Screw my WIP, I have a new idea
On getting new writing ideas before you finish your current project
There comes a point in each project where I find myself side eyeing something new. This usually happens at a certain point when I’m just about to finish.
Of course, I’m not complaining about the flow of ideas, in fact I’m grateful that they keep springing forward. But I do seem to struggle to finish projects when they reach a certain point.
Specifically, I’m currently working on some creative non-fiction. I had this idea for a while and I was lucky enough to get funding from Arts Council England to see it through.
It’s been essential to have the support when experimenting with new writing, but I’ve come to a place with it where I’m almost at the end stretch and I have an idea for something new.
I keep going to write and finish my creative non-fiction but I find myself playing around with something in a different genre.
Today I sat down to write and the only thing I wanted to write was something new.
People say you should always follow your ideas, but seeing a project through is also a goal. Here’s a few things I’ve learnt over the last few weeks that are helping me see my current project through and keep feeding into the next. If you’re anything like me, I hope this helps in some way.
Setting goals
Last week I wrote that I found that I wasn’t having as much fun with my writing, not having an end goal seemed to also be part of the problem. When it’s a creative project if you’ve got the rest of it outlined, I find breaking it down week by week can help. It’s upsetting to be this functional with writing, but I think it’s needed sometimes.
Creating an ideas bank
Just because I think an idea is fun, it doesn’t always mean it’s something I’m going to explore. If they keep coming up, putting them aside, somewhere separate can really help.
Having external pressure
Luckily I have a brilliant mentor on this project and a different writer who checks in. I set it up this way as part of my project, but also to help me finish. I love exploration, but having someone remind me and keep me focused on what I’m actually supposed to be writing really helps.
Just screw it
If it’s really not happening, and you feel you’re at a fork in the road, then this is the final step. If you’re being pulled in a different direction perhaps this project does not need to be finished right now. The joy of creativity means that you can always revise and revisit later.
You’ll probably end up editing it at some point so if you’re short of the projects ending, why not just take a break and chase the sparkly new thing?
Either way, I’d love to know what you’re writing and working on. So do tell me below, what are you writing and how is it going? My coffee is empty so I’ll stop rambling now but I’m all ears.
After finishing novel one I’ve probably started and written half way through 3-4 other ideas. Recently, though, I landed on the idea that I know is “me” while the other three were me trying to be authors I was inspired by. I like nuance. At least figure out why it is out attention is being pulled elsewhere.