I just spent a wonderful weekend with family in farm country, Indiana with little to no, I repeat no internet access. A trip to Starbuck’s for WiFi was an ordeal to say the least. (Thanks for the help Syd!) I returned home yesterday only to find that my internet was down. Way down. This is not common at my house and I struggled all night trying to get it up and running. I’m not addicted by any means but I had things to do. Check email, blog, research…all the things I wasn’t able to do over the weekend. I felt lost and frustrated. However, I knew I needed to get my Monday morning SIS post uploaded, so I woke up extra early and made my way to a coffee shop just so I could share this with you. See…I’m focused. Read further!
As you all know, I’m working on my first book—sort of—a couple of years ago I dabbled with writing but never made it past the first two chapters. I still think that story has substance and I may get back to it in the future. But I call this one—my first.
In the meantime, I’m struggling to set aside another plot in hopes of completing my current book. I love these characters and how they are connecting to each other. I love the story I’m telling but still…I get this niggling feeling in the back of my head. OFTEN.
That feeling is my next story. The one begging to be told. The one I have dreams about and make notes about while I’m supposed to be working. Working my day JOB and working on my current WIP. The story is so very different from this one that I find it incredibly hard to stay focused at times.
Should I stop what I’m working on and put all my energy into the untold story? “NO!” Screams a voice in my head. “You must finish this.” If I don’t, I fear I may not know the proper path to completion and in my mind I will have failed.
That’s not to say that others haven’t succeeded in this way. Some may be able to start a new project without finishing their current one and be fine with it. Excel even. I may be one of those people, but this is not the time to find out. I can’t give in to that urge to write this new story.
What I can do and what I will do is push on with my “first” story and make notes on the next one. Write down the dreams and keep the research down to a minimum. Allowing myself to be excited about an upcoming project just reassures me that I am in this for the long haul. I am committed.
Now if only I could stay focused.
Can you work on multiple related projects at once? Are you focused? Please share!
SIS Barb
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21 comments:
You sound so much like Beth, Barb. I can't tell you how many times she's written to me about a new story idea that has her obsessed when she's supposed to focus on the book with the approaching deadline!
Make those notes but stay focused!
Oh, Barb! Don't give in to the urge to work on the new idea! Been there, done that, have an entire closet of t-shirts! The only thing that's keeping me focused working on this book is my writing group who would probably show up on my doorstep and beat me senseless if I didn't stick with it. *g*
But I have tons of other ideas lurking in the background vying for my attention.
Barb i think if you really want to finish it then do it and it is really easy to stay focused if you set your mind to it, and ur welcome for that help at starbucks.
your niece,
(:Sydney:)
Barb,
Sounds like everyone is on the same page. Finish it! Look at it this way...you can hone your writing skills while writing your WIP and it will make you an even better writer for your next project. I, too, have ideas for another book already and still have so much work to do on my current. I have definitely been guilty of starting things in my life and then setting them aside thinking I'll get back to them later. Problem is, something else ALWAYS comes along and when I think of those unfinished projects, I am disappointed. Stick with it. Get focused, get it done, and then move on. In the meanwhile, keep taking notes. It will make your next project move along quicker so you'll be able to move on to your third!
SIS Bren
Tori,
I am somewhat envious that you have a writing group to help you keep focused. Currently, I am not involved in any group so it's just me pushing myself along (and not so successfully at this moment. However, Barb did recently challenge me to a writing lesson...we both must write a certain amount each week and turn it in to one another. I am looking forward to starting this practice for two reasons: one, the obvious, to light a fire under my butt and start writing again, and two, I will get to read more of her work. I've really enjoyed what she has sent me in the past and am eager to read more! Another reason for her to keep writing her WIP!
Good luck to you and your writing venture. I wouldn't want your writing group to come and work you over...
SIS Bren
Syd,
Nice to see you here. Make sure you stop in every day! We love to hear your comments. I will be there soon so you and I will be making trips to Starbuck's as well. You can get that vanilla thingy again! See you soon!
Bartholomew 45-7
SIS Bren
Hi Barb, I agree with eveyone else. Stay focused and takes notes. You wouldn't believe how many half written poems I have laying around.
B.J.
Hello there! I think you should gather up your half-written poems, read them over, and then choose just one or two and finish them. It might get you motivated to finish the others and to get started on that fantasy!
SIS Bren
Hi Bren, Good advice. I will have to do that. Hopefully I will have one done in time for you to read when you come to visit.
Hi Mary!
Not the first time I've been told I'm like Beth and I'm sure it won't be the last. I take it as a huge compliment. I am definitely a combo of all of my siblings. Most of the time, I think that's a great thing!
SIS Barb
Sydney! Bartholomew 45-7? You get it now. Right?
Speaking of staying focused...where is your writing project you promised to send me? Get on it girl. I want to share it with everyone!!!!
SIS (aunt) Barb
Bren,
Great advice and I do plan to stick with it. Especially not that I have your help. We need a plan. Should we do pages per week or chapters??? Let me know. I'm game if you are.
Oh, I too am the queen of unfinished projects. Sounds like me, you and Tori need to get together!
SIS Barb
Hi B.J.
How do you know the poems are half written? Maybe they're perfect just the way they are. Feel free to share them with us anytime! I mean it.
SIS Barb
HI Tori,
Could you please send some of your people over to beat me senseless? I think we could all use that a time or two in our lives. I think I need a writing group. Luckily I have my sisters. Too bad we can't get together for a cup of coffee though.
SIS Barb
By the way...Happy Birthday Tori! Have a wonderful day.
SIS Barb
I also have multiple projects going in my head, but I'm trying to stick to one. Best of luck, Barb!
Late to the party. BUT, it's because I'm trying to focus. Revisions due tommorrow. Must make significant headway!
That said, Mary is right, Barb. I'm always a story or two ahead of myself.
Good, because it means there's no lack of ideas.
Bad, because you're tempted to cheat on the WIP.
Focus. Follow through. Bottom, gritty line: You'll feel more confident if you finish one story--even if it's not THE story--beginning to end. Finishing what you start is a success story in of itself. It proves you can do it!!
Hugs to all,
SIS Beth
WOW, Barb!!! What a GREAT topic (and POWERFUL word I WISH I could adhere to more!) -- FOCUS! As to your quandry, e.g., finish what you've started, take notes on your "inspiration" and do that LATER; or, vice versa --- TOUGH question!
B. Francis; "Inspirations never go in for long engagements; they demand immediate marriage to action." One the ONE hand, the Muse that is clutching your heart TODAY is IMPERATIVE, and may NOT inspire you so tomorrow. Put aside the long-struggling tome, work on the idea that is INSPIRING you now, because that just MAY be your SOUL translating itself into words! OR:
J. Owens; "We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” Your "dream" being your "next story" that's aching to get out. TOUGH CHOICE of direction!
MY thoughts: I OFTEN deal with the same "problem" on a much more mundane level of producing "work-product." SOMETIMES, I go with the Muse. BUT, most times I go with the project at HAND for the simple reason that I have found that as long as I ACKNOWLEDGE the "passion," (read: DO take NOTES!) yet get the INITIAL project done, I may have (USUALLY!!) find something along the way that I would NOT have known that I can use to FURTHER enhance the "Muse Project." In other words, as things go, I learned a NUMBER of unexpected things just barrelling through and completing the FIRST project, so the "MUSE" project benefitted from it!
Good luck --- REALLY hope to find a work by you (and Bren) in my hands someday, too! What a RUSH!!!
Hi Olga,
Best of luck to you as well!
SIS Barb
Beth,
You're absolutely right. So I've decided not to cheat on my WIP but I will allow myself to "flirt" with my next one.
Have a great trip!
SIS Barb
Hi Richard!
Great quotes! And I agree that I have definitely learned things in this writing process that will help me on my next one as well as life in general. I will continue to take notes, but the bulk of my time will e spent on completing this project.
Maybe this one will be on the shelves for you to get your hands on. If not, then the next or the next one after that will. Of that I am confident and focused!
SIS Barb
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