Sharing that new WIP can be a scary thing

Hi everyone! 

It's time to share our thoughts, insecurities, and encouraging words. Thanks to Alex and our co-hosts for keeping IWSG going. For those who aren't familiar with Insecure Writer's Support Group, just follow the link. It's a wonderful group.
This isn't so much an insecurity, but something that can be scary for any writer. It's that moment you share your story with someone else and you anxiously await his or her feedback.

You see, I finally got into a nice flow with my MG fantasy, and I reached a point that I felt it was time to share the first five pages with my critique group. This usually means I've hit or passed the halfway point and I'm pretty sure (let's say eight-two percent sure) that these pages aren't going to be cut. Anyway, this group meets in person. We read our work out loud and have a short discussion about the pages, what works, what doesn't, and so on. I find it can be scary to share the first draft of a novel. Will others like it or hate it? Is the voice strong? Does the hook come through? Will they laugh or gasp in the right places? Is anyone yawning or does anyone have a look on his or her face that clearly says WTF? I'm happy to say I didn't notice the latter, so if anyone was thinking this sucks I couldn't tell. The feedback I received was helpful and encouraging, and interestingly divided on if I started the story in the right place. Now that I think about it, I should have asked for a show of hands to see how many people felt that way or if it was just one or two. I have given this some consideration, and I believe I began the story exactly where it should begin. The beginning introduces the world and what's to come in less than three pages. It's not backstory. It's the event that sets everything else in motion. So for now, I'm keeping it as is with several tweaks that tighten things up.


In news: Author Kat Ross is celebrating the upcoming release of her latest novel, The Midnight Sea, with a giveaway. Check it out here. But hurry, time's running out to enter the giveaway!


How's your writing coming? Are you a part of a critique group? At what point do you share your work?
Thanks for stopping by!