I want to bring this up while it's heavy on my mind and before you get too entrenched in whatever it is that you're writing.
I'm not going to ask if you've started your book or your blog or your poems yet, because that's besides the point. This post will cover a crucial topic that you MUST (I repeat, MUST) consider as your pen and the blank page begin their nasty little affair:
Who gets to see my writing before it's published?
You may be thinking to yourself, "no one!”
Or even, "Everybody!”
Both are valid responses. But are you sure about that?
Maybe you're wondering, "Is someone supposed to see this thing before it's done?" And that's a great question. We'll spend the bulk of this post discussing your options, along with what I consider to be non-negotiables. (I decided these were non-negotiables after making too many mistakes in my writing process that I couldn’t bear to see anyone else make.)
It’s wise to think about the question who gets to see my writing? before you begin your masterpiece. If you've already started, that’s fine — just take a small break to check in with yourself before moving forward.
When you're tempted (or asked) to share some of your work or explain the intricacies of your story, a bit of soul searching will help you determine who to trust with the keys to this information. More importantly, you must know when to give them access and vet those individuals or groups according to your needs.
You’ll always need at least one person to help make your writing the best it can be. So discern who’s up for the task — and communicate your needs along the way.
Below are 5 different categories of people you might consider sharing your work with.
1. WRITERS’ GROUPS
My experiences in writing groups have been met with mixed outcomes.
First of all, a writer’s circle is somewhat of a sacred thing. If you don’t believe that, no problem. But at least hear me on this: the words you choose to share with others in a recurring, closed setting are not easy to take back (especially when doing stream-of-consciousness writing, where your subconscious is splayed and dissected for all to experience and iterate from).
I was listening to a comedian speak about how people in his profession hate being in a room with only other comedians; everyone’s in their own head the whole time, and there is a constant fear someone is going to steal your bit.
The same goes for writers. I normally don’t worry too much about other people stealing my content because I know I’m an amateur, and most of the “good” stuff gets spewed out on Twitter for anyone to laugh at or borrow. But when you join a small cohort to focus on a specific work, something weird happens where the subconscious elements pool together into a collective engine.
This is not a bad thing; it can help writers build together and amass a school of thought that impacts the entire world. But it can also be a stressor on the individual when these subconscious triggers become heavy or overwhelming. You may suddenly see themes from your own life casually rolled up into a paragraph or outline that a friend is drafting. So attending these sessions requires patience, balance, and boundaries. In other words, it’s an author orgy.
If you belong to one of these groups, just keep in mind that you will likely be expected to share your work. The whole point is to receive critiques and advice. This is a wonderful gift. However, if you join a group that doesn’t feel like it aligns at all with your values, genre, stylistic goals, or even sense of humor… the result can range from unpleasant to disastrous.
If it fits? Bliss. Insight. Abundance.
This is not to say that writing groups should be echo chambers. On the contrary, in spaces where writers feel comfortable to share, they will likely produce authentic and thoughtful pieces.
My advice to you is to join groups you feel naturally drawn to because you like the people and respect their work. Do some poking around beforehand to make sure you’re familiar with their stuff.
Are there elements of their work you’d like to emulate? Great, this could be a good fit. Or does it reek of your dislikes and you’re just being polite because your Mom’s friend invited you to join? Note that.
It’s okay if you decide to leave a writer’s group after it’s started. Just be kind about it, and let them know gently that you’re busy / it’s not for you / you’re grateful for the experience / [insert excuse here]. No need to burn bridges.
And oh, yeah, the other reason we join these groups is to give solid, constructive feedback. If this doesn’t interest you or overwhelms you, the group setting might not be your thing right now.
2. EDITORS (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
…Which leads me to my next point! Editors should always be your thing. Well, the right editors, at least. They should be invited to collaborate and celebrate with you at certain, pivotal points in your journey. You may decide on a sole editor for all phases of your book, or you can opt to work with more than one.
These days, editors are a bit easier to access. It may cost a bit of money and time, but even sites like Fiverr, Reedsy, and Upwork have editors pretty much on-call that can suit specific genres and target your weak points. Just make sure you take a good look at their experience and work samples first.
If you don’t feel like shelling out for a stranger, maybe you know someone who will lend their services for free — or with whom you are more comfortable. My advice would be to work with an editor at the following stages of your book:
DEVELOPMENTAL EDITS
> After you’ve placed your initial story on the page, it needs to be organized, structured, scanned for plot holes, and filled in where lacking.
> Dev edits will help your readers make sense of the story you’re trying to write, connect with your characters, and obsess over the plot.
> Think of it like a surgical operation. You want a professional who’s unafraid to make incisions and can stitch it all back up afterwards.
COPY EDITS
> When the story’s foundation is sound and ready for a wellness visit
> Editors will check for spelling, grammar, syntax, style & tone, word choice, factual accuracy, clarity, consistency, and “flow”.
> These are also called line edits in poetry.
PROOFING
> You’re almost ready to publish!
> Editor will verify page count and check formatting / page breaks
> Take one final pass for spelling and grammar mistakes
3. YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER
Aww, you’re in love. That’s great. Here’s the deal: your writing is yours alone, and if you deeply believe that throughout this arduous process, your s/o is the right person to hear about what you’ve got cooking or give seasoned advice on how to help, that’s a beautiful thing. But if you aren’t so sure about it, there’s nothing wrong with making this a solo mission. Until it’s ready.
4. A SOLITARY WRITING BUDDY
Sometimes we come across that one friend who’s a business partner and confidant, all wrapped up in one. Maybe they’ve taken a writing class with you before or you’re lucky enough to know someone in the publishing biz. Did you ditch a writer’s group together because you wanted to peel off and start your own underground society — no girls allowed, scout’s honor? Or perhaps you met them in an online forum and trust them enough to share work safely. This is all awesome. Just make sure you know their style of writing first.
I’d recommend you decide upfront at what stages of work you’d like to share and receive feedback. Let them know if you’re working with a professional editor. Communicate clearly and give constructive criticism that won’t totally mess up your friendship. Lastly, have fun!
Now on occasion, these writing buddies may double as our business partners. I co-wrote articles for the book Chain Mail with a passionate and talented woman named María, and we decided to bring the whole thing to print. There were decisions I had to make, as a publisher, about what to keep and what to add. Creative choices about the cover design and what would go in our bios. I wrote an introduction and added a few new essays to make the project whole.
The reason I’m telling you this is because there was work involved in making sure the entire thing came to light in a way that made us both proud. To accomplish this with minimal friction, writers should establish roles & royalties early on (get this in writing). Lucky for me, María was the best partner I could ask for: patient, accommodating, thoughtful…and more than ready to step into her role as PR/marketing guru post publishing date. So if you’re looking to work on a book with another writer, I’ve got one tip for ya: make sure she’s as great as María.
5. ALPHA & BETA READERS (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
These are the people who get a first pass at your book, typically when it’s complete, edited, and almost ready to query or publish. Alpha readers are occasionally invited to the party a bit sooner, and can help you make final deep dives into areas of your work that need another writer’s touch. You’ll want to make sure these readers are not just random individuals — they should care about the topic at hand or enjoy the genre you write in.
In other words, this initial audience should mirror the target demographic you’re going for when publishing the book. So be clear in your blurb or when giving any details as you recruit these writers and readers to take a pass at your work; it’s important to capture a focus group that’s thoughtful and engaged.
With social media and search engines, finding beta readers who check off the right boxes is easier than ever. It’s popular these days to share your work in much earlier stages, even prior to developmental edits, through mediums like substack (hi!) or wattpad. The internet can be a fantastic arena to test your writing and monetize your initiative as you draft and strategize your book.
The drawbacks: your audience may cast a wide net (not always a bad thing, but input overload gets real) and the work at this stage hasn’t been polished. If you’re going this route, try not to stress about getting your words out on a regular cadence like a business newsletter (unless you’re charging $), and instead focus on the quality and craft of your writing. It’s no fun to get overwhelmed by the need to post, and that obsession might prohibit you from finishing your work.
Okay, that’s the list. Of course, when you are done drafting your book, there will be a slew of new characters to bring into the fold.
You might be asking why I didn’t include friends and family (other than s/o) on this list. You’re perfectly welcome to share your writing with whoever you want. But in my experience, running my mouth about my *ideas* for a book — my hopes and dreams and unfinished thoughts — with everyone in my close circle…even when I think I’m closer to done…throws me off my game.
Not a disaster, but this move tends to get me more input than I like. It can also drum up confusion in the plotting process. Again, that’s personal experience, so take it or leave it.
So, how about it — who gets to see your writing? No one? All of the above? The choice is yours, not mine. One thing’s for sure: when it’s thorough and clean, polished and passionately crafted, your stories will be well worth sharing with the entire world.
_Yves