What do you recommend I do with all those things I wrote years ago but have never been able to bring myself to show anyone?
You have two choices; you can either keep them hidden, dusty and un-read, or take them out, open the first page and re-read them again. You never know, it just might be a best-seller.
I cannot recommend YOU what to do with the things YOU wrote years ago. I nevertheless know very well what I am going to do with mine: keep them locked and take out from time to time, and wonder how much I changed from then. Life!
Dust them off, and give them to someone that you trust. No regrets and no fear.
Spend some time learning the craft with a reputable writers group. Read what you wrote in those early years in a self evaluation. Many times those early years of writing are struggles to find your voice and style of writing.
If you still like what you have written, edit it to your satisfaction. Find a critique group or partner that won't placate your ego, someone who will tell you like it is. Share what you have written with an eye for developing the craft of writing.
Often those early pieces, no matter how awful you think they are will have scenes and seeds that you can use as you grow in the craft.
Go over them and improve them and at least show someone to get their impression, and be prepared to find a publisher.
Courage! The best poem in the world lives in darkness in a shoebox at the top of someone's cupboard.
Don't show 'anyone,' show someone knowlegeable who can give an unbiased assessment.
I recommend that you pull them out and get them ready to publish. Why would you want to spend all that time writing and just hiding them away. Even if you only publish it for yourself, at least it will be in book form and you will be proud of it.
Give it a shot. The worst thing that can happen is they don't like it. But someone may.
Don't show anyone. If you wrote them years ago, what you write now will be different and better. And if that's not true, I'll eat my novel.
Save them! You never know...there may be the next Booker in that slush pile!
Gather your thoughts! Organize your work into stories. Don't let it sit in your bottom desk drawer unread and unknown. If you are truly passionate about what you have written, seek an outlet for your work whether it be a magazine or a publishing house. You need to believe in your work wholeheartedly and you need to have a thick skin. You have to be able to not take no for an answer. Stand behind your work and keep sending those query letters and manuscripts to agents and publishing houses. Every writer gets rejections. Instead of viewing it as a negative and giving up, use it as motivation to try even harder. Even the best literature was rejected multiple times before it was published.
Remember this -- Carrie by Stephen King was rejected 30 times before it was published; Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell was rejected 38 times; A Time to Kill by John Grisham -- 45 rejections. The list goes on and on and on. Hang in there and stay the course if you are serious about your work.
Also, it is a good idea to attend writers conferences and get to know other writers, agents, and publishers personally. As with any industry, networking is truly the best and easiest path for getting your work noticed.   | | |
Read them yourself. If you're not satisfied, you need to keep writing and editing. Your personal satisfaction gives you the courage to show others, and it won't happen otherwise.
READ THEM YOURSELF - Ask yourself some questions, e.g.: What were you thinking when you wrote that particular story/novel? What moved you to want to write?
Make any changes you think will improve your work. Then make a few copies, invite your closest friends for a small party, serve some refreshments, and ask them to read. While they read, don't say a word. After everyone has read your work, start a "Round-table" discussion, and let it flow. You will get some honest opinions which will help you, and maybe move you to finish the project and seek an agent and get published.
I think you should look at them. If you like what you wrote, then try it again. If you don't like what you wrote, try to fix it. If you can't fix it, then chuck it, or keep it, and try it later.
Take them out. Look at them again. Find your favorite one. Rework it if need be. Then show it to someone!!!!!!! You can show me, I'll post it on paperdollz if it is good. |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 | 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 113 | 114 | 115 | 116 | 117 | 118 | 119 | 120 | 121 | 122 | 123 | 124 | 125 | 126 | 127 | 128 | 129 | 130 | 131 | 132 | 133 | 134 | 135 | 136 | 137 | 138 | 139 | 140 | 141 | 142 | 143 | 144 | 145 | 146 | 147 |
<< PREVIOUS NEXT >>
| |
|
99700 interviews created
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS