So,

I have this thing that I have been trying to get past but don't seem to be able to. It's wierd but I absolutely hate talking about my writing to anyone other than my partner. I guess it's cos when I talk to anyone else about it they look at me with that sad expression, like I've just declared that I am in fact Napoleon and so's my brother.

Also, when people about my book I have trouble because it's a fiction, adventure, horror cross-thing. The easiest way would be to say "Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer" or more topical "Like Demons, the TV series, but good!" - but I know if I do people will go "Ya-huh" and turn away. Particularly if they were an agent. So I'm erring on the side of "Like Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series - without the OTT sex"...but then no one gets what I'm on about cos I've not met a single other person who has read any of her books (the earlier ones were way better than the new ones). Anyway, it's a way better description.

The other thing is, I don't tell anyone what my book is about cos I'm scared they'll knick my idea - silly I know, but still.

On the same topic, I recently had an experience where I mentioned to my brother (who lives on the other side of the world) that I had been writing all day (one Saturday). And he said, more or less verbatum 'What? Your book? Bloody hell would you just get that thing written!' Like piff-paff-poof it's going to just appear on the table all bound, with a spanking cover illustration and all.

Even my other half has started to say 'Just writie the thing, damn-it.'

So I guess this post has two things: 1) Does anyone else find it hard to say, Yes in my spare time I'm working on my first book and my book is about... and 2) How the hell do you handle folks expectations. Okay I grant you I HAVE been writing this book for a long time, but I'm on my third draft. It's not like it's my first draft. Geez. And I've had to learn as I've gone along - it's not like I knew what I was doing when i started.

Anyway, please share experiences and tips.

P.S. Sorry to vent but it's either this or talk to the wall...and I'm not Shirley Valentine.

Hi there.
I think every writer has their own view as to whether they like to talk about their work. I didn't mind at all. In fact I found people were far more interested in that than the day job - lawyer.
However, whether you do decide to discuss it with others or not I do think you need to practise what you would actually say so that when you get round to submissions you can easily encapsulate it. You need to be able to nail the genre and the story line.
So the question what's your book about elicits the response 'Oh it's a crime novel about a KGB officer in stalinist Russia who discovers a serial killer.'
I know that can be hard and we tend towards the 'oh it's a little this, and little bit that,' but that is not what agents/publishers etc want to hear.
Imagine you have two mins to sell the bookon the radio. The presenter asks you about the book. You cannot waffle.
As for how long it takes - ignore everyone. It will take as long as it does ( until you're under a contract and then you really will have to gte down to it).
HB x

The problem with gabbing about your book is that the gabbing takes all the energy needed for the writing. Once you've talked it all out, the impetus for writing it up is gone - lost forever, mostly.

I can see no reason for talking about what you're writing. If you need to talk about it, you're probably scouting for ideas. Most people don't have such things. They rely on writers to have them - writers who can do their job without gabbing all over the place.

I think your overseas brother hit the nail on the head. Get the flaming thing written - then talk about it if you need to. Few writers need to. The writing is sufficient of itself. I think you might be frightened to get it all down. Procrastination makes you feel as though the real good bits are about to spill forth. I don't believe that for a minute.

You have to discipline yourself to write - alone, quietly, with determination. Bugger everything else - even this blog. A blog can be a substitute for what you really should be doing.

Dill