tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post8731475094111130733..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Heads or Tails? Choosing What Story Idea to Work on Next Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-77606704667386300682016-05-24T15:27:42.797-04:002016-05-24T15:27:42.797-04:00If you figured out how to identify those, you'...If you figured out how to identify those, you'd make enough off the secret you wouldn't have to write :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-91316903519060306052016-05-24T15:27:00.548-04:002016-05-24T15:27:00.548-04:00An anthology is also something you can work on whe...An anthology is also something you can work on when you're feeling stuck or fatigued by the mystery. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-27965856864171675792016-05-09T14:30:17.400-04:002016-05-09T14:30:17.400-04:00Maybe "Which project will a big publisher pay...Maybe "Which project will a big publisher pay me 100 grand to write?" ;-)Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06008821140074405571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-15298196655081959832016-05-06T10:24:10.682-04:002016-05-06T10:24:10.682-04:00I've been wavering between two projects - an a...I've been wavering between two projects - an anthology of linked stories versus a mystery set where I live. All these points of consideration have reassured me that I am right to be working on the latter. It ticks many more boxes, and the other can simmer and mature in cyber space for another few months. Many thanks.<br /><br />www.rolandclarke.comRoland Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03302133565980901397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-87520037577158948852013-12-03T15:35:58.198-05:002013-12-03T15:35:58.198-05:00Interesting. I like that, is it something I can wr...Interesting. I like that, is it something I can write? I've had ideas I've tossed out because I didn't think I could write them, but I've never used that as a factor for what to work on next. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-33176939662122238192013-12-03T15:34:16.214-05:002013-12-03T15:34:16.214-05:00Thanks Michael! Those are great questions to ask. ...Thanks Michael! Those are great questions to ask. Very interesting process, too. Different worlds to draw from depending on what character or idea hits. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-88795592283336317422013-12-03T15:32:39.853-05:002013-12-03T15:32:39.853-05:00Ooo sounds rough. I totally get that too many idea...Ooo sounds rough. I totally get that too many ideas can be just as bad as too few, especially if they're all calling to you. I'm so late responding to comments, so hopefully you've found one by now!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-45238331206198912572013-12-03T15:31:13.972-05:002013-12-03T15:31:13.972-05:00Thanks! That's great you can juggle. I've ...Thanks! That's great you can juggle. I've never be able to do that well, and I admire those who can.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-21498316920758339072013-12-03T15:30:25.756-05:002013-12-03T15:30:25.756-05:00The ones that won't let go are the way to go :...The ones that won't let go are the way to go :) And we're not alone in that! Lots of folks saying the same thing. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-38170579996908143212013-12-03T15:29:43.926-05:002013-12-03T15:29:43.926-05:00Good plan!Good plan!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-17815993112606525962013-12-03T15:29:32.639-05:002013-12-03T15:29:32.639-05:00That would be a hard place to be in. You'd wan...That would be a hard place to be in. You'd want to satisfy your readers, but always writing in the same world can be fatiguing. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-82907879300388595642013-12-03T15:28:49.488-05:002013-12-03T15:28:49.488-05:00I hear that. I can only spend so much time on one ...I hear that. I can only spend so much time on one project before I want to work on something else. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61240140454050354452013-12-03T15:28:18.432-05:002013-12-03T15:28:18.432-05:00That's probably the best way :) The ones that ...That's probably the best way :) The ones that won't let go usually turn out great.<br />Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-91360294786364164512013-11-26T06:31:14.717-05:002013-11-26T06:31:14.717-05:00Most of these aren't really a factor for me wh...Most of these aren't really a factor for me when I pick what to write next. I look at the idea -- is it something I can write? Maybe I mash it up with another element and go for it. I just add the brand as I write, since it fits into most stories, rather than write the story to the brand.Linda Maye Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07203020058437093901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39773167813815963162013-11-20T16:55:10.211-05:002013-11-20T16:55:10.211-05:00Hi Janice
I enjoyed this post, thanks, lots to thi...Hi Janice<br />I enjoyed this post, thanks, lots to think about.<br />I must confess, my ideas tend to come as I write, so I rarely have to decide what to write next!<br />I've created about four different universes/worlds now, so the main driver is to do with the characters. Who do I enjoy spending time with the most? Who has the most interesting life? Who can I create good conflict for? and so on. <br />I am also conscious of trying to create a set of books that are similar in tone, and/or subject, in order to not throw readers out, and (hopefully) keep them interested and engaged :)<br />cheers<br />Mike<br /> Michael Cairnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05180863661655365561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-60811784821480003832013-11-19T21:07:32.150-05:002013-11-19T21:07:32.150-05:00I am so bad at waffling between ideas, especially ...I am so bad at waffling between ideas, especially lately. One idea will call to me, so I work on it for awhile, developing it until it's almost ready to be drafted. And then another idea calls to me, and then another, until I've got about three good ideas, and a handful less so, that I could sit down and draft. <br /><br />This might sound like a good problem to have to people who struggle for ideas, but I never know which one to work on next. Common sense says to pick one and draft it, but the desire changes like the wind. One day it will be idea x, and the next day it will be idea y. *pulls out hair*<br /><br />I've tried the "idea you love the most" "idea that's most hooky" before, and I also started drafting each of them to see if something takes off. So far it's just the normal excitement/trepidation of starting a new draft for each of them. <br /><br />I'm going to try and go through the list and REALLY figure out what I want to write next. This waffling back and forth is driving me nuts. <br /><br />Thank you so much for this list. Your post, as always, is perfect timing. Elizabeth Poolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214706118828699708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-57782684300158459132013-11-19T18:15:24.664-05:002013-11-19T18:15:24.664-05:00I generally work on more than one story at a time....I generally work on more than one story at a time. When deciding what to work on, I follow the squeaky wheel gets the oil maxim.<br />Thank you for writing this helpful article. I'm promoting it on Google +.Author Leanne Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886667518427660865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-68290600139557171312013-11-19T13:07:53.283-05:002013-11-19T13:07:53.283-05:00Great advice, here. I'm deep into a crappy fir...Great advice, here. I'm deep into a crappy first draft right now. I had thought I was going to write about one idea, but then another idea snagged at my heart and head and wouldn't let go. So I researched and plotted this new idea, and away we go!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-78573974151189740602013-11-19T07:51:54.614-05:002013-11-19T07:51:54.614-05:00Whichever one I can't get out of my head for m...Whichever one I can't get out of my head for more than a day! Rachel6https://www.blogger.com/profile/15138745237488029817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-17443002101293795552013-11-19T07:24:02.801-05:002013-11-19T07:24:02.801-05:00I'm always torn! Readers are waiting for the n...I'm always torn! Readers are waiting for the next book in my series, so that is a given, but sometimes, I have to take a break to work on something a little different as well.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05651744055513494283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-69206275559858363142013-11-19T02:50:07.345-05:002013-11-19T02:50:07.345-05:00I'm down with Angela Brown on this one. I have...I'm down with Angela Brown on this one. I have raked my novel over the coals a few times. I think one more time back to the editor and call it. I have many other stories calling me now....Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64249284702615499382013-11-18T20:35:35.058-05:002013-11-18T20:35:35.058-05:00I recently started on a new idea because the story...I recently started on a new idea because the story was just driving me insane to to get it written. So I had to write it.Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.com