Welcome to Fiction & Fitness
I will do a more official post explaining the change, but today is the day for Insecure Writer's Support Group and that is what my post is about. I have all kinds of insecurities when it comes to writing and health, so time to put one up for the month.
Normally I do link the whole set of people taking part in the post but that takes up a lot of space. So, instead here is the link to the page that has the listing of blogs taking part in this. Go check them out too.
Link: Insecure Writer's Support Group
Now to my actual topic. Last month I was insecure about not finishing anything. My progress editing is still slow but I am making progress. So, now for something else. I'm going to revisit a topic I have blogged about before but not sure if it was with IWSG.
SNI Syndrome - aka Shiny New Idea Syndrome
Now this doesn't sound like an issue for insecurity minus the adding of the word syndrome to the cute title, but for me, it's a big issue that I struggle to overcome all the time. I have way too many ideas and they all sound so nice and great. (Okay this is similar to the I can't finish anything post after all.) And even now, I have a new novella that I'm attempting to slowly write even though I have 4 finished first drafts, 2 novels I'm editing and like 5 novels I need to finish first drafts on. Why is the shy new idea so hard to pass by without writing a little bit of it?
I am easily distracted, if you didn't notice already, and so it's a struggle to focus on anything for a long period of time, or to focus on just one story in general. I can barely focus on one novel during November and manage more because I'm doing intense word counts (last year being the craziest so far). But most of the year I hop for novel to novel and work on them in spurts while adding mini scenes and stories written on the sidelines.
What makes me put this with the insecure post is the connection in part to the struggle to finish but it's really a question of whether it's just my method or if it's a hindering factor in my journey. Does getting distracted often hurt my goal? Or am I just a distracted writer who will work on 20 projects and take longer to finish them? I'm not sure yet.
Do you get easily distracted?
SNI or just a great way to get several things done at a slower pace?
9 comments:
Hi Dawn! Interesting topic for IWSG. My own topic this month is also about ideas, but yours touches on the opposite side of the coin: too many ideas!
I can definitely empathize with you on this one. It's hard not to rush into a new idea when you get one, especially if you're writing novel-length works. It's a little easier for me because I write short stories, but still it can be tempting to drop what I'm doing. The only way I've been able to conquer this is through stubborn discipline. I just lock all of my shiny new ideas in an "idea nuggets" folder on my computer, put on my big boy pants, and forbid myself from opening that folder until the current work is done. If there's an easier way to do it, I haven't found it yet, but good luck conquering SNI syndrome!
J.W. Alden, stopping by for IWSG
Its easy to revise and go over the same material. This is why an editor can help. They help bring you to a point where you have the confidence to roll out the final product. Good luck to you! You can do it.
Hi, Dawn,
Distraction could certainly run havoc on your journey... HOWEVER it is YOUR journey and deep down you know what's best for you.
My advice is to JOT down the new ideas, but work on your stories already started. I would narrow them down to about FIVE OR SIX... You will still have freedom, but at least you will be more focused in getting those said six done. Also keep in the back of your mind, the sooner you finish them, the sooner you can jump on the other ones.
I know you can focus, it just takes a bit of will power and practice.
I'm the opposite. I like to zero in on something and finish. I hate it when I have to work on more than one thing.
Yes, totally SNI syndrome afflicted here.I try to focus on one novel at a time, either drafting or editing, and then write short stories or flash fiction along the way when an idea strikes. Then, I'm still on Shiny New, but also chipping away at the real work. Also, short stories are sellable, too!
Thanks everyone for the comments.
J.W. Alden - I know a few writers who struggle to find enough ideas. Interesting how we have our different struggles in writing. I do have a new idea post it note with over 75 ideas listed so far but some become more enticing at times than others. I have posted before that I'm not sure which one is the one to submit.
Stephen Tremp - I'm guessing you mean the edit part I'm doing, not my struggle to finish, cause editors don't help with that. lol. True and editor will help when it is ready for that stage.
Michael Di Gesu - Thanks. I do jot down the ideas and most of them I can step away from till later. However, a number of them hold my interest and I can't wait to write them.
Susan Gourley/Kelley - Different writers approach things different I guess. I know some have to worldbuild or extensive plot beforehand and I just start writing.
Shell Flower - I write flash on occasion too, it helps me get progress on some of the stories when I'm not focused on them. I just did one today that is for a YA novel I have started already. But my short fiction is hard to sell cause it doesn't sound like a short story, it is really just a scene and belongs in a longer story.
Hope everyone is having a good day and finding motivation through their insecurity this month.
I have a short attention span too. I've found working on two or three WIPs at a time keeps me pre-occupied.
I had this problem for years until a friend told me my problem wasn't that I was easily distracted. He said my problem was being afraid of failure. That ticked me off so I finished my book and got that sucker published.
Now I am facing the same problem with my second book. I know I already have the first draft of a 3rd complete and now I do have an idea that I swear is screaming for my attention.
I decided to just keep a journal of ideas for now and stick to my goals the best I can.
doreenmcgettigandotcom
Elizabeth Seckman - Glad I'm not the only one to work on more than one book at a time. I have several going but I'm not actively working on them all at the same time.
Doreen McGettigan - That is an interesting point. I don't think I have a fear of success, though it is possible. I more just like all my ideas and it's hard to see which one is one to start it all.
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