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| Original picture by Anthony Ryan |
New ideas are exciting. They’re shiny and perfect, the best
idea since writing was invented, and they
beg you to do something with them at once. You’ve just got to write it down,
get it out on paper. Or at the very least tell someone all about this brilliant
new idea of yours. Or do you? It’s something I’ve noticed, some writers love to
tell people about their latest project, or the newest amazing idea the writing
muse blessed them with. And other people prefer not to talk about it at all, at
least until the first draft or two has been written.
For me, I liked to talk about my writing projects, but only
with the people I know will understand and support me. These include family
members, such as my amazing sister and brainstorming partner, my writing
friends and a few very close friends. But when it comes to telling strangers
and most non-writers, I suddenly don’t know what to say. I don’t feel
comfortable with telling them about my book, and I’m certainly not sure that
they will be as interested, or as supportive, as my vulnerable creative side
needs them to be.
Why is it so hard to talk about our books, to discuss the
amazing creations of our brains? Is it because we’re afraid that people won’t be
as excited as we are? Is it because the idea is just so good we don’t want to
spoil it by telling other people? Is it because we’re afraid that people just
won’t get it? Maybe we don’t want outside influences on our ideas until they’re
a little more developed? I don’t know. Maybe it’s all of these reasons or none
of them.
I’d like to hear from you guys on this. Do you tell people
about your current project? What about new ideas? Why do you think it’s so hard
sometimes to tell people about our books? I don’t know the answers. You tell
me!
I talk about my books a lot to my friends. Though, I keep worrying that people get tired of it. Often times my mother asks me about my stories, but it's hard to explain it to her without telling her I'm writing a murder mystery where people get gassed to death.
ReplyDeleteTalking about books to parents is a difficult balance, isn't it? It's never certain whether they'll be ok with what you're writing, or horrified.
DeleteOh, I'd tell everyone if they asked me. xD I'm a little bit loud and rambly in that way; once you get me started I don't stop. Especially with news ideas, too - I like to test out peoples' reactions. It really helps get me excited about it, I've found.
ReplyDeletePeople being excited about an idea is really infectious, isn't it? I tell my sister about my ideas to see if she gets excited, but I'm ever so worried about other people not liking it. It is a great way of gauging the initial potential of an idea, especially if people can tell you straight up if it sounds too much like another book.
DeleteI've noticed that when I tell someone an idea it becomes a lot harder to write that idea. *nods* So I try to keep my ideas to myself, however hard it may be.
ReplyDeleteIt can be difficult like that. Like you're putting pressure on yourself to succeed with the book. I definitely find that in the early stages especially it's difficult for me to motivate myself by talking about it with anyone other than brainstorming partners. It's great when you work out what works for you though, isn't it?
DeleteI never tell people even when they ask. My mum and sister read my stuff sometimes, but otherwise I'm very reluctant to share.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to talk about it sometimes definitely. Even harder to show people. I always protest that it's not ready for reading, but really, I'm not sure that I want people apart from my family to see what I write. The people I know in real life are definitely not writers. Do you know any writing people in real life?
DeleteHi Imogen!
ReplyDeleteI talk to some of my friends and my mum about my stories. I never really let anyone read them because I'm always afraid that they won't like them.
But, I've decided I might post my camp NaNoWriMo story to goodreads, maybe.
Scarlet
It's so hard to let other people see you writing isn't it? I let some of my writing friends read it sometimes, but it's still nerve wracking. You should definitely share at least some of your Camp NaNo story. Let me know if you do. I'd love to see it!
DeleteI talk about my books sometimes. My friends think I'm like this blaring evil mastermind when it comes to writing... my teachers (who know NOTHING about me blogging except for one, and they haven't read it yet) have fangirling moments when I turn it my essays. :/
ReplyDeletexoxo Morning
It's so nice that you have so many people in your life supportive of your writing. Especially your teachers. Do any of your friends write as well?
DeleteI used to be very vocal about my books, but have toned myself down over the past year and half. I do tell certain people though, and when I think I know what I'm doing, I'll bring it onto my blog. I don't tell many non-writing people though and that's because it just doesn't come up that often. :)
ReplyDelete~Jamie
Was there a specific reason that you decided not to talk about your books as much? Or you just didn't feel like it? It's harder to talk to non-writers about writing definitely. They never think to ask, and they certainly don't always understand how difficult the writing process can be.
DeleteI don't often tell people because I feel that it comes with a sudden expectation to be something I'm not ready to be yet. However, if I'm close friends with a person, I'll tell them that I love writing but I don't always go into details of the story.
ReplyDeletePrecious @ Clockwork Desires
There is a sense of pressure that comes with talking about writing, like you're supposed to be really good at it and publishing stuff in the near future. I guess people don't always understand what it's actually like to be a writer. Close friends understand so much better, don't they?
DeleteI love this discussion you brought up. I suppose people would rather keep their projects to themselves or with closed ones because they're afraid of what others (or strangers) might think of it. Having to keep the ideas within a more understanding group of people allows us to be more confident of them, because naturally, we want positive feedback, in which we expect our loved ones to give. I guess people still hang on to the security of having their ideas being positively received. However, strangers might give mean criticisms, but these are constructive and less biased. People are probably afraid to share their ideas with them because they fear exploring any harsh criticisms, when they're actually more helpful and honest.
ReplyDeleteAnd perhaps another reason is because we want to keep our future projects safe, away from idea-stealing strangers. :)
The positive feedback is definitely a big part of the issue I think. Sharing writing with non-writers or people you don't know well can be scary, especially in the early stages because it's hard to know how people react. I know that I don't like to talk to people outside of my writing circle about my books because I don't want to know if they think that the books are dumb. I'd lose a lot of confidence in my writing ability certainly. So there's definitely a case for self-conscious writers like to me to keep their writing ideas secret. But you're definitely right. People with no emotional connection to you or your writing would definitely give more honest feedback. Feedback in all it's forms is just hard to take I guess. Thanks for your thoughts Dian. I've really enjoyed reading your take on the issue.
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