Now what? (starting a NEW WIP)

I'd love to have that problem, honestly. I always have another novel idea pounding at the back of my head.

When I wrote the novel that eventually got me an agent, I wrote it as a standalone. I knew in the back of my head that it could be the start of a series, but didn't let myself ponder it. Been there, done that, to no avail. After I signed with my agent, he wanted brief descriptions of two more potential books, so we could pitch it as a series. So I scrambled to come up with ideas, and I rather like them. Sometimes it takes a little pressure to get the juices flowing.

If you aren't sure what to write next, try taking a break. Do a little free writing. Play with different characters. See what jumps up and demands to be written.

First off celebrate your accomplishment.
Treat yourself to something nice.
Take a day or two or three off and play, it is amazing how the ideas will pour in once you remove yourself mentally.
Good luck to you!

PS. When I finished my first book, not long ago, I too felt this big vancuum and didn't know what else to write. But eventually it all came to me after I took some time off (kicking and screaming). I should have tried to enjoy it more and trusted the process.

It really depends on how you're wired. My wife likes to go from project to project. I'm hoping to relax a little between sending out books. However, if you have the energy and desire, do whatever you'd like and hope you have fun.

Nate

ChristaCarol13 said:

I have no CLUE what to write next.

Does anyone ever find themselves here? What do you do? Just sit and think until something comes to you? I've tired, but nothing has yet. I guess it's a matter of patience.

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I usually think of something else about half way through a finished project. I jot down the idea and then shelve it until I'm done with what I'm working on.
It may be that you're still too close to your current story and the characters and plotline are occupying your thoughts. IMO it's best to stay focused until you're completely finished - revisions are done, synopsis and query are perfect. Sometimes the mind doesn't want to let go of what it knows best - your current wip. Once you have a clean slate you may find those old creative juices flowing again. Good luck.
Linnea

ishtar'sgate said:

IMO it's best to stay focused until you're completely finished - revisions are done, synopsis and query are perfect. Sometimes the mind doesn't want to let go of what it knows best - your current wip. Once you have a clean slate you may find those old creative juices flowing again. Good luck.
Linnea

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This is how my writing works. I have to get rid of one before I start on the next. But I do have a lot of ideas. I'm writing the third book in a series (second one published in the last week). I've a lot of material, though. Things I thought were really good ideas but didn't fit into the first two books. Story lines I noted but didn't use because the first things in the story had to be told first.

So keep on until the end and good luck.

My stuff overlaps. I'll be half way through one thing and starting another. And by the time I'm finished with the first, I'm half way done with the second, then I start a new one--and so on. Ideas are not my problem; time is. I'm currently working on three books. One is in the final edit, one in the rough draft, and one in the 'workshopping' phase.

As someone else said, you could just try free writing for a while--soemthing may turn into something. Good luck.

Ideas as in trying to make the standalone book into a series, you mean...?

The way it works for me is, plot events and character interactions in the current story often leave open a door for the next story. At first this wasn't done intentionally, but now that I know I can actually finish serials, I do it on purpose. I place the seeds of the next plot in the current story and by the time it's done, the next story is ready to start.

Are there any plot points, character interactions, unresolved tensions, possibilities, what-ifs, you can get from looking back on your finished (potentially series) book? It can be something as simple as reading along and seeing how two characters act toward each other or toward a certain situation, making you think, "Hm, I wonder why exactly they did that. Is there an idea here...?" Or seeing how something turned out and thinking, "What happened after that, that didn't take place within the story...?" Even if it wasn't originally meant to be a new plot point, it could become one if you think on it long enough. Plots and lives are still going on even if we aren't writing them, one just has to find them. If you can't think of anything new for the main character to do there are always secondary characters who can spin off into stories of their own.

Just some thoughts. If you meant an entirely NEW story, then I'm afraid I haven't any suggestions, for I'm always writing in a series so that's where my ideas come from!

ChristaCarol13 said:

So, I've practically got this baby finished and will be working on my synopsis and query letters soon. But I'm stuck in wondering what in the worlds I'll write next. My main concern was going to be script writing, but then I have the hopeful thought of: What if I DO get signed? This novel was originally in my head a series, but heck if I know where the other book ideas went cause I have no CLUE what to write next.

Does anyone ever find themselves here? What do you do? Just sit and think until something comes to you? I've tired, but nothing has yet. I guess it's a matter of patience. I wish this "Series" idea was as easy as coming up with ideas for a script. Those ideas seem to be endless in my head.

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I'm in about the same place -- WIP novel out to betas, anticipating few changes at this point. In addition to working on my sub package, I plan to do some short stories and research on my next novel.

Remember, plot bunnies (aka story ideas) are very skittish and slippery. As soon as you catch one, write it down in a plot bunny notebook. Then you can always reach into the "hutch" and pull a few out to see which is readiest for the "pot."

Brainstorm via free-writing for ideas based on the first book. Just write as fast as you can, throwing questions and answers at yourself. Something will emerge, I promise.

Use some of the script ideas for novels or short stories.

My story ideas come from questions. As tehuti88 advises, if you are looking for what to do for a sequel, go over the first book and see if the outcome raises any particular questions you can turn into a story. Life is not a like fiction; there are inevitably loose ends somewhere.

Just sit and think until something comes to you?

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Certainly not. Sitting and thinking does me no good. As wealthy as my imagination is, almost all of my ideas come from external stimuli. I ask very strange questions and hope for equally strange answers. I'll see something, or read about it on TV or on the Internet, and that will make me go, "Hmm ... what if...."

I read on an agent's blog that the thing to do is write the tagline you'd use in a query for each of the potential ideas. Survey them and choose the one that's most compelling. Now, having said that, I find myself in the same spot and wanting to write the one that's less compelling. Help!

windyrdg said:

I read on an agent's blog that the thing to do is write the tagline you'd use in a query for each of the potential ideas. Survey them and choose the one that's most compelling. Now, having said that, I find myself in the same spot and wanting to write the one that's less compelling. Help!

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If you want to write the one that's least compelling, doesn't that make it the most compelling?

Wow, I've never had that problem. I have a file with so many ideas that I'll never get all of them written before I croak.