Oohs and Aahs for 3.1.24

My idea sanctuary, fairy tales, and Jenny Slate

Last week I had my son home with me, and in the daily chaos, I got several new book ideas. It’s still an exciting feel to dream up something new, but it can also be a painful to not be able to jump into a new project right away. I don’t know when I’ll be able to work on all these ideas. I don’t even know when I’ll be able to work on one of them!

I know many of you struggle with having more ideas than time, so I wanted to walk you through what I’m doing when I get ideas that I don’t have time to work on.

Write It Down

Yep. This might be an obvious one, but my brain is broken, so I’m not skipping it. The first stop for any idea is usually my reminders app. I write down like two words that make no sense. Then when I go through my reminders later, I transfer it to my notebook. Usually I start with a page in my brain broom notebook. (That’s my poetic term for the place where I do brain dumps.) I might scribble down details or whatever comes to me, or it might just be a blank page with a header.

Get Distracted

This one happens effortlessly. 😂 But now I don’t resist it so much. I trust the idea will develop when it’s ready. And if I keep thinking about it, while I’m making lunch or driving, that’s a good sign. There’s zero writing going on during this time, unless some little detail comes to me, and then I’ll add it to my notes.

Choose a Focus

Eventually I go back through my notes. It could be at the end of the day or the week. It might be at the end of the month. As frustrating as it feels, the more time I have away from an idea, the clearer my perspective is when I come back to it. I choose the project that feels most exciting right now. After doing this for 20 years, I really do see that waiting for the right moment is as important as the idea itself. Some ideas need more time, or another way to say it is that I need more time to become the writer I need to be to write those books. Once I choose an idea to focus on, it’s time to start a new nebula notebook. (Send me a message if you’re not sure what that means!)

Save the Rest

It’s easier to choose one idea to focus on when I don’t have to worry about losing the others entirely. I have years of ideas stored in an Excel sheet called My Idea Sanctuary. I have it divided by fiction, nonfiction, and format. It used to make it sad to see so many possibilities unattended. But it feels more reassuring now. I’m working intentionally and I know I will grow into the ideas that I’m meant to write eventually.

One of my favorite things to do with clients is help them sort through their ideas in a month-long coaching session. You send me alllllll your rough drafts, scraps, and ideas. I make sense of them and ask questions. You walk away with clarity and confidence about your next project. Want to try it?

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This Week I’m…

• Laughing with not at Jenny Slate

• Loving this essay on fairytales as an overlooked repository of philosophical thinking (Did you know I was a philosophy major?)

• Diving into this birthday present

• Resharing this guide to taking a writing break because it feels like one of the most encouraging things I’ve made in a while

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PS—The fastest way to grow as a writer is to book a manuscript critique or a creative coaching session with an expert.

My clients get agents, sell books, and win awards. They also learn how to find ease and joy in the creative process, so they can keep going when life gets hard.