I write poems all the time and let people read them, but it feels very uncomfortable...is that normal?

Question

it's like i think someone is going to steal my work or something

Answer 1

its normal

Answer 2

Yep, completely normal, if not, then I’m a nutcase along with you!

Answer 3

This is not an issue -

Feeling as if you have been defiled by your "audience" is a sign that you feel so CONNECTED with your work that each submittal is an extension of yourself.

You are simply feeling what professional authors call "writers remorse." (W.R.)

W.R. reveals itself when you put so much emotion into your work that you begin to rehearse a litany of WHAT IFs in your mind when it is published.

%What if I misspelled the characters' names?

What if the storyline reveals *something* that I have tried to conceal about myself?

What if the message makes no sense and I'll become a laughing stock in the neighborhood?

These are all beginnings of what-ifs that never come to pass.

Answer 4

I feel exactly the same, I can't even show my closest friends incase I lose contact and they rip my poems off.

So yes I supose that is  normal =)

Or we are both freaks. Im not too sure...

Answer 5

Yes it is. Your worried tat they wont like your poems and that they will thik you are a bad writer. Dont feel uncomfortable. If they say something insulting just say remember if you think your poems are good, then they are.

Answer 6

literary works are skin you have ripped from your back, infants you have concieved and delivered, it is natural to feel protective and territorial.

Answer 7

I think we all feel that way at some point, but here is some information that may make you feel more at ease.  When you publish a written work online, your work is automatically logged and dated which makes proof of ownership easy.  I found this out when I looked into copyrighting my work.  I post each of my poems on four different sites for this reason alone.

Answer 8

Absolutely normal.  First there is the issue of bearing one's soul and then having other people look at it.  It's almost like having to take your clothes off in public.  Then of course there is the issue of theft.  Now, not only am I naked, but some one stole my wallet. . . I have had work stolen from me and it's not a pleasant feeling at all.  I agree with some of the other answers posted, copyright your work first.  It's easy and can be done at poetry.com for free.

Answer 9

yes, because you want the people reading it to be impressed by what you write..you are nervous because theres a chance they might think your poem is stupid. it's common. i feel the same way when i write and read them aloud.

Answer 10

yea it's normal. i get like that too

Answer 11

yeah i think we all get like that.

but you know you wrote it,and you should always be proud of what it is you do.,especially something like poetry.

Answer 12

Perfectly normal. I write stories and I don't like people reading them before they're finished because I get uncomfortable about it for some reason.

Answer 13

The dilligent poet often fears

that others will claim his work is theirs

but I have found the perfect trap

for such as these, I write c**p.

The plagiarised work that they send in

will be consigned to the waste  bin

and lesson learned away they crawl

unless that is they've learned sod all