Sunday, May 17, 2009

Hijacked!

My brain has been hijacked. By a new book idea.

It's bizarre. I've actually never felt anything like it. I literally cannot focus on my edits. I want to focus. I need to focus. I know exactly what I need to do, but I just can't write a single word. Instead, I find myself researching my new book idea. It's crazy. This is the pushiest book idea I've ever had, by a mile.

And I know, I know, it's Shiny-New-Ideaitis. I've dealt with it before (though admittedly never with one quite so shiny.)I have no intention of letting this derail my progress. . . er . . any more than it has. I plan on showing that new idea who is boss( . . . tomorrow.)

*sigh* Ever been here? What do you do? Start the new book whilst editing? Or are you a strictly one book at a time kinda writer, meaning I shouldn't even start with this new one until I am querying my WiP?

12 comments:

MeganRebekah said...

I've got two books going on right now, the main one and a side MG project. For me it's actually nice because when I get sick of the main WIP I can switch over to the other one. I'm still writing, which is important, and I get the time away from the WIP I need.

Natalie Whipple said...

Well, you know how my brain works—basically there are multiple ideas in there trying to get my attention.

What I do when I have to *work* and not just have fun with ideas: I schedule things, and award myself with the new book if I finish my goals.

For example, right now I have to do ninja edits, but I also have Fiona wanting to play.

Goal: Minimum 50pages of ninja edits a day. If I have energy after that, then I'm allowed to write other things.

Stuff like that helps me stay focused.

Michelle D. Argyle said...

I'm one book at a time, and unfortunately, my current book is really ticking me off. I can't just go work on a new one. Well, maybe I can. But then this one will really be shoved back, and also my first one - and both need editing and rewriting and polishing before I can feel even remotely ready to move on to a new work. Sometimes I wonder what's wrong with my head. Where's all the shiny ideas???

Kiersten White said...

Oooh! Shiny new idea!! How exciting...

But yes. EDITING. I second Natalie's idea.

Anonymous said...

Hi!

I found your blog through Jenni's

I've always been a one book at a time author. But lately there is a shiny new idea vying for my attention and I'm not done with the final edits of the last shiny thing. : )

I'm compromising. When an idea comes for the new shiny thing, I jot it down, file it and leave it with the promise that I will get back to it.

It takes some of the pressure off--I'm not one of those writers inundated with ideas--and helps me to focus, most of the time, on my current novel.

Renee Collins said...

Megan-That's a really interesting idea, because there really are days when my WiP drives me crazy. But I still want to write.

Natalie-I like the goals/rewards idea as well. I'm a big checklist person, so maybe I can whip one up for now. Truth is, my new idea--while pushy--really isn't ready.

Michelle-See, I thought I was a one book at a time girl. Until this idea.

Also, believe me, I'm no shiny idea factory. For me, legitimate book ideas come few and far between.

Kiersten-*sigh* Alright. ;)

Renee Collins said...

Oops, writermom, I cross posted with you.

Well, I think we are similar in our methods. I'm a big notebook gal. I write down everything I can. And believe me, I've filled many pages on this new idea. :)

Thanks for the tip!

Miriam Forster said...

Oh, that happened to me this week. A lovely exotic idea for a novel came right in the middle of writing another book.

I put it in the back of my mind to simmer until I finish what I'm working on. I usually find the idea comes out better if I give it a month or so to cook.

But if I were revising, instead of writing a first draft... it would be hard to leave it. They're so shiny!

Kasie West said...

I say write what you're feeling. You have to take advantage of it because the "feeling" can leave as fast as it comes. But, that being said, I third what Nat said. Reward yourself after you edit. I always do that.

Tanisha said...

i don't have any advice for you, seeing how i'm not a writer yet BUT i just wanted to say that i was reading your profile and was amazed(?)excited(?)...impressed(?) (and this is why i can't be a writer yet, what with the lack of a useful vocabulary)..anyway, i saw that you like film scores and wanted to say that john williams is by far my favorite composer ever.

Anonymous said...

It must be a strong book if it's attacking you like that!! How exciting. I have no advice on this whatsoever. I just work on whatever I feel like at that time.

Jessie Oliveros said...

I get shiny-new-ideaitis all the time, and have numerous parts of different books. And no whole book. It's a hard infection to fight. And the only cure is to let it run its course I think. That is, you should not ignore it. Otherwise, it will spread to other parts of your life.