Deciding what to write next

If you read more than one book at a time (as I suspect many of us here do), you might read something like Writing Irresistible Kidlit by Mary Kole (it's covers both MG and YA) when you're not reading Ice and Fire. That might spark a creative idea or strengthen one you already have. If nothing else, you might learn a few pointers for when you do get going on your next project.

You could try both. I find Timepunk adventure stories completely killer.

Haha, I just finished Storm of Swords and I'm now kicking around WIP ideas for a Lady Stoneheart esque character.

You could try just pantsing and seeing where it gets you? Or synopsing? Or maybe even just a brainstorming exercise, like character sheets or other mind maps, to see if one idea rises above the rest? (Also, I'd love to hear more about those ideas. My curiosity is piqued already.)

Alternatively again: which do you think is the biggest risk? In that current scenario, I'd be tempted to take a risk and see where it led me.

What about starting something completely new? Like, from scratch.

When I'm so in love with a book, I just let myself swoon and ride it out. I may edit something but I don't push myself to write creatively. Obviously if the lovely book is setting off new ideas that excite me, then I'll at least take notes on those things and maybe write a scene or two, but I don't see a reason to push the writing. Just enjoy the power of that great writing. Unless that swoon lasts for too long.

You could also take notes on the lovely book - what about it is so glorious? Type out a scene you love and study it. Type as many as you want. Those kinds of exercises can teach you something, and then you can relax, knowing you're making progress toward your writing goals even if it isn't original work - yet.

I'm having this exact same problem. I sent my ms off with my agent a few weeks ago so as I patiently wait for her notes, I'm thinking about what else to do and so far I have so many ideas it's hard to pinpoint just one. I often get really excited about one project, brainstorm a whole bunch and just get sick of it and try for something else. I think I went through 3 or 4 story ideas before I settled on the one my agent's reading right now.

But I think this time I have a good plan. I have to get to dissertation writing soon anyway so there's no way I can do much by the way of creative writing right now anyway. But after my first chap is done, I can get back to the MG idea and brainstorming for the new YA that I'm excited about but not quite sure how to execute yet. That one will take a LOT of research and a lot more practice.

My advice is let yourself write what you're aching to write right now. Even if the shine kind of goes dull later on...that's kind of normal and inevitable regardless of the story you pick, so whatever excites you most at the moment, dive in.