Trusted Readers

I’ve been accused of making my writing available to my family the way the Bush White House would – announcing that I have a piece to read if anyone is interested around dinnertime on Sunday when everyone is busily involved in getting ready for the week ahead and no one much cares about the creative pursuits of other family members.

My first writing teacher (and many more since) have emphasized what a bad idea it is to let those most close to you read your stuff, especially a spouse. I’ve pretty much followed this rule. But once a piece of writing has gone through a workshop or two, been reviewed by people I know from other writing classes or groups, and doesn’t touch on any deep, dark secrets, what’s the harm in letting my sons and my husband read it?

My husband has also taken writing classes and he’s heard the advice about not letting your spouse read your stuff. So he knows that I don’t mean anything by not sharing work with him. He’s probably relieved. He hears enough about how things are going without then having to also read an early draft. I’ve told him we can have a deal that he can read my work anytime he wants and just tell me it’s great, whether or not that’s what he really thinks. He hasn’t taken me up on that yet.

I’ve only read two pieces to my husband – one an essay on what I felt like listening to our son playing the piano and another which described how my father taught me to read music. I read both of these to him not because I wanted him to hear my writing but because I’d finally been able to put into words things I’ve been trying to express to him for years. It was a communication tool, not open mike night.

I asked my teenage son to read two chapters of something to give me an opinion on whether the pace was appropriate to a young adult work. He read the chapters and gave me the same kind, attentive feedback that I give to him when I review his essays for school. His conclusion – well written but a little slow to appeal to his peers.

I put together a binder of short pieces – essays and short stories – that I’m comfortable letting my family members read. It sits on the shelf next to my desk.

So it’s a perfect situation – I have made things available but left it to them to read when and if they want to. Maybe they already have and just haven’t told me?