The Faucet of Ideas

Sometimes I wish I could turn off the faucet of ideas, just for a little while, until I could get the ones waiting in line written.

Every once in a while someone asks how I get my ideas. I don't think any writer knows, really. They come to you. Sometimes in dreams, sometimes while you're driving down the road or having a conversation with a friend. Sometimes they introduce themselves as characters, sometimes it's a single image, sometimes it's the bigger framework of the story, the concept.

The ideas won't leave me alone.

Of Sea and Stone comes out soon, and I'm already working on the sequel, which is still untitled, as well as a completely new and different series. Yes, another new series! I'm up to my ears in new stuff. I'm really excited for these new stories. Still, it's hard to say goodbye to familiar worlds, and leaving the Frost was difficult and emotional. But I'm happy to get to play in some new places now, and I felt like Lia and company deserved some happiness for once, so I was glad to give them an ending.

As soon as I finish something, though, the ideas come flooding in and they're all clamoring to be written.

It's the best kind of exhaustion.

Hoarding

The truth about me and ideas:

Sometimes I have a great idea.

But sometimes instead of writing it down in a story, I hoard the idea instead. It's like I'm afraid that if I use that idea, I'll never get another idea even half as good, so I have to save it for something special.

I didn't even realize I did this until a few years ago. And you know what?

It's not true. Not even remotely true.

I've discovered that when I use those great ideas, I get more of them.

Also, they turn into books! Yay for finished books!

Why do I have so little faith in myself sometimes?

Am I the only person that gets afraid they won't have any more good ideas?

Other Announcements:

I am hard at work on several projects, including a steampunk novelette/novella/something short. It has detectives. And airships. And mysteries.

AIRSHIPS, people!!!!

I'm wild about them.

I am also brainstorming for cover art for a previously-written book that I'm thinking about putting up on Amazon (also steampunk, well, sort of). I'm pretty excited about it. More information on these and other projects coming soon!

Plot Bunnies? More like Plot Tribbles!

Way back in the day when I was about fifteen years old and a beginner writer, I had this crippling fear.

I was scared that if I got a good idea and I wrote it into a story, I wouldn't get any more good ideas. It actually kept me from writing books for a long time, because I didn't want my head to be empty of stories.

Eventually I bucked up and starting writing books anyway, and I've since learned that fear was completely unfounded.

As soon as I finish a book, five more ideas clamor to be written. Right now my life is like this:

"As soon as I finish my WIP, I'll write one of you guys, I promise ..."

Well, ACTUALLY, it's more like this:

"HELP!"

I don't wonder how I'll come up with new ideas anymore. Instead, I wonder how I'll get them to leave me alone.

Does anybody else have this problem? I can't get the stories in my head to SHUT UP. And they're multiplying like tribbles ...

Why Writers Are So Antisocial

The Five Stages of Writing a Book

1. The Idea


One of the most magical times for the writer, the idea phase can include daydreaming, staring off into space, goofy smiles, and ecstatic babbling to friends and family. The writer is hopeful, confident, and convinced that this idea is THE. BEST. IDEA. EVER.

No, seriously.

2. Writing

 Now the rubber meets the road, and it usually isn't pretty. There are sleepless nights, screams of frustration, and occasionally entire ice cream cakes consumed. Some writers grimly park themselves in front of the keyboard and type until they have met their word count goals, while other writers employ brilliant strategies of procrastination, like cleaning the garage or mopping the floor or working on other writing projects. Somehow, painfully, the book is written.

3. Editing

Although complete, the book is inevitably a disgusting mess of run-on sentences splattered with adverbs and dripping with excessive similes. The writer must now take a knife to the precious manuscript, ruthlessly killing his or her darlings with the stoicism of a Roman soldier. More ice cream cake is consumed.




4. Self Doubt

This stage may actually appear during many of the other stages. In this stage, the writer may lie on the floor and moan, curl in a fetal position, or obsessively search Monster.com for alternative jobs. Self doubt can be particularly acute during the editing stage.

5. Bookmoon

The bookmoon stage can occur before or after editing, when the writer feels that the manuscript is complete and perfect and unlike any other manuscript ever born from a writer's sweat, tears, and over-consumption of ice cream cake. Like a honeymoon, the bookmoon is a time when the world is viewed through a glow of happiness and the illusion of perfection.The bookmoon phase often lasts until querying begins.

When it melts like cotton candy in the sun.


At this point the writer may feel somewhat disillusioned. She realizes the story is not the most special story ever written. It may not even be brilliant. Just good. Maybe even just good enough. She comes to terms with this, and moves on. She feels mature, grounded, and worldly-wise.

And then, the writer gets ANOTHER idea ...

And it's the BEST. IDEA. EVER.