Ana Beatriz
asked
P.C. Cast:
Hi P.C., I've always heard that is good to show your text to other people to have feedback, but isn't good show to a lot of people, so, my question is: How many people do you consider a reasonable quantity to show your texts? Besides, do you think is more important/better show them to friends or family members?
P.C. Cast
Hi Ana,
I'm going to cut and paste my answer to this from my long blog post about advice for aspiring authors (you can find the entire post on my website - just go to the blog and keep scrolling down). I wish you the best of luck! PC
5. Should you ask me (or any other published author) to read your work in progress, idea, summary, essay, poetry, etc.? NO. Okay – here’s the truth: another author can NOT get you published. Agents and editors can. Focus on them. Oh, and regarding allowing tons of people to read your work as you write – my advice is DO NOT. If you need feedback get into a writers’ group, or a creative writing class. Honestly, if you're so insecure about your writing that you have to be told by others whether you're good enough, you probably need to look at another career. Professional authors are tough and tenacious. If you manage to get published you need to have a firm backbone and thick skin because it's like putting your child out there for everyone to take potshots at - and, yes, they will blow holes in your baby. If you don't believe in yourself before you're even published, run screaming from attempting writing as a profession.
I'm going to cut and paste my answer to this from my long blog post about advice for aspiring authors (you can find the entire post on my website - just go to the blog and keep scrolling down). I wish you the best of luck! PC
5. Should you ask me (or any other published author) to read your work in progress, idea, summary, essay, poetry, etc.? NO. Okay – here’s the truth: another author can NOT get you published. Agents and editors can. Focus on them. Oh, and regarding allowing tons of people to read your work as you write – my advice is DO NOT. If you need feedback get into a writers’ group, or a creative writing class. Honestly, if you're so insecure about your writing that you have to be told by others whether you're good enough, you probably need to look at another career. Professional authors are tough and tenacious. If you manage to get published you need to have a firm backbone and thick skin because it's like putting your child out there for everyone to take potshots at - and, yes, they will blow holes in your baby. If you don't believe in yourself before you're even published, run screaming from attempting writing as a profession.
More Answered Questions

A Goodreads user
asked
P.C. Cast:
do you answer these questions or do you have somebody else answer them because as a writer you must be really busy?
Sydney Tryba
asked
P.C. Cast:
Hello! Huge fan of the Tales of a New World series, and I had a two quick questions about the Whale Singers, are they bonded with only a specific type of whale, like humpback or blue whales? Or is it a variety? My other question is where are the Whale Singers located? Since Tales of a New World is more in the Portland, OR area, are the Whale Singers on that coast, or on the opposite side of the country? Thank you!
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