Ask Doc Rock | If You Never Jump, You'll Never Know If You Can Fly

Dear Doc. Rock, I have dreams of becoming a published author. For the past few months, I've been working on a book, and it's actually pretty good. Or at least I think it is. So far, I've only had the confidence to share it with my closest friends and family. How do I get the courage to share it with more people? Signed, An Amateur Writer 

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Dear Amateur Writer,

I think it's great that you have found a creative outlet in writing. As with anything, accepting criticism can be really tough. It's in our nature to not want to be hurt and fear that our work that we put so much effort and time into, isn't as good as we thought.

I suggest you take that leap. Put yourself out on a limb and see what people have to say. I think it's important for us to get feedback because we can grow from it. Maybe someone will make a comment on the development of one of the characters in your story or maybe some inconsistencies you hadn't noticed. Wouldn't you want these to be fixed before you took that MAJOR step in finding a publisher? I would avoid seeking critique from friends or family members on your work because in most cases, they feel obligated to give you positive feedback like "It's really good, good job." Instead of looking at it with a truly constructive eye. Instead, post your work on small sites for amateur writers like, www.mibba.com or www.quizzilla.com for teens or  www.booksie.com and www.scribd.com for a more mature audience! I wish you the best on your quest to becoming published and would love to hear how things work out for you! Best of Luck, Rock