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Should You Talk about Your Book Idea Before You Finish It?
By Diane Eble
There are two schools of thought on this.
One is that you should never talk about your book idea. There are two reasons for this viewpoint. One is that if you talk too much about your book, you will dissipate the energy it takes to actually write your book. The other is that if you talk about your book and get negative feedback, it could discourage you from writing it as well.
Better to just keep your ideas to yourself, this perspective says, and focus on writing.
The other side of this debate says that you should talk about your book idea to people. How else can you test if anyone will be interested in your idea or not? Why waste so much time and energy writing something nobody will want to read, and nobody will ever publish?
Which side is right?
Well, both are right, to an extent. At least, I'll tell you my perspective from 28 years in publishing as an author and editor.
First, whether you should talk about your book or not depends in large part on what kind of person and writer you are. Extraverts—people who are outwardly focused and who get their energy from interacting with people—probably must talk to people. Often, these kinds of writers don't even know what they think unless they do talk things out and get feedback.
The important thing here is: Choose carefully the people with whom you share your ideas. Make sure they are 1) your intended audience and 2) the kind of people that tend to be supportive. Don't go to the "naysayers" who like to shoot down most of your ideas anyway. In fact, make a vow never to mention your book idea to anyone who tends to be negative about your ideas.
Introvert writers get their energy from their inner world, from reflection and solitude. They may be particularly sensitive to criticism. They often need time to mull and ponder their ideas to develop them fully.
They need to do this pondering alone. If they present their ideas too early, someone may rightly point out flaws, which will cause the Introvert writer to doubt and second-guess him or herself, and perhaps abandon the project as unworthy after all. The energy for the project will ebb away, and the writer won't know why he or she has lost interest.
If you're an Introvert writer, develop your ideas until you have a good feel for the overall shape of your book. When you do talk about it (and you must, eventually), be very careful to whom you reveal it. Again, choose someone who is supportive and who would be the intended audience.
Another factor that affects the answer to this question has to do with whether you tend to be what I call a "structure" writer or a "discovery" writer.
A structure writer is someone who likes to plan what to say ahead of time. These writers outline things and gain energy and ideas from doing so. They like to make a plan and then work their plan.
These kinds of writers will also benefit from talking about their ideas with people. Of course, you always want to follow the two rules—only talk to people who you know would be interested in the topic, and people who are generally positive and supportive of you. Nevertheless, structure writers usually welcome new ideas and feedback and can easily see where to put them into the overall book plan.
"Discovery" writers, on the other hand, take great pleasure in the story or ideas unfolding as they write. If the story is told too often, or the ideas hashed and rehashed verbally, they tend to lose interest in and energy for the project.
These kinds of writers should not talk about their book ideas too soon. They need to lay the groundwork that I discuss in "Jump Start Your Book: 12 Questions You Must Ask Before You Write Your First Word"—every writer does—but they should not plan the actual book or story content too thoroughly.
Here's where the Extravert/Introvert factor also comes in. Introvert discovery writers are the only kinds of writers who should write their rough drafts before they ever talk about the book to anyone. Extraverted discovery writers may need to talk their ideas out as they go, but the key here would be for them to get it down on paper as they go.
Discovery writers need to "get it out," one way or the other. Though I believe that most people waste their time writing a book too early (before laying the necessary groundwork), some people enjoy the writing process so much that for them it's a wonderful form of recreation, and I say do it!
Just know that there is an inherent danger here: Once you write the first draft, before any kind of feedback at all, you can become so attached to your book that you are closed to the feedback you do need to know if you've communicated or not. This problem comes up especially with fiction authors. Their challenge is to force themselves to be open to the feedback they must have if they want a publishable and salable book.
So the answer to the question, "Should you talk about your book?" depends on knowing what kind of writer you are. If you're not sure, contact me. Part of my coaching involves helping your discover your particular strengths as a writer and working with them, rather than fit yourself into a box based on what works for someone who (who may be quite different from you).
About the Author
Diane Eble has 28 years experience in the publishing industry as an editor (magazines, fiction and nonfiction books), author (11 published books, more than 350 articles), and copywriter. She is now a book publishing coach as well. Visit her site at http://www.wordstoprofit.com for information on writing, publishing, and selling books and other information products.
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