tyre

So far i've told only two people i know that i'm putting together a book of short stories. One of these being my girlfriend who will be editing my stories. Yet, i don't tell her what the ideas i have for the stories are as i'm writing them. Partially because i want her to see her reactions as she reads the story to see if parts get the intended action ( Funny, appalling... etc. ). The other person i've told lives over a thousand miles from me and doesn't really know anything about it.

i think it's nice to have someone to tell ideas what you have, someone who won't try to avoid making you feel bad if it's a dumb idea or if they read the story and don't like something. i'm sort of a secretive person and don't like taking credit for my work, even good work, that's another way i get true feedback from people. If they don't know i'm the one who's done the work they'll tell the truth.

Hope i helped you a little.

Tunga

Considering the stuff I write, and that it usually gets done at 1am, I don't tend to know what I'm going to write myself before I actually write it, so I don't have to worry about giving away ideas much. With my current project I just say "Oh, it's about me". Try stealing that idea .

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Braindead Slave of the NERD UPRISING!

Angst.

crzywriter

well, in a public high school, not many people are very...accepting of things that arent traditional activities for teenagers. so only a few of my friends know that i am writing a novel...or that its finished. even fewer people know what i want to be when i grow up, a writer. if someone asks me, i kind of bypass the question. that's why i'm on here...and even here, no one actually knows who i am. huh. so i guess that really no one knows, except my best friend and one of my other friends

Hand

I can't shut up about my books.

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Once upon a time in the future ....

pinkpanther

Same situation. I'll tell people I'm writing something, and the first question is always "What's it about!?" ... I usually get tired of trying to explain it to everyone, so I just make a high-pitched noise, and that usually gets them to change the subject.

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lisajane

Depends on who I'm talking to depends on how much I will tell them.

There's only a couple of people who know, point for point, what my novel is about. I talk about my characters more than the plot for other people.

And when someone asks what I write about, I say 'Relationships, psychology and drugs' because that sums it all up.

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'Beauty stands and waits with gravity to start her death-defying leap. And he, a little charleychaplin man, who may or may not catch her fair eternal form spreadeagled in the empty air of existence.' - Laurence Felinghetti, 'The Acrobat'

americanwriter

In very general terms only, not so much because I'm worried about anyone walking off with the concept, but more so that I don't talk away the energy I have bundled up for it. I have found in the past that if I discuss it too much I lose my own enthusiasm for it at some point, like letting the pent up pressure off a soda bottle. I'd rather it come out as a finished work than just slowly bled off.

But, that being said, some advance discussion is good, particularly letting folks know you're working on something and that you are actively writing and submitting, or preparing a manuscript. Advance promotion is good, particularly if you're writing a book that has been accepted and has a good chance of being published. You want people to be looking forward to that. Anticipating it.

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To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying "Amen" to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive -- Robert Louis Stevenson

http://oneamericanlife.blogspot.com

Thekherham

The only person I will confide in is my wife, when it comes to discussing anything I write.

When she asks what it's about I usually give her jsut a brief synopsis, and I tell her, Of course anything I tell you is subject to change.

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The Alien Writer.

It's pronounced Tee kee' rahm

drbubba43

I almost never talk about my work or my ideas. Not because I'm afraid someone will steal it, but because it always looses something in the telling. Besides I spend so much time with it while I'm writing it or working out details I find I burn myself out on it if I talk about it too much then I have trouble finishing it.

However, I will let anybody read almost anything I've written, finished or not, good, bad, whatever. I have to say that even if they only showing a minimal interest I'm shoving something under their nose. That's the reason I wrote it in the first place.

When someone asks to read your stuff you should be flattered. When they take the time to critique it you should be even more flattered. They are making an investment of their time in you. Time is a valuable comodity these days and such a request should not be turned down lightly.

And remember, a real friend will tell you when it's awful not just nod their head and say, 'That's nice..."

Ray

Thekherham

is it usually true that if you ask relatives or friends their opinion on your story they will give you a glowing review because they don't want to hurt your feelings?

I'd rather have someone tell me my story is just so much crap than listening to them praise it to the heavens when I know myself it's not worth the paper it's written on.

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The Alien Writer.

It's pronounced Tee kee' rahm

TJM

You can be vocal about it if you want. Just depends on if you are comfortable with it.

You folks are the only people who know that I am writing.

drbubba43

There is another point on friend's, reletives, etc. critiquing your work. Don't always assueme they are trying to spare your feelings. It is more likely they are intimidated and don't see their own opinion of much value.

If you write you probably read far more than most people. Because you read as much to learn as to be entertained your commentaries on what you've read are probably much more in depth, commenting on style, grammer, etc. All kinds of things they never thought to look for.

No matter how good a writer you think you are, in their eyes you are an expert. Once people understand that even something as minimal as "this part was really scary, but this part here sounded kinda dumb" is as valuable as gold to us. (At least to me.)

Also they may be afraid to admit they dont get it or couldn't follow what you wrote because they don't want you to think they are too stupid to get it. Help them understand that you understood it because you made it up, but if they didn't understand it its probably because you failed to communicate it well.

One last thing. And this is just my opinion. You shouldn't limit seeking criticisms only from other writers unless you only intend to reach other writers. The more varied opinions you get, the more well rounded you will be as a writer. Writing is communication before it is art and writing that fails to communicate is useless.

As a writer it is your job to reach your audience, not your audience's job to reach you.

** ok I'm off my soap box now. thank you for your time. i'll just go over here and sit down and shut up. thank you... **