+145 Writers: When you're writing a story you kind of want to give some one a little glimpse of what you're writing and see if its any good at all and if you should even continue, but then on the other hand you just want to keep it to yourself so its not influenced by someone else's ideas. amirite?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Seriously, all the time. I go on writing forums sometimes, and I'm like deathly afraid to post any information about my plot. I'm afraid someone's going to rip off my idea and I'll never get credit for it. AND, I have a blog. I talk about my writing a lot on my blog, and it's really frustrating making sure I don't reveal anything about the plot. Blogging is like journaling, so I'm tempted to write out problems I had with a scene or something, but I can't do that. I also only have ONE friend who even comes close to being as serious as I am with my writing, but because of that, I'm a little afraid to share my ideas with her. If I do, I try to either make it really vague, or only share a certain part of the plot. Last mini rant: If I want someone's opinion on my personal work, my only writing-savvy friend is too afraid of what I'll say to give me her honest opinion. I don't like going to my other friends because they're only going to comment on the storyline and not the actual writing. I try to find people online that I can go to, like betareaders. Both of the times I've done that, I end up chickening out and only sending them part of the story.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I'm actually super paranoid that someone is going to take my ideas if I put them out there, and then I feel pretty full of myself for thinking that my ideas are good enough to be stolen rather than afraid of outside influence. Durp.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Same here.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I totally understand. If I put my work out there for strangers, it usually old writing that I don't have high hopes for anymore.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I agreed with the first part, but the latter? You get ideas from other people anyways. Your story was probably a combination of multiple ideas that came from other people. You can't write anything completely original because almost everything's been done before. I mean, just look at TV Tropes. You think you can make a story without adding any of that? Art should be influenced by other people's ideas anyways. That's how you get better. I never would've gotten to the art level I'm at now if it wasn't for other people critiquing my work. I would've been writing worse if it wasn't for people telling me what to focus on in writing. It's extremely difficult to improve without someone influencing or critiquing you in some way, and though it is possible to lose originality along the way, you just have to actively search for new ways to be original and unique which, honestly, isn't too hard.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I'm actually very open to people's ideas because they usually have a completely different thought process than I have, thus getting me to think in broader ways. I usually only trust my family with my writing, though, and I just tell them about it instead of having them read it. I could be struggling with a plot hole for days, for example, and I tell someone and they'll suggest a possible solution in just minutes. Of course I put my own spin on their advice.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I wrote a story about depression, and one girl seriously suggested that the main girl be a vampire.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

The best thing about advice, is that you can reject it. That probably would've been a terrible turn for the story.

by Anonymous 11 years ago