I was reading a response in the "why you write" post and it really struck a nerve with me.
Having people read your work is like them seeing your soul. I can relate to this with some of my stories and others are written for others and they dont make me feel like that.

I have two types of works- stuff I write to giggle over, and for stress release and then other is what I call my serious stuff.  
The thought of others reading my serious stuff is very much like letting peole see me naked, knowing what I am thinking or just reaming my soul from my living body. I have two trusted people in my life that I allow to see this work, one of them is my husband and the other is an online friend who is very much like me but can actually write/work grammar..hehe I have one fantasy novel that I have tried to write several times, the first version upset my husband because I killed off a character. So I rewrote it, and rewrote it and have rewrote it, the last version I showed my friend and she liked it. But still it did not sit right with me and I need to rewrite it again but each time it is both pleasure and total agony to do so.

I love writing, I love being take to another place and time, loosing myself in something I have created is just awesome, BUT I am also feeling very open to the world during this time, like everyone can read what I am writing and seeing what I am like.  I also will start to write, all excited like and then after 1000 words just have to get up and walk around, I want to get away from it. I also jig my leg when writing, something my hubby pointed out to me, he can tell how involved I am in a story to how fast my leg is jigging..LOL This is the only time a jig my leg, and I just noticed I did it now while thinking about my fantasy story hehe.

When I write my stress relief stuff I do not jig my leg and I am totally relaxed, it is usually very funny, very silly and for the sole purpose of entertainment (usually mine). One of those stories I sent in to various Scifi magazines and got told it was too weird for them hehe Yeah I am rather proud of that. And just the fact I screwed up enough courage to show others my work.

So how many others feel this way? Would you rather run naked through a large city or let strangers see your writing?

Hey, I've always done the leg-jig thing when I get excited about what I'm writing too!  It always drove my mom nuts when I was a kid... now I can tell her I'm not the only one out there!!!

I've always been nervous about letting other people read my writing.  I don't know why... there's no rational reason for feeling that way, becasue at the same time I want to be a published writer if/ when I grow up.  I have submitted stories to magazines in the past, and gotten the obligatory form rejection letter.  But then I have other stories I'm excited about but can't bring myself to send out.  I don't think I'm afraid of the rejection so much as I am the disappointment. 

One way I've started to get over it was by putting stories and other things up on my website.  Mostly stuff that I wouldn't consider trying to sell.  But then only family and friends ever visit the site, so then I guess it still doesn't count as letting strangers in.

Even more telling - one of my goals for 2009 was to get my fantasy novel polished up and sent out to agents/ publishers before the end of the year.  Well, two months into the year now and I haven't started that polishing, knowing it will lead to sending it out!

Still, I'd rather do that than run naked through the city.  Maybe that's what it will take... having someone threaten to put a gun to my head and force me to do the naked run!