Wandering Through My Files
Ever have Too Many Ideas Syndrome? This is different from Shiny New Idea Syndrome. It is also different from I-Suck-itis. I need to do a proposal and I have a dozen I can choose from, all of which have potential, some of which would require a lot of work, some of which don't feel "big" enough for sure, all of which have a hook.
I wake up some days and open files. I re-read first lines to try to remember where I was when I fell in love with this story idea of that one. I opened this one this morning:
We learned not to sleep heavily, not ever falling into the deep dreamless sleep of those at peace. Instead, we were attuned to our parents, like remora clinging to the great white shark of their marriage.
Or this YA
My grandfather always believed in Santa Claus. Not in the way some people do, the way they tell their children to set out cookies for old Saint Nick. He believed in the way of slightly crazy people who refuse to accept that what the rest of the world says is true.
Or this detective story
“I am not damaged.”
The detective raised one eyebrow.
“I know that’s what you’re going to do. Root around in my childhood, my life. Look under rocks searching for black millipedes. You’ll find them, but that doesn’t make me damaged.”
Then, I bent over and vomited on the floor.
That’s what seeing Paul, his intestines splayed out on the carpet, did to me.
Believe me, I must have dozens of things on my computer. I keep honing in on three of them (none of the ones here). I am being driven mad by . . . too MANY ideas.
Does anyone else have this problem?
36 comments:
My daughter has that problem. Often she comes up to my room and before she can open her mouth I say, "Don't tell me---another idea?" The subsequent giggles tell me I'm right.
I think it's okay. I think the gotta-do-this ideas condense out of the maelstrom.
Stephen:
Being in the maelstrom is miserable, but I agree it eventually calms to a good idea.
Did you get my blurb??? Lately I have problems with your server rejecting me. :-(
Ha. I do that sometimes, but it's usually when no new ideas have snatched me up and I'm searching for something to write. I have no problem going back to these stories, but if the characters aren't talking, they aren't talking.
For whatever reason these characters stopped talking to me. Or it was an idea for a story, not a plot or character coming to me, just some glimmer of something.
So, my process of choosing a WIP is very simple; What character won't leave me alone? If I have character I can always find a plot.
My son has the same disease as Stephen's daughter (hmmmm, they haven't been dating, have they?). He's always saying, "I've got this idea for..." I love his ideas, but they exasperate me because he's got to FINISH something.
Do I have too many ideas?
Ha! You mean, the idea for the next Derek Stillwater (or 2?). The SF novel I'm working on slowly. The mystery/thriller novel I'm working on? The story idea I have for an SF short story? The partial ms of a tech thriller on my computer? And the 2 other, or 3, or 4 story ideas for novels? The follow-ups I have for Austin Davis, should Hot Money get published? Or not?
No, not me. No surplus of ideas here.
Melissa:
GREAT advice. I have three characters who keep tugging.
E
Mark:
LOL! No, you don't have that problem. ;-)
E
They seem to come in batches. I can go for a long time with nothing, and then get these rapid bursts of several things at once.
When you're writing on spec, though, its even harder to choose what to work on, because you know you'll have to live with it and maintain some sort of enthusiasm toward it for a long time.
That's odd. I had two such ideas in the last 12 hours. I wrote them down so I could set them aside and stay focused on the current project. I think sometimes creative writing needs variety and it's our way of getting it.
I believe Einstein was stumped on some project so he delved into philosophy and came up with relativity. The brain needs to go down different avenues in order to deepen the ones it is best at.
Jude:
Very true.
By the same token, I want to nail a proposal . . . 'cause that's the one shot I have with the concept, likely.
And then if it gets bought, I had better like it. LOL!
E
Richmond:
I like that!
E
Due to strident feedback from my critique partners, I'm revising the last half of my WIP. I've written four new outlines that take the book in very different directions. Now I just have to put in the time to see which one has the most grab.
You know, my brain put a different spin on this first one:
We learned not to sleep heavily, not ever falling into the deep dreamless sleep of those at peace. Instead, we were tuned by our parents, their marriage like a tuning fork that quivered slightly off pitch.
It think it was the "attuned" that I kept reading as "tuned."
I"m scared to make a list. Instead, I'm trying hard to focus on this project, the three short stories I have plotted out, and the next big project. But I have other ideas, too, and they seem to keep coming.
I have to say, I am sick of writing on spec, trying to just guess what's the next best thing without much help. I think that's why I like short stories. Time-to-market is shorter.
Mark:
Interesting take. Unbeknownst to anyone from the single line--the parents are domestic batterers, so the shark thing works. There's a bloody chum reference later, LOL! But it's an abusive marriage--both ways.
E
starbucks:
Since I started doing Storytellers over at Lurker Monkey's blog (new prompt up, BTW), I have been LOVING the short-short.
E
Vonna:
"Strident feedback"--I hate when that happens. LOL!
E
What do I work on today? Do I concentrate on the light MG fantasy, the edgy YA, the light YA fantasy, the semi-autobiographical poetry? What do I want to lead with in this publication crapshoot?
Um, no, not at all. Geez.
I call it writer ADD. I think, for me at least, creativity begets creativity. The more I'm writing, the more ideas pop into my head.
When I was trying to figure out my next wip, after finally, finally finishing revisions with the middle grade and doing all of the query and submission research, I had one of those bouts. I decided to work up a pitch and then do an outline before starting my next. The problem was, as soon as I came up with one pitch, out popped an entirely different one... I wound up with seven of them!
Three of them were way more commercially viable than the one I chose. I could see them being way more easily marketable for the age bracket. An easy fit on a definite shelf. The thing was, I just wasn't excited about writing them. I was excited to dive into this world - though I might be kicking myself later when it's time to try and sell it.
Right now I'm pretty focused on polishing my WIP and outlining the novel I'm going to write for NaNoWriMo month.
BUT...I have plenty of times when I'm simultaneously writing four or five novels plus a couple of short stories.
Honestly, I prefer having a lot of ideas going. I like to get up in the morning and have choices about "who" i want to hang out with that day. While this is more fun, it's also more hobby type writing, and not as productive. This style of writing makes it very easy to procrastinate on fixing something in one book that's not working, etc.
I suffer from lack of ideas. I think I have one or two short stories that are half-started, and that's it.
Wow, Melanie. A lack of ideas?
My wife and I got our hair cut Saturday. While it was her turn, I sat outside and watched all the people and what each one was doing, wearing, saying or expressing in some way. So many different people doing so many different things. And each one has a story. But I've always been a people watcher like that.
I can't shut off the ideas, but I can choose to not write them down.
Back in the day, yes. Nowadays? Not so much. Most of my ideas come across when I least expect it or right when I'm in the middle of a project. It's a toss up as to which idea I'll choose, assuming there are that many to choose from. The best bet will be the one that screams the loudest or haunts me in my dreams or while I'm awake. Heaven forbid I get to the point where I have to write on spec. It'll be a nightmare, I'm sure. :-)
I wouldn't mind meeting the grandfather who believes in Santa Claus. He sounds interesting.
As to too many ideas . . . My problem has more to do with: Is the idea big enough? Will it take me through a whole book?
I suffer from both the "too many ideas" and from the "I suck-itis" at the same time. It is an interesting feeling having a bunch of storys in my head with the gatekeeper being the I-suck-itis naysayer. I'm hoping for a revolt.
Sarah, maybe I should explain it the way you did. I'm constantly making up stories, especially when I people watch, I just never think of translating them into a complete piece.
That makes a lot of sense, Melanie.
Ideas, I've got a million of them. Time to act on just one? Zero-zippity-nada. School is sucking the time out of me. :-(
But, love your ideas! And please get out another book soon. Or maybe recommend a movie for my Netflix rotation. I need weird entertainment.
I have a file drawer labeled story ideas. I'm always coming up with ideas.
Sarahh:
See? A lot of it going around. LOL!
E
Merry:
Your comment is a reminder . . . write your passion.
E
Beth:
It isn't uncommon for me to have a few pans on the fire, too.
E
Marcia:
Well, your bun in the oven . . . whenever I'm preggers, I am lucky I can drag myself through ONE wip.
E
Melanie:
Really? I'm like Sarah. I get way too many from even the simplest things. Or reading the news. Or . . . or . . .
Brian:
You need to shut that gatekeeper up!
kath:
LOL!
I'm overdo for an email to you (LOVED the picture!). Will stick some NetFlix in there. :-)
E
LA:
I have tons of files on my computer . . . and a few scribbled down somewhere.
E
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