Be Bold!

Don't hang back; send your stories out into the world.

Sharing a new story with other people is a nerve-wracking time for any writer: Will readers like it? Will they understand it? Will they think less of me once they've read it? Will they mistake me for my character? Will they not think it's funny? There are so many questions that go through a writer's mind as they press 'send', 'publish' or 'share' - pinging their stories into friends' and strangers' laptops and phones. All of us, at some stage, will have immediately wondered if we should have waited and done one more edit, one more round of beta readers, one more rewrite of a central character. Quick! How do I get my story back?

A great edit and discerning beta readers are essential but at some stage you need to ask yourself how many rounds of each you will do and whether the changes you make each time are improving your work or simply making it different.

Stories can always be tinkered with but do you want to be a writer who writes just one story or novel, one that is not really ever finished, that is waiting for the seal of approval of every friend you've asked for an 'honest opinion', or do you want to write other stories, with new characters who have entirely different sets of challenges to overcome? Do you have the desire to write one story or be a writer?

With each new story or novel you work on, your writing is going to improve. As you start thinking about book 2, you're already ahead of the game: book 1 won't have taught you everything but it might have shown you how to keep the plot moving, how to surprise a reader or write a brilliant ending. It will definitely have made you aware of a few pitfalls and how to avoid them. Book 2 will teach you even more, ensuring you will have a new raft of skills you can use in book 3.

As you continue writing new stories and novels, the letting go (sharing your work) becomes easier. You learn that not everyone is going to think your work is brilliant; some people will positively dislike it. And that's how it should be: how odd if we all liked the same books. But there will be readers who love your story, who think your characters are unforgettable, your plots imaginative, your writing unique and wonderful. These readers can't wait for your next book.

Be bold! Be brave! Send your finished (no more tinkering, altering or wondering 'what if') work out into the world. And start something new.