Should you talk about what you're writing?

There are two schools of thought about whether you should talk about your writing when you’re in the middle of a project. 

Some people say absolutely not, because it drains some of your creative energy—in other words, if you’re talking about it you’ll feel less drive to write it.

Others say that’s ridiculous and by getting some feedback or encouragement when people react to your ideas you are more likely to finish the project and may even improve it as you go along.

Me? I’m for the middle path. I don’t mind telling people that I’m working on a book or screenplay and mentioning a sentence or two about it, but no more than that. Why? Three reasons:

·      Generally, that’s the most they want to hear. The rest is politeness.

·      You can talk yourself out of an idea when you feel the need to explain it completely even though you haven’t figure out everything about it yet.

·      A negative reaction to an incomplete idea can depress you and spark writer’s block.

Here’s an alternative I use: talk to yourself about the project. 

I do this when alone, and in my head rather than out loud. Sometimes I pretend that I’m being interviewed about the project, other times that a good friend is fantastically interested and wants to hear all about it (unlike real friends, my imaginary friends never get tired of hearing me talk). This gives the benefits of thinking out loud (or almost out loud) without any of the pressure. 

Give it a try. If your lips move and people give you weird looks you can always pretend you’re on a really tiny cell phone.

(Whether or not you talk while you write, you definitely should read--maybe something like my book, Your Writing Coach, which is pumped full of tips and techniques like these!)