't love you so much!
Find a writers' group if you can. Little by little you'll feel comfortable showing your work. You'll see how helpful it is to have good feedback, and how it doesn't really hurt at all! Again, whatever keeps you moving forward is good. Words in a drawer don't help anyone.
Reread and reconsider. If you think the stories are weak, forget them. If you think the stories are good but that you could have written them better, then rewrite them. And if you think they're pretty damned good as they are, market them!
Show it to the one person you trust the most, see what they have to say about your work, and once you have enough material to turn into a book, do it. Everything you write is great, there are so many people in the world that can’t read or write and just having the ability to be able to put something down is worth putting out there.
Read through them again and see how you feel about what you've written, correct, edit and re-work. There are always good ideas in old writings, even in old notes.
First off, reread. Sometimes you remember what you wrote as being a lot better than what it actually is, on the other hand, it might be better than you believe. Either way, I suggest joining a critique group, or share said work with a TRUSTED someone. Perhaps a spouse, very close friend, etc. See what they think, you'll know where to go from there.
Do what you wish to. I can't say what you should do for your own work. I've had harsh experiences with showing my work to people, parents, during my formulative years...so I remain reserved on that topic.
I say that if you think they're good enough, you show them to people who you trust. Don't make mistakes that I've done and show them to people who you hardly even know. Show them to people who you know will to you the honest truth.
Start a blog (most of them are for free) and publish all of your writings there.
I'd say that you should get them out, do a bit of a spring clean and a tidy up and start 'pimping them around' as Snoopy Dog Dog would say (I think that's his name)
I got mine out and had a look at it from time to time, doing some editing and updating. Eventually it was published. Get some feedback and see what happens. Best of luck
If you want to pursue writing, you have to understand that it will require years and years of hard work. It takes time to learn how to write well, and only those who are the most dedicated can make it. The path is full of rejection and frustration, but if you believe in yourself, you can definitely make it.
So, those old things you wrote might be worth pulling out and working on again, or they might not. As you grow as a writer, your style and voice will change. If you feel passionate about an older project, then by all means, keep working on it. But also read plenty, study those authors who have mad skillz, connect with other writers to learn from and write new product. Strong writing comes from doing. :)
Pull them out and reread them. They may surprise you. For decades I never let anyone see anything I ever wrote I was so insecure. Most of them I tore up or burned. Whenever I have unearthed something & was brave enough to reread it, I've been surprised that I knew so much. They were logical and better written than I ever thought. They still won't see the light of day, but I was happy that at least I had some inkling of what to do.
I recommend writers take a look at their past work. If there’s something there that still looks like it could connect with an audience, and the material still connects with the writer, then I recommend going through it, cleaning it up with a revision benefiting from the skills and craft developed, and get it ready for your readers. |
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