Feb
Leave me ALONE!
No, not you. The characters and plots running amuck in my head.
Just yesterday I was in the shower thinking about random nothingness when a flash of an idea took over and it was all I could think about until I saw at my desk. I quickly typed out the particulars but now I’m really excited about possibly writing this story. But I know I can’t start it until I have one of my other 4 wips near finished and frankly I’m not that close to finish on any of them.
I suppose I shouldn’t get upset with inspiration, as it’s only trying to keep me ahead of the game but really why show me these pretty new sparkling ideas if I’m not ready for them just yet. It’s like taking me to an amazing shoe sale and saying I can only buy house shoes. No fair!!!
In case you haven’t noticed I’m a huge shoe addict!
But I wonder, is this meant to be some sort of test of my focusing skills? Or perhaps my muse laughing and teasing me in hopes that I’ll hurry and get another project done so I can move on (without feeling guilty)?
For now this dazzling new idea is safely tucked away in my dream folder. Yes, I have a dream folder. It’s full of dream manuscripts that I hope one day to get to write. Shh don’t tell my current wips, but I have nearly 30 hiding out in there and all of them hoping to one day see the light of day.
So let me ask, what do you do when new ideas strike? Do you start up a new wip and juggle the ones you have? Or do you tuck it away for when you have the time to focus on it and only it. Should I check in to the local mental ward and get my brain checked?
I have a whole bunch of things started. I flit from one to the next depending on which way the muse goes. I do try to stick to one “big thing” at a time, but have been known to be unfaithful. Right now I’m so sick of revising that my little first chapters and prologues are incredibly alluring. I’m shutting my eyes.
February 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 amIt really depends on the story. If it’s something I know I’m likely to not work on for a while, I just write a quick intro to the story, like the first few pages and put it away. If it’s probable to be in the working WIP list, then it goes in that file, but it still has to wait its turn.
Right now, I’m focusing on one story, and not much else.
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 pmI have a filing cabinet inside my head where I store all these extra ideas. Often the ideas come out to layer a current WIP or provide a subplot. I’d say too many ideas is a good problem to have, Haven!
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:42 pmYeah–irritating, isn’t it? I can’t wait to finish revisions…but no, I’ve quit working on more than one. I never finished anything! But the second I send out queries, I’ll have no trouble moving onto another story. I love that ‘new story’ feeling
February 24th, 2008 at 4:40 am