I’m supposed to be writing Queen of None right now, which is over 3/4 of the way there. I’ve just brought my heroine to the tipping point: the climax is the next two chapters, where everything she’s been planning and plotting is finally coming to fruition. Exciting, fun; I’ve never written as book so fast as this one (hoping that’s still a good thing).
So why was I up last night writing something else? Oh dear. Somewhere between making chili last night and tucking the kiddo in, some gears started moving. Since I finished The Aldersgate, those characters have been very polite in leaving me to Anna Pendragon and her family. But last night, they all crawled back out of the creative primordial ooze and started talking. Like, all of them.
So after a (mildly disappointing) episode of BSG, I sat down and opened up Scrivener, staring a totally new project. I tried one name, Googled, found a movie. Tried another, Googled, found it was another book series. Third time’s the charm: Ward of the Rose it is. I like the sonic play on “war of the Rose” and the fact that it has a kind of medieval tinge while using a word we associate with Victorian: ward.
With the name in place I started writing. Here we go again…
The Aldersgate Cycle 
February 24, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I was reading an article on managing tasks the other day that seems well suited for you. Basically you list everything you need to get done and add to the list as needed. When you go to do something you skim over the list looking for something to catch your eye and work on that for however long you feel up to it then move on to another task. The basic point is to not force yourself so you can get more quality work in. I’ll try and find it again so I can Tweet you the link.
February 24, 2009 at 2:42 pm
@JLCoburn I think that’s what I’m doing right now, except that the list is in my head and not on paper. Having more than one WIP seems to clarify my approach, actually, for whatever reason. I’ve just recently realized that one of the ways to break my writer’s block is to do just what you suggested: when I’m having trouble with one thing, just move on to something else. So far it’s been totally working for me, but… I am not holding my breath. I know my past history; I’m just trying to up the ante.
February 25, 2009 at 3:05 am
Oddly enough I just posted on pretty much the same thing happening to me. Meant to be working on Winter Wolves and lo and behold a new idea muscles in, a steampunk action-adventure treasure-hunting tale featuring gentleman-explorer Sir Richard Hammerman seeking mysterious lost cities in the deep jungles in which lurk snakes and piranhas and races of trolls and lizard men and crocodile men. Darn concept won’t leave me alone.
February 25, 2009 at 3:25 am
@qorvus I suppose there’s nothing wrong if you keep going, so long as you don’t lose stride. Me, I got 4K in on The Ward of the Rose, and then started right back in on the other one again. I just needed to clear my brain of a few details before I could finish…
Embrace it! That’s what I’m trying to do. Rather than question, or deconstruct… just take it as it is! *raises a glass* Cheers. 🙂
February 25, 2009 at 3:39 am
Wish it was that simple. The problem lies in having far too many ideas to actively do that too – somewhere in the vicinity of half a dozen novels and a dozen short stories all crying out for attention, and that is not counting others that have forcible been put on the backburner for now.
February 25, 2009 at 3:41 am
@qorvus Well, yes. I suppose there is a point overkill. I have yet to hit that point; I think at the moment I’m somewhat in balance! Good luck.