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I’ll admit that I’ve become jealous of people who can post their WIP without fear. I try, but I realize that I always hold something back. Part of it was because I had been lectured about spoilers very often and other times it was because I simply didn’t want to spill a story twist. This made feedback problematic and I think it also turned these posts into some of the weakest ones in my repertoire. Though the worst ended up being the ‘Character Interviews’ that simply died even when they were requested.
Anyway, there was the added problem with the WIP success in that many people ended up getting confused by them. I think readers forgot a few key points that I got tired of mentioning every time:
- All of my stories take place in Windemere even if they don’t connect directly with Legends of Windemere.
- I have over 30 story ideas in various states of notes and most of them do not include Luke Callindor, Fizzle, and Nyx.
- I won’t be writing these for years, so I never know what to say to ‘I cannot wait to read this idea’. I appreciate the thought, but it does make me feel bad that you’ll be waiting for a while.
Another interesting thing that turned up with several of these posts is that feedback would commonly take two forms. One is telling me stories that sound similar, which always felt like a passive-aggressive way of saying the idea is cliche. This tended to ignore me stating that the meat of the story was left out and it was only the skeleton. The other form was that some authors would respond by connecting it to their own works. I’m sure I did this a few times in the past, but I’ve tried to stop when I saw how often people were doing it to me. I don’t really mind these conversations, but it does get awkward when I end up helping someone with their idea while mine from the post is kicked to the side. I think this goes back to my interest in reciprocation and how there seemed to only be a tight circle of people who were into that. I’ll help someone flesh out an idea, but I would like for the favor to be returned when I’m trying to ask for help.
In the end, I don’t know how often I’m going to be doing these posts from now on. I can’t go into details with them no matter how much I want to in regards to things like Project Phoenix and Sin. Those are too big at times. Also I just don’t know if I really get anything out of doing a WIP on a public forum. The vagueness and author instinct to hide information limits what can be done. In fact, I think these posts tend to make me more defensive than usual because it’s like putting my babies on the stage before they’re ready. There’s a level of exposure that doesn’t mix well with the vagueness that I feel I’m forced to do.
I wonder how many people stopped at the third paragraph. Anyway, all this being said, I’m going to be doing a special WIP on Saturday. Not sure exactly how this one will play out since it’s unique from the ones in the past.
Legends of Windemere 
Didn’t stop at the third 😉
It’s always difficult to comment on WIP without drawing comparisons so I try and restrain myself…
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I know. That might be another reason I drop them until I get further along. Maybe only talk about the book I’m working on, but that would still be vague.
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I wouldn’t know which way to go with that, though I can imagine any feedback being useful
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Yeah. Guess we’ll see.
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I tend to worry that the authors who put out snippets from their WIPs will have the ideas copied by someone else Charles, however, on the other paw they do increase interest in upcoming books 😀
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That’s a big worry too. I’m more comfortable working with the current series, but spoiler issues.
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I think publishing WIP snippets is overrated. All the “experts” want to snipe. The interested will forget by the time the book comes out and the dumb will not read them. So where are you? Lot of worry and fret over little return.
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Excellent points. It can garner a little feedback, but then you have a problem if the advice doesn’t get used. Best to leave them in the shadows.
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My recommendation would be to avoid WIP posts, for all the points you mentioned. Have confidence in your own ideas and your ability to know which are great and which need fixing.
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Thanks. Good advice. Though it does help to get feedback and nobody on this side of the computer listens.
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Never be afraid to branch out, that’s how growth happens. Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction–whatever it is, it’s all good for the taking. So, what I say is bring on the Saturday post. I’m looking forward to your new WIP! And I didn’t stop at the third paragraph.
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Thanks. Though I think people will be surprised on what it is. 😛
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I’d be concerned that any WIP I presented would be so awful that nobody would ever want to read the finished version. Or that things would change so much in revision that readers might be thrown off.
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I think I’m more worried about the first than the second. I find that things tend to change from initial idea to finished product. Part of the fun. 🙂
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I had a lot anxiety about putting my WIP on my blog. I know if I had asked people about it up front, I would have gotten an even distribution of “No, don’t do it! You’re just giving it away!” and “Yes, do it! It’ll help when your book finally comes out.” I think John is right: by the time my book comes out, people who have read the WIP will have forgotten at least most of it anyway. Believe me, I was relieved that nobody critiqued my WIP, other than to leave encouraging comments. I had seriously thought of turning off comments, in part because I didn’t want to be distracted by them, but also because I’m thin-skinned. I doubt that I will do it again though, not the way I did it this time anyway. I do like it when people post snippets of their WIPs because the posts give me a window onto what the writer is working on. I never think the snippet is out there for criticism unless the writer explicitly asks for that kind of feedback. It’s too bad you feel hamstrung by spoilers, or that there are readers who would resent reading spoilers. You could give me an outline of what exactly will happen in any of your novels, but I’ll still want to read the novel because of your writing.
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It’s really a gamble, so I’m happy to hear it seems to have worked out for you. Good point that snippets would make more sense than bigger chunks.
I’m the same way with stories. I may have an idea of something that is happening, but it’s different to see it in action.
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