Do you keep your writing private?

I wrote a few poems in about 10 years back. I like sharing it with my friends though all my poems are personal. I have published them on AC. You can read them on my profile.

i for years kept my poety very private, the first person i ever allowed to view it was my husband and he encourage me to get it published, but thats a big step, these are our innermost thoughts and feelings lie in black and white for others to read, its like letting someone read your soul, i had years and years of work on my pc and it broke down, (so did i, i was devastaed, i felt id lost a part of me) but luckily some of it i had on paper as well but not all and i have never been able to write a poem since and that was almost a year ago

Everyone starts like that, and some time, when they feel their poem is good enough, they share it! A poetry is meant to be personal, so do not fear that! The creation is well appreciated, and I think you would like someone else to tell you "congratulations for your poems!". It's not a very social activity, that's why we keep poetry hidden for a while, but this perception is long gone for me... Please share your work!

I'm not surprised that you were heartbroken, having all your poetry stolen. I do sympathise. I remember reading a book written by a poet describing his feelings when he saw his published book of poetry on someone's table at a house he was visiting. He suddenly felt that all his private innermost thoughts were in that book for all to see and wondered if he was right to publish or should have kept them private. It is an interesting dilemma for a poet. I used to keep mine private, like you, but I have had poems published and I don't mind other people reading them as long as I feel they are not badly written.

I pretty much write for others enjoyment. It can be private feelings, but once it is on paper(or monitor) I share it because, if I can help someone else or just entertain them, my writing gains more significance to me.

i really keep my writings private,, i make sure no one would find out wat i'm writing... i told everyone not to touch my notebooks hahaha... coz i all wrote my feelings and emotions there...

I tended to keep my writings personal, though I did on occasion share it with certain people. I also have lost years worth of writings, and have often wondered if someone in particular had taken them. It is disheartening to lose such things.