When to show?

[CDarklock]

My wife is chomping at the bit to read my WIP.

I'm uncertain about it. On the one hand, I value her input as a reader and critic, so the sooner I get her input the better it is for the rest of the book.

On the other, I sort of don't want her to read it until it's finished, because - and this is just one example - I might change my mind about certain things and go back to "fix" them. If she's already read the first half, she might not catch the massive continuity error I introduced when I had my MC take off all his clothes and then fill his pockets with biscuits.

When do you let family and friends read your WIP? Why?

[blacbird]

My wife is chomping at the bit to read my WIP.

When do you let family and friends read your WIP? Why?

It's your wife, and tomorrow is Mother's Day. Duhhhhhhh . . . FLOWERS!!! and CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!.

Only after that, show the manuscript.

(Okay, that was flippant. I never show my family anything I write. Learned from experience.)

caw

[Mumut]

I usually ask family to read my work after I've written a few chapters and the plot has been fairly well established. If I make major changes, I inform those who have read it already. When it is finished, I ask them to read from the start, to appreciate the entirity of the story (and it is usually some months since they've read the first few chapters so they need to read it again).

[Shweta]

Perhaps you should show your wife now and get someone else to be your beta reader when it's done?

[SPMiller]

I try to avoid showing my work to family and friends, no matter how polished. They are, shall we say, less than appreciative of my subject matter.

[Stacia Kane]

You're lucky. I've practically begged my husband to read any of my books, since he does actually read ooks and I value his opinion and input, but he never bothers to actually do it. I guess it just isn't important to him. So I don't ask anymore, and I don't talk to him about what I'm doing, because he obviously doesn't care.

[Bartholomew]

You're lucky. I've practically begged my husband to read any of my books, since he does actually read ooks and I value his opinion and input, but he never bothers to actually do it. I guess it just isn't important to him. So I don't ask anymore, and I don't talk to him about what I'm doing, because he obviously doesn't care.

No offense intended, but are you absolutely sure you married the right person?

[Garpy]

I'd suggest showing at the end of draft 1. That way you'll get the most useful, meaningful feedback out of her.

That said...spouses/significant others generally aren't the most reliable source of feedback. They're either overly kind, or too brutal by half.

[dpaterso]

Depends whether it's her kind of novel, no? If it's a violent technothriller laced with sizzling erotica but she only reads light summer romance short story magazines (just for fun stereotype example's sake :)) then that might not be a match made in heaven.

-Derek

[drachin8]

My husband will read my short stories, but I always use him as the final final final critiquer on them because I know he will only read them once. The problem is, he really hates reading. But he does like my short stories and always offers great advice on them. So I am now working on a novel, and I know he won't be reading it because it is simply too long (I don't know what turned him against books so much, but man it is a shame since he has such a great eye when he actually does read!). He does let me bounce ideas off him when I get stuck and stuff, and is very supportive of my writing. Heck, he went to FenCon with me and sat in on a bunch of panels just so he could learn more about what I had gotten myself into and be able to help out more with advice.

My mother-in-law has also read some of my stories, but only the ones that have been accepted somewhere for publication. When she reads them, they obviously aren't her kind of story at all, but she still asks for the next one sold to read because she is that kind of cool. And she will read it.

As for my mother, I have stopped telling her when my stories are accepted because she never seems to hear me (or see, rather, since we usually IM each other). I even gave her the link to my one story online, and she promised she would read that, but I think she forgot. Sooooo, yeah. I love my mom, but I understand she isn't the type to be supportive or even aware of this career jump.

Outside of that, I have some friends I have given a few short stories to for critiquing, and it has gone well, but I don't hand over any of my stories for critiquing until I have fixed almost everything I can think of in them (usually 4th to 5th drafts or so).

There is a chance next week I will be showing part of my WIP, first draft horror and all, to a new local crit group another guy and I are trying to set up. That actually is a bit scary. Heh. But I would only be doing it because it doesn't feel quite fair to jump in and critique people without them having an idea of where my writing is coming from.

Sooo, Darklock, whether you show your wife (and any other friends and family) your WIP now depends on what you know about her and yourself. Will her comments derail you from finishing this draft because you want to go back and change what she has read? Will she read it once and once only so you'd rather save her to be a final reader? Can you handle it if she reads it and simply isn't excited, or will that cause you to throw the whole thing aside? Do you have certain expectations from her when she reads it that she is unaware of?

We can all give plenty of examples regarding our own families, great and terrible, but this decision must be based on what you know of your own.


:)

-Michelle

[Straka]

I'm always on the line about this.

When I was younger I would start writing and talk it out with my main beta, bouncing ideas of him to see if sounded interesting and incorporate and ideas he had in.

Now that I'm more confident in my plotting, I wont tell him a thing about it until it's done and he has it in his hands. This way I get a more raw reaction that the entire work as he's going into it blind. I also do at least one quick read through to get major errors and inconsistencies. He knows of terrible my grammar can be and from him as my first beta I'm just looking for impressions on the story.

[IdiotsRUs]

Depends who it is.

I have one friend who I give the first draft to, because he'll read anything and not be too critical ( he's a compulsive reader who's just happy to have free reading material). He gives me great feedback on whether my characters are coming across as I want them, gaping plot holes and such, but he doesn't really give a stuff about sentence structure, too much / little description and all that, he enjoys it anyway ( god he reads some crap lol).

Other people -- not till I'm almost done, and I need an objective view on specific things.

And definately not family. My parents are all 'well that's nice dear' but they don't read my genre ( luckily!)

My hubby normally doesn't read it because a) he's dyslexic so it takes him ages to read anything, and b) he says he already knows the story because I talk about it so much. :)

[Melenka]

Drachin, your husband may be like my brother in law, who doesn't read books because concentrating for long periods makes his head hurt. He reads all sorts of other things, and if my sister recommends a book strongly enough, he will eventually read it, but very slowly.

I have a very supportive husband, but he's only read the first few chapters. He's especially helpful when it comes to writing hand to hand combat scenes. He takes me through them (slowly) until the dog gets too upset, but it has helped immensely with the realism. He wants to read the whole thing, but he's waiting until I finish.

I have one beta/draft editor who reads as I go - well, when she can. She fixes grammar and is the best person to throw ideas at because she's still capable of reading it with fresh eyes later. It helps that she's a textual scholar. My other beta doesn't want to know what I'm contemplating until it's written down. She takes chapters as I hand them to her (usually in big chunks) and asks a bazillion questions about procedure, relationship dynamics, connections, etc. She's a comp rhet professor. I could not have a better combo and I am incredibly grateful for it.

[underthecity]

I asked my sister to read my first draft after I had finished it.

I don't think it's a good idea to ask someone, family member or otherwise, to read a few chapters here and there (or even as you write them, which some people do) because the story is dynamically changing as you write. I mean, you're writing chapter 30 that adds and/or changes elements that occured in chapter 4. So your beta reader has already read obsolete material that you now must ask him to read again. How many changed chapters will you force your beta reader to re-read before he finally refuses?

Back to the original question: I think it's okay to show it after the first draft is finished. By then you will have gone back and made adjustments to the earlier chapters, even if they aren't polished yet.

My sister read my finished first draft and liked the story, and had a few issues with it that I hadn't noticed. Her comments helped me fix a few problems. She even had a favorite character, which was kind of cool. She also said my main character was kind of an asshole at times.

My wife isn't a reader. She only reads very certain things, Harry Potter, and some Nicholas Sparks, but told me she won't read my book until it's DONE done, and that's fine. I wouldn't want her to read it in its current constantly-being-revised state. Besides, there are some, um, erotic parts that are going to make her say "what were you THINKING when you wrote this?"

allen

[ishtar'sgate]

she might not catch the massive continuity error I introduced when I had my MC take off all his clothes and then fill his pockets with biscuits.

When do you let family and friends read your WIP? Why?
That mental image really tickled my funny bone.:D
As for who reads when, my son reads my manuscript once I've completed a few chapters. His job is to check the pacing and level of interest in the characters and premise. After that he can't see it again until I've completed the mansucript and revised the first draft. All I want from him at that point is to know whether or not it bogs down anywhere or if his interest is sustained throughout the whole thing. My husband doesn't generally read my work in manuscript form. He waits for it to come out in print.
Linnea

[xiaotien]

i personally would never share an initial first
draft--cause mine is so crappy.

but honestly, i wouldn't show my wip
until i was ready to show it.

[maestrowork]

If I'm workshopping or brainstorming, I show rough stuff with the understanding that it's rough and needs work -- that's the whole point of workshop, right?

Otherwise, I don't let my betas read anything rougher than 2nd draft.

[CDarklock]

That mental image really tickled my funny bone.

Thank Robert Louis Stevenson; he did that in Treasure Island, and I've used it for decades as the archetypal continuity error. More recent printings replace "took off my clothes" in that scene with "took off most of my clothes" to repair the problem, which became infamous in the 1970s.

[Blondchen]

I was sorely tempted to let some people read my first novel before it was finished...then again that day I wrote the last word...then again 2 months later when I took it out to go through it again.

I'm glad I waited until I had completed the second draft before letting a few people, including my husband the "real" writer, read it. Since it was the first prose I have ever written, I needed to wait until I was relatively content with the product before I let people in on my new little venture.

[IceCreamEmpress]

You're lucky. I've practically begged my husband to read any of my books, since he does actually read books and I value his opinion and input, but he never bothers to actually do it.

Does he read books in your genre? My husband read my first novel before our first date (as a "homework assignment" he claims) but that was a mystery, which he reads; he hasn't read either the women's fiction I've completed or the historical novel I'm working on currently, because he says (rightly, I think) that he doesn't have any background in these genres.

He does read my articles, though. And has read some of my short stories.

[Andre_Laurent]

I try to avoid showing my work to family and friends, no matter how polished. They are, shall we say, less than appreciative of my subject matter.
Same here. I only show it to beta readers and crit partners. What my family doesn't read, won't be a pain in my arse later.

[Phaeal]

If your wife wants to read your MS, good for the two of you! But the timing is important. I would suggest you don't show her the novel until you've finished the first draft. First drafts are fragile, especially if we're talking about your first novel.

While you're writing the first draft, you should have locked your own Inner Editor in a closet. So why invite someone else's Inner Editor to look at it? This is just asking for doubts and blocks. Power through to the end. Then, while you're taking a six to eight week vacation from the novel, let your wife and any other beta readers at it.

Another consideration. Here are some things that make a good beta reader:

--Well-read.
--Well-read in your genre -- likes it and has absorbed its conventions and knows something of its range.
--Writes herself.
--Writes in your genre.
--Is knowledgeable about some aspect of the particular book -- say, is a military man, and the book is about a war; is a policewoman, and the book is a police procedural; is a gardener, and the book is set in a garden.
--Is a detail-oriented person, can spot inconsistencies.
--Is grammar- and spelling-adept.
--Is a raconteur, has a natural story sense.
--Has no ax to grind on your work.
--Is strong enough to give constructive criticism, even if you pout.
--Is sympathetic enough to understand why you pout.
--Can and will respond to specific questions you ask about the work.
--Has a workable critting system (say, marks problems in the text, then gives a more extensive crit at the end, starting with the positive, what works, going on to suggestions, what doesn't work.)
--Has publishing knowledge, could suggest markets or agents.
--Is on your side.

The more of these you can get in one reader, the better! But a reader who has only one or two of these qualities can also be a help, so long as you know exactly what his strengths are, where he can help you and where he can't.

[Chasing the Horizon]

I usually wait until I have the book finished before showing it to my family, though my Mom pestered me into giving her the first three chapters of one of my WIPs the other day (then, after she finished, immediately came back and began demanding the rest. 'I told you it wasn't finished yet, Mom!'). I usually edit the book (or chapters) before letting anyone read them so they're not trying to read through so many typos. I write very clean first drafts, however, so if someone's bugging me to read it, I'll give it to them unedited.

I have an absolute policy against letting any other writers read my work, period. Other writers have too many of their own ideas about how things like pacing, POV, description, and what not should be handled. Readers who don't write themselves just want an interesting story that's well-told, and don't even know what things like 'third person limited' mean. I've gotten lots of very useful advice from my non-writing beta readers. I know if they say something doesn't work, then it's because it really doesn't work, not because they would do it differently themselves, or, worse yet, because they're envious of me.

When you show your work to your family (or anyone else) will depend on how you write and your own comfort level, though. I write out of order, and for some silly reason most people like to read stories from beginning to end, so that's the main reason I don't normally share WIPs. If I wrote messy first drafts, I doubt I'd want to show anyone anything until it was polished.

[arainsb123]

I have an absolute policy against letting any other writers read my work, period. Other writers have too many of their own ideas about how things like pacing, POV, description, and what not should be handled.

Too true. My idea of what's "right" is very narrow, and really only applies to my own work because that's what it's been designed for.

[Blondchen]

Too true. My idea of what's "right" is very narrow, and really only applies to my own work because that's what it's been designed for.

This is the same reason why TV series and films are screened in front of test audiences covering a range of typical demographic breakdowns, instead of an audience of writers, producers and excutives.

[windyrdg]

This past weekend I let my wife read the first 19 chapters of my WIP. It's about 95% complete. I'm still tying up loose ends and that sort of thing now. I wanted to get her feeling on whether or not things worked.

While my first drafts always need a lot of work, I'm not on of those writers who just whips through slapping words on paper. I tend to revise/polish the previous day's output before starting in on the new stuff. I did a second polish before I printed them out for her.

[Storm Dream]

When do you let family and friends read your WIP? Why?

I just sent my immediate family (parents and brother) the first three chapters of the book I just finished. They all read, and on a rather mercenary level I realize that they each provide a basic, necessary service: Dad knows nautical stuff (it takes place at sea), Mom's a great line editor, and bro is good with characters (screenwriter).

With that said, it was the hardest thing I've done for awhile. SOMEONE has to look at the thing; I'm at a point where it's hard to spot errors and continuity problems and all that good stuff. I figure the family is the easiest place to start, since they will (probably) still love me even if it sucks. But aside from a couple short stories, they've never really read my work. So this is a big step and very scary. Which I guess is why I'm starting with them, anyway; they might be a little more forgiving without going "ZOMG IZ WONDUHFUL" which I really don't want, unless it is (which I know it isn't...sigh).

Friends? Forget it. I love my friends, they're awesome. At least a couple of them have expressed interest in wanting to read it. But I almost feel like it's opening myself up on a level they don't usually see...which freaks me out.

Eventually I'll have to move past it and get 'em to read it, especially if I hope to send it out one day.

So I guess the answer is...I don't know when. Sometimes you just have to do it.

(On some subconscious level I'm fairly certain I hope to be discovered and hailed as a total prodigy so my friends can read me in print and not in a choppy MS word manuscript...pipe dreams.)

[Phaeal]

.

I have an absolute policy against letting any other writers read my work, period. Other writers have too many of their own ideas about how things like pacing, POV, description, and what not should be handled.

A writer who imposes his views on another's work is not a good critiquer or editor. However, there are many writers who ARE good critiquers. I've got two of them betaing for me right now.

I prefer writer betas because they DO know about technique. Hey, I'm not going to describe my symptoms to a guy off the street. I'm going to a doctor. ;)

[Round John Virgin]

You're lucky. I've practically begged my husband to read any of my books, since he does actually read ooks and I value his opinion and input, but he never bothers to actually do it. I guess it just isn't important to him. So I don't ask anymore, and I don't talk to him about what I'm doing, because he obviously doesn't care.
Quinn - Maybe he cares too much. I have the same situation with my wife. I can't even get her to read my finished novels (all two of them!). I think she's afraid of hurting my feelings. On the other hand, both of my daughters are excellent sounding boards for my work.

[David I]

As to the general case, I'm with Garpy--the best time to show work is after the first draft...or, if you're a really sloppy first draft, after your first clean-up.

As far as when to show it to your wife, I don't know her that well.

[choppersmom]

My wife is chomping at the bit to read my WIP.

I'm uncertain about it. On the one hand, I value her input as a reader and critic, so the sooner I get her input the better it is for the rest of the book.

On the other, I sort of don't want her to read it until it's finished, because - and this is just one example - I might change my mind about certain things and go back to "fix" them. If she's already read the first half, she might not catch the massive continuity error I introduced when I had my MC take off all his clothes and then fill his pockets with biscuits.

When do you let family and friends read your WIP? Why?

Anything that involves biscuits (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87219) is OK by me!