Hello, faithful readers! One question for this week:
Emily asked: As you may
have gathered from my last email, I'm writing a novel. however, I've come to
writers block and, in the midst of it, I've come up with an idea for a new
story, one I'm really enthusiastic about. I was only a couple of chapters into
my other story, and am beginning to wonder whether or not I should even
continue with it. Is it a bad idea to pause the story I'm currently
working on and start the other? What do you suggest?
I’m actually a really bad person to ask this because this is something I do all the time.
All the time.
But then, maybe that makes me a good person to ask.
Hm…
Anyway! There are a lot of variables to determine what you
should do and ultimately you are the one who has to make the decision. But,
hopefully, my response will make the decision easier for you.
For me, whenever I hit writer’s block I’m usually excited
about a new story idea. And, more often than not, I drop the one I’m working on
and jump headfirst into the new idea. This can be bad for a number of reasons,
but it has also worked for me on several occasions.
It can be bad because oftentimes I don’t go back to the
first story. I say I’m going to “pause” but it really ends up being that I
quit. And my poor first several chapters are left abandoned. It’s also a bad
habit to get into because once it becomes a habit it’s hard to actually push
through and finish something rather than chase every plot bunny who hops in
your direction.
But, there have been other times where I have been so stressed
about a story that I just have to write something else. Anything else. And so I’ll
set the first story aside and work on something new. And, I have written a good
many stories this way. So, it’s worked on several occasions.
Personally, I would recommend pushing through on the first
story. It's tough, it's not fun, it can even be really boring at times, but it's life. If you haven’t read my post about writer's block you might want to
check it out.
Something I would recommend, since you are passionate about
your new idea is to get a notebook or a new document on your computer- depending
on your preferred method- and write down anything you want about the story. A
first chapter, character outlines, notes on what you want to happen. Just write
whatever comes to you until you’re completely dry. This way you’ll have notes
when you want to go back to this idea and won’t lose everything you were
thinking while you work on the first idea.
The two cases I would recommend quitting the first idea for
the second are: if you’re stressed or if you have major plot holes you can’t
figure out. Both of these are cases where you need to take a step back and get
a fresh perspective. And the best way to gain a new perspective is to set your
story aside and come back to it at a later date.
If you do decide to pause the first idea for the second, I
would recommend making notes on what you have planned for the first idea, if
you don’t already have them. I tend to forget this step and then when I go back
to an idea, I don’t have a clue what I was planning. You think you’re going to
remember, but put enough time and excitement about another project between you
and the idea and you’d be surprised how much you don’t remember.
And that’s that! I’ll see you all on Monday, as usual.
In the meantime, if you would consider taking a quick survey
about my blog and let me know how I’m doing and what you would like to see from
me in the future, I would greatly appreciate it. You can either put your name
on it or don’t, your choice. And, please be honest. I won’t be offended by your
feedback, I promise!
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