Today’s You Tell Me comes from reader Paulina Petrova, who writes:
I wonder if other writers talk to someone else about their idea (the plot of their story) while writing their novel or feel that when they do this they kill their muse.
I often wondered about this before I wrote WONDERBAR. Does it kill the magic if you say the idea out loud? Does it cripple you with doubts if the person you’re telling doesn’t get it? Should you get it down on paper first and then see what the world thinks?
Or does it help to tease out the idea aloud? Does that early feedback save you time and effort?
What say you?
I'm super open about it and I do not feel stifled at all. I have a group that I share my WIP with. They are my security blanket. I admit and I love it = )
I keep my mouth shut. Is bad juju.
We often hear that ideas are a dime-a-dozen and what really counts is the expression of the idea.
In fact, that notion has been enshrined in copyright law: a copyright protects the expression, not the idea. (If you want to protect the idea, you need a patent.)
A number of people have commented that they like to share their work as they write. Others prefer to wait until they've finished. Whatever your preference, the important point is that you're sharing your writing.
It's important to avoid the pitfall of sharing the idea instead of share the expression of the idea (i.e., your writing). It's exciting to talk about where the story might go, but if you don't write it down it's still only an idea.
If you're interested, I explored these notion in a post on how writing is an exercise in extremely delayed gratification on my blog, The Laws of Making.
Close to nil.
I pound out lots of details with my husband, but I heavily rely on my crit partners to tell me later on if something works or not. This is especially important with things that are supposed to be funny, because my husband and I have the same quirky sense of humor, but that doesn't always translate with other (normal) people.
I don't think there's a right or wrong way: whatever works for each writer.
Personally, I don't talk about my ideas much before writing, or during the first draft. Story energy should be spent on writing, at least for me. A novel requires a lot of momentum.
Clearly, there's no consensus about this one (which is one of the reasons I come here — to be equally wrong and right).
Personally, I never expose myself prior to the first draft — it's hard enough being adrift in my own mutables without having to negotiate the obfuscating wafts of others.
Once the words are down and more or less right, that's when I get busy with my betae. Even then, we wrestle with intangibles.
My head would explode if I didn't share it with someone else. I've also found that sharing with my non-writer/non-reader husband who would rather talk about anything but my ideas gives me even better ways to spin an idea. He's nuts, so that helps.
I think it depends on how your brain works. Do you work better by mulling something over or do you find inspiration through brainstorming? I'm a talker, so I have to discuss it with at least one other person. (usually more)
I share only a very limited detail with people and only when the WIP is almost ready, or when it's ready, and the most important, when the WIP and / or it's world is under some sort of legal protection. But usually the beta readers learn first what the actual WIP is all about (Sometimes I also use confidentiality agreements before sharing anything with them.).
From MANY years of experience I've discovered that, at least for me, it's best to work through an idea–seriously work through it on papers, with scenes, dialogue etc.–before checking it out with anyone. And with my screenplay ideas, I only bounce them off of my son who got a bachelor's degree in film. I know my ideas are safe with him!
Ann Best @ Long Journey Home
"Talkin' bout writin' is like dancin' bout paintin'. You can dance real nice but that ain't gonna make the paintin' any purdier." – Henry James
From past experiences, I have learned to get it on paper (in my computer) first before saying anything to anyone because it seems that if I talk about it, I feel a certain satisfaction.
Stories and ideas burn with excitement to be accomplished and talking about them before solidifying the idea seems to deflate the drive, take the wind out of the sales, or something.
So, I work on something first before sharing.
I'm super selective about who I share my writing with. There are a few people (4 to be specific) that I have no issue letting them read my book. I don't discuss to much about the plot with most of them only 1 or 2 actually. I like honest reactions of horror or laughter at events I write. I just followed you because of this post. Very cool.
feel free to stop by my blog anytime.
melyndarockinthecrazy.blogspot.com
Because I never really know where a story is going until I've written it,I can usually only give a general idea of what the book's about, so I don't tend to tell a lot of people. But I usually have a glib one-liner I can hand out: "oh, it's about drunk driving," or "It's a western set in the Australian goldrush'.
When I wrote my first novel, I kept it very close to my chest. I shared it with one person, who happened to be involved in the personal history the book was loosely based on. But beyond that, only three or four people even knew I was writing, let alone what I was writing about.
Then I got some writing friends, and starting sharing stuff with my husband more. With my second book I discovered that when I'm stuck, bouncing ideas off another intelligent, literate person can be really helpful.
I'm now working on my third novel, a MG fantasy, and I've got my kids and my son's whole class in on the act as I revise. It's fun and they all have great ideas for improvement. I thought talking about my ideas would kill them, but I've found the opposite to be the case.
I tell my ideal reader, aka 'hubby' and we discuss ideas in the forming stages. After I've written some of the story, then I bring my excellent crit partner (whom I trust) into the picture to get her feel for the characters, etc.
I don't share it on public sites if I think the idea is different enough, mainly because 'It's My Precious' and you can't have it. Anything creative becomes one of our 'little darlings'.
Sharing is great if you choose to do that, but one must remember that writers get their ideas from anywhere, including forums, and other public sites. I write mysteries too, so I'm suspicious of everyone's motives – well nearly.
My muse doesn't like too many people cluttering up the equation.
I definitely don't tell anyone. I think, as others have said, I'm too susceptible to anything negative: why would so and so do this, isn't that just like this other idea, etc. etc. etc. If it comes at one of those points where you are convinced everything you've written is complete rubbish and you need to start over, it can be pretty devastating.
My husband is my soundboard while I'm drafting. He gets my brain (amazing) and it helps to vocalize some of my ideas, helps me see how sturdy they are. But I've learned to keep my mouth shut around other people until at least a first draft is done and even then I'm pretty private.
I go back and forth with this. It really depends on who I tell. If someone gets as excited as me about the idea then it was well worth it, but when another person doesn't get it, well that sends the worry fairy to my door.
I have to write it without telling anyone what it's about. Typically, I think my ideas are pretty solid, but I feel ridiculous when I voice them. It's always better for me to just write, then let others read it and tell me what they think.
An epiphany in the night… a vision of delight…a secret someone whispering a some odd and subtle sound bite…
we do not holler these scenes out to the wild, wide world. We keep them close, and carry and cradle them until they are fully grown, and no longer our own.
Cheers!
My husband and my best female friend (who also writes) knows some basic info, so I can bounce ideas off them if I need to. But, if I shared too much of the story I wouldn't need to write to get the story out.
I don't generally share my ideas while it isn't written. People in my country are lazy enough to steal them – and then I can do nothing about it.
Of course, the run of the mill idea thief should be slightly insane to take on my Beast of an epic.
🙂
Funny, I was just thinking about this. When the story first starts gestating, I keep it to myself while it ripens. Then there's the BIG DEAL day that I mention it to my boyfriend for the first time, usually after I've outlined it. But if I mentioned it any sooner, I'd feel like I was jinxing it.:)
Yes, no and maybe.
I share very little, for a couple of reasons. The most important one, of course, is that ideas change. They evolve. They grow. I'm a little past the halfway point in the book I'm writing now, and it's nothing like what I thought it was when I had The Idea. A year from now, it'll be even more different. Ideas are starting points, and they're great. But I have to get to the end (the very end, not the first draft end) to know them well enough to share them.
I keep the idea to myself. I can see how talking about it with someone might help–esp if you start with a crummy idea. But I'm always afraid talking about it will burst my little creative bubble…I need that bubble to write…
I sort of keep my idea to myself, the only one I share it with is my brother because as soon as I mention something he offers some ideas and we have a brain storming session to flesh out that idea.
Saying it, sharing it forces me to coalesce a nebula into coherent idea. If I can't, then I know the idea will make a bad story. If I can't say it, how can I write it? Or when I share it, it sounds utterly stupid, despite how it sounded in my mind. Or, best of all, I see my listener's face light up and they start asking questions. That's when I know I've got a winner.
I keep my ideas to myself – it just works better that way (at least for me it does).
Picture Book author Rebecca Johnson – I saw her at a con – recommends telling the whole plot to people out loud before writing. She says it makes them more honest (because they know you haven't just spent 300 hours making every word perfect), which is what you want. Especially at the point BEFORE you dive in, when YOU are more honest with yourself about major plot holes. But I wouldn't recommend it for your first book.
Louise Curtis
Early on, I tend to keep ideas to myself. Once I get writing and start to go off the rails, brainstorming is invaluable! Talking about ideas can save a lot of time; it's way better than spending time writing something that's a dead-end. Talking also can clarify ideas in a writers head.
Actually, the National Council of Teachers of English say in NCTE Beliefs abou the Teaching of Writing "Writing has a complex relationship to talk". 🙂
Oh wow. I feel so strongly about this one for me personally.
I have a strict policy of not telling anyone anything much about the story (aside from the fact that I am writing a story) until it is *finished*
This is from repeated experience of telling people in depth about a project, and then losing all motivation to write it because I feel like I've already told the story.
So, if I want to finish a story, I don't talk about it.
Thank you, Nathan.
I myself feel like cheat my loved ones when I do not share with them what I do. But at the same time if I talk to them about the story, I feel robbed.
I used to share all my ideas, but then it felt like I lost some of the magic. And it's definitely a confidence killer when the person you're talking to doesn't really understand the vision in your head. Now, I've been keeping my idea mostly to myself, although I might tease my crit partner with a chapter soon.
I share only with specific people. For instance, what I'm writing now, there is only one person with whom I I share it. She thinks like me so I know she'll get it. But she's also honest so if something doesn't work, she won't hesitate to point it out.
However, when someone finds out that I'm writing a book and ask what it's about, I always give a kind of half-cooked answer that really doesn't answer the question at all.
It's absolutely necessary for me to talk it through with someone. I usually find someone I trust and walk through the idea with them. Often their ideas help, their enthusiasm helps me gauge how good the idea really is and talking about it helps me identify potential problems. Not to mention that I get really excited and can't keep it to myself!
My family are lovely but the gloss of living with an author wore off years ago. These days I keep nearly everything to myself and surprise them with a finished draft.
I'm not telling.
I don't like telling too much! And when I do share snippets, I only share with other writers, my CP buddies.
I definitely am not going to tell the general public what my Shiny New Idea is because it's actually kinda unique! which is hard to snag, these days. 🙂
I'm with you, Munk. Couldn't possibly reveal this professional secret. 🙂
Personally, I think it's always good to be cautious.
Going around telling your idea to everyone (and anyone) who will listen is probably not the best approach, especially if a writer hasn't fully developed or properly executed the idea yet. At the same time, not wanting to talk about it at all can potentially signal a lack of confidence or a excess of fear, which probably isn't going to help when it comes to querying and (hopefully) publishing the finished product. Plus, it's always good to get feedback at some point. That "point," however, might change with each writer.
John August posted a similar question on his blog a little while ago– https://johnaugust.com/archives/2011/when-to-talk-about-your-idea. It's geared more towards screenwriting, but I think the creative process is the creative process and different writers just have to figure out what's best for them.
I have one friend in particular that I always turn to when I have a new idea. Whenever I talk to her about them, we work out all the problems.
I like to write it first, and then show it to the world. But, before I do all that, I turn it over and over in my mind, slowly building it up.
Monica
thisismybookonly.blogspot.com
I usually don't share my ideas before I write them, mainly because I know that everyone has their own opinions about written works, so I feel like I shouldn't decide whether or not I write about an idea based on what a few others may think. Also, I am a little paranoid about theft of original ideas. Having someone else write my story is like…my worst nightmare.
Also, writing to me should always be fun and 80% should be about writing for myself and only about 20% of the writing should be for other people, if that makes sense.
~TRA
https://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
Actually, my husband is great with plots. So brainstorming with him, before I launch into the story, is a must.
I like sharing with a few people who are close to me. But for the most part, I try to avoid giving a lot of detail to anyone other than, say, my fiance or a close family member. I like to keep it private because I want to build up suspense. If everyone and their dog around me knows the storyline, they're not going to be as intrigued, so they're less likely to buy it.
I typically don't share anything about what I'm writing. Not because it kills the idea, but because people always seem to want to know more. Or they want to chime in with their own suggestions. If I'm working on something, all I ever give out are tiny tidbits without elabroating. Then I go back to writing.
There's only been one or two times I've diviluged oodles of information – to a couple of best friends and that was on my first book when I was excited to be writing something massive for the first time.
I drive my wife crazy telling her about my ideas for the book. It helps me think them through. It usually involves me saying a few sentences then screaming, "Oh, I just thought of something!" and running into my study to write my new idea down. She has no idea how much she helps me by just listening.
I've always thought it's not so much the idea that's important, it's what you do with it – how you implement it. I know from experience two writers can have similiar plot ideas, but the better writer can make so much more of those ideas and have great success; whereas those ideas that aren't brought to life with as much style, flair and great characterisation will fail.
Further, I think if we talk about our ideas before they're realised on the page, there's the chance we're not doing them justice with the explanation. A poor reaction could reduce our confidence causing the story to be abandoned. So perhaps from that viewpoint, it's safer to wait until the ideas can be brought to life on the page before they are shared. Then they can be more fairly judged to be working or not.
Some of the greatest story ideas can sound ridiculous in theory, but if handled with flair and imagination, they really sing. Take, for example, the Seinfeld TV show. I believe when George and Jerry where shopping their ideas for the show, they were describing it as a show about nothing or where very little drama or plotting happened: it was mainly about the inconsequentials of normal human lives. But with the great scripts and interesting characters – plus the fascination of watching these ultra realistic life situations – made for compelling viewing.