Like most writers, I have a project idea folder on my laptop. Whenever something new springs into my mind, I start a file for it. Some have names, some are just "Untitled #?." I type out whatever came into my brain. Sometimes it's just a basic plot idea, or like last night (after being in bed with a brain that wouldn't rest, I wrote down my idea so I wouldn't forget) the opening scene of the actual story.
And then those ideas sit there for who knows how long. They just wait for their turn to be brought forth and plotted out and written. It's a big deal to open a document and "Save As" in my "Novels" folder instead of just the "Project Ideas" folder.
It's kinda like baseball teams or hockey teams who occasionally bring up a player from their farm teams to play with the big boys. My little project ideas get their big chance to become a real novel!
And like baseball and hockey, there is no guarantee that the project will actually stay and become a full-length novel. I sometimes try them out, see if inspiration strikes. If not, it's pushed aside and another project gets a turn.
And that's where I am now. I have a new idea that came to me last night and I'd love to start it now...but I might take a look at my "Project Ideas" folder and see if there is anything else that strikes inspiration.
How do you choose what to write next??
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I call these my Little Ocean. Not sure what that means, but it sounds good!
ReplyDeleteI have a ton of these. In fact, I had a dream last night I need to record before I forget. It's about a boy who wants to be a superhero and call himself Hungry Spider, because that's the scariest thing he can think of!
- Eric
LOL. You should check out Lindsay's post about her unfinished works/ideas:
ReplyDeletehttp://lbelow.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-have-problem.html
She really does have an "ocean" of ideas...
I have been experiencing the idea thing as well. These ideas are out of my chosen genre, but I would enjoy the stretch. Now, all I need to time.
ReplyDeleteI usually strike when the iron is hot. I tried forcing a project from my 'idea' folder and just couldn't get into it. So when another idea came along and consumed me, I went with it. I'm about 75% done with the first draft and loving every minute of it!
ReplyDeleteI have so many files that have just a title and a couple of lines, a character, or a plot point and that's it. All screaming to be written. Right now, I have a bunch of smaller projects to finish but I'm chomping at the bit to get started on writing my next novel.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's a tough one! How to decide . . . I've got an idea pounding around in my head right now, but I try not to focus on writing more than one book at a time. I could easily have ten unfinished books, otherwise. LOL! But it is difficult when you've got SO MANY good ideas.
ReplyDeleteSadly,I have no real method. Sometimes it comes to me, sometimes I think long and hard. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy ideas are all scrawled on a piece of paper! Not very organized, but I found if I put them on my computer I never looked at it. My current project was chosen because my agent is preparing to pitch a dark YA novel I wrote, so I needed something dark. I came up with the idea randomly and it seems to be working well. I usually base what I'm writing around what I see is selling...but that doesn't mean if I have an idea I really like that might not be marketable that I won't write it and hand it over to my agent anyway.
ReplyDelete