Don't talk about your novel!

What are writers? My definition of a writer is a person who has stories that they want to tell other people. Essentially, writers are storytellers (in paperback or hardcover form).



(*Of course, writers should only write stories that they themselves enjoy. But if other people enjoy their stories also, then that's good too).



However, writers tell their stories through novels, and so they have to write those novels. That is why writers shouldn't talk about their novels. Why? Because if writers talk about their novels, they lose the urge to actually write the novel itself.



Here's an example: Let's say that there is this guy (an aspiring writer) who has a story for a novel in his head. Like any writer, he wants to talk to people about this story. So he tells his friends about what happens in the novel; who dies and lives, the evil guy, who falls in love, the exotic places, the twist ending, etc.... Then by the time he sits down to actually write his story into a novel, he loses the urge to touch the keyboard or hold a pen. Why? Because he already told the story.



Writers, once they have a story idea in their head, have an urge to tell that story. And unlike storytellers around a campfire, writers tell their story through novels. So if a writer tells his friends about the story, the subconscious mind of the writer is telling him that he already told his story, so he doesn't need to write a novel to tell his story anymore. So he loses the urge to write.



That is why you shouldn't talk about your novel!



You don't see me talking about my novel or blog about it (okay, I used to do this, but I stopped. From personal experience, I know what it's like to want to tell your story and then lose the urge to write it).



So I apologize to those who support me and my novel, and yet don't know what my novel is about. I only ask that you be patient with me. I will write and publish a novel someday (maybe in a year), and I promise you that you'll enjoy it.



Thanks to all who support me,



John Smith



PS: If you do talk about your novel (which you shouldn't), you should limit it to only one vague sentence:



(*My novel is not a romance and it doesn't have vampires, but it does have a werewolf).

My profile picture is an obvious hint...



I'm sorry, that is all I'm going to tell you about my novel... for now.