Today I found myself in a situation I’ve found myself in all my life.
When I was young and had an amazing story to relay to my parents or my friends, I’d stumble and fumble with the words. The story I told never–and I mean never–turned out to be as good as it was when I saw it happening.
I realized early on that I wasn’t the best verbal storyteller. Perhaps that’s why I sought to try and tell them in the confines of the written word.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve seen the same thing happen as I’m trying to detail a story idea I have. The story never sounds as amazing as it is in my head. Even if I articulate my ideas perfectly (which never happens), I never get the desired result. Of course, I’m not sure what my desired result is. Tears in the eyes? Fear and trembling? Laughter and shouts of “your brilliant!” I don’t know.
But how many times have you shared a story idea with someone and seen that look in their eyes? The distant, don’t-give-a-rip look. The look that seems to ask Is That All??
Over the years I’ve learned to temper my verbal storytelling. I’ve learned to try and curb the answer to the inevitable question “What are you working on?”. Because my answer is usually too long and too boring and doesn’t justify the story I want to tell. I’ve learned to say less. One day, I tell myself, they might be able to read the story instead of listening to me yammer on about it.
But excitement can still get the best of me. And today I found myself talking a little too much about a story I’m working on to my agent. Somewhere in the span of the ten minutes I was talking, I knew I’d lost her. I couldn’t see that look because we were talking on the phone, but I just knew. I felt it. She was polite and even when I apologized for going on and on (like all of us writers find ourselves doing), she said that it sounded good.
But I knew it sounded rather silly. Most stories sound silly if told in a certain way. Sure, if told with conviction and clarity by certain individuals, they might sound incredible. If President Obama had shared the same idea, the masses would be moved. But coming out of my mouth, it all sounded rather . . . well, rather lame.
Yet I know the idea isn’t lame. It’s a great idea. But sometimes it’s best to write that idea and do what they tell us authors to do–show and not tell.
So tip number 23 is this: be careful about talking about an idea or a work-in-progress. Because even those you love might not be enthralled or impressed. And that can discourage you. It’s discouraged me in the past. Right now I’m simply used to it. And everybody who knows me is used to hearing about one of ten thousand ideas. I’m not the boy who cried wolf. I’ve turned into the wolf.
Rather than crying wolf, I want to eventually produce the wolf in front of them. Then they can decide if the story is any good or not. But I’ll have done my work and the story can speak for itself.
Travis,
These are some really good points and I can totally relate. I try and run an ideas past a friend or fellow author and get tougne tighted. Then start to doubt myself and my idea. Since then I have learned just to tease with a tag line. Keep it mysterious even if the story it completely fleshed out.
I’ll have to visit your blog more often. Thanks!
Thanks Cory.
I’m sure at one time, this unpublished author felt the same way we all feel when she told her friends and family that she was working on a story about a boy wizard. But you know, now JK Rowling could say she’s working on a story about a singing cat. There wouldn’t be a single soul who would shrug her off now, you know? (though a lot of people would probably be like, what’s that about???)
My problem is that I’m usually DYING to share the story with somebody. I’ve learned to try and restrain myself simply so I don’t get disappointed!
This happens to me all the time. Particularly, when I’m asked about my writing in classes. I end up stumbling over my words, trying to be clear and concise– the result is that I convey something that isn’t true to my writing.
Just the other day I was pitching a flash fiction idea to a friend of mine and he completely zoned out. Flash fiction! Oy. I think I just need to keep my big mouth shut and write no matter how hard it is.
I’m really glad to know I’m not the only one who’s had trouble verbalizing stories. And I’ve gotten those stares and discouragement when I haven’t been able to articulate properly. Thanks for this advice to keep my mouth shut! 🙂