“So, what are you working on now?”
Do you mind telling people about your WIP (work in progress)? Or does it make you grit your teeth when they ask? Do you wonder why people never ask accountants what they’re working on?
Usually, if you’re out of the writing closet, this is a question that you’re going to get from time to time. I get it pretty frequently from acquaintances who know I write.
Upside of telling them:
You get ideas—If I tell you about my WIP or you’re a first reader and you offer some ideas? I’m not shy about taking them. Sometimes you can even adapt an idea and change it into something really useful. Both Dorte and Hart have given me great ideas for two separate books (one a Myrtle, one a Memphis.) I love ideas. And they’ll be in my acknowledgments section!
You get accountability—The next time you see this person, they’re likely again to ask (right after they finish commenting on the weather), “So how is that book going? The one with the murdered supper club guest. Have you finished it yet?”
You get encouragement—“That’s a cool idea for a book. Where do you get your ideas from?”
Downside:
You might not have fully formed the plot yet. You might not be able to really even say what exactly it’s about. So you halfway describe it and the person you’re talking to looks confused. Because it is confusing—it’s not a solidified plot.
You might not be in the spot where you want to share your WIP’s plot because it’s malleable. And you don’t want it transformed before you figure out where you’re trying to go with it.
When you share your idea, some people may criticize it or appear disinterested when you tell them about it. When it’s in the formative stages, that’s not fun. Then you start second-guessing your plot.
Accountability in a negative way. I’ve told people about WIPs that later ended up in my manuscript graveyard. Then every time I see these particular people, they ask about it. And it’s been 1 1/2 years since I even picked the darned thing up. I’ll tell them I put it aside to work on something else (something I was paid to write, which is always given a priority!) and they’ll say, “But I really liked that idea!” I want to tell them they’re free to write it…
Reading this over, it looks like I’m seeing more of the downside to WIP sharing. I wouldn’t have said that, going into this post. Maybe it just depends on the person I’m sharing the info with. If he’s a writer, that’s one thing (he’d understand.) If I’m sharing with non-writers? Maybe I should keep it vague.
Do you tell people what you’re working on?
Elizabeth – You always ask the most interesting, thoughtful questions! You’re right, too, about both the upsides and the downsides of telling people about one’s WIP. I have to admit, though, I do tell people, when they ask, about my WIP. I don’t go into real detail, except for my two “beta readers.” But I do tell people that I’m working on a new Joel Williams novel, and maybe one or two things about the novel. That way, I can get the benefits of telling people without so many of the disadvantages : ).
I carefully pick and choose the people I will talk to about a WIP – this applies to writing, and to other projects I may be working on that are only in the idea stage. If I know the person is going to be supportive and enthusiastic, then yes, I will talk about it with them. But if I think they’re either not going to get it, or worse, make discouraging remarks, then no, absolutely not. I think it goes beyond not being fun when someone criticizes an idea or a WIP. I think that opening your WIP to negative feedback before you’re totally comfortable with it yourself can actually damage your creative energy flow and your enthusiasm for your own project.
I don’t mind sharing ideas. I generally keep it vague, or might mention a plot point that’s been bugging me.
One question an author who had just gotten her first book contract and is now a NYT best selling author asked was, “When someone asks what you do, do you tell them you’re a writer? even your mother-in-law?”
Saying it does make you accountable, and changes the ‘dabble in writing’ to ‘am serious about pursuing this’.
And it leads to great conversations, which can lead to story fodder!
Well no, not usually because of accountability. What if I don’t finish it? What if I fail? However, I do have a few people I have told.
There are up and down sides to everything! I think you’re right that a lot depends on the person asking the questions.
Good question! I find that if I talk about what I’m writing to certain people, their questions help me many times find my way around any problems I might be having and figure out a better way to tell story.
But only certain people!
I should start first by saying that I am not an author, but rather a book designer. That said, I found that the first time–years ago aleady–that I mentioned a work-in-progress to someone at my day job was when I committed myself to the fact that book design is my work and the day job just a job.
I didn’t need to make a big song and dance out of it and risk anyone in authority at the job telling me to choose or get out–indeed, I am still at the day job, completely unrelated civil service work–after over 26 years. But it was important to make a declaration of who I am and what I do.
Good question! With non-writers, I tend to keep it vague because I don’t want my supersecret stellar writing ideas to get doused by negativity. Or too many questions. But with writing friends, I tell them more because I want accountability and encouragement. I may be stuck and talking about it helps me work it out. Someone famous once said in reply to the question, “How’s the writing going?” He answered, “One word at a time.” I can’t remember who said it, but I like that very much!
Absolutely! You must tell them!
Even if the wrk is foggy, personal, unfinished… even if you’re shy or unsure of where the plot is going, you should tell people about it.
Word of mouth, create a buzz, get people talking about it and build interest.
Eventually the work will be done and it will be in stores and (some) people will already have heard of it and be anxious to read it.
Silence and keeping mum won’t do anything to generate publicity or sales.
Cheers, Jill
http://www.jilledmondson.com
What an insightful post!!!
I guess it depends on who it is I am talking to. In real life, I am still in the closet, so nobody really asks me, and my virtual friends are all writers too, so know better than to ask.
BUT, if people did ask, I am sure I would shirk away from answering, precisely because I hate talking about something before I am sure it is going to get done well.
I’m one of those ‘grit my teeth and try to be brief and uninteresting so they’ll move on to another topic’ writers. It works. The glazed eyes, the tapping fingers… IMHO, most people don’t REALLY want to know what I’m working on.
I hate talking about the WIP so much, I’m toying with the idea of coming up with a faux WIP: Jed Morrison, a chartered accountant, finds out one of his clients is cheating the IRS. The book is all about his forensic accounting to figure out how. Do you want to hear more? No? Really? But I could use your input… know any good accounting stories? Oh, okay. So, how about that weather, eh?
Elizabeth, thanks for thought-provoking questions. For my first mystery I didn’t tell a soul, outside of my husband and children, until the first draft was completed. It was done in six months and then I started telling the world. I was afraid, I think, that I didn’t have the right stuff to finish it. It’s all fun, though. I especially loved giving the second-last draft to my nine mystery readers-some of whom were in my family-who had no inkling of what they’d see. That was a riot! :-) Great blog, Elizabeth!
Ah, there’s always up and down sides to anything, really. Good subject to mull over, though … I’ll share my WIP ideas and progress with people, and take reactions with several grains of salt and a dash of pepper. They’re just WIP’s, after all. Now a finished polished ms that gets read and critiqued by a pro? THAT I take reactions to a lot more seriously.
Marvin D Wilson
I love telling folks about my wip, however, like you said – it depends how far into it you are and if you know enough about it to intelligibly discuss it. My problem is NOT talking about writing rather than talking about it!
No matter which you choose you are going to get both sides. This is an excellent post. I have people in my life I want to tell but know it will lead to negative accountablility. I also LOVE the idea of keeping my WIP to myself, but I need feedback, so those are in conflict.
Very interesting post! Thanks!
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
I tend to be very vague if I say anything at all about what I’m working on. I tend to over-think just about everything. A casual, innocent comment could send me and my story into a self-doubt spiral.
A most emphatic NO!!!
I think I’m afraid I might upset the WIP’s juju.
I might leak a few vague hints (like, “it’s about a guy who has something bad happen to him, and, oh yeah, there’s a crime involved”) to my wife and agent, but that’s about it. Like I said, you can’t mess with the sacred juju.
I usually don’t, unless the manuscript is written. Even if I’m still working on the edits, when the basics are down, it feels more solid and ready to talk about. (I do, of course, talk about it to critique partners or friends who read for me.)
Helen
Straight From Hel
Since I’m not a known writer or one that’s been dedicated up to this point, I haven’t had that problem. But hopefully I’ll be able to use your comments on down the road!
Margot–That’s a good point. Keeping it short and sweet gives the book some advance publicity and also satisfies their curiosity.
Jill–You’re right about the publicity. Word of mouth is a great method for getting the word out. Sometimes I wince over it, though. I’m not a natural promoter, but I’m working on it.
Rayna–That’s the key–getting out of the writing closet. It’s a real commitment to the writing, because then you’re opening the door for people to ask about it regularly.
Ingrid–That’s a very good point. Because if WE were excited about the project, then we run into someone who disparages it, then we run the risk of being less enthusiastic about it.
Marvin–You’re good to do that. Sometimes it’s hard to put people’s suggestions aside.
Terry–Too funny! Yes, mothers in law could be excluded, I think. :) My life got interesting when I came out of the writing closet.
Teresa–The accountability can be a good thing or a bad thing, can’t it?
Helen–I know what you mean.
Jemi–I think so too.
Marisa –It’s probably smart to be discriminating!
Stephen–I only know 2 people who quit their day jobs for writing. They don’t exactly live high on the hog!
Stacy –One word at a time is right! I think I like your method of sharing your WIP with others.
Great blog. I get suspicious at first when people ask me but then again, because no one I’m close to actually know I write, not many do ask me. I think with the writing network I belong to it’s telling others is a good way to keep motivated.
ann
Great topic, Elizabeth. I just wrote a lengthy comment but your site said it wouldn’t post it until I signed in on WordPress (which I was actually already signed in on.) When I got back here, my comment was gone, and I’m too pressed for time to reconstruct it.
Basically, I said no – save the verbiage for your creative process. I said lots of other things too, but I realize it’s such a good subject, I may have to do my own blog post about it. If I do, I’ll give you full credit and link to this blog, if that’s OK.
Cheers!
Julie Lomoe’s Musings Mysterioso
http://julielomoe.wordpress.com
(30,000 hits as of today!)
Next time I meet an accountant, I’m going to ask them what they are working on!
I didn’t mention my WIP to many while I was working on it and I’m just now starting to tell people as it goes through final revisions before the editors get a hold of it.
Oh yeah, I tell people. I’d tell the milkman if we had one. I’d chase him down the street and beg him to just stop for a minute so I can explain a tricky plot point. I have to tell people – that’s how I find out what the book is about. True dat!
For me, I find that telling too much too early can cause people to take a proprietary interest in the story, and that’s fatal. (At least with some people.)
However, the key there is just to keep control of what you dole out. Be conscious about what effect it will have on you when people react to it. Because the benefits of a cheering squad, and also of people who want you to finish the darn thing so they can read it, is to great to be measured.
I talk about it, even though I live in terror that my ideas will show up in someone else’s novel first. On the other hand, I discussed my current WIP with my son on the way back home from the Cicago Lit Fest last year and we fleshed out the whole storyline between us.
As a very new writer I shared my writing progress with friends/family. I learned that the more I talked, the more bored I would get when I sat down to write. I love watching a story unfold as I go, and I expended my own steam every time I told the plot.
Often talking helped me work out a sticky area in my work, but by the time I got to writing it, I was ready to plot something else.
Hemingway – or someone – said not to talk about your work.
Now I’m working on a novel not a soul has heard about – beyond the very quick blurb I’ve got posted at my blog for exactly the reason you state: accountability.
Yeah, I have that problem that if someone asks what I’m working on, I feel guilty about lying. So, while I love talking about my WIP with my husband, I don’t really enjoy it with my boss. I think it definitely depends on who you’re telling. Great post with great points for both sides.
I tend to be vague unless I’m talking to someone who helps me out as a sounding board. Mostly because I tend to chop and change between ideas until one project stands out and then I get onto working on it exclusively. Good question.
Ann–You know, I’ve been in coffeehouses with my husband and people will come up and read over my shoulder. My husband can’t believe it! But it happens all the time…happened on the plane in September, happens at the library, coffee shop…people are curious, I guess. They certainly don’t know who I am–they could just tell I was writing a novel by the way the text looks. So there are nosy types out there, but most of the folks I know just seem interested in what I’m doing.
Julie–That Blogger! Grr. One of these days I’m moving to WordPress. Sorry you had issues with the comments…sigh.
And I can totally see your point. Save words for the project itself instead of outlining it for others. I’ll be curious to see your blog on it.
Donna –Perfect! The story of the accountant. And it’s tax season. :) It just gets better and better! People will be hoping you DON’T mention your WIP.
Bobbi–You REALLY kept it under wraps! Wow. I bet they were all really, really proud of you, though. And you got farther with it by keeping it a secret.
Alex–I’d be interested in hearing what their reactions were when they found out. Reactions to my news were mixed and a few people seemed almost hurt that I hadn’t mentioned my writing before.
I’d also be interested in hearing what the accountants say when you ask them! I’m imagining a “none of your beeswax…” :)
Debra–Oh, those non-writers love hearing about it. You’re not boring them! I usually am uncomfortable talking about it because it makes me the focus of a conversation…most of my friends don’t write.
Jan–That’s a great way of looking at it. Then you’re fleshing out the book by telling people about it–and might be making it up as you go along! That’s really ingenious.
Author Guy–And you probably picked the perfect person to share it with–someone who would be really enthusiastic about your project, proud of you, and who clearly reads the genre you’re writing in. Sounds like it was the perfect fit.
Corra–It’s like reading the ending of a book and then trying to pick it back up from the middle again. Just not as much fun. I can see that happening…
Candice–Depends on the person, yes, I think that’s right. And some people might be satisfied just to hear “I’m working on a mystery,” or “I’m working on a romance.” But some people are nosy.
Michele–I think it gets to a point where you have to tell people about it, but where that point is differs from person to person. I shocked several people last year by telling them I was a writer. Figured I needed to..one book out, 2 more on the way. They seemed put out that I hadn’t mentioned it before.
Janel–There’s apparently some new psych study out (some writer friends of mine were discussing it) that artists have a tendency to discount positive reinforcement and focus on the negative. So I guess it comes naturally to us…
Alan–And your juju has been working really well for you lately (new series for Alan, y’all), so I wouldn’t mess with success!
There are some people I know (nonwriters) that are great to bounce ideas off of. But there are others who aren’t. And the ones who aren’t will definitely mess me up if I talk to them about the WIP.
Judy–You’ll be surprised how it leaks out! It probably won’t be long before folks start asking you, too.
The Daring Novelist–That’s a good way of putting it. They DO feel proprietory. They’ve gotten a sneak preview at the book and they’d like to know how it’s coming along.
It’s a balance. Some people couldn’t care less about the thing…they’re just making conversation. Some people are really, REALLY interested and want it to come out immediately so they can read it (when, in reality, the process of writing/revising/publishing takes a little over year at the very least.
Cassandra–Sounding boards are in a completely different category, aren’t they?
Great post! It’s a tough decision. I’m excited but private about my work. And I’m reluctant to share with friends and family until I’m really pleased with the results, which can take several edits. But it is motivating to know others are interested.
Oh, I am so pleased to see that you remember my suggestion for Myrtle!
Today I do tell people that I write crime fiction, and when they ask, I tell them about my current manuscript, my failures and the encouragement I receive among blog friends and readers of my flash fiction. I have decided that to become a writer I have to behave like one: write fiction and ´admit´ it. And actually, my family and friends are generally interested, and they seem to understand that I have this goal.
I remember having read an interesting blog post recently (don´t think it was one of yours though it could have been) where a Christian writer feared the reactions of her friends and family when they realized what she wrote. I discussed it with a good friend recently, and she could not imagine that anyone would think less of me though I ´killed people in my spare time´. So all these pats on the shoulder help me remember that writing is really something that matters to me!
Great question!
It depends on who is asking and in what stage of the writing I am at. If at the beginning, I may tell a few people to toss out ideas, etc. Otherwise, I wait until it is near publishing time to start creating interest.
I don’t like to go into great detail about what I’m writing, except with The Husband and my brother. That’s just me.