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To all the writers out there - how far into your novel do you choose to share your work and why? First chapter, first draft, when ready to send out to publishers? The real question, though, is the why of your choice!

I have a select group of people who I share my work with - a beta reading team - who I rely on to critique my manuscript and offer suggestions and advice to me before I proceed to the next stage of the editing process.

I don't usually offer up an incomplete work, however for my most recent novel, I did dribble out parts of it to a couple of my team members (one of whom is my publisher), so we could address a number of potentially sensitive story components early on.

I wouldn't recommend sharing an incomplete manuscript however. It can be frustrating for the recipient reader who will then have to wait until the rest becomes available. It can be off putting.

I agree with deanfromaustralia about not sharing an incomplete work. In addition to his reasoning, I'd add that there's also the possibility that the part someone reads could end up changing substantially as a result of edits just by you once or as the rest of the mss is written (if the writing process is anything like mine). So I would have the whole draft completed before you have anyone review it. Once you start sharing it, you can still decide that someone should only read the first half, for example, if you choose.

When it comes to submitting your work to publishers or agents, you should definitely follow their preferred guidelines and send them exactly what they ask for.

A second draft/fully edited version would be what I would share with people and submit to an editor. While I'm writing though, I do have a friend and fellow writer that I share things with when I'm unsure of the pacing or character development. We have co-written a novel and are currently editing it together, so I know that I can receive good feedback and advice that doesn't stray too far from my goal.

When I was in school, I would also share first drafts of chapters for our writing workshops, and that helped from time to time with bits that I have trouble with. Plus, it sometimes helps to have someone else take a peek at what's going on in your head to keep you on track. Fellow writers can understand where you're coming from, I think, and they would be the only people I'd consider letting read my unedited stories. Anyone else must wait until it's more palatable for a general readership.

For me, it depends on what I'm writing and who I have to show it to. I'll only show betas my first draft stuff. I'm horrible at proofreading while I write and usually there are a lot of mistakes that need to be revised; so, I wouldn't show that to anyone except for editing/revising purposes. Other edited versions, I don't really mind showing to people. It's unlikely that I'll be published anytime soon and, really, my writing is just for fun and to post online. So, I don't mind showing people my work and hearing their feedback.