I know I'm not the only one who gets distracted by those Shiny New Ideas. It's hard when I'm discouraged by a revision and wonder if it's even worth finishing. But I'm going to finish this revision first. I promised. In fact, I'm going to finish it by the end of the week. It will still need some smoothing over, but the major things I plan to change will be done by Saturday night.
I hope.
How do you deal with those Shiny New Ideas? How do you keep working on a WIP when you're feeling discouraged about it? Any advice?
With my shiny ideas, I have to just write them down in a folder and keep them in the back of my mind until I am ready to deal with them.
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Each situation is a little different. I definitely agree with Kayleen - I make sure to write down all my shiny new ideas so that they don't get lost. Sometimes I give myself a day or two off of my WIP to refresh. Also - I find talking through the plot with someone really helps me. My brother is perfect for this b/c we start discussing different plot ideas and soon I'm all geared up again.
ReplyDeleteI can offer NO advice whatsoever. I bounce around and will start something new and plow through it fast, but I have a whole lot of partials sitting in my writing folders. As long as you do finish something once in a while, I think bouncing around can be helpful, get your brain off a problem so you can look at your MS with new eyes :D
ReplyDeleteKayeleen--I'm pretty good about writing them down, it's finding them again that I struggle with. I need to get myself a dedicated folder to keep track of them all.
ReplyDeleteSierra--I have to talk through my plot ideas as well. Sometimes it just gives me more ideas that I can't write right now. :)
Jolene--I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with lots of partials! You make a good point that a break allows you to look at your MS with new eyes. I agree.
Ha ha! I wrote a poem about this once:
ReplyDeletehttp://writerropes.blogspot.com/2010/12/other-shiny-idea.html
Finish the revision, put it out there, and then get going on your next shiny idea.
Liesl--I love the poem! See, I knew I couldn't be the only one plagued by shiny new ideas. Hopefully I can keep ignoring them until this is done.
ReplyDeleteI have a file on my computer where I jot down story ideas. When I'm tempted to grab one of them and run with it, I try to remind myself how great it feels to have a completed, polished manuscript to shop around or enter contests, etc. That usually helps me stay on task. Good luck with the revisions!
ReplyDeleteStacy--A completed, polished manuscript? That does sound like a nice feeling and I'll keep pushing until I get there. :)
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