The Beautifully Terrifying Act of Sharing your Writing Work
And why it transforms everything.
There's something beautifully terrifying about the moment you decide to let someone else see your words. Your heart pounds, a pit in your stomach forms, and that little voice whispers all the reasons why you should keep your writing tucked safely away. But here's what I've learned: sharing your work isn't just brave. It's transformative.
Let me take you back to where my own sharing journey began. After years in the ad agency world and a hiatus raising my children, I found myself missing something essential: writing.
My creative voice felt rusty, uncertain. I knew I needed to write again, but the question haunted me - how do you find your way back to yourself as a writer?
I started small. Tiny, actually. I took a job writing travel blog pieces for our local visitors' association. Nothing glamorous, nothing that would win awards. Just simple pieces about local attractions and hidden gems in Oregon. But those small assignments became my training ground in ways I never expected.
Through those humble blog posts, I learned how to speak to an audience again. I discovered the gentle art of sharing my work with my community - letting neighbors and friends know that yes, I was writing. I practiced my craft week after week, sharpening skills that had grown dull during my time away. Most importantly, I began to remember why I loved words in the first place.
That tiny toe-dip into the writing world led to something magical: my first freelance magazine assignment. And then another. And another. At the same time, I started my own travel blog. Each piece I shared built my confidence, taught me something new about my voice, and opened doors I hadn't even known existed.
Eventually, those small acts of sharing gave me the courage to step into the world of novel writing, a dream I'd carried quietly for so long.
The beauty wasn't just in the opportunities that came my way. It was in how sharing my work transformed me as a writer. Each time I hit "send" or "publish," I learned something about my craft, my voice, and my courage.
Here's what I want you to know: your first share doesn't have to be grand. It doesn't need to be perfect or polished or ready for the world. It just needs to be real.
Maybe it's showing a single page to a trusted friend over coffee. Perhaps it's joining a critique group where other writers understand the vulnerability you're feeling. It could be working with a developmental editor who can see the potential in your raw words, or finding a book coach who believes in your story before you fully believe in it yourself. Sometimes it's simply reading a paragraph aloud to someone who loves you unconditionally.
When you share your work, beautiful things happen. You receive feedback that helps you see your blind spots and your strengths. You connect with others who understand the writer's journey. You build the muscle of resilience that every writer needs. Most importantly, you give your words permission to breathe, to exist beyond the confines of your mind and computer screen.
Your work deserves to be seen. Your voice matters. Your stories have the power to touch someone else's heart, to make them feel less alone, to offer them exactly what they need to hear.
The world is waiting for what only you can offer. But first, you have to be brave enough to share it, even if it's just with one person, in one small moment of courage.
Take that first tender step. Share something small. Trust the process. Your writing journey is just beginning, and it starts the moment you decide your words are worthy of being witnessed.
Want to hear more about how to share your work? Tune into this week’s podcast with guest Tedd Hawks. 👇🏻
Every week, The Whole Writer podcast creates space for writers to nurture both their craft and themselves, exploring what it means to write from a place of wholeness rather than depletion. You can find episodes:
📍 Here on my Substack
📍 Apple Podcasts
📍 Spotify
I’m opening up space this summer for writers who want clarity on what’s holding them back.
This 60-minute Clarity Call is for writers who:
📚 Are writing fiction, memoir, or narrative nonfiction
📚 Either have just a spark of an idea or are midway through a draft
📚 Feeling stalled out in either the writing or publishing process
📚 Seeking trusted feedback from a published author and trained book coach
This isn’t just about strengthening your craft, it’s about nurturing the whole writer with insight and intuition. I’m here and would love to support you.
Beautiful written reminder to be brave and share. Thank you 🙏🏽
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