Depends what you want in life. If you build the walls around you so high, that no one can pass, you might be secure, but also alone and imprisoned, if you build no door in, to let others come in.
"That secrecy, however, comes with a psychological cost. Most people love being recognized for the work that they do, and yet you cannot take any credit for this in real life. Even simple things can be challenging, like friends asking you what you have been up to"
So sure, it is more safe, to always keep it a secret. But it is more fun to do things together, we are social beings after all. But yes, if the "together" gets too big and the whole project more popularity, getting caught is only a question of time. The licence holding companies do work with (private) undercover investigators. At least for music and movies. Not sure if the book rights companies are playing in the same league.
"That secrecy, however, comes with a psychological cost. Most people love being recognized for the work that they do, and yet you cannot take any credit for this in real life. Even simple things can be challenging, like friends asking you what you have been up to"
So sure, it is more safe, to always keep it a secret. But it is more fun to do things together, we are social beings after all. But yes, if the "together" gets too big and the whole project more popularity, getting caught is only a question of time. The licence holding companies do work with (private) undercover investigators. At least for music and movies. Not sure if the book rights companies are playing in the same league.