Story idea backlog? - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T10:39:54Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:59866?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A59879&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI write 'em all down in a not…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-10:537324:Comment:619492007-08-10T12:23:21.753ZJohnny Ostentatioushttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnnyOstentatious
I write 'em all down in a notebook. It kind of works out sometimes that I don't stories on them right away. For instance, about five years ago I had an idea for a dysfunctional love story about a successful romance novelist and a failed horror writer. I finally wound up using it as a subplot last year in my novel AFTERLIFE BATTLEFIELD.
I write 'em all down in a notebook. It kind of works out sometimes that I don't stories on them right away. For instance, about five years ago I had an idea for a dysfunctional love story about a successful romance novelist and a failed horror writer. I finally wound up using it as a subplot last year in my novel AFTERLIFE BATTLEFIELD. Angie, I do that too. Or try…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-09:537324:Comment:616212007-08-09T13:07:48.087ZChrista M. Millerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/christammiller
Angie, I do that too. Or try to. This post came about because my time was so limited that I literally had to choose between taking 15 minutes to write down a new idea/scene, or working on some deadline. I did scribble down the rough idea on paper though. I think that will be enough for now.
Angie, I do that too. Or try to. This post came about because my time was so limited that I literally had to choose between taking 15 minutes to write down a new idea/scene, or working on some deadline. I did scribble down the rough idea on paper though. I think that will be enough for now. That's an excellent point. If…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-07:537324:Comment:610312007-08-07T16:08:35.127ZAngiehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/slackerwriter
That's an excellent point. If an idea really won't go away, then I'll write a short bit (opening para, maybe notes on a few scenes or plot points) and then stick it in a folder. If it's a keeper, it'll keep bugging me and that ol' unconscious will have been working at it while I've been busy doing more pressing work.
That's an excellent point. If an idea really won't go away, then I'll write a short bit (opening para, maybe notes on a few scenes or plot points) and then stick it in a folder. If it's a keeper, it'll keep bugging me and that ol' unconscious will have been working at it while I've been busy doing more pressing work. I tend to give ideas three or…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-06:537324:Comment:608862007-08-06T20:32:41.421ZPepper Smithhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Reefrunner
I tend to give ideas three or four days to settle. If they disappear in that time, I wouldn't have been interested enough in writing them to see them through. If they do stick around after three or four days, it won't matter if I'm working on something else. They'll still be there waiting when I'm able to get to them.
I tend to give ideas three or four days to settle. If they disappear in that time, I wouldn't have been interested enough in writing them to see them through. If they do stick around after three or four days, it won't matter if I'm working on something else. They'll still be there waiting when I'm able to get to them. Oh, how I understand your dil…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-06:537324:Comment:608722007-08-06T19:31:59.453Zanabrazilhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/anabrazil
Oh, how I understand your dilemna! and how hard it is to stay on course.<br />
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Here's what I try to do....let the fire of a new idea take over & spend some time with it. Usually it's not more than an hour or so.<br />
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Then I give it a title and put it in a table I keep of all of my projects & projects-to-be. I try to identify right then what this idea could be. Is it a short idea worthy only of flash fiction? Is it a very visual story, more akin to a screenplay (which I'm not inclined to write)…
Oh, how I understand your dilemna! and how hard it is to stay on course.<br />
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Here's what I try to do....let the fire of a new idea take over & spend some time with it. Usually it's not more than an hour or so.<br />
<br />
Then I give it a title and put it in a table I keep of all of my projects & projects-to-be. I try to identify right then what this idea could be. Is it a short idea worthy only of flash fiction? Is it a very visual story, more akin to a screenplay (which I'm not inclined to write) than a novel? I try to understand if this new idea is really a story I've already written....<br />
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What I really try to do by putting idea info into a table is find out if there are multiple ideas that compliment and strenghten each other to create one killer story. That first flush of an idea always sounds like it would be a great, whole story, but it often isn't. Then, too, by keeping ideas organized, I learn more about myself, my fiction, and my themes...<br />
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It always feels like the ideas start rolling just when I'm trying to absolutely finish something. And that the new ideas are always much more interesting. New ideas *are* extremely seductive, but finishing something before I start another project benefits me much, much more. He's got six of 'em. But does…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-06:537324:Comment:607862007-08-06T14:34:36.604ZChrista M. Millerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/christammiller
He's got six of 'em. But doesn't bite... most of the time.
He's got six of 'em. But doesn't bite... most of the time. Well, okay. But only if baby…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-06:537324:Comment:607852007-08-06T14:31:39.707ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
Well, okay. But only if baby hasn't started teething yet.
Well, okay. But only if baby hasn't started teething yet. ROFL! Perfect solution, Anne.…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-06:537324:Comment:607772007-08-06T13:55:58.603ZChrista M. Millerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/christammiller
ROFL! Perfect solution, Anne. How about it, Jude? :)<br />
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I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds that time waters words down. I have in the past been able to stop myself thinking about the work - I should probably work harder at doing that, practice it. Although it would be a fine line between not thinking about it, and still remembering it! ;)
ROFL! Perfect solution, Anne. How about it, Jude? :)<br />
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I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds that time waters words down. I have in the past been able to stop myself thinking about the work - I should probably work harder at doing that, practice it. Although it would be a fine line between not thinking about it, and still remembering it! ;) i say jude comes over and bre…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-04:537324:Comment:603362007-08-04T20:41:52.312ZAnne Frasierhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/annefrasier
i say jude comes over and breastfeeds the baby.<br />
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problem solved.<br />
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heh!<br />
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but i do know what you mean about an idea -- even how you want to write a scene -- never being as strong later. i always seem to forget something important so it sometimes ends up being a weaker version of what i would have written if i'd done it when it first came to me. or sometimes it's just a different version. for me the creative spark dilutes with thought repetition. so sometimes i actually force myself to NOT think…
i say jude comes over and breastfeeds the baby.<br />
<br />
problem solved.<br />
<br />
heh!<br />
<br />
but i do know what you mean about an idea -- even how you want to write a scene -- never being as strong later. i always seem to forget something important so it sometimes ends up being a weaker version of what i would have written if i'd done it when it first came to me. or sometimes it's just a different version. for me the creative spark dilutes with thought repetition. so sometimes i actually force myself to NOT think about a project unless i'm working on it so i can use that initial zing when i'm actually writing. Sounds like you just have too…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-03:537324:Comment:600702007-08-03T17:53:34.012ZStephen Blackmoorehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sblackmoore
Sounds like you just have too damn much to do.<br />
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From what I know of you, I don't get that you've got a time management issue. Sometimes you might just need to scale some things back and try to approach them later.
Sounds like you just have too damn much to do.<br />
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From what I know of you, I don't get that you've got a time management issue. Sometimes you might just need to scale some things back and try to approach them later.