Pros and Cons for Writers Sharing a First Draft

by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

You finish that first chapter or article you’ve been working on for so long, searching for every right word, and creating dialog that will send the grumpiest curmudgeon into laughing hysterics. And your first instinct is to share it with the nearest victim—I mean, friend.

But should you?

This is NaNoWriMo and many of us will get with other writers for writing sprints, where you write for twenty minutes or so and then share your work. You feel so much anticipation as you nervously share your sparkling prose with your adoring listeners. (Please, hold your applause and remember the others.) Only to have it read and realize it sounds like a cacophony of cats. How did I write such drivel?

Do you run out the door and resolve that you will never write again? Do you change your writing so it’ll sound like everyone else? Or will you pick up your drivel, read it again while holding your nose, then say, “What if…” and start making corrections?

I’ve heard different views from writers and teachers about sharing your early work, some saying to wait until you have done a few drafts before letting anyone else look at it. Others think you should get opinions wherever and whenever you can. But like most things in writing, both sides can be true. You have to determine what works best for you.

Pros and Cons of Sharing the First Draft of What You've Written

Cons

Why you SHOULD NOT show your first chapters. (I know, I should start with the pros, but I want to end with the positives. And cons and pros sound funny.)

Con 1. Your reader doesn’t have your vision for the story. 

When you start writing for the first time or start a different story, your voice, tone, or characters are just appearing. A reader can only tell you their opinion of what’s on the page, not what’s in your mind. You may want to write about Superman’s cat filling in for him while he has a sick day with a head cold. But one reader insists it should be a dog, because…really, a cat? Another reader says that this isn’t romantic suspense, you should label it a memoir. And another thinks you should take out the humor because they like Southern Gothic.

Protect your story.

Con 2. We don’t understand our story ourselves yet. And that’s okay.

For many of us, especially the pantsers (Can I get a whoop, whoop?), we aren’t sure what we are writing or who we are writing about. Much of our early writing is for discovery. We don’t know why Superman has a cat and not a dog. Or maybe he has a dog, but the pug is afraid to fly. We don’t know that yet. The cat/dog thing is still developing in our mind. But when our reader questions it, now we feel we must choose a side. And that could prevent us from getting to a surprising part of the story. (When the dog comes to the rescue.) Or it may hinder our original idea seed from fully blooming.

Con 3. Your readers’ praise affects your decisions.

Another problem we run into with showing our story early happens when they like something we’re experimenting with. The cat begins its day by rescuing a sloth that’s stuck in a tree. And our readers all think that is so original. Later, when that doesn’t work in our story, we remember how our readers raved about it, so we hesitate to make the correction. Murder your darlings, as they say. Just because it’s good writing doesn’t mean it works in this story.

Pros

Now, let’s look at why we SHOULD share our early works with readers.

Pro 1. Our readers can give us encouragement.

Writing is hard. Have I said that before? Especially for a new writer who doesn’t yet feel like a member of the club. Yes, I got through grade school, but I’m still not sure my sentences make sense. And I can make friends laugh at the dinner table, but can I hold their attention on the page?

And does anyone really believe they have the audacity to write a book? That’s a lot of words. Isn’t that just for old, white guys with dinner jackets in New York City? When I discovered the little writing group that met at a church near me, I learned that writing for publication and for an audience is possible, even for a country boy or girl. 

And with enough encouragement, there is no limit to where your writing can lead.

Pro 2. Our readers can give us direction.

Yes, I took my first samples of writing to Word Weavers. Yes, they didn’t throw it back at me or kick me out. And yes, it came back with a lot, I mean a lot, of red marks. We all have a steep learning curve for the craft of writing. And no matter how much you’ve written, there are still things that it takes someone else’s eyes to catch. The Bible talks about iron sharpening iron, in writing red ink sharpens plots.

And this isn’t important only for beginners but also as you continue to grow in your writing. Does your writing fit your genre? Will a magazine accept it? Or is it ready to be sent to an agent? It’s too easy to see what we think the story says and not what is on the paper. I recently got edits back for a manuscript I want to send out and I realize now my next few months are going to be busy making corrections and getting the wonderful ideas that are in my head on the paper.

Are you ready to share your writing? Are you ready to listen to others’ opinions while still holding onto the essence of your story? Have you found friends who will listen to your story without trying to make it theirs?

Writing is a solitary endeavor that is best done with others. Make sure you’re careful in whose advice you choose. Because when you find the right fit, it can make a world of difference.

What advice would you give to a new writer?

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Pros and Cons for Writers Sharing a First Draft from @TimSuddeth on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Tim Suddeth is a stay-at-home dad and butler for his wonderful, adult son with autism. He has written numerous blogs posts, short stories, and three novels waiting for publication. He is a frequent attendee at writers conferences, including the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and a member of Word Weavers and ACFW. He lives near Greenville, SC where he shares a house with a bossy Shorky and three too-curious Persians. You can find him on Facebook and Twitter, as well as at www.timingreenville.com and www.openingamystery.com.