I came at this through the link from gw500 so somehow I missed the actual post part at the beginning. Having an audience can be an intimidating thing, but at the same time you need to remember what you said before in that you write for you. The wonderful thing about fiction is that you can click the X or put down the book if the content does not appeal. Not everyone is going to love everything you write, that's a given. Be true to yourself and your vision of the characters, that's the important thing. There are always going to be people who don't like what you do or write, that is their issue not yours. Its your vision, embrace it. chatona has a quote in her LJ that says: "It is better to write for yourself and have no public than then to write for the public and have no self." I think that says it much better than I ever will.

I don't know about other comms and such, but GW500 specifically is meant to be fun for both the writers and the readers. No pressure except what you put on yourself. I know that can be worse, speaking as someone who has fairly neurotic high expectations of herself. Relax, enjoy, have fun.

*hugs* If you need/want to chat my email addy is on my profile. Feel free to drop me a line.