Tuesday, September 3, 2013

The Idea Carousel

I find myself in a fun and unique position the last couple of days. I've finished major edits on two different books which I've been working on for the last year and a half or so. I'd work on one and then switch to the other. And while I started drafting a new book earlier this year, I didn't get very far before I got sucked into edits on these other two, after getting some good feedback from a couple agents.

But now I'm done - I can't think of another thing I could do to either book. I'm querying the one, and it'll either get picked up by an agent or not. I've gotten some lovely feedback on it, along the lines of "your writing is wonderful, but I have something too similar". It may be that the market is just not right for it now. Time will tell. I'm going to query the other one, but I don't want to query them both at the same time.

So now I'm in the position to start something completely brand new. I thought about going back to the one I started earlier this year, but I'm not sure if I want to right now. And I thought about going back to my very first completed novel and working on a rewrite of that, but I'm not sure I want to do that, either. What I need is to just write for the love of writing and not worry about a goal. That's something I seldom do - those of you who know me well know I am extremely goal and deadline driven. But I'm going to chill out for the time being and see what happens.

Now the idea carousel spins, as I go through all the ideas I've had over the last couple years. I have 19 folders in Word for different story ideas. Some of them pull at me and are more mentally plotted out than others. So yesterday I started writing one of the ones that's tugged pretty hard at me over the last year. And after that I wrote something that had only been a tiny, random spark of an idea, and all the sudden that one has stolen my muse away; snuck up and shoved all the more planned ideas in the closet. But I'm not committing yet. I'm going to play the field, and write a little of whichever idea I feel like until one of them claims me entirely. And I'm having a great deal of fun with that.

How about you guys? Any bright, shiny ideas luring you at the moment?

12 comments:

  1. Sounds like a blast, Alexia. Have fun with your story ideas and write the one that makes you happiest. Personally, I'm editing old stuff, but I do plan on writing new words come November. =o)

    Good luck choosing and good luck with those queries. I'm pulling for you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have one book on the horizon that I'm eager to write... some days more eager than others. But I know what you mean by swimming through all the ideas! A friend once told me that, if you have nothing you want to write, draft a bunch of first lines until you hit one you enjoy. If you have too many ideas, write the first chapter of each until you find one that grips you (sounds like you're already doing that!).

    Much luck with the queries and the drafting!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good luck with the querying! And oh, yes, I have about a dozen story ideas vying for my attention. I finally picked one to stick with, and am ready to go on a first draft!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, lord yes, I have the biggest, brightest shiniest new idea, but I can't just yet.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shiny ideas are sooo much fun!!!! I just want to get through my edits . . . best to keep shiny objects away from me until then, lol.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cool! Having fun is something that eludes us sometimes. i decided with my last story that I was gonna write something fun and just enjoy myself. And i did! Now I plan to self-pub it this fall. :)
    Sometimes I start one idea then another one steals my heart. But I've found I have to focus on which one is more likely to connect with readers and go with that or else I'm not getting anywhere in the pub world.
    Whatever you decide, good luck!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've a few that keep fighting for place (Welsh steampunk, comic zombie, epic fantasy) but so far 0 words written. Just need to get the time to sit and write.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congrats on getting your two novels done.. that's is an excellent achievement. I agree on playing the field until you find that book that grabs you to write:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the idea phase! Spin that carousel.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi, Alexia! *waves big*
    I'm sorry it's been forever since I've said hello. I totally know what you mean about the idea carousel. Mine has been turning of late, but I do think I know what I'm doing next. We'll see.
    Take care and have a great week!

    -Jimmy

    ReplyDelete
  11. I like the way you are playing the fields with your ideas. My Idea Carousel has just a few ideas, am working on one and plan to work on the other one by October.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hey, very interesting! I'm almost at the same point you are with the old stories being out and about, and contemplating new ideas. I've fiddled with ideas for one, but it's not uber-grabbing. So nice you're being leisurely about your choices--enjoy that writing!! :)

    ReplyDelete

I love talking with friends new and old! What's on your mind?