Monday, December 30, 2013

Shiny New Ideas For a Shiny New Year

It's almost time to start the year! So what better time to pay attention to some of those shiny new ideas that have been floating around in your head like willow the wisps? You know the ones. The ones that you brush away like flies because you're trying to focus on revisions. 

Once in a while one of those lovely little wisps grows bright and shiny and demands your focus, despite your attempts otherwise. It might even wake you in the middle of the night because it's so bright. 

My advice? Pay attention. Get up and write what demands to be written. Jot down those characters and problems and first pages (that probably won't be first pages forever) and whatever else you need to. Start a file for it. Give in. Because there's nothing like that joy in discovering something new that was inside of you all along. 

Do you have to let it take over? No. You can - and probably should - finish what you need to. But you might as well take a break on occasion when the muse strikes. Because it'll refresh you and remind you what you love about this work. Yes, even if you enjoy revisions. :D 

So happy new ideas to you all!!!

6 comments:

  1. I completely agree that those shiny new ideas are refreshing! In fact, I agree 100% with this post. :)

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  2. I just had a new idea a couple of days ago! Wrote it down. Might be my next book :)

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  3. I am always thrilled when a wisp of a new idea strikes me, because I don't actually generate a lot of new book or short story ideas. All my ideas are built on my existing books (four of them) in various stages of revision, and I wonder, when will the fifth book idea come along???? I've had some ideas pop up but then fizzle out after the initial exploration.

    LOVED your 12 days of writing!!! Tweeting that one!

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  4. I always write down any ideas and then get back to what i was doing. Don't want to be distracted, but don't want to miss out on a new idea either (although sometimes I look at what I wrote and can't remember what I meant).

    mood
    Moody Writing

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  5. And that's why God made spiral notebooks and journals.

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