(Easier on the eyes: spacing between paragraphs. [Sometimes my laptop causes DOUBLE spacing of paragraphs when I paste from Word into a reply box. I wanted to avoid that, so "saved" without the spaces... hoping that spaces would appear. Am I making sense?])
I haven’t been a big fan of people using Q&As to write “could you look at my work and comment?” My position was ‘Q&As is Q&As and “shared works” is “shared works”! Two separate concepts.’
BUT it has now occurred to me that I spend too much of my logged-on time in Q&As and not enough in “shared works”. I wouldn’t even have read Melissa Taylor’s poems if Wilhelmina hadn’t recommended them to me… and she only found out about them from seeing Melinda’s Q&A. I will try to amend this imbalance in future.
Today, I decided to look at the “shared works” of people I admire here on Q&As. Senior users who give good advice to newcomers. And it’s strange (is it strange?) that they haven’t posted any. Out of 6 of the most active contributors to Q&As, only 3 have “shared works”.
I’m reminded of the saying “Those that can, do: those that can’t, teach.” I don’t actually believe this, but I’d like to urge senior users to share their work with the rest of us.
To break the ice, I’ve just shared a poem. Although I consider myself as much a poet as a short-story writer (and my poetry output over the years is MUCH greater), this is the first time that I share a poem with you. (Bashful blushes…)
https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/profile/jimmy-hollis-i-dickson/work/57c6b9f9387140d8218b4569
And ADMIN: Can you PLEASE add “children’s stories” and “poetry” to the genre drop-down options list?!!! It’s striking that you publish a separate Yearbook for W&As of children’s books, yet don’t offer this option in “shared works” genres!
For those of you who wonder, the “Practical / how to” genre that I opted for for my children’s story “A children's story of escalating violence” is sarcastic, fuelled by frustration at the lack of a suitable option. There are actually 2 stories in there and a link to another with illustrations. (From back in the days when we were only allowed to share ONE work.,)
I always used this site to encourage myself to keep going. I wasn't looking for feedback on work as I had beta readers, but people here kept me focused through the long years where I couldn't see the end of my series. I finally got there and the first book has been uploaded to Kindle. I'm incredibly grateful to the people here for helping maintain my focus. After all, it's not just the writing. Friends and family quickly tire of hearing about 'the book'. Q&As supplies a place where people can gain support from those in a similar position.
I've published the first in a series of seven books and the people here have played a part in that. In fact, it's time to thank them.
I believe there was some concern a while back about how public the shared works are on this site. A private facebook page group was set up to chat, get feedback and keep shared works between ourselves as only group members can see the content, avoiding that 'grey area' mentioned by Helen.
I'm in the final stages of writing a novel that's been fighting back for far too long, which is why I'm not on here as much as I used to be. I don't have anything to share at present; I've undertaken to finish the novel this month - a mutual challenge with a friend - so really have to grapple with that.
Example: I've just had to work out a timeline for five different groups of people upon whom two crucial pieces of the plot depend, some of whom do not meet while others definitely must, all in one morning and in one town. Think I've done it - can now go for the home straight, some of which is already written but will need patching in.
On the question of what constitutes 'published' - that's down to the organisers of whichever comp you are entering, or the agent you are pursuing. The usual rule is that if a piece of work has appeared in public, for the public to read in full, exactly as you send it to comp or agent, it is considered to have been published. If you offer up a substantially different version of the work from that which has appeared in public, it is not deemed to have been published, because logically, it hasn't. However, always read the Ts and Cs of anything you wish to enter - rules may differ.
Jonathan, thank you for that - my intention is to encourage, not the opposite.
Off to sort out my hero, last seen entering a burning thatched building.
Lorraine