> Question: What about posting for a small audience with the disclaimer that the works are subject to change and with the intention of bouncing ideas off of others and getting critical advice on your style? In case you hadn't guessed, this question is not hypothetical. :-)

I'd complete a full draft of the story first. Definitely consulting a group of others for comments on a rough draft is good -- recommended, even. But I'd have a complete draft before I did it.