Steph asked Nalini Singh:

Nalini, I admire you, and I love your work. I am an aspiring writer (or I would like to think I am), and I would like some insight. I have been writing since I was seven years old. However, I rarely shared my stories. I had insecurities about my writing, and I feared the vulnerability that came with it. Do you ever have doubts about your writing? Have you ever felt "exposed" by something you had written? Thank you!

Nalini Singh Every writer I know feels that vulnerability, but to share your stories with the world, you have to take the chance and put it out there. Otherwise, those stories will never be seen.

Yes, you'll get negative feedback, because there's not a book or story in the world that is universally beloved. For example, there are people who don't like Pride & Prejudice (HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE??).

However, I've always found that the negative is more than balanced out by the positive. I will add a caveat to that: treat your readers well. Put out work that you've created with care, work that is well-edited and formatted. And be consistent. You can't expect positive feedback if you stack the deck against yourself by not taking such care.

As a first step, perhaps share your work with a trusted small group of fellow readers, people you know will give you honest but kind feedback. Both are important for an aspiring writer. You need to know what works and what doesn't, but you don't need to have your spirit crushed - look for people who will be supportive and honest at the same time. And then treat their feedback with respect while being true to your stories.

Good luck with your writing journey - and remember, every published writer was once an aspiring writer.

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