Don’t Share
Viperz_d asks: (paraphrasing) Should projects being worked on be kept secret? I never reveal ideas due to the fear of them being stolen. Is it okay to show some parts to fellow writers or to share the entire idea?
Viper, I only share my idea at one stage—then I clam up.
First, don’t worry about people stealing your idea. Ideas are easy and odds are a thousand other people have had the same idea. Raw ideas are less than one percent of the work. 99.5% of the rest of the work and artistry is developing that raw idea into a pitch, and then an outline, and finally writing a finished novel or screenplay.
But I don’t tell anyone my idea because a fledgling idea is too easy to pick apart and ridicule. Once you lose that spark of enthusiasm, you may never recover it. So protect your ideas and keep your enthusiasm alive...until it is developed into a fully formed pitch.
Once I have the final pitch, I try it out on a few trusted friends. If I can pique their interest or get “chill” bumps I know my idea is good enough to commit writing an entire novel about it.
Then I clam up again because I don’t want to “talk” the entire story out of me, and I get writing. I know several writers who talk a lot about their ideas...but never get around to actually writing. I wonder why.
Viper, I only share my idea at one stage—then I clam up.
First, don’t worry about people stealing your idea. Ideas are easy and odds are a thousand other people have had the same idea. Raw ideas are less than one percent of the work. 99.5% of the rest of the work and artistry is developing that raw idea into a pitch, and then an outline, and finally writing a finished novel or screenplay.
But I don’t tell anyone my idea because a fledgling idea is too easy to pick apart and ridicule. Once you lose that spark of enthusiasm, you may never recover it. So protect your ideas and keep your enthusiasm alive...until it is developed into a fully formed pitch.
Once I have the final pitch, I try it out on a few trusted friends. If I can pique their interest or get “chill” bumps I know my idea is good enough to commit writing an entire novel about it.
Then I clam up again because I don’t want to “talk” the entire story out of me, and I get writing. I know several writers who talk a lot about their ideas...but never get around to actually writing. I wonder why.
posted by Eric Nylund at 5:16 AM
17 Comments:
That reminds me of when I was little and would have a nightmare. My mother would tell me to say the dream out loud because once it's out in the universe and shared it's not mine anymore. It's free to roam and find its place somewhere else away from me and I don't have to worry about it ever again.
That's why whenever people ask me what I'm writing I just say I'm rewriting the alphabet into a long sequence of assorted patterns. That generally confuses them enough to give me an odd look and change the subject. *laughs*
That's the problem if I write in a hurry. I'm so embarrassed.
nikoda--good one.
Viperz_d--don't be embarrased. It was a good question.
I think that confidence is a huge part of writing. Regardless of how much crap you put out (and most writers who are productive put out plenty of it), if you aren't confident about your ideas or writing then you won't go far with it. Simple as that.
Obviously nobody starts out confident of their skill, so for those people I agree that keeping an idea to yourself until you've polished it is best. More than enough people have agreed with that. However, I've found that ideas float around quite easily, and that if you don't pick up on your idea quickly, someone else will take it. Doesn't matter if you've told anyone or not.
In my experience, I've seen about 25% of ideas that people have get made into something, and usually worse than what was originally intended. Maybe it's because I live in LA, but I've seen some of my own ideas used...and I hadn't told anyone of them. If you're afraid of someone using your idea, telling people shouldn't be a problem...taking too much time to work on it would be more of an issue, I think. Unless whoever you tell isn't trustworthy, in which case all bets are off.
So, so true. Sometimes it's better to keep your most treasured ideas to yourself until they are finally published. Some people, even the ones you care for (and care for you) can shoot that idea down that you were so sure of. Bummer.
From my experience, it's better to hold back. No matter how eager you are to share your enthusiasm with others, force yourself to bottle it up until you're ready to actually write.
Thanks Mr. Eric!
I guess I should really go to school dedicated to writing rather than learning it on my own. I depend on newsletters most of the time.
Regarding ideas being shared, I believe that it's also a good idea SOMETIMES because you get to learn new things from others especially when sharing ideas with other writers.
I discovered that people who love to talk about their ideas end up just "talking" about ideas.
You got an idea? you head straight for the key board.
Hello Mr. Nylund, thanks again for that word-count magic you did for me last time.
I don't get caught talking too much about my ideas, instead I get caught imagining it too much, replaying imaginary scenes, drawing, and writing notes. Sometimes I get too extreme by creating charts of unnecessary planets, locations, and histories.
o.O yea...it's crazy. In the end, nothing gets done except unnecessary information. I think it's a problem every visual artist has who has a passion to write.
In fact, it might be bad to mix writing and art, but good at the same time. o.O
MMMM I am no writer. I am a reader. Im only a Freshman in high school, So for a report in LA i had to bring 3 people to a dinner and write about it. Generally boring except i decided to bring Sargeant johnson, Some kid I know, And you:P
Hey i didnt hear about contact harvest untill i chcked here. I got it today and well... I like the cover so far, havent read any yet:p saveing the book for study hall since that never seems to end. i cant wait!
Eric! Any communication from Gray Team?!
Happy Thanksgiving!
And to you.
Wdw zath – Well...If I had heard from Gray Team, I couldn’t say anything. All top secret, eyes only stuff!
Nikoda – Thanks, and belated Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
Theres another book right there for you Eric mate. I've scoured the pages of all 4 of your Halo books looking for more info on them. To say I'm curious is an understatement. :P
See, the only reason that I keep my stuff secret is that, and I know this sounds kind of weird, but sometimes when you say, "Oh, yeah, I'm working on a book," or, "yeah I just finished 100 pages of my novel," it just sounds cheesy coming out of my mouth, especially at my age (15).
I have the same problem with actors; when they say that they 'get inside the characters' it sounds so cheesy, even if it is true.
I guess that means I'm embarrassed to say that I'm writing something even though I want to be a writer. Hmmm, interesting personal observation...I'll have to work on that.
I just came upon this blog, but this entry was a slap on the forehead.
I have been trying to write this story of mine for YEARS! (Its quite sad) and I just seem to "Talk" all my ideas out to a close family member and to my trusted friends. Which they love the idea and god knows they're still waiting for that book. Then I look at what I had written and want to re write it and the thought of that.. makes me not so inspired to write and I just forget it.
._. but hopefully one day, I'll be able to zip my mouth closed and finally write.. X3 I guess I talk because I'm afraid I'll write it and they won't like it. =[
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