Talking about writing

Talking about writing

Several years ago I had a professor for creative writing who gave us a rule: Never talk about the project while you are writing it. Wait until you are done. Don't show it to anyone, don't ask for advice, and for the sake of all that's holy, don't edit before you type "the end". The idea was that you could talk a story to death, you could get diverted by other people's advice and opinions, you could distract and rattle yourself out of doing any writing at all, or you could spend all your time talking and none of it writing.

It's good advice, and, being me, I took it to heart to such an extent that I rarely if ever discuss the stories I'm writing until they are done. I refuse to edit or even fix typos because I have, in mid story, gone back to rework something and completely destroyed it. So it has stood me in good stead.

Also, being me, I sometimes take it far too much to heart. I can't even talk about what I'm writing, often times, even when I should -- when I want to workshop something, or even to sell it. I find myself rendered inarticulate about my subject, embarrassed, unable to explain why I find something compelling in my stories. Once they are in the imagined glare of the public (no matter who that "public" might be, no matter how sympathetic or even enthusiastic) I can see only faults and flaws.

Oh yes, I can drive myself right into a neurotic tailspin if I am not careful. It's not even a fear of rejection (because I assume that). It's fearing I won't communicate what I'm trying to communicate, that what I'm saying is nothing anyone wants to hear.

Now, I get over it from time to time (I don't live my entire life in a hell of my own making) and, strangely, I find it so relieving to talk about something I'm writing with another person. Often it clears my head, points me in directions to get around problems, and lets me breathe. It's still incredibly difficult to do in general. It seems to take so much explaining.

How about the rest of you? Do you follow particular rules when you are writing? Do have problems talking about your work, or is that your favorite thing? Talk to me, people! I want to know!