How NOT to be distracted by shiny new ideas…
Do you struggle with staying focused on your current project because new ideas + characters keep calling your name?
Does “stopping for a minute” to address the newness turn into a few hours, or even days of brainstorming and dare-I-say, plotting?!
It’s ok, friend. I, too, am guilty of the “grass is greener” syndrome. On more occasions than I’d like to admit, I was distracted by the promise of an ingenious new character only to dive in and eventually do what? Get swept away by another shiny new idea.
It took several bouts of this—stopping one to start another—for me to realize that there was a better way. I could focus on my current story and still be able to hold on to that brilliant idea by doing this one thing:
Writing it down!
You’re probably saying “I know that already”, but hear me out.
In order to really keep yourself from trailing after that new idea, you have to do more than just scribble it onto a piece of scratch paper.
You have to create a dedicated space for new ideas; one that lets you feel confident and comfortable with leaving it alone until the time is right.
So, what’s the “write” answer?
Create a story idea database!
Before we jump into the how, it’s important to acknowledge the why. Not why an idea database is necessary, but why you feel the need to run to that new idea.
Sometimes, the character or plot idea is just that compelling, but a number of my clients jump to something new because a lack of clarity has left them stuck and unmotivated to continue on their current work-in-progress. That, or they think they’ll lose the idea if they don’t stop to work on it immediately.
If you find yourself itching to start a new story because you’re creatively “blocked” on your WIP, stop and ask yourself what story specific issue you’re having trouble with. Use your answer to determine the actions needed to regain your momentum.
Read more on how to defeat writer’s block here.
If you’re in the latter group and just want to feel confident that you don’t lose all those wonderful ideas, here are the steps to creating your story idea database.
#1: Choose a host-type
Time to answer the age-old question: analog, digital, or both?
If you like the feel of the perfect pen gliding across a quality sheet of paper, then choose a journal and use it ONLY for the purpose of housing story ideas. And yes, I just gave you an excuse to buy another journal. Leuchtturms are my favorite!
If digital is your thing, there are a number of options open to you.
Software such as Excel or Scrivener, and apps like Evernote, Noto and Asana (below) make it super easy for you to both create and upload content to your database.
#2: Choose your categories:
Do ideas tend to come to you as characters?
Do plotlines, or bits of dialogue steadily pop into your head?
Maybe you’re lucky and are struck with a logline or synopsis. Decide on the categories you’ll track—character, setting ideas, plot ideas, etc.—and create a separate section for each.
This method also proves useful for keeping track of specific stories. It provides a place for you to house all your story info, instead of having it scribbled out on random napkins and pastry bags <<guilty!
#3: Log your ideas!
This might seem obvious, but often, some of our best ideas are lost because we think we’ll remember them later and thus refrain from writing them down. Avoid that heartache by logging your idea when the moment strikes.
On the go? No problem, use a voice recorder.
In the shower? There’s hope! Use a waterproof notepad to keep those thoughts from slipping down the drain—pun intended, hehe!
Whichever method you choose, you may still find yourself having to jot something down on a piece of paper from time to time. The best way to prevent them from ending up in the trash can is to:
Create a dedicated space to house the scribbled papers.
Dedicate a day and time to log all the scribbles into your database.
FOCUS IS THE MOTTO!
Shiny new ideas and characters can be hard to resist, especially if doing so feels like losing out on something brilliant. Save your current and future stories by creating a system to manage your ideas!
Not sure where to begin? Download this free Google sheet to get you started!
Need feedback, accountability and guidance to keep your story on track? Sign up for a free Discovery Call and let’s see how I can support you!
How do you stay focused on your current project? Share your tips and thoughts here!