Five Reasons to Share Your Writing

Do you know that when I first started writing poetry as an adult that it was REALLY hard to let people know I liked to write poetry much less let them read it?   MAN that was so hard… and to be honest, it’s still hard but, other than at a writer’s conference I attended, no one has even dissected it and made me feel less than. It is so hard to do though, especially when you start.  I want to encourage you with five reasons to share your writing. 

I’ve learned to avoid writer’s groups … at least at this point because I don’t know enough about how to dissect someone’s poetry to be very comfortable about having others dissect mine.. I dunno .. does that make sense?   This doesn’t mean I can’t share my poetry with others though.  It’s an excellent thing to do.

Why?

SO glad you asked.

1. It gives us confidence to continue writing.  Doesn’t it do you good when someone says “I really liked that piece”.  Makes you feel like a million bucks doesn’t it?  So then you want to do it again right?  It’s a huge confidence booster isn’t it?
2. It gives our words meaning.  We can’t just write for ourselves… writing is meant to be shared.  Even if all you do is write back and forth to your best, longest lived friend.  Or have a small blog in your corner of the universe, or have a mega blog with so many readers it boggles the mind. 
3. It could be useful.  Perhaps that poem your wrote, or article you spent time agonizing over, is just what the reader needed as an encouragement or to spur them on to better things, or was a balm to a wounded soul.  Maybe that piece of non-fiction taught a 13 year old something he didn’t know before!
4. Feedback… Even though it’s hard and can crush your spirit.. feedback can also show you what you are doing well and how to make the rest even better. It’s a bit of a two-edged sword right?  The side benefit is if you share your work with discerning writers (so not your very best friend or your mom who will probably like everything you do), you may just end up reading their work and finding your mind sharpened just a bit more.  Fire feeds fire you know?
5. New readers, new friends, new opportunities.  You never know where your writing will take you.  Someone might read one piece, and then decide they need to read more, and then more and they will share it with their friends and before you know it, you might have a whole following.

What do you say?   Give it a chance?  Let iron sharpen iron?  Find yourself encouraged?   Finding readers that are encouraged or helped?  Isn’t it a lovely thing?   Share it!