New Direction - Question

Button · Jan 29, 2007

I was half way through a novel I was writing when I realized I needed to semi plot the rest of it out so I could stay on track. I wanted to rewrite a few of the other chapters that at the moment I think are boring.

So I start at the beginning and I am outlining and before I get to the end I am writing elements to a story that sound great and could make for wonderful material... for a second novel. (Unassociated with the first.)

So... I ended up without a completed plot for the first and a whole new idea for another with the complete plot in my head. :Shrug:

Don't ask me how I did that.

Anyway, of course now I want to write the second one because it is fresh and I have a complete plot right now.

I do have a semi complete plot for the first novel and it is half finished. I know how it ends and it will need a lot of work to get it to sound like I want it to.

See... this is why I don't plot.

So... like... should I work on both at the same time? Finish the one and let the second one be the motivation? (Like a candy bar before my eyes to tempt me?)

Have any of you had a similar experience, and then successfully wrote both? (Successfully here meaning completed and you were happy with the results.)

Penguin Queen · Jan 29, 2007

Ive had two overlapping WIPs, but only one of them was a novel, the other is (still IP) a work of non-fiction. It can be done, but be warned that it takes bloody ages until you get anything finished. (Depending how fast or slow you write, of course. I'm slow.)

It sounds though like you're in the horrid boring mid-life crisis middle of your first WIP and are tempted to break out & hook up with a more promising, younger novel.

Don't do it. EVERYBODY has to slog through the middle bit. Even fantastic prize-winning authors like Helen Dunmore - I read it in an interview with her.

What I woudl do if I were you is write a synopsis, plot outline, whateveryouliketocallit, for the second novel so it will still be there for you to get back to. And then get back to the first one, and finish that, and then let yourself have a torrid affair with the other one.

Sometimes writing is just hard work for a while before it becomes fun again.

CaroGirl · Jan 29, 2007

My suggestion is to finish one before you start another. You'll still have that plot for the 2nd written out; it isn't going anywhere. It's just a trap for authors to get distracted by other ideas. I had a fresh idea while I was working on my last novel, and I did exactly nothing with it (except think about it) until I finished a draft of the first. Now that it's out to betas, even though it still needs work, I feel comfortable working on a new project.

Good luck in your decision.

Hillgate · Jan 29, 2007

Spanner in the works...

To throw one of these in (ie a spanner), I'd say that if your second project is almost fully-formed and fresh AND you're obviously enthusiastic about it, then write your second project and don't stop until you've finished it.

Then you can go back to your first, from which, reading between the lines, I think you need some space.

I think you have to enjoy the writing process. I really don't go for this 'suffer for my art' stuff. Enjoy!!!

ChaosTitan · Jan 29, 2007

ButtonTheCat said:
IAnyway, of course now I want to write the second one because it is fresh and I have a complete plot right now.

So... like... should I work on both at the same time? Finish the one and let the second one be the motivation? (Like a candy bar before my eyes to tempt me?)

New ideas can be a writer's worst enemy. It is one of the biggest reasons that WIP's remain WIP's indefinitely. Unless you find yourself utterly miserable writing your first book, stick with it. Finish it to the best of your ability, and then move on to the second book. Having something ready as your next project is a great way to avoid "post-completion blues." You can dive right into it.

johnzakour · Jan 29, 2007

I always have at least three WIPs going at once. One can dominate for a time but the trick never to let one of them stop you from finishing another. I'd say finish the one you started while using the other one for inspiration.

Once you get the first draft of the first one done, then you can start work on the other.

I find it a nice change of pace to have one novel I'm writing from scratch at the same time I'm editing my previously novel while probably promoting the novel before that.

The_Grand_Duchess · Jan 29, 2007

I think that you should set your first WIP aside for a bit and start on the one that is on your mind. You might just need a break from the orginal WIP and this new idea will give that to you without taking you out of the writing zone. If you're able to work through the second without stopping great but if you find yourself lagging then go back to the first and look it over again. Prehaps after a break it will start popping for you again.

New Direction - Question

Button

Resident in Question

Penguin Queen

Break the rules.

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Hillgate

On location

ChaosTitan

Around

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

The_Grand_Duchess

I record everything.