good point- I couldn't see a reason to read a finished manuscript unless you were writing a sequal, and fact checking. There comes a time when you have to let go of the old project, and focus on the new one.

Andrea, thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my commentary blog.

I get so concerned about outside influences, I won't read anything from my genre until I'm close to finishing my second or third draft. My current WIP was woven together from about four different major writers, all of whom were made into movies. I won't watch or read them, so the delicate balance in my own story won't be tipped in favor of another. Its one of the reasons I write longhand, so as not to be tempted to look them up on the interwebz.

Also, I really am just scared of looking at those and thinking, "Golly, I can never get near those authors abilities." So I wait.

Thanks again for stopping by!

^_^

Brittany, you're so right about having to be careful and think about what might influence your writing – whether it's your own writing or something else you read.

I am constantly reminding myself that a first draft is just a draft, it doesn't have to be perfect, it's for messing around with ideas. Even then, it can be easy to get discouraged. Writing is hard enough without setting too a high a standard for a first draft!