As a writer, it’s possible to have too many ideas. I do. I have way more ideas that I can keep up with. And as a published writer, I have deadlines and contracts that I have to adhere to. Because of those deadlines and contracts, I often can’t work on new ideas when they come to me.
When you’re a new writer, sometimes it’s hard to commit to one story. That’s okay for a while. But if you’re serious about writing, at some point you need to choose one story and stick with it to the end.
Does that mean you ignore other good ideas that may come to you while you’re trying to finish that chosen story?
No way! Here’s what I do. If I get really excited about an idea, I jot it down, grab a new file folder, write a tentative title on the tab, and put all my ideas in the folder. That way, if something else comes to me for that idea, I can write it down and add it to the folder. Then I can go back to what I’m supposed to be working on. But someday, when I get time to work on new ideas, they are all ready and waiting for me to jump back in.
How about you? Do you have a process of keeping your ideas organized?
I definitely find organizing and utilizing ideas a challenge. Some times I’ll get a whole bunch all at once and other times I struggle to grasp one! I have a little writers notebook and I scrawl things in there. But sometimes I just think, if the idea was really that great, I’ll remember it when I need it… that doesn’t usually happen, but it serves the purpose of the thought at the time – not to worry about it.
When I’m writing something I sometimes try to cram way too many ideas into one thing and my writing turns out like… well, crap. Otherwise I just use the methods I’ve mentioned above. Usually when I’m writing a story and I get a new idea I type it at the bottom of my document and by the end of the session I have a few lines at the bottom reminding me of other things sometimes to do with the story and some completely off the topic.
Zelf,
I do that too! The typing the idea at the bottom of the document thing. Oftentimes, by the time I get to the end, it doesn’t fit anymore. But there have been lots of times where I’m like, “Oh yeah!” And I go back into the story and find a place to put the idea.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Jill
For me I get lots of pieces of ideas and frequently write them down. But then i don’t know how to decelop them. I know you move on to plotting & character development BUT how do you know good challenges or plot twists… Things like that?
And how do you stop feeling like all your ideas arent any good??
Petunia,
All ideas need TLC (tender loving care) to develop them further. But I think you can tell whether you have decent plot twists as long as the events are clashing against the desires of your main character. Things that stand in the way of your main character’s goal.
As far as doubting whether your ideas are any good–writers are artists. There will always be doubt as to whether people like your stories. I have three books published. I’ve won a few awards. But if someone gives me a 1-star review on Amazon.com, it can depress me all week–if I let it. So you kind of have to train yourself to stay positive. Trust that God gifted you with this amazing imagination and creativity and you were meant to use it.
It also helps to find the right critique group. When I first started writing, I got into a couple of critique groups that were a poor fit for me. The other writer’s didn’t write YA. They didn’t write fantasy. So they did not understand my stories. I finally found the perfect online critique group for me and the other people in this group have become lifelong friends. We read each other’s stories, urge each other to keep going, not to give up, we give constructive criticism and feedback, and we help each other perfect our stories. We still have moments when we doubt our writing, but we have each other to vent to when we get in that negative place. Try to find a good critique group, if you can. They are the best!
Hope that helps some.
🙂
Jill
I do something very similar but with a twist of digital lime. I use Gmail’s label functions to apply colorful “stickers” to my ideas, sent to myself either with my phone or directly from my laptop if I’m on it. It’s great because I never have to worry about losing pieces of paper and I can search quickly through my emails to find that one note I really really want to reread.
I also carry a tiny notebook for when I’m not near a cyberspace portal.
Great topic, Jill!
Sean,
That sounds like a smart way to do things. I often email myself from my cell phone, so that when I’m home later, I have the idea or reminder right there where I won’t forget it. Isn’t technology grand?
🙂
Jill
I do essentially the same thing, just on my computer. If later I have another idea, or idea that furthers that idea, I write it down with the rest of that story idea, and then get back to focusing on the book I’m currently writing.
Thanks for sharing that, Selina. I keep folders on my computer too. But there are some things I can’t put on the computer (though I could scan these things…). Things like an article in the newspaper and a copy of a devotional that has a theme I’d like to explore. Things like that go in the paper folders. The story itself and online research gets saved in the computer folders.
Jill
I have a file on my computer titled Pandora’s Box (because you never know what’s going to happen when you start writing a story!) where I store all of my new ideas!
I think learning to focus on just one story at a time definitely helped my writing! For the longest time, I tried to work on three-four different ideas at a time and I ended up with characters and stories that all started to sound alike…
So, now, I write down all my new ideas and store them away for later! Once I finish one project, it’s fun to be able to go to the file and sift through the stones and decide which one I want to fashion into a gem next!
Good point, Gillian. That happens to me also when I try to work on more than one story at a time. They meld together and I have to set one aside to keep things straight.
Thanks for posting!
🙂
Jill
There’s such a thing as too many ideas? Really? =) So is this why I have plans for about eighteen novels? Haha. So I guess all that remains is to sit down and write just one of those at a time . . .
Yes, my process is similar to yours. I start a file-folder on the computer and put in ideas, snippets, character lists etc for particular stories.
I also have an author’s journal, where I put any ideas that don’t yet belong to a particular story in my mind yet. That’s where I go mining for ideas when I need them. I recommend that all writers keep an Author’s Journal.
Good post again, Jill. Thanks.
Best,
D. S. Dahnim
Sounds like you’ve got your process nailed down, D.S.!
Now sit down and write one! *wink*
🙂
Jill
I’m so glad I found this!
Right now I’m sitting at my desk surrounded by little bits of paper and folders full of various ideas whilst trying to keep focus on my main project.
It’s a complete nightmare!
I find that keeping a tape recorder on me at all times helps me capture ideas before they get the chance to escape. Then when I get a spare moment I can just have a listen, make a few notes (although sometimes this results in a full synopsis if I’m not careful!), and then carry on with whatever I’m supposed to be working on.
Keeping focus is difficult if your head is clouded by too many ideas.
It’s comforting to know others are suffering similarly!
Thanks for sharing, Ange! Yes, we random artistic types are used to having our brains wander.
A tape recorder is a great idea! I have a mp3 recorder, but I always forget to take it on long drives…
Keep on writing! 🙂
Jill