60. Don’t talk about your stories until you’ve written them – Daily Writing Advice # 60
As tempting as it may be to discuss your story ideas with friends, you have to be careful. In my experience, I’ve sometimes found that talking about stories you’re going to write can delude you into thinking you’ve already written them. After all, if friends say that your story sounds cool, you might feel like you’ve done your job as an author – this, your motivation to actually write the darn thing may decrease. If you keep it pent up inside you, however, and only start talking about it once you’ve done the first draft, it will motivate you to write that first draft as quickly as possible so that you can share it with the world. For instance, I almost always only talk publicly about stories that have moved beyond the first draft.
Plus, there’s the other downside of talking about stories you haven’t yet written: your walk probably won’t match your talk. I see so many people talking about all the great stories they’re going to write, and how they’re going to be an awesome author … but their actions don’t map to their ambitions. They’re taking the talk, but not walking the walk – not actually getting into the grind of pumping out that story.
On the other hand, selective and careful discussion of your story can help improve ideas and spot errors before you waste time writing them. Like with so many things, this is about intentions. If you’re telling someone your story idea to seek approval, it will probably be counterproductive. If you’re telling them with an open ear for critical feedback, you will win.
Ultimately, you have a choice: talk about the stories you want to write, or actually write them and then talk about them. I suggest you do the second.
Read my debut fantasy novella! https://amzn.to/33yyvn7
***
Join my Reader Club email newsletter for free sci-fi & fantasy stories, and to keep updated about my writing!
https://jedherne.com/club/
***
Website: https://jedherne.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/61535985-jed-herne
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JedHerne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jedhernewriter [use my automated messenger bot to play a choose your own adventure story right in the app 😉 ]
