As tempting as it may be to discuss your story ideas with friends, you have to be careful. In my experience, Iâve sometimes found that talking about stories youâre going to write can delude you into thinking youâve already written them. After all, if friends say that your story sounds cool, you might feel like youâve 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 youâve 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, thereâs the other downside of talking about stories you havenât yet written: your walk probably wonât match your talk. I see so many people talking about all the great stories theyâre going to write, and how theyâre going to be an awesome author … but their actions donât map to their ambitions. Theyâre 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 youâre telling someone your story idea to seek approval, it will probably be counterproductive. If youâre 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
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