I have this problem with jumping between projects. It’s not always a problem, really. I think it’s a good thing when I get stuck on a project, and can switch gears to clear my head on the original project. BUT… you knew there was a but, right? But… I sometimes use it to get away from a project that is getting serious.
I did this yesterday, took out the New Shiny Idea for a test drive, and realized though I know a lot of the backstory, I don’t know enough to write the actual story.
There’s a lesson in here somewhere. When you’re in the hard part of the project that is just making you have to slog through it, the New Shiny Idea sounds amazing compared to what you’re already working on. But if you keep dropping the old project to work on new ideas, you’re never going to finish the thing you’re working on, or you may hit the same snag in the New Shiny as you did in the original project.
Not saying you should ignore the New Shiny Idea. Actually, give it a day to play with, get the idea out of you. Then you’ll see it’s not a fully developed little plotbunny, and you’ve gotten enough out on paper in your notes that you can focus on your original project.
I say this because I’ve fallen prey to the plotbunny barrage before. It’s hard, and those little bunnies are vicious, swinging new shiny after new shiny at you.
YOU WANT TO WRITE ALL THE THINGS.
But I have faith in you. You can resist. You can prevail.
Show those cute little terrors who’s boss.
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