How to Talk About Your Writing

3 hours ago
6 min read

“I just don’t know how to talk about my writing.”

The question that came to me from my client from across the Zoom ether was one I’ve answered many times. I’ve seen multiple people express the same concern with the same amount of overwhelm and frustration.

Not only that, but it’s a roadblock I’ve faced multiple times, even after 20 years as a professional writer.

And it isn’t just for professionals. We aren’t just talking about people with a book coming out, although that’s a prominent manifestation of the problem. This is a question even for people who are just getting started with their writing, who feel awkward telling people that they write for a whole host of reasons.

Why is it that, compared to sitting down and spinning out entire worlds with our words, telling people what it is that we actually do is so hard?

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. Let’s explore why so many writers struggle with this and dig into some ways to make it a lot less painful—and maybe even fun.

Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Our Writing?

Let’s start by naming the problem clearly: talking about your writing is vulnerability. You’re no longer hiding behind characters or metaphors or beautiful prose. You’re stepping out from behind the curtain and saying, “This is what I made. This is what it’s about. This is what it means.”

And that’s scary.

Here’s why.

You’re emotionally close to your work. Writing, especially fiction and memoir, is often personal. You’re too inside the story to summarize it cleanly or describe its significance with distance. What feels like “just a scene” to others might be the emotional centerpiece of the book for you.

You don’t want to sound like a salesperson. Many writers resist anything that smacks of self-promotion. You don’t want to brag, and you really don’t want to come off like you’re pushing people to buy something.

You haven’t built the language yet. It’s easy to forget that “talking about your writing” is a skill, not an innate talent. Just like you had to learn how to write a compelling opening or build a character arc, learning how to talk about your work takes time and practice.

You’re afraid people will think it’s frivolous—or worse, stupid. This is the silent fear a lot of writers carry. That someone will roll their eyes when they say, “I’m writing a novel.” That when they try to talk about the themes of their memoir, someone will brush it off as self-indulgent.

And for us professionals, there’s always that one person who has the audacity to say, “So, do you make any money doing that?”

You worry people won’t get it. That they’ll see your work as silly, impractical, or not “real” work at all. And because writing is so close to your heart, their misunderstanding feels like rejection—not just of the work, but of you.

If any of this feels familiar, please know you’re not alone. Every writer I know—published, unpublished, bestselling, just starting out—has wrestled with these feelings at some point.

But the good news is that it doesn’t have to stay this way. You can find your voice—not just on the page, but in how you share your work with the world.

Start with the Heart: What’s This Really About?

Before you can talk about your writing with confidence, you have to know what it’s really about—not just the plot points or structure, but the emotional truth behind it.

This is especially important if you’re worried that your writing won’t be taken seriously. When you connect with the deeper meaning of your story, you remind yourself why it matters. That conviction becomes your anchor.

Try answering this question:

What is the emotional core of my story? What truth am I trying to share?

For example:

“My novel is about how grief reshapes a family after loss.”
“My memoir is about reclaiming my voice after years of people telling me I didn’t have one.”
“My poetry explores the sacred hidden in the everyday.”

These aren’t sales pitches—they’re invitations. And when you speak from that place of honesty, people respond. Even if they don’t fully “get” writing, they’ll understand you.

And if they don’t? That doesn’t mean your work is silly. It means they’re not your reader. Keep going.

Say It Out Loud (A Lot)

There’s no easy way to say this. If you want to get better at talking about your writing, you have to…well, talk about your writing. Not just in your head, but out loud. In real conversations with real people.

This feels especially risky if you’ve been shut down or scoffed at in the past. But the more you practice, the less power those old moments have.

Try this:

Practice your “what it’s about” sentence in front of the mirror
Say it to a friend, your partner, or your dog
Introduce yourself as a writer when you meet new people

The goal isn’t to sound like a polished speaker. The goal is to feel like you—someone who loves writing and has something worth sharing.

Because here’s the thing: when you say it enough times, you start to believe it. Neurology confirms this. Our self-talk carves pathways in our brains the same way driving a truck through mud leaves deep tire tracks.

You start to believe:

“I really am a writer.”

“This story does matter.”

“I’m not being frivolous—I’m being faithful to the gift I’ve been given.”

Build a “Talk About It” Toolkit

Once you’re comfortable sharing your writing verbally, it’s time to capture that clarity in writing so you can confidently introduce your work across platforms and conversations.

This is especially helpful if you’re launching a book, building an author platform, or preparing for interviews.

Your “Talk About It” Toolkit should include:

A one-sentence summary: Something simple and punchy for casual conversations.
A back cover-style blurb: Use this for social media, emails, and your website.
Your author bio: Tell people who you are and what drives your work.
Three talking points: Think of these as mini themes or stories you can share at everything from the watercooler to a podcast to promote a book.

If the idea of writing these feels intimidating, especially when you’re already battling feelings of doubt or imposter syndrome, let me tell you something important:

Wanting to talk about your writing professionally doesn’t make you arrogant. It makes you prepared. It means you believe your work deserves to be understood, not just read.

That’s not frivolous. That’s faithful stewardship.

Take the Guesswork Out of It with the Ultimate Book Launch Flight Plan

Talking about your writing is just one part of the journey toward publication, but it’s one of the most essential. If you don’t have language for your work, how will readers find it? How will they connect with it?

This is why I created the Ultimate Book Launch Flight Plan, a FREE comprehensive guide to launching a book with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

Build a trusted launch team so you can gather early reviews, generate buzz, and stop trying to do it all yourself
Create scroll-stopping, on-brand content so you can promote your book with consistency, confidence, and zero cringe
Pitch your book to podcasts and media so you can get your story in front of new readers—without feeling like a spammer
Write bios and summaries that actually sound like you so you’re never caught off guard when someone asks, “What’s your book about?”
Follow a launch plan that fits your voice and values so you can stop winging it and start moving forward with clarity.
BONUS: Get a free 1:1 consultation to personalize your strategy and apply the Flight Plan to your own unique launch