Too Many Book Ideas?

[ljwhitt]

Hi all - new to this board. Here's hoping this will be the well-deserved kick in the pants I need to got off the dime. I've been a self-employed writer for the last 15+ years, but really want to make the move into writing fiction for a living. Over the years, I have kept an idea book (read random scraps of coffee-stained paper) and have what I think are several good stories. But for some reason I've turned picking what story to write into "Sophie's Choice" and for the life of me cannot settle on which one to write. This has, of course, resulted in nothing being written. Any others with this problem? What did you do to solve it. Could someone just pick for me?

Lori

[veinglory]

It really doesn't matter which one you pick IMHO, if the idea seem simialrly intriguing to you. Make a note of which idea you think of most often tomorrow and use that one?

[Siddow]

Do you write short? You could knock out dozens of short stories in the time it would take to write a novel. I suggest playing with each morsel that piques your interest, in short form, unless your brain brings too much material to the table, and then you'll have solidified the idea that deserves a novel.

[Marlys]

This is what I do: pick two or three of the strongest ideas, then write the first chapter of each. Work back and forth from one to another, until one of them takes off and leaves the others behind in the dust. For me, this can take anywhere from a day or two to a few weeks, but one idea always emerges supreme. (Don't feel bad about the others--you can always go back and finish them later.)

[MidnightMuse]

One thing that might help you pick - do you have one that you know from beginning, through middle, to end? Whichever idea is the strongest, or most appealing to you, OR whichever one you can see the entire piece, is the one you should start with.

Barring that - flip a coin :)

[Jamesaritchie]

Possibilities. 1. Throw them all in a jar, close your eyes, and draw one out.
2. Throw them all away. Throw away every last idea on every last scrap of paper you have. A month or so from now, the one you still remember will be the one worth writing about.

[ljwhitt]

Thanks to everyone for the speedy replies. I think I need to flesh out the two that resonate the most for me and see what still interests me after Chapter 1. Is there such a thing as fear of completion?????

[Lilybiz]

Is there one that just won't let you go? Write the one you love the most.

[Jamesaritchie]

1. Is there such a thing as fear of completion?????

There's fear of beginning, fear of completion (Both of which are probably fear of ultimate failure), and fear of success.

[Siddow]

Thanks to everyone for the speedy replies. I think I need to flesh out the two that resonate the most for me and see what still interests me after Chapter 1. Is there such a thing as fear of completion?????

Yes. I hesitated at the end of both my novels, and felt a sense of loss after they were done. I put off the last two chapters of each and had to force myself to write them. It's sad, heartbreaking and joyous and prideful all at once. Now get going!

[Lilybiz]

Thanks to everyone for the speedy replies. I think I need to flesh out the two that resonate the most for me and see what still interests me after Chapter 1. Is there such a thing as fear of completion?????

Oh yes. I just finished a draft of my WIP and have put it away to let it sit before I go back at it for the third (and I hope final) draft. I've sworn to leave it alone for at least two months. It's been a week, and I miss my characters already.

[maestrowork]

Pick one with the most potential conflicts and just write.