Have you ever noticed that writers like to talk about the things they’re working on? It’s a strange habit, isn’t it?

Maybe it’s because we like to get feedback on our current work in progress, which is totally fine. Most of the time, it seems like we talk about our current writing a lot because we lack confidence and want assurance from other people that we are going in the right direction and that we actually do have talent after all.

Mario Puzo, author of The Godfather, the novel upon which the movie was based, said this: “Never talk about what you are going to do until after you have written it.”

This advice goes completely against our impulse as writers in the age of social media, where everybody talks about everything all of the time. His words are wise, though. There is something to be said about keeping a lid on things until they’re done.

Give this a try with your current project. How long can you keep it a secret? Imagine how great it would feel to announce to the world when it’s done, rather than constantly talking about it and trying to get other people’s approval. Wouldn’t that feel good?

Daily Question: How long can you keep your current writing project a secret?