Novel But I am Writing This Novel - The Idea Contagion

One of the things I struggle with is putting ideas on the back burner. See I know I should finish this novel and that's what I am doing. Putting the time and effort into the novel I am currently writing and don't get me wrong I still have plenty of ideas and thoughts for the novel I am writing.

But Ideas feel like viruses. Day and day out. It kills me to put this super new shiny idea on the back burner until I complete this story.

I have to. For my own sake and sanity. Else I'd never complete something.

Mostly this thread was to write my frustration with not being able to shut out new ideas. Or to stop my creative juices from flowing almost consistently.

 

Write the idea into a notebook and save for later. Consider yourself blessed. Some of us are idea starved.

 

It's what I am currently doing. It just causes me physical pain every time I do because the idea instantly sparks thought into my brain. Sometimes I wish I was idea starved from time to time. But I was blursed with the opposite. Idea Manufacturer.

 

It might sound like a bit of a administrative thing rather than creative but I have a document that details where I am with certain ideas and a folder of notes for each of them. I also have a problem with focusing on one story at a time, but keeping track of them and adding slowly seems to be helping.

 

Me too! I try to ignore it, but in the end I usually end up writing this new idea. Right now I'm switching between writing four short stories.
So, I don't really have any advice. I guess it's just about self-discipline.

 

I just write what I feel like writing. I usually have three or four different stories I'm actively working on, and hundreds I've set aside. You might think you'll never finish that way, but I have several finished stories. One I set aside for about 10 years, then came back and finished it.

I find it really handy when I'm frustrated with a story. I just write a different one for a bit, while my subconscious chews on the problem and I defuse my emotions around the story. When I come back, I can write more.

 

I would love to have this problem.

 

Yeah, I've had this problem. Jot down the important stuff, and carry on with what you're currently doing. Otherwise, you'll never get anything finished.

 

That's what I'm doing right now. I switch between three(four) different short stories. Though I have to admit I struggle finishing stories.