#65: 6 Reasons People Stay Secretive About Their Writing Projects
In episode 64 I shared reasons to go ahead and open up about your project. After listening to some of the benefits, you might have wondered why we wouldn\u2019t always talk about our projects with people. Why not take advantage of that great input and the energy and fun of collaboration and developmental input? Why stay secretive?\n\n\n\nToday I\u2019ll share six reasons people choose to stay secretive about their writing projects.\n\n\n\n1. So no one steals their idea\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s a common concern. Some writers won\u2019t talk about their projects with other writers or in a public setting, in case someone would overhear and decide to grab it and write it themselves. Some are so nervous, they even hesitate pitching their projects to editors, for fear their idea will be rejected during the pitch but then passed on to some other writer to be developed for that publishing house.\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019ve generated some idea, some story, some concept you feel is yours to create and shepherd, it is kind of freaky to imagine someone else taking that and running with it.\n\n\n\nAre these fears founded?\n\n\n\nSome believe it happens more than we\u2019d like to think, but other industry experts say it doesn\u2019t. For example, Jane Friedman addresses the concern of idea theft in an article where she says, \u201cMost people don\u2019t view unpublished writings (or writers) as an untapped gold mine\u201d and she shares Jeanne Bowerman\u2018s take on this fear, that it is possible for someone to steal your idea, sure, \u201cbut they can\u2019t possibly execute it or interpret it in the same way you can. No one can be you. That is your best protection of all.\u201d\n\n\n\nWhether or not you choose to be secretive, don\u2019t sit on your idea. If you\u2019ve got a project in mind, write it. Get your version out there. Be the first.\n\n\n\n2. So no one inadvertently absorbs their idea and claims it as their own\n\n\n\nThis is similar to the first reason, but instead of someone intentionally stealing your idea, this is a subconscious act. You talk about it to someone, and they forget the source. Or maybe they just overheard it and they sort of absorb the idea eventually thinking it was theirs all along.\n\n\n\nThe only way to avoid your idea getting out there where people can absorb it, is to keep your writing project a secret from everyone. But remember, to refer back to Bowerman\u2019s point, even if someone were to use your idea, they still have to do the hard work of writing it. And no one will write it the same as you will. As she said, that\u2019s your best protection. So don\u2019t be too afraid.\n\n\n\n3. To keep their project from getting shot down\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s say you phone a friend to tell her about your exciting new idea or project, but you catch her on a bad day or while she\u2019s binge-watching The Gilmore Girls. She may not sound all that interested after you explain your idea. You might think she\u2019s feeling blah about your project when she\u2019s simply feeling blah or preoccupied. But it\u2019s too late. You think she hates your idea and all the joy drains away.\n\n\n\nThis seems to happen most often when the idea is in its embryonic stage. Or maybe it's just a tiny tadpole of an idea. If that's the case, it\u2019s delicate, fragile, still taking shape. Give it time.\n\n\n\nMaybe you can tell your friend later, when you have more of the storyline to share or you know all the content you plan to cover in your nonfiction book And maybe you catch her when she's well rested and fully caffeinated. She can listen carefully, she\u2019ll catch your vision, and then she may blow you away with her enthusiasm. Until then, keep it under wraps.\n\n\n\n4. So they don\u2019t have to admit they never followed through\n\n\n\nWhat happens if you share your idea with people, then end up not writing it?\n\n\n\nThey\u2019ll ask about it. \u201cHey, what about that romance about the two food truck owners you told me about?\u201d\n\n\n\n\u201cOh, yeah, I gave that up. It just wasn\u2019t taking shape.\u201d\n\n\n\n\u201cBut I loved that idea! Are you sure you aren\u2019t going to write it?\u201d And they try to convince you to write it, or just by bringing it up you start to feel gu...