Do you have any 'side' ideas tickling your writing muscles right now?

[Naruzeldamaster]

I am a bit cursed in this department, whenever a new 'idea' forms it starts harassing me nonstop until I write at least Chapter 1.
It's a major reason why I haven't finished a book yet. But I refuse to write anything else until I finish Sinbad.

I'm plugging away at Sinbad and will be finishing the first chapter of act 2 soon.

 

[ThinkerX]

This happened last week. I wrote 500 words' worth of notes and moved on. This happens often.

 

[casval]

Happens all the time! I mostly ignore them, or write out a quick note on the idea for later. Sometimes, though, if I've hit a real wall in my current project, I'll write out a couple of chapters of something else just to keep myself consistent with my writing habits while I work out where I'm stalling in my main book.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

Happens all the time! I mostly ignore them, or write out a quick note on the idea for later. Sometimes, though, if I've hit a real wall in my current project, I'll write out a couple of chapters of something else just to keep myself consistent with my writing habits while I work out where I'm stalling in my main book.

I need to start trying this, an idea folder where I just jot down a summary for later. Writing a chapter is fun and all but it does take time off of the main project.

 

[pmmg]

Not very often, I am able to sufficiently focus my thoughts on the one at hand.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

Just one or two.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

Not very often, I am able to sufficiently focus my thoughts on the one at hand.

I wish I had your focus lol I'm not bad at getting stuff done when I DO focus on it, it's just getting my brain to sit still long enough to harness that power.

Just one or two.

Of all the random nonsense and trinkets in this picture my eyes instantly are drawn to the pepto...lol

 

[A. E. Lowan]

I wish I had your focus lol I'm not bad at getting stuff done when I DO focus on it, it's just getting my brain to sit still long enough to harness that power.

Of all the random nonsense and trinkets in this picture my eyes instantly are drawn to the pepto...lol

You see that pile. lol

But also, I just finished writing the first short, or really anything in three years. The one in my signature is the last thing I got out. I may live on Pepto for a while. lol

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

You see that pile. lol

But also, I just finished writing the first short, or really anything in three years. The one in my signature is the last thing I got out. I may live on Pepto for a while. lol

I also like the Stitch Plush lol

My desk isn't much cleaner but I swear there's an "order" to it lol. Lego Eevee just chills and watches my tv, Shiny Hisui Zorua plush keeps an eye on my food, Minuru Amiibo is there to back hand either of them if they get up to mischief XD

I do gotta get better at cleaning my dishes out though, bad habit but not quite. (I usually get them before bed or the next morning)

As far as jotting ideas down, I think I will start doing that because gosh do some ideas 'pester' me.
They taunt me with like two or three scenes on repeat in my brain.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

I have a Themberchaud.

 

[Penpilot]

For me, I have an organized idea file. When I have an idea for a story while in the middle of writing another story, I open up a new entry in the idea file and jot down notes, trying to capture the idea for the story and the emotion behind what I want the story to be, so if and when I get back to it, I understand where my head was at when the idea sparked.

 

[Prince of Spires]

It happens all the time. Whenever I write, my brain just starts holding out these wonderful, lovely ideas for different projects to me. I just let them happily bounce around in my head. They keep me occupied.

When it happens, I remember 3 things, which helps:
- The idea is the easy part, while the writing is the hard work. My brain prefers to do the easy stuff, since it's easier (duh...). So, it's happy to focus on ideas.
- However, which is point 2, an idea is not a story. It could be the beginning of one. But it's not a story. A novel is a collection of many ideas, of many scenes., many characters. An idea can get you there, but a single idea is not enough to cary a whole novel.
- The good ideas (good for me that is) stick around. At any given day, a couple of new story ideas bounce through my head. Anything that makes me go, huh, that's interesting / weird / fun. However, there are only a couple that stick with me for a long time. They keep coming back over and over again. Those are the ones that excite me the most and that I have to write. The others are just fun ideas to keep my mind occupied (and an idea is not a story...). And since the good ones stick with me, there's no rush to write it now.

 

[Astralai]

That happens to me. I adapted two ideas to create subplots in my WIP dark fantasy. The others are on hold in my 'piling system.'

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

That happens to me. I adapted two ideas to create subplots in my WIP dark fantasy. The others are on hold in my 'piling system.'

I like this idea, I've combined two previous story ideas into a third idea to create Sinbad. It's been going quite well.
I used to be multitasking but I decided to focus down on one project (which is Sinbad)

 

[JLiana]

I have 19 chapters of my main novel
4 chapters of another
Half a chapter of another

And then three worldbuilding booklets. I like to have multiple projects going, just so when I get stuck I can go to something else for a while.

 

[Astralai]

I like this idea, I've combined two previous story ideas into a third idea to create Sinbad. It's been going quite well.
I used to be multitasking but I decided to focus down on one project (which is Sinbad)

It's hard not to start a new tale with every new idea. I promised myself I would not start a new story until I've finished my WIP. Repurposing the ideas for subplots is sorta cheating, but they are progressing well and giving a bit of a twist to the central storyline.

 

[casval]

I have a Themberchaud.

I love the lil evil snow globe!

 

[Mad Swede]

This is why I have a random text file, for all those ideas and thoughts that turn up but which don't fit into the story I'm currently working on. The key to completing a story is self-discipline. Write those random thoughts down and then get back to your story.

 

[pmmg]

I wish I had your focus

I make it sound more focused than I am. I am easily distracted into everything else. Checking emails, reading forum posts, watching Youtube... anything but writing, but I don't welcome new stories ideas when I am writing. I jam my thoughts into the current one. The others...they will just have to wait.

When I had first started, sitting down and popping out several thousand words at a go was not at all hard to do, now it feels like pulling bent nails out of a thick board. I am happy if I can get to 700, and usually get about 300 before I start feeling the urge to end...

Its not distraction or non-distraction that gets it done. Its just persistence and attitude. I will finish this story and I will stop plugging away at it till its done. Even if the pace is slow.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

I make it sound more focused than I am. I am easily distracted into everything else. Checking emails, reading forum posts, watching Youtube... anything but writing, but I don't welcome new stories ideas when I am writing. I jam my thoughts into the current one. The others...they will just have to wait.

When I had first started, sitting down and popping out several thousand words at a go was not at all hard to do, now it feels like pulling bent nails out of a thick board. I am happy if I can get to 700, and usually get about 300 before I start feeling the urge to end...

Its not distraction or non-distraction that gets it done. Its just persistence and attitude. I will finish this story and I will stop plugging away at it till its done. Even if the pace is slow.

The usual 'lurking on the interwebs' type distractions aside. Certainly more focused than I am at any rate. Especially when it comes to being focused on one story at a time.

I've decided to 'plug away' at 'Sinbad' (Recently decided to change the name of the protagonist and the story but not sure to what) until it was done.
You have no idea how strong the 'itch' to work on my other stuff is. (Especially my Romantic Comedy) BUT on the other hand, I'm pushing through it, and as a result I'm making progress on a story for once.

I've decided that my 'goal' for each session is one conversation, and that everything else after is a W. Though I may have to trim down some scenes a bit in editing. My characters like to YAP way more than the avengers do on average.