A recent post over at Vagabondish, part of a series on being a better travel writer, had a quote from a Robert McKee book which seems like something I could keep in mind with fiction story ideas. Robert McKee himself explains it best:
Next time you’re out with a friend, ask him or her if you can tell them your new story idea. Halfway through, make an excuse to leave the table. When you come back, start talking about something else, as though you’ve forgotten all about the story. If your friend interrupts to ask you to finish, you know you have a winner. If your friend instead seems relieved, definitely think twice about your story idea.
I’m a bit too frightened to try this at the moment, but I want to remember the idea. It harks back a bit to my musings on whether or not I should tell people what my novel is about before it becomes a serious, readable affair. Food for thought, at least.
Ahahahhhaaaa! I am on to you now missy, dinnae ye be going off to do this at our next soiree! xxx
Damn, one friend less to try this on. Oops. Should definitely have kept this idea secret