I’ve never had to deal with a bout of writer’s block. For that, I’m very grateful. However, I do have what I call writer’s flood, a deluge of ideas that hit me almost constantly. To anyone who has writer’s block, this probably sounds great. I’m sure it’s better than staring at a blank page. Still, it has some drawbacks, and I’ll tell you why.
Just like in a real honest-to-goodness flood with rising waters (and large ladies in ice cream stained moo moos clinging to the tin roofs of their homes), it’s easy to get swept away. The rush of ideas can be overwhelming. You start working on one idea only to have another more attractive idea come along. The real problem comes from separating the good ideas from the bad and realizing that just because you have a cool idea it doesn’t mean you have a story. The bad ideas, the ones that never really go anywhere, outnumber the ones that have potential and they can threaten to drown you if you aren’t vigilant. Carefully choose those ideas you pursue.
Ideas in most cases are just fragments. You need to make sure that any idea you choose has a potential greater than the initial “cool idea”. It has to be able to support a real story; you need characters, a good setting, plot, etc. Don’t waste too much time on idea fragments that aren’t going anywhere. Instead, file them away and come back to them later. If it’s still a real stinker of an idea when you revisit it, scrap it. I’ve found that I’m far less frustrated when I don’t futz around with those deadwood ideas.
When the good ideas (those I think are good) start to pile up, I have to prioritize. What do I want to do first? I write fulltime, so I need to write something that has commercial potential and that is still fun, interesting, and something that I really want to write. I’d like to say I’m getting better at figuring this out, but I’m not. Organization is not something that comes naturally to me. At any given time, I’ll have several projects going.
Right now is a prime example. I’m working on an outline for a screenplay, a comic book (I plan to post the first pages of the script for Aberrant Nation here soon), several novels (including one that ties into “Meat City” and “Ballad of the Pale Riders”), and a strange hybrid project that . . . well, you’ll see. Plus, I’m getting into some interesting collaborations. And doing some artwork. And freelancing.
As much of logistical headache as it can be, it’s fun and I think all of my current projects have potential. Of course, I imagine every writer feels that way about his or her ideas. If they didn’t, why even bother?
Writers flood is like having your muse regurgitate on you. Except that every once is a while she upchucks a gold nugget. I’m cool with that.
