I’m sitting here with edits in front of me. Once they’re done, I have to get started on the next Tor book. Am I thinking about charting the story? Am I thinking about deepening the suspense? NO! I’m thinking about what I’d like to write next.
Why does this always happen?
For the last few days my brain has been churning with ideas. Unfortunately, they are the wrong ideas since they have nothing to do with my current projects. (Have I mentioned that I have deadlines to meet?)
The one that has been screaming the loudest is a YA adult book. Yes, you read that right. I said Young Adult. Maybe it’s because of Harry Potter fever making the rounds. Maybe it’s because of all the kids’ movies I’ve been watching lately. I don’t know why, but I can’t seem to get this story idea out of my head. It’s so raw that it doesn’t even have a plot yet, only an opening scene. (I did write it down, for those of you wondering.) That said, it’s the LAST thing that I need to be thinking about right now.
So I forced myself to shove it aside and what did I do afterwards? I started tinkering with two Blaze story ideas that I have in my files. No, these stories didn’t start out as Blazes. I just thought that they might fit. Again, this is the last thing I need to be working on. Can we say avoidance? I think we can.
How do you handle monkey brain?
August 1st, 2007
I always write ideas down whenever they show up. Because they always need time to develop before I can write the story anyway, and it doesn’t take that long to write it down and file it away to come back to later. And it’s not a bad idea to start thinking about a proposal to follow up Sky Goddess edits, so the timing’s pretty good if you ask me. : )
by Charli August 1st, 2007 at 5:49 pmCharli, It almost sounds like you’re encouraging this behavior. (wg) That’s not helping. *ggg*
by Jordan August 1st, 2007 at 5:52 pmHow do you handle monkey brain?
Badly.
I do this a lot too…instead of working on the things I should be doing, stories I really LIKE, btw, the mind insists on coming up with new ideas (I have a 10-page synopsis to prove it, lol).
I usually try compromise. I’ll give in and allow myself to spend a little time on new ideas, write a synopsis, character mapping, etc., but then I have to be strict and make myself get down to business (reminding myself that it IS a business).
by raine August 1st, 2007 at 10:06 pmI am suffering monkey brain too. I need help, maybe a 12-step program. Monkey Brains Anonymous, anybody? I never know what I’m writing these days when I pick up the pen–literally.
by May August 2nd, 2007 at 3:43 amI finished my YA novel attempt last week, and started sending it around. It was so much fun, I stopped writing my other manuscript until I finished the YA one. Be careful about starting the YA story, Jordan. You may end up with TOR yelling for edits and the next book, while you’re lost in YA land.
by BernardL August 2nd, 2007 at 12:54 pmRaine, *g* That’s pretty much EXACTLY what I do. I write down the idea, so that my mind shuts up and then get back to work on the immediate project.
by Jordan August 2nd, 2007 at 1:41 pmMay, LOL! Let me know if you find a program. Unfortunately, I can’t let it get that out of hand or I won’t meet my commitments.
by Jordan August 2nd, 2007 at 1:42 pmBernard, That’s what I’m afraid of.:-O *ggg* Good luck with your YA.
by Jordan August 2nd, 2007 at 1:42 pmHow do you handle monkey brain?
You’re talking to the woman who works on eight novels at the same time, has files for another eight, and fights new plotbunnies every day - how shall I know? *grin*
by Gabriele August 2nd, 2007 at 4:22 pmGabriele, That is bad. *ggg* I cannot even imagine.
by Jordan August 2nd, 2007 at 6:10 pmI am gnat-like this week too! Maybe it’s astrological or something.
by Michele August 3rd, 2007 at 1:28 pmMichele, Maybe that’s it.
by Jordan August 3rd, 2007 at 3:37 pmJordan!
I know exactly what you mean. You complete a proposal for a book you won’t begin for months, but your mind is already spinning ahead to the next wonderful, sparkling idea. I’m there now. I just contracted and have to start something I proposed in May, but I want to start the story I just proposed to another house. Argh!
by Delilah Devlin August 5th, 2007 at 3:20 pmDelilah, LOL! I hate that it works that way, but I suppose we should get used to it.
by Jordan August 5th, 2007 at 6:27 pm