There's been some discussion lately regarding the hazards of unfinished stories, and it made me think about the following:
Do you see these boards primarily as a place to publish finished stories, or as a place to float a work in progress? Except for one-shot vignettes, I usually have about half of a story finished when I start posting. This is because I need the feedback to help me shape the story itself. I start out with an idea, but the reactions of my readers often bring up questions and issues that I would never consider on my own. The result is both motivation to keep pushing through when the going gets tough and, I hope, an improved story.
So, do others use feedback this way? Or is your story a finished product when you start posting? Do you make minor tweaks based on feedback, or is it primarily cheerleading for you? What about your betas? Do they get the story chapter-by-chapter, or is it finished before you contact them?
Just curious.
