I finished the first draft of my wip the other day. I want to put it aside and let it simmer and marinate for a while before I look at it again. It's always better for me to look again with fresh eyes.
As soon as I closed the file, my brain pretty much exploded with ideas and plans.
I've got a shiny new idea that is quite involved and has potential for 4 interconnected stories. Kind of a cosy romantic mystery/suspense series. Sort of. With a few twists and turns. And humour. Not sure I can pull it off - but I can't wait to try!
I've got an older ms that's been marinating for a while that is calling loudly as well. It's been over a year since I've looked at it, so I'm itching to dig back in and live in that world again.
I want to try my hand at writing some short stories too. It's such a great way to improve writing skills - packing so much into such a short space. I haven't done this before, but I think it would be fun.
A nonficiton idea has been tickling the back of my brain too. Educational stuff which I'm pretty experienced in, but have zero platform for. *sigh* It would require a lot of platform building (in another name seeing as I write romance...) and I don't feel up for that at the moment, but doing research for the idea is very, very tempting.
Another story idea keeps nudging me too. It's MG and would be a fun adventurous science fiction story. Totally different from what I'm doing now.
So, my brain is barely able to contain itself these days. And I'm loving every second of it!
How do you feel when you put aside one project and get to decide which one becomes your next priority?
75 comments:
I have a tough time leaving one project and committing myself to another one, no matter how many ideas I have.
I recently finished a first draft, and I put it aside to work on a short story idea and research for a future novel. That lasted less than a week.
I started outlining draft 2 of the WIP, and I'm already one third into my revisions.
For me, unless there is a deadline I must meet on another project, I can't put something aside until it feels "done."
I feel relieved and drained! Wish more ideas would smack me in the head.
Wow! You are amazing! Well done you!!
When I finish a story (first draft) I just want to do non-writerly things for a while - like baking! Take care
x
I usually take a break from writing. I do have some ideas, but just letting them set for a while.
Finishing something up is such a good feeling, but it is hard for me to decide what to do next. Often I will start writing a couple of things and see which one "takes over".
Shelley
Dianne - I need to give it that break. My brain memorizes too much of it and I need something to break the cycle so I can really read it!
Alex - so far I haven't had that issue, but I'm sure it's lurking around the corner for me!
Old Kitty - baking is good! I did some butter tarts and lemon meringue pie the other day - yum!
Diane - I like letting those ideas chase each other around in my brain before I start to write!
Shelley - that's kind of what's happening to me right now! The short story is calling pretty loudly :)
I know some people love it when a bunch of ideas hit at once but it makes me very nervous because I know I can't write them all at once! Good luck with whatever project you choose!
Kyra - I tend to write down snippets of some of the ideas when they're all attacking me at once. I rarely go back though because there are always new ones on the attack!
I usually take a break between drafts of a MS to work on something else too.
Congrats on finishing your first draft! Always an amazing accomplishment. :) And loving that you've got a plethora of shiny things coming your way--hope there's a true gem in the pile.
Wow! That's a ton of awesome sounding ideas. :) Me, I usually unwind a bit before tackling something new. My head space needs to get cleared.
Johanna - I'm just too close to the draft to work on it right away!
Mary - thanks! And I hope so too! It's hard to know what'll work until you dive in!
Melissa - maybe because I know the summer will disappear far too soon, but I can't stop!! :)
It's a wonderful, crazy place to be. I always wish I had more time to devout totally to writing so I could work on multiple projects.
It sounds as though your muse is working overtime:-) Mine's taking time off . . . ;-/
you are bursting all right! better get writing!
i'm especially interested in the cozy series. always wanted to try it out...
Congrats on finishing your draft! :)
This point is where I get really excited! I'm really antsy to start on my next project too. I think the idea/germinating stage is what I really love this phase.
Susan - it's so much fun! Wouldn't it be great to have all the time in the world? :)
Jabblog - it is! And it's so much fun. Good luck luring yours back!
Tara - me too! I hope it works. I'm letting it work itself out a bit in my brain, but I'm looking forward to tackling it!
Karen - thanks! Me too - new ideas are so much fun. The whole first drafting process is definitely my favourite! :)
I did the same thing. Finished and put it aside for three weeks. Hardly even thought about it. Now I'm revising and will stick with it until it's ready to go out to some readers.
I don't usually jump right in. It takes me a while to leave one world behind and move into another. Right now is one of the few times I have more than one story idea to mull over. I'll choose the one that refuses to sit in the backseat. Ever.
I love that "uncontainable" feeling when you have lots of ideas. It's awesome.
I'm also a one project at a time guy. I'll write on something else if I'm querying, but not if something is still being developed. Just the way I roll. :)
Ms H - that's what I'll do too. It might take a few passes to get it in shape though! :)
Carol - love those ideas that just won't let you go! Have fun!
Lydia - it is! So much fun to have so many ideas :)
DL - we're all different - and that's what makes it fun. I still have a story or two marinating like the one I spoke about! :)
Awesome that you finished your draft. And that you have so many ideas. I'm not usually at the I'm finished stage, but if I am, I pick what inspires me most.
Natalie - they're all calling pretty loudly, but I really want to attack that series idea! :)
I love shiny new ideas! I have way too many things I want to do compared to how much time I have to do them. :)
Susan - exactly! It's so much fun - but we need more time!! :)
glad you finished your project :)
Hi, Jemi,
Man you have SO much buzzing through your brain. I know the feeling. Ideas come to me ALL the time, but I just don't know where to start, especially these days.
I agree that letting a story sit a while is a VERY good thing. I have my first novel SCREAMING at me all hours of the day and night to get back into. It has some structural issues in the beginning, so I might have to do a complete rewrite... EEEKKKKK! But I love the story and it has had many wonderful reviews, so it is totally worth saving.
Now if only I can just DIVE RIGHT IN ... so many other distractions as you are so well aware.
Have a great weekend and have fun with your chosen endeavor.
Lynn - thanks! It's been fun!
Michael - yikes! Rewrites are scary!!! They feel good when they're DONE though :) It really is all about just getting started - which is often the hardest part of all! Good luck with it! :)
I have a project that keeps popping into my head. At the moment it is a seed that keeps say I could do it, but my head is not so sure, It would involve a few years of hard work and dedication so am still thinking about it,
Yvonne.
Congrats on finishing your draft, Jemi! Don't you love it when your brain bursts with ideas! I think about it in terms of what makes sense - what can I do in he timeline I need to, and if the idea fits in with my writing and audience.
Yvonne - sounds like a big project! I bet you could do it - and something that involved is a lot of fun!
Talli - that's a good approach. I think the MG is going to sit on the shelf for a while - and that would be the reason!
Karen - thanks! I do have a peppy brain. There's always a few things popping around in there! :)
I've been trying to write some short stories right now. It's hard! How do you show and not tell while packing it all into such a small space. =( I have so much to learn!
Hello thank you for reading my interview at Tara's place, come to be friends with you - have added you to my 'dashboard'.
Congrats on finishing the first draft.
I usually work on 2-3 projects at once, but I have some ideas on the backburner that I can't wait to get to. The ones I'm excited for the most and that are more fleshed out in my mind are the ones I'll start next.
EB - me too! I've never tried shorts and they're not easy at all. You want that flow and pace & impact. Not easy!
Vik - it was a great interview! Welcome :)
Medeia - I usually listen to the ones who scream loudest too :)
Congratulations! How wonderful you have more directions to go in so quickly after finishing. Good luck with all your writing!
Congratulations on finishing the first draft. And it's awesome you have all those ideas ready to go. I like the sound of the humorous mystery/suspense!
Congratulations, Jemi. Finishing is a great feeling; I love it.
Theresa - thanks! It's so much fun to have options :)
Ava - thanks! I think that's the one calling the loudest! It still needs to walk around in my head a bit... :)
Jeff - it really is, isn't it? So much fun :)
Interconnected stories are fun to read or watch in a movie when they're kept from getting too confusing. I've never tried anything like that, but I'd like to one day.
It's good that your experiencing that fount of creativity.
Lee
Wrote By Rote
Lee - I love when my brain is popping with all the ideas. I'm not sure how the interconnectivity is going to go - but I'm looking forward to trying it out!
Congratulations on finishing your first draft! :)
I usually try to think of ways of combining the best of what I've got bouncing around in my head--that way I don't have to cut out so much of what's inspiring me. Sounds like you have a lot of relatively unrelated project ideas, though, which could be a problem with that strategy.
Golden Eagle - thanks! Yeah, my brain tends to bounce all over the place!! Not a lot of connections there - except for that first bunch of combined stories! :)
wow, so many ideas!! How awesome!! I love it when that happens. Congrats too for finishing your first draft.
Lynda - thanks - my brain is always bouncing with new ideas - so much fun! :)
Isn't it just THE BEST place to be when you have so many possibilities? I keep notebooks dedicated for each brewing story. Whichever one has the longest list of bullet points makes it to the staring gate first.
I love that place and I'm almost there, heading there this fall. I have a few choices and I truly with I could write all of them! :)
Leslie - good idea! I use an idea file, but I don't always go back to it - because there are new ideas bubbling by then! :)
Laura - wouldn't that be nice! It's hard choosing when you love them all :)
Sounds like you are on a roll...keep on going! Good luck with all your writing and on finishing a first draft!
I often work on a couple WIPs. I really need to focus on finishing on in the next month. Just sit down and finish the draft!
Harvee - it's fun having all the choices - even if it's hard to choose!
Stephen - Once I get into a draft, it's all in. I have a hard time pulling my focus for other projects!
Congrats on completing the first draft! :)
Gosh, I have a problem leaving a project to marinate for long, always get itchy fingers to pluck it our again. When I complete a draft, suddenly ideas and funny things just pop in my mind, - not for other story ideas - but for the same one I just completed. like what should be where and maybe I shouldn't have done that and that... I think leaving it for a while to marinate is a very good idea. :)
If you are looking at writing some short stories, you should check out DL Hammons Write Club.
Congrats on finishing the first draft!
Cecilia - I like doing it becasue I get so close to it. My brain memorizes snippets word for word, so it's really hard to edit/revise until I get some distance! :)
Ciara - Good idea! I signed up to vote for Write Club, but haven't tried anything to submit. Hm.... :)
Jemi,it always feels good to finish a project! Congrats.
Mostly, I feel relief it's done, coupled with sadness because I'm leaving behind the world and characters.
I've done quite a bit of genre experimenting. It's a challenge and it's fun--mostly.
If you want to do a short story, I'm looking for short stories for the holidays. The past few years I've run holiday stories in December. I'd love to have one from you!
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
Sia - I do love to try new things! There's a complete thrill that goes along with the risk - totally worth it! :) I'll work on those short stories and see how they go - I just keep getting dragged into loooooooong ideas! :)
Sounds like you have lots going on. I work on several projects at a time, but a deadline is really good at getting me to work on what's important. :)
JL - I bet! I haven't had the privilege of a deadline yet, but I bet it kicks things into order very quickly!! :)
Congrats on finishing! I just finished the 3rd draft on my YA novel and I'm letting it simmer as well:)
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Nutschell - thanks! :) It's so helpful to me to let things simmer. Hope it works for you! :)
It is always fun, and sad, ending a book. Then, as you said, you have lots of new ideas to try, but there is always the part where you have to pick one. I'm bad at that part.
That mystery idea you have sounds fun! I love mysteries 8-D
Jack - well, I'll be back to that book in a few weeks - it'll need lots of work still! I love mysteries too - should be fun!
Greetings Jemi,
Yes and yay, it's me, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star!
I see you have drafted your whip, sorry, your "wip". Which in my case, is 'woof in progress'. Arf! Arf!
Wow, a human brain that um tickles :)
Seems you have loads going on and I wish you well with your ongoing writing endeavours.
I've put aside my 'project' of trying to teach my human, Gary, how to be a better writer. I'm back to my main priority of continuing my book about when I was a puppy titled, "My Previous Bark."
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, Penny xx
Really good points. I know exactly how you feel! I guess I just tackle whatever is inspiring me. But if I give myself a book deadline nothing will stop me from writing it. Not even a lack of inspiration.
You sound way more balanced than I am! I can't focus on different projects and just end up getting frazzled. Good luck with all of them! Sometimes the only thing that helps me is setting time limits: 2 hours for this project and then on to the next.
Penny - I like your new avatar - you look lovely and very accomplished! I hope your Previous Bark is going well - and I hope you have time for Gary & his son in amongst all your other activities! :)
Christina - I haven't really done a deadline yet! I was hoping to have the wip done before school started back, and that's done! So now I'm free! :)
Saumya - that's a good idea. Once I get into the meat of a draft, it's hard to let go and focus on something else, but at the beginning of a project I do bounce around! :)
Yes, I agree. I think it will be a relief to be over the move and settled in. I'm sure then I will want to write again.
I want your brain!
Jack - good to hear. You're allowed to let yourself settle and adjust! Enjoy :)
Missed - teehee! It's a bit crazy at times, but I kind of like it! :)
Oh dear. Letting go is a big problem of mine. Couple that with a drive for perfectionism (I angst for weeks over a dropped comma!) and it takes me forever to make way in my mind for new ideas to bubble to the surface.
I like to utterly, completely absolutely finish one story and then move on.
What I have recently discovered is that, to bridge the gap between stories, writing poetry and short stories keeps my muse fed and happy!
Judy, South Africa
Judy - poetry & short stories are great ideas!! I used to write poetry ages ago - haven't done it in years though. Once I'm in the middle of the draft, I get pretty obsesseed, but I do need to let it simmer in order to really see how it all works together :)
I do the same thing... walk away from it when it's 'done' and play with something else. Then look at it again, fresh pair of eyes and all that :-)
Agnes - it really works well for me! I need that perspective :)
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