Ok. Busy day here at Sydney Aaliyah. Let’s start with my Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. I kept it short. Then, stay to enjoy story #2 of the Summer: Fact or Fiction Blog Hop (Don’t forget to vote in the comments which story you think is true; this one or that one).
The main area of stress and insecurity for this month is showing my work to other. I am super excited to have formed a critique group with two talented writers. We haven’t started, yet and I am scared to death to show them my work as a whole. Introducing characters, excepts for blog post, no problem, but the entire work at one time. Wow, scary stuff. Now, I know I will get over it and I understand to be a published author the goal is to get others to read my work, otherwise what’s the point. But, the initial idea of it is making me nauseous. But, I am really looking forward to the critiques, so go figure. What am I scared of? How did you feel the first time you let some else read your work? Does it get easier?
Story #2 – One summer when I was 13 and my brother was 16, our parents bought us and our friends (two each) season passes to AstroWorld in Houston, Texas. They were trying to keep us out of trouble I guess. The only rule, stick together.
Well, as you can image, 16 year old boys don’t really want to hang out with 13 year old girls. Besides, my friends and I were really silly. We broke out in song at the most in opportune times. I still do. It wouldn’t have been so bad if we could carry a tune. So, as soon as we entered the park, we all went out separate ways.
On one particular beautifully hot and muggy day in Houston. we were in line for the roller coaster. One of my friends hated roller coasters, but we were able to finally talk her into riding it with us. It just so happened, my brother and his friends were a couple of spots ahead of us in line for the same roller coaster. Seeing how nervous she was, one of my brother’s friends who was really obnoxious started teasing her and trying to scare her even more.
We ened up on the same ride and we started the slow, agonizing crawl to the top of the roller coasters first hill. Even I had that feeling in the pit of my stomach. But, that coupled with my brother’s stupid friend yelling “We’re going to get stuck, We’re going to die.” Even I was getting nervous.
The roller coaster creeped, creeped, creeped up the hill and it got to the top and started over and then it stopped. We were in the back so we had not made the crest when it stopped. The obnoxious friend, he was in the second car and was hanging over the edge.
Everyone was quiet for a moment. Thinking this was part of the ride, but after about a minute, we knew we weren’t going anywhere. We were stuck.
The park operators had to walk up, show us all how to unhook ourselves get out and walk down. My friend was handling it all pretty well. But, my brother’s friend. He was terrified. It was hilarious. First he refused to get out of the car. Then, when the park workers and my brother finally talked him out of the car, he held on to the guy in front of him and cried the whole walk down.
We all made fun of him the entire ride home.
Now, did that really happen? Let me know what you think?
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 
I can certainly believe the part about it being hot and muggy in Houston so the rest of the story must be true.
I know what you’re saying about letting others read your work. I guess someday most of us want lots of others to read our work so it’s got to start somewhere eh? My #IWSG post goes up in a few hours. It’s pretty depressing. Readers will be jumping off of bridges and overdosing on drugs.
Hi Lee. Summers in Houston are brutal. Heading over now to see what you got going on.
Hi Sydney,
I had, and still have, the hardest time with critiques. I honestly thought I would never, ever show anyone my writing. What helped was to take turns reading a paragraph or two out loud at my writing group. Watching their reactions and getting mostly positive feedback was a good way to become accustomed to having others read my words.
I don’t know if I’ll ever really like putting stuff up for crit, but one thing I know for sure is that the comments I get have helped move my writing forward in a big way. Good luck with the critiques! I think you’ll be glad you took the leap.
Speaking of leaps…your story sounds quite plausible. I used to work at a roller coaster at Great America, and trains ‘hung’ on a regular basis. Usually the brakes went out, and they’d skid through the station, but I can’t rule out the coaster hanging at the top.
Either way, it’s a funny story!
Thanks Kirsten. I am actually looking forward to the critiques. It is the over all, ‘you suck as a writer’ feeling I can’t get out of my head. And, I know they would never say that, but you never know. haha. Paranoid, I know.
I will reveal the truth, soon.
I’m going with the first story being true!
Come back later and I will reveal the truth.
I’ll be back (Said in an Austrian accent).
False! But it would be hilarious if it were true. I love when life hands us a big slice of irony. 🙂
I know, right. I will let you know which one is true soon.
You are very brave! I am hearing good things about joining critique groups. I think I will need to leave my ego at the door when I join one. Congrats on NaNo! Cheers
Hi Clayton. Thanks. I am excited about my CP, we all just meet, but they seem like supportive and positive people. Your right, it’s not about me and my fears, it’s about making my work better. I will let you know how it goes.
I posted about the exact same worry on my IWSG post! Happy IWSG day! Let the support spread! 🙂
Quite a few people have the same concern. Happy to know I am not alone. But, we have to just put it out there, right.
Letting others see your work is scary (at least it is for me) so I feel your fear!
For IWSG – I know how you feel. I still get nervous the first time someone looks at my writing, but it does get easier.
You’ve done such a good job with the Summer: Fact or Fiction stories that I’m having a hard time deciding which is fact . . .but I’m going to go with this one.
Thanks Tyrean. I just need to do it and trust I have CP’s who are in the same boat.
Oh, how I want this one to be true. It’s a tough choice, but I’ll go with this one as fact. Either way, thanks for posting about this on your blog at the beginning of the month. I’m glad I learned about it!
Hi Fel. Everyone is leaning towards this one being true. We will see. This blog hop was fun, wasn’t it. I am happy you joined.
I’m kind of thinking you have an exciting life. =) I’m going to say this one is Fact. ;D
Hi Aidyl. My life is not as exciting as it appears. Haha. I will let you know later which one is fact.
Both your stories seem plausible. For your health, I’m going to say this is fact and the one of you falling through the floor is fiction.
Thanks for participating in the blog hop!
Thanks Emily. I will let you know.
you will share when you are ready, the first time is always the hardest!
and for stories, this has happened to me at least twice, not the crying or sibling teases, but the ride halts…i’m guessing this is true! he was a big meanie, hello karma!
Thanks Tara. Boys can be mean.
Tough call in which story is fact. I’ll say the first one.
I’m glad you decided to join a critique group. I have the same fears, no worries. It’s more important to continue improving your techniques and craft. That’s how I look at it.
Thanks Miranda. My excitement over getting the feedback and making this story I love better far out weighs the fear.
Ooh. My final answer is this one is true and the back-breaker is false.
We will see. haha.
I haven’t posted my second story or my IWSG yet, hoping to get around to it this afternoon or early evening, but I am feeling the exact same insecurity that you wrote about. I suppose it has much to do with the agent query contests that I have entered. As for your story, I am going to vote fact (truth). It sounds scary, but I can actually see it happening.
Thanks for voting Melissa. Check back on Friday.
Looks like we have a similar insecurity this month!
A lot of people have the same issue. That makes me feel better.
I’m sure it will get easier! I wasn’t too worried the first time I let my critique partners see my work. If you are involved with a good bunch of people, then you shouldn’t have to worry.
They are a good group so, one more read through and first two chapters heading to my CP’s today. Now or never.
True! and your first story false. Or that’s my guess anyway.
Thanks for voting Melodie. I will let you know on Friday.
I say the first story is true and this one is fiction.
Thanks Rebecca. Big reveal on Friday.
Ooh – these are hard…I’m going to say the rollercoaster one is fiction.. great stories!
I’m saying this one is fiction and the other fact. Mainly because it’s such a great story of falling through the attic and the mom being all pissed-and the terrarium. So, I want it to be true:)
I ended up on your reveal and saw the answer before I clicked away. 😦 So, I’m not guessing, but I do remember the first time I had to show my MS to someone. I’m in a crit group online and when I started I was so scared. Then after I got my first critiques, I was so sad. That MS needed work, but it wasn’t easy to hear at first. Now I have my crit group (which has 5 people counting myself), two one on one CPs, one half CP-half beta reader, and two beta readers. It gets easier. I love the feedback, and my CPs and betas are all so wonderful. I’d be lost without them.
Thanks Kela. I posted a little early. Can’t get the time right all the way over here. I am starting to get excited about the critiques. It is scary, but necessary.