Hoarding your writing – Let the light shine on your piece.

You are safely ensconced in your writing lair.  Ideas swirl around your head and you translate those thoughts into words.  The pen scratches against the crisp paper.  One sheet soon becomes two and then a hundred.  Finally, your work is complete and elation sweeps over you.  Yes, your work is finished – even though it is a rough draft.  Who cares?

Exactly.  Endorphins bask in the soup of future novel ideas as you place your finished piece into the drawer, with all of your other stories.  Yes, you know they are great stories, but there is no way in hell you are ever going to let anyone read them because ‘anyone’ might STEAL them.  Oh, no!  Such criminal act against your awesome writing self cannot ever happen.  It would be an act against nature if someone read your story and went off to write a better story. 

I have three words for you. 

GET

OVER

IT

Yes.  You read the words clearly.  I know it seems mean, but I always shoot from the hip.  The words are scarier than listening to nails scratching across a chalkboard.  You would much rather roll around in a mound of fire ants than to ever allow your piece to see the light of day.  However, there is hope – your story is not original because more than likely the story line is an amalgamation of stories you have read here and there. 

I want you to think of the book that developed your passion for reading.  Write down the name and write the reasons why you loved that book so much.  One of my favourite books I ever read as a kid was Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff.  The author sparked my interest in reading because she wrote about a dinosaur that lived with Danny.  Such a fantastic idea and from then on, I wanted a dinosaur to live with me!  Alas, to say my mother forced me to settle for a stuffed one.  Just as well. 

I promise you...it is hard at first, but once you bring your piece out and show the world how great your work is, you allow new ideas to come your way.  So go ahead, take your project out – whether it is a short story, novella, novel or super novel – and invite others an opportunity to offer some insight. 

Go ahead.  Take your piece out of the drawer and be the first one to inspire a person to develop a passion for reading.  Who could ask for a better prize?