Share your work

“I always tell people that I became a writer not because I went to school but because my mother took me to the library. I wanted to become a writer so I could see my name in the card catalog.” 

Sandra Cisneros

Tell the truth—you really do want to be published, to see your words in fixed form —online or print, it doesn’t matter as long as they are out there. You want reader feedback, preferably complimentary. 

And yes, part of it is that whole ego business—who among us hasn’t dreamed of bragging just a bit about being published? 

But the other part of it is that we want, need, crave to have someone validate our efforts and say “I get it! I understand what you wrote! It meant something to me!” We want to know we aren’t that tree falling in the forest but someone whose voice is heard. We want to know that we exist—exist as writers—and that our efforts weren’t a waste of time and energy. 

While I can’t give you the magic “Open Sesame” that will lead to publishing success, I do have a suggestion for you. Join a writer’s group and read your work aloud. Getting the immediate audience response accomplishes two things: it tells you when you have caught their attention and it alerts you to what needs fixed. 

The first will reinforce your belief that you really could be a writer and the second—well, if you use the feedback to improve your work, then you really are a writer because any true writer knows that editing and revising are part of the process. 

And in both instances, you will feel a sense of accomplishment because you didn’t give up but persevered until you turned your thoughts into reality.