For two years or so, I have had one ‘big’ project which I’ve been steadily working on. But then, every so often, just as I’m knuckling down to write it … an idea pops up in my head.
Listen to this, it says with glee, this will be amazing – write me.
You horrible idea you.
If I could write a letter to the ‘idea’ lightbulb which sputters on and off periodically it would go something like this …
– – –
Dear Ideas,
Thanks for switching on just when I was getting to grips with my precious The Many Trials. Thanks to your bright light blinding me I am now dazzled with a new tale to spin.
But my dear Ideas, I know you.
I. Know. You.
For the minute I laugh excitedly, rub my hands and declare how cool this new idea is … you’ll turn the light off. And I’ll be left staring at a word document, wondering what on earth I’m doing. Wandering in the Pitch Black of Why Am I Doing This? and This Idea is Stupid and Childish.
I’ll probably be a couple thousand words in when you plunge me into darkness – and the realization that I’ve just wasted time and words when I could have been writing The Many Trials.
Would you mind – awfully – stopping it? Please?
Keep the light on with The Many Trials – don’t die on me there. I’m so close to victory. So close to writing ‘The End’.
Maybe you could save energy and show me the light on new ideas and new projects … once I’m done with this one.
Because putting another document in the Abandoned folder is downright depressing. And seeing a file I haven’t touched for weeks (or months!) is equally distracting.
I’m glad I have you – truly I am. But you’re malfunctioning and I’ll never finish anything if you keep this up.
Thanks for listening to me.
Yours,
Me.
– – –
For a few, beautiful moments I’m free. Free to tap happily away at The Many Trials.
But then …
*head desk*
of words & books 
Ideas are like yarns, can control them or predict them but when they come they’re downright liberating lol Just , my two cents, I’ve abandoned all computers until my work is done. I strictly write in notebooks and on pads.. many notebooks and pads, its easy to keep track of fleeting ideas an easy to dive in one idea and out of another, keep a separate notebook for each idea rather have one computer for all of your ideas. Related to your post and appreciated it, check out my blog if you get the chance.
It isn’t so much the ideas that you can jot down in a notebook and leave for awhile as the ideas which have to done right. now. which I have trouble with. Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Sometimes, I find it helpful to jump on the new idea until it runs cold again. This gives me seeds for my next project, and allows my current project to percolate and develop in the back of my mind. It’s not disloyalty, it’s a side road that may end up helping your main project…
Writing is a game of patience and persistence. Being done well is much more important than being done quickly.
True – I’ve learnt that recently, an idea grabbed me and I’ve been working on that – my poor Many Trials has been left neglected but I know I will be back working on it soon.
I completely agree with you about patience and persistence – it’s hard because I’m a person who wants it finished NOW! But I’ve yet to meet someone who can write a complete novel in a day. And so I have learnt/am learning to take it one chapter at time – savouring the journey along the way and enjoying the process.
Thanks for commenting!