The Writing Process: Sharing by Rebecca Seaton

 

The Writing Process: Sharing by Rebecca Seaton

Write On! Magazines can be a great way to share shorter fiction and opinions.

 

    Sharing is a big deal for many writers. Some of us are very self-conscious and only want to share when our work is as perfect as we can get it, others regularly share all kinds of work at various stages. I’ve definitely seen the benefit of sharing work in different ways and believe as writers it’s important to share our own work and help others share theirs.

    The Bible is very clear that we are meant to work together, not in isolation: ‘…we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the others.’ (Eph 12:5) and ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.’ But how does this work in practice?

    Writing Groups

    In a writing group, there are a lot of opportunities to share writing, often in the early stages. I attend the East London ACW group and have shared extracts for what I’m currently working on, as well as writing exercises done during group meetings. The input at an early stage has been very helpful. I’m particularly grateful for being introduced to the importance of reading aloud. Although terrifying at first, I would highly recommend it: errors that you may scan past when reading in your head jump out when reading aloud and never more so than with an audience!

    Beta Readers

    A beta reader is someone who reads the piece after you, the alpha reader. They’re not an editor or professional reader – you want your beta reader to give you an idea of how the writing feels to your readers. I have a few trusted friends, they all like reading although they all have different preferences and one is less familiar with fantasy than the others. This is important as it gives me different perspectives. It also matters to me that I can rely on them to be honest. It’s much better to hear from a beta reader that an aspect is confusing before you hear that in a rejection letter!

    Sharing the Finished Article

    Even when we complete a piece of work, there are still options as to how we can share it. We can share it with close family and friends, especially if it’s very personal and we might not want to publish it. If you do decide to publish, this can mean self-publishing, where you retain control of who sees it, or you can send it out to be published for you. Even then, there’s a certain amount of research to be done in deciding which publisher you think will understand your work. Social media can be good for sharing shorter pieces or even longer ones via fanfiction sites. It all depends on the kind of audience you’re targeting and the sort of feedback you’re looking for.

Sharing at events: Here's my novel at Love in the Library!

    One thing is clear, don’t hide your work. If God has given you a story, share it, whether with the world or a close friend, there’s an audience who will benefit – and you will too.

 

 

   

 

 #amwriting #amwritingfantasy #ACW     

Rebecca earned second place in the 2017-18 Pen to Print Book Challenge with her first novel, A Silent Song. She is currently writing her next novel, The Prophet’s Grace, the first in a fantasy trilogy.