Today with my family (Parents, Grandmother, Sister) after Christmas dinner we were playing a game called Ransom Notes (I won after 20 rounds with 11 cards vs. the rest of my families 9, with 2 coming down to a coin flip which I lost) and my family was baffled by how I was making such good answers. My grandmother said "Maybe you should write, too" (I believe she's working on a novel, and my great uncle released a novel like 8-9 years ago) and then about 10 minutes later having not been in the room when my grandma said it my dad ALSO said "Maybe you should write"
I didn't tell them that I've been working on a novel for a couple weeks, I'd like to get a bit farther in before I say anything, but it was incredibly reassuring to hear that from my family unprovoked. They don't know that I've taken any interest in writing at all, so tonight showed me that I'm doing the right thing.
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My advice would be to not tell them until you have a polished finished draft.
How does that game work?
That's likely what I'll do
The game has everyone draw a bunch of little magnets with words on them, you flip a card that says something like "Write a warning label for a new type of Viagra" or "Tell your friend that you're secretly a vampire" or whatever else and then everyone uses their magnets to complete the prompt. You can make it very eloquent or just caveman brain it, whatever works to get a laugh and be the most fitting answer. As many or as few words as you want as long as they fit on your little metal rectangle. The judge rotates every turn, whoever you choose takes the card as a point, if you want to choose your own then it had to be a unanimous decision that yours was the best
Oh, cool. I have never heard of that game before.
I only learned it existed tonight, and I guess I immediately became a pro lol
It was a lot of fun, lots of laughs
Great advice! It's really nice to surprise them with what you've done. Speaking from experience here.
On the other hand the feeling of pressure I get to write book 2, really helps.
I suppose really, it's a judgement call.
You must be an extrovert. I don’t deal well with pressure.
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This right here
Typically yes, but as far as my family knows writing isn't even a consideration to me
First off, good for you! Unprompted validation in your passion is good!
The biggest mistake I felt I ever made was telling my family I was writing. They started to ask pressuring questions, pestering what I was working on (I was freelance for gaming companies), already knowing I was not one to easily to talk about my projects. "What's it about?" (It was a 25 yr old franchise with millions of published words at that point, I can't easily explain the nuances other than dumbing it down) "When will you be done?" (I wish *I* would know when I'd be done.).
I took a break for almost 10 years, and decided this year to work on my own personal project and to get myself back up to speed. I made the same mistake, mentioning that I was getting back into writing. Now already "When can we read it?" is asked almost weekly. It almost makes me want to stop and give up again.
So far I've only told my girlfriend (I'll never let her read anything I write, maybe when it's published if she really wants to) and one of my best friends (I mentioned it on a phonecall when he asked what I was doing because I was actively writing, I let him read the first 300 words to see his opinion as someone who doesn't even read) and otherwise nobody knows. I don't want to build it up as this big thing and then have the pressure or whatever and maybe never even finish it. And I don't want to worry about what I'm writing thinking "What would my mom think of this"
I found it much better when I would just hand them one of the comp copies I recieved in the mail from already completed stuff. "Oh, btw, I did this."
That would be pretty cool
If I can do it, surely you can. Just don't give up, and continue to hone your craft.
Cool 👍
It's great to have the backing of a family. You got this 100%
That's very uplifting of them, what a nice family moment!
Honestly, that’s a great little green light. If your family clocked it without you saying anything, you’re probably tapping into that “voice” we all chase.
My two cents: keep it quiet until you’ve got a full draft and a week or two of distance on it. The second you tell people, you invite the “how’s it going / can I read it / what’s it about” loop, and that can nuke momentum fast. Been there, learned the hard way.
Also, Ransom Notes is sneaky good practice. Constraints + a prompt + making it land with a judge? That’s basically micro‑comedy copywriting. If you’re winning rounds, you’ve got timing. Ride that. Do a session a day-15 mins, one prompt, get in/out-then funnel that energy into the novel.
When you do tell them, do it with a printed draft or a “btw, it’s finished.” Way easier boundaries. Keep going.