Do you have "too many" ideas?

Nateskate · Oct 5, 2009

Some people complain that they run out of ideas. One of my problems is that I have "too many ideas". In my edits I have to get rid of characters, sometimes by consolidating multiple into "one". Some I just cut out entirely. "too confusing...too many people on a page..."

Also, my subplots want to grow and grow. And at some point that creates confusion.

I'm wondering where you fall within the spectrum? Either problem can tank a story. It can grind to a hault or become a frenetic nightmare.

Laura-Mae · Oct 5, 2009

I have the same problem! When I try and focus on creating an outline for one story, I end up thinking of wild ideas and it throws me off course and I have to start all over again. It's like a vicious circle, and it's been going on for months now. I have two solid, well-developed characters, and one other secondary character, that have been in every idea in some way, but I just need to find a way to incorparate them into a story that will work.

Laura-Mae

Strange Days · Oct 5, 2009

I do have a problem with too many ideas, but slightly different one. I have so many ideas for different Novels, that I doubt I would be able to finish them all in my lifetime...

ishtar'sgate · Oct 5, 2009

Nateskate said:
Some people complain that they run out of ideas. One of my problems is that I have "too many ideas".

Yes, I have far too many ideas. If I think they might fit into my current WIP I jot down the ideas to mull over later so I can decide how to use them. If they won't work for what I'm currently working on, I make note of them and set them aside to see if they'll work in the next couple of novels I intend to write. I try not to dwell on and expand ideas that don't fall into the scope of my WIP. My mind gets too cluttered and it interferes with what I'm already working on.

Nateskate · Oct 5, 2009

Laura-Mae said:
I have the same problem! When I try and focus on creating an outline for one story, I end up thinking of wild ideas and it throws me off course and I have to start all over again. It's like a vicious circle, and it's been going on for months now. I have two solid, well-developed characters, and one other secondary character, that have been in every idea in some way, but I just need to find a way to incorparate them into a story that will work.

Laura-Mae

I look at writing like 'Goldilocks', too little or too much can ruin the soup. In a sense, we have to choose a fork in the road and stick with it. I can tell you from experience that you'll never fit all of your ideas into one book. If you're writing an epic fantasy, you can write many books, and you may still have the same issues.

Again, it's like preparing a feast. Nobody can swallow a buffet. They can't even sample one of everything without getting sick. So, paring it down is so important.

If you look at Tolkien's work, he had this problem of "soup to nuts", and he had so many versions of each story that I think it almost drove him nuts.

cptwentworth · Oct 5, 2009

I don't feel like I have enough going on in my story. I'm always blocked wondering which direction I should go and the ideas don't come easily.

ChaosTitan · Oct 5, 2009

Oh yes, I do. Think I can hock a few on eBay?

MGraybosch · Oct 5, 2009

Nateskate said:
I'm wondering where you fall within the spectrum? Either problem can tank a story. It can grind to a hault or become a frenetic nightmare.

I keep an AK-47 for when I need to cull the cast of my WIP.

joyce · Oct 5, 2009

Strange Days said:
I do have a problem with too many ideas, but slightly different one. I have so many ideas for different Novels, that I doubt I would be able to finish them all in my lifetime...

I have this problem too. I can think of a different storyline to a novel daily. I will never be able to write all the ideas I've dreamed up in my mind.

Darzian · Oct 5, 2009

On the contrary, I seriously lack ideas and spent weeks, if not months, thinking up the main plot of any WIP. It's happened in the past and it's happening again. I need to PLAN PLAN PLAN before writing. Most ideas that do come my way are overdone so I spend forever trying my best to come up with something with an interesting twist.

Alan Yee · Oct 5, 2009

Many times I feel like I can't think of any good ideas. When I do think of them, they often feel over-used, unoriginal, or just plain stupid. I go with it anyway, though I at least try to make the story sound like it isn't completely regurgitated from other books or stories.

Stunted · Oct 5, 2009

Oh, I'm so this way. But even though it takes some work to prune my stories back, I think it ultimately improves the quality of my work to have gone through all those ideas.

Blackest_Nite · Oct 5, 2009

Strange Days said:
I do have a problem with too many ideas, but slightly different one. I have so many ideas for different Novels, that I doubt I would be able to finish them all in my lifetime...

Same here! I love those flecks of inspiration, but sometimes I wish they'd come at a slower pace. Then again, 98% of mine tend to be literary mush...atleast I'm only actually writing the good ones, I think...

MumblingSage · Oct 5, 2009

I definatly fall on the 'too many ideas' side of the spectrum.

My problem is I have 'too few usable ideas'.

Art_Sempai · Oct 5, 2009

*Sigh*
I never throw away ideas, I let them evolve into other things.

kaitie · Oct 6, 2009

I don't tend to have this problem in the course of the story itself, though I do have many ideas for other stories and what not, many of which I doubt will ever be written.

Have you considered outlining? Well, if you don't already, that is.

I know characters tend to take a life of their own, but if you can plot out the main part of the story in advance, then you should be able to say, "Whoa, this is getting far too complicated," and start simplifying. Might make life a little easier in the long run. If there's something you really want to put in, you can also make note of it and try using it in another story.

Kitty27 · Oct 6, 2009

Oh yes!

I have so many that my mind races at times!

I am glad of it. I have seen many writer friends say they have no ideas or are struggling with creating some. I will never have that problem. My imagination is a forever fertile garden,with ideas blooming daily. All I have to do is wander in and pluck a dark rose.

sheadakota · Oct 6, 2009

MGraybosch said:
I keep an AK-47 for when I need to cull the cast of my WIP.

I prefer a nice sharp knife- so much more personal that way,don't you think?

MGraybosch · Oct 6, 2009

sheadakota said:
I prefer a nice sharp knife- so much more personal that way,don't you think?

True, but I can't use a knife on zombies. I can use an AK -- though a good bolt-action rifle is even better.

backslashbaby · Oct 6, 2009

I don't have too many ideas, and the ideas I do have are for far different subjects!

Hmmm, I have many more ideas than I'll use, though. I think I'm just obnoxiously picky.

Straka · Oct 6, 2009

I have too many ideas, most of which are incomplete. So I tend to wait until their either fade away or combine them, shape them until they become more substantial.

Strange Days · Oct 6, 2009

joyce said:
I have this problem too. I can think of a different storyline to a novel daily. I will never be able to write all the ideas I've dreamed up in my mind.

Yeah... I thought of turning my ideas for Novels into a shorter stories or blending them into one- but neither works. First one- because my plots tend to be pretty twisted and extensive; second- because my plots are already eclectic enough- adding more storylines might be confusing/tiring for a reader...

Strange Days · Oct 6, 2009

Blackest_Nite said:
Same here! I love those flecks of inspiration, but sometimes I wish they'd come at a slower pace. Then again, 98% of mine tend to be literary mush...atleast I'm only actually writing the good ones, I think...

Almost all my ideas are pretty good. The problem is- I'm not competent enough of a writer to execute them correctly. My writing actually spoils my ideas instead of developing them and making them better...

RG570 · Oct 6, 2009

To me ideas are the easiest part . . . they're a dime a dozen. It's finding the right angle to it and deciding on structure and style that gets me.

MsGneiss · Oct 6, 2009

I have a lot (A LOT) of story ideas... you know, those big grand "this is what the book is about" ideas. But, once it comes down to actually writing it, I outline around the big idea and fill in the gaps. Outlining definitely helps keep me focused, so give it a go and see if it helps you a bit too.

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