16 August 2012

Are You In The Closet with your WIP?


I guess I was a bit flattered yesterday. I want to share this story with you. I think it is something we've all dealt with as writers. I like to consider myself a bit of an artist though, so it's a little personal when I am working on something and someone wants to have a peek before it's finished.

Of course, I share my work with my critique groups because they understand the art of writing a novel and they provide valuable feedback. I even share with you guys and I truly appreciate the feedback.

However, when someone who isn't familiar with the process of writing asks to see your work out of mere curiosity, how does it make you feel? I'm sure we're all a little different, or maybe not. I'm not certain, but here goes the situation with me.

My husband just finished his two year CT scan and check-up after having a soft tissue sarcoma removed from his calf. His surgeon took an interest in the book I had with me and this is how the visit ended.

"What's that you've got there?"

I held up the book I was reading to where he could read the title, Bullies, BastardsAnd Bitches: How To Write The Bad Guys Of Fiction by Jessica Morrell.

Now, let me say this. The book is a godsend for me, because we've all been told you must write what you know. Of course, I'm not a bad guy, but my novel features a serial killer, so I have to learn how to portray this type of character at some point, right? Anyway, back to my incident.

The surgeon's eyes opened wide and he said, "So, you're reading this to learn how to write what exactly."

"Oh, I'm writing a novel." The two physician assistants accompanying the surgeon on his rounds now eagerly wait for the next question.

"Really?" The surgeon's surprise was not unlike others who have found out I'm working on a novel in my spare time away from a full time job as a software developer.

My husband, and biggest fan, said, "Yes, really, she's writing a novel." And they all stand around in awe, and I imagine they all may very well believe me to be the biggest geek ever.

"Can I read it?" he said. "If you let me read it now, I promise to buy it when it comes out."

"I'm not finished with it." Now I'm a bit embarrassed because all eyes are on me.

"What's it about?"

"Some bastard," I said. I just couldn't help myself at this point.

Seriously, how do you find yourself reacting to this question? Do you clam up like I did, or do you excitedly gush about your WIP? Is it ever too soon to talk about your novel?

37 comments:

  1. Oh wow! Isn't that exciting? When it happens to me I get nervous. I actually don't like to share what I've written until the first draft is done and edited a bit.

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    1. My problem is I've never finished a first draft. lol

      I'm on my 3rd novel. Each of the other two I started, when I reached chapters 4 and 5, I sort of quit them.

      I think because I'm not used to people getting weird when they find out. At least other writers can relate. Readers just go "WOW!" and I'm like...REALLY?

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  2. I don't like to talk about my works in progress. I wait until the books are contracted before I get chatty. Maybe it's a confidence thing, but that's what I do.

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    1. It could be a confidence thing. I'm pretty confident that if I tell someone what I'm writing about, it jinxes me and I end up changing it.

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  3. I don't like to talk about anything I'm writing or even tell people I'm a writer because then they say things like, "You should write a story about my Aunt Myrtle she has the biggest owl collection in Indiana."

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    1. LOL, love it!

      Yeah, because I have nothing better to write about than your fabulous Aunt Myrtle, right?

      I like this one:

      "I'm writing a novel."

      "Oh, really? Am I in it?"

      "Um, no. My characters are much more interesting than you."

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  4. I used to love talking about my work. Whenever someone would ask, I would get all excited and start talking about it. The moment I actually started, though, people's eyes would glass over. I don't think they really wanted to know (so I don't know why they asked, but I also don't understand the rhetorical 'how are you doing' question). Now I just agree that I write and try to shift the topic. Honestly, my husband talks more about my writing than I do.

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    1. Awww, Carrie! I've seen this before. I just want to say, "Really, you don't want to know."

      I do talk with my husband about it, but I'll just bounce something off him like, "So this one investigator says to the other..."

      My husband, being the 30+ year veteran investigator, will go, "No honey, investigators wouldn't say it like that."

      Then I'd break out my voice recorder and hit record. "Really? So how would they say it?" BOOM, I got my "write what you know" down pat.

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  5. I've always been told NOT to talk about your WIP because it causes the excitement to disappear. I thought that was a crazy reason not to talk about my story. So I tested it. I started a story and got about 5 chapters written. When asked, even by my family, I would quickly fly in and tell them what was happening. Sure enough, it wasn't long before I lost the desire to write my story. It really did pitter out:(

    I put the story on a shelf. Now, when asked what by story is about, I simply say, oh, it's a story. When it's published you can real all about it. I don't even tell my family about my WIP. Unless I have a question or I am researching something and need advice.

    As for my shelved WIP, I recently found some old notes I had scribbled about the plot and my interested was renewed. I started back writing and now I have about 10 chapters finished,

    I still love to hear others ask me about my story:)

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    1. That is awesome and uplifting news that you now have 10 chapters on a project you had previously shelved. I hope one day I might be able to renew interest in my other projects.

      I haven't lost interest or passion in this project and I don't foresee that happening, but I've made a promise to myself that I wouldn't chat about this one. :D

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  6. I don't like to talk about my work either. When asked,I give as little information as possible, like one short vague sentence. I don't let anyone even look at my WIP until it's gone through several edits either or let people read it over my shoulder. Don't know why.

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    1. I used to give a paragraph, then a sentence. Now it's down to the two words, "Some bastard."

      :)

      I'm shooting for no words, just a blank stare. You know, the one that makes them feel like a donkey's ass for asking. lol

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  7. When I was still on the floor (waitressing,) people would ask me "What ELSE do you do?" which is insulting. However, in my case, I am a writer. And I always dreaded the next question: "What do you write?" Never knew what to say next, although there were always plenty of answers...

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    1. ROFL!! You have the same story as me! Yes, I'm a programmer by day, but I do also write fiction. I finally encouraged myself to produce business cards with "Software Developer, Writer, Blogger" as my title. When someone asks what I write, I give them my business card because it has my blog address on it. :D TEEHEE!!

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  8. I actually let a non-writerly type read my WIP once. I was young and brash at the time, green as all hell and under the impression I was writing the Great American Novel. She actually was very complimentary about it, but reading that same (unfinished) novel now, I'm embarrassed to have ever let it see the light of day ANYWHERE. These days I tell myself I'm lucky she even stayed friends with me!

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    1. Dude, imagine how I felt about releasing some of my poetry years ago. It's not like you can take it back. lol

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  9. Oh boy, this hits home baby. Let's just say, I'm glad you're husband's okay.

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    1. We have 3 more years before the big "clean bill of health", but the 2 year marker is a thing to celebrate. Thanks, Eve!!! :D

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  10. Ha! I agree with you. I'm reluctant to share a WIP with friends, let alone mere acquaintances like a doctor you're dealing with. But I guess we shouldn't be so shy, right? After all, it's readers whose reactions we want, right? Not just our critique group?

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    1. This is true! Reader feedback is what I crave (with a polished work).


      :D

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  11. When someone finds out I'm writing a novel and they ask what it's about I get kind of nervous telling them for some dumb reason. I guess because it has to do with Vlad the Impaler I don't know how someone will react, if they know who he is to begin with (and most people have heard of him before, which kind of surprises me). Some of them are kind of, oh, cool, and don't say much more about it. Some get excited and tell me they want me to hurry up and finish it so they can read it. Some give me the you are weird look and change the subject. It's a mix for me I guess. I usually just don't bring it up anymore.

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    1. I'm not familiar with Vlad the Impaler, but this made me Google him. :)

      That's a pretty interesting character. I can imagine how nervous I'd be writing about a known person. Thank goodness all my characters are made up.

      Imagine the folks who write fan fiction based on really popular characters. Fans can really love it or really hate it. That's scary! lol

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  12. Thanks so much for reading my book. I've encountered many bastards in my lifetime, some worthy of a starring role in a story...

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    1. I love it, Jessica! It has gotten me excited to develop my villain, to make him more believable and authentic. :)

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  13. I have just started sharing my writing with others and it is a weird experience. People really lve the stuff I am not that happy with, and the stuff I really like and am proud of get a whatever. And there is that whole thing where I let my husand read a story I wrote and he emailed it to everyone in his address book without telling me. I understand the meaning of "taken aback" now!

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    1. I shared a couple of poems before and it's weird how people interpret your stuff. One person might say, "Wow, that's deep, I get it."

      Then again, of the same poem, another would say, "Huh? I don't get it."

      :)

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  14. Darn, I hate typing on my Ipad! Sorry for the typos.

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    1. lol

      I know exactly how you feel! I have an iPad. :D

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  15. Yeah, that is an uncomfortable situation. I have already published novels and people ask about them. I tell them the synopsis and they say that they'll buy the book and most never do which makes me feel like I did something wrong or inappropriate with my novels.

    And before I published novels, I found myself in a similar situation to you where I allowed people to read the early draft, which I was given some constructive feedback, and also hurtful criticism that was more a reflection of the reader and not my work.

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    1. The criticisms can be hurtful, but each reader is likely to feel different about your work. At least you are published. Congratulations for that! :D

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  16. I don't like to share my writings either before I am finished. I am even hesitant to share them after I am finished. Especially to a doctor. They have like..degrees and stuff to do extra judging!

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    1. If you think about it, doctors are probably as much dorkish as computer folk like me. :)

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  17. The correct answer is 'I'll send you a copy when I've finished this draft. What email address should I send it to?' Then let the magic of time do its work. They might remember, but by then you ought to have had long enough to prepare your next avoidance scheme.

    While... 'I don't know! That's what makes it so exciting. It's a new paradigm in storytelling!' is my new answer for what my story is about. I've tested it; people's eyes roll, but they stop asking. Or they'll assume you're writing Naked Lunch 2.

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    1. Thanks David. You've got me thinking about compiling my new answer now! "It's just a raunchy sex book. Probably too nasty for someone of your stature."

      :)

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    2. 'It's a fucktext written in the 4th person. There's an orifice with embedded sheath in the cover so that you can take part in the narrative.'

      Maybe that is too much. People might actually want to read something like that. Good coffee table material if nothing else.

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    3. I would read it just to find out what fucktext and 4th person meant. lol

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  18. I don't know. I might include a bitch toward the middle of the story. :D

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