Being distracted from writing by unrelated ideas

11 posts / 0 new

Sun, 2012-10-14 01:59

For the last few days I've been working on a novel. I think it's about time I got around to writing one because my last serious attempt was several years ago when I was still very much learning the craft, and I wasn't experienced enough to make that attempt anywhere near presentable. I've churned out the first draft of a couple of chapters, one more or less finished and one that needs a lot more work.

This evening I suddenly came up with a totally unrelated story idea for my Mahogany Hippopotamus series. Maybe I should put it on the back-burner, maybe I should ignore it, maybe I should simply go for it, or work some of the time on one project and the rest on the other - I don't know what to do for the best. I don't think the new story would take an awfully long time to complete, but my tales tend to get very involved and you never know..... I can really do without the distraction, because life is crammed with too many distractions already and I fear I may lose the will to work on my novel. Does anyone else experience similar problems?

Sun, 2012-10-14 08:08

Parson Thru

Oh yes! I can't write anything that requires more than a few hours continuous focus. Chief distraction being work. Find myself balancing opposites and my head just gets crowded. Good luck with both projects. Try to keep the world of your novel alive if you can.

Parson Thru

Sun, 2012-10-14 12:19

alibob

Last November I attempted the NaNoWriMo, or whatever it's called, write a novel in a month thing. Pretty much as soon as I started I got all these 'wonderful' ideas for short stories, and was desperate to get on with them, rather than the novel. Needless to say, I did not complete the challenge! And I won't be trying again this year! I have a very low boredom threshold. I can't even just work on one short story at a time. I've currently got about six 'in progress'. I often wonder if I'd be a better writer if I just focused on one thing at a time. But to be honest, I suspect not.

Sun, 2012-10-14 15:59

scratch

I'd work to keep the novel idea going. I think that that should take priority Walrus. All said though having too many ideas is a gazillion times better than not having one. Good luck with whatever you decide. If it's the Irish dog fight novel theme etc I think it sounds a cracker just the sort of thing I would want to read and I bet many others would want to read it too!

Sun, 2012-10-14 17:06

celticman

All ideas are related. Let them fight it out on the page.

Sun, 2012-10-14 17:09

The Walrus

It is, Scratch, I'm well into it and I think I'm doing a good job, but all of a sudden I've come up with this idea that won't go away. I know from experience, though, that if you leave a piece for too long it goes stale. I guess what I'll probably do is soldier on with the novel and use the short story idea (and any more that come my way) for light relief. And you're right, it's better than having no ideas to play with..... Like Parson Thru and alibob, I have a low boredom threshold and if I slave too hard and too constantly on one thing I'll just churn out crap.

Sun, 2012-10-14 17:25

scratch

Celtic man, you make a good point there.

Sun, 2012-10-14 18:30

The Walrus

It is a good point. Our minds are complex things, and if you come up with ideas it's for a reason.

Mon, 2012-10-15 10:31

fatboy74

Bathe in the glow of having too much to write about Walrus - it might make the whole process more interesting for you to switch task now and then and shoulkd provide interesting results, and there's no rush. Use what time you have and see what comes of it. I wish you the best of luck with it.

Mon, 2012-10-15 12:25

#10

The Walrus

Thanks, fatboy. Sometimes I struggle for any ideas, even feeble ones (especially when I'm going through a depressive stage). I think the important thing to do is just write however you feel, and if you're lucky you'll trawl up something worth working on.

Mon, 2012-10-15 15:27

#11

Das Stavrou

All the time, it's horrendous. Loads of ideas fly about and I get excited about one but then get bored and my passion jumps onto the next idea. I write what I can and come back to things when they interest me again. Until I figure out a better way of doing it *S*