Keep it to Yourself

A few weekends back I met a new person. As it typically happens, when she learned I am a writer, she asked if I had a dream project I was working on. Well, yes. I’m tweaking it mentally, fleshing it out, asking a lot before committing. Being just a zygote of an idea, I hesitated to share. Taking a chance, I explained my stammer. She surprised me with a gasped, “Good!”

Then, she passed on some wisdom she had once gathered. Telling about your creative darling before it hits the world can snuff out the need to bring it to bear. Speaking it makes it real. If it is met with praise, it feels as if it has been accomplished already. There’s nothing left to do. You had a good idea, it was acclaimed, and you moved on.

I have experienced this, and she had too. Which is why in saying nothing, I had one of the best artistic conversations I have had in a long time.