A few times lately, I’ve heard writers who’ve gotten a great idea for a story—or a fully-formed character—at an inconvenient time. Usually right when they’re in the middle of another book.
The phenomenon actually has a name: Shiny New Idea Syndrome (SNIS).
The question that comes up, of course, is whether you should continue writing the book you were working on—or whether you should start writing the new idea you’ve had…the one you’re excited about.
I’ve had this happen a couple of times in the last year—I’ve gotten ideas for new series or gotten ideas for things that wouldn’t fit in well with the current series I’m writing.
Because I’m under contract for the books I’m writing (and have already been paid for them), then I didn’t have a choice about which to write. I just spoke into a voice recorder all the ideas I had connected to the new idea and then saved it for later and continued working on the current manuscript.
But it seems to me that there are some questions to ask yourself if you’ve gotten a case of SNIS:
What’s your goal—right now—with writing? Publishing? Writing for your own enjoyment?
If you’re writing to please yourself, decide which story you think you’ll take the most pleasure in writing—is it a turbulent story that will actually be cathartic? Something light and humorous?
If you’re writing for publication, which story is more marketable?
Which story is fuller-formed and better-realized?
Which requires more research (and do you have the time to do it?)
Has this happened just because you’ve reached a difficult spot in your current manuscript? Could you jot down your idea and just brainstorm ways to work through the rough part? And remind yourself that it’s fine to write a horrible or disorganized first draft?
Could you put your current manuscript down for a couple of weeks and work on the new manuscript? You may find that the new manuscript isn’t all that exciting or that you return to the old one with fresh eyes and can easily polish off the first draft on it.
If you’re in the middle of revisions for the old manuscript, you could work on both books at once (I frequently have to do this.) That way you’re doing something creative (penning a first draft) while doing something a little more mechanical (editing/revising.)
I think the danger in putting down an unfinished manuscript is that we won’t return to it. Or that we’re setting a precedent with ourselves that it’s okay to leave a manuscript unfinished.
Have you ever been struck by Shiny New Idea Syndrome? How did you handle it?
Elizabeth – What an interesting post! You bring up exactly the right questions to ask, too!
Yes, indeed, I was struck with SNIS. I was in the middle of writing B-Very Flat when I got the idea for a scene – the murder scene actually – from a whole other possible book. I tabled that idea because I wanted to finish the novel I was working on. But my case of SNIS didn’t go away. So what did I do? scribbled down notes and that idea is now the core of my WIP. My idea needed a LOT of work, but I’m glad I didn’t toss it aside.
That happened to me a few days before NaNoWriMo but my ideas are always better after they’ve simmered for a while so I stored it away for next year’s NaNo. :)
Elizabeth, I don’t know where you get these great posting ideas, but they always rescue me. (I’m sure they’re just for me.)
My ADHD prevents me from focusing on one idea when I write. This presents many problems.
thanks for the post.
T
Yes! But I’m not under contract, so I can just go off on a tangent for a bit…Unfortunately, this often leads to NOTHING getting finished rather than multiple ideas working out. But I think in my first year of trying to write a novel, exploring multiple ideas was a good exercise for me. I learned what I can do, what I should do, and what I can’t. All very different things.
Now I am just concentrating on one idea, and we’ll see where it goes.
Thanks for the tips!
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
A long-time member of the ‘clean your plate club’ and ‘no dessert until after you eat dinner’ I can’t switch projects well at all. I know the late Robert B. Parker said he used to work on one series in the morning and another after lunch. Of course, he obviously knew his characters and stories inside and out. I have to struggle to get back into a work if I leave it for more than a day or two.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
I got struck by SNIS over the weekend, not because I’d lost interest in Idea #1, but because it requires so much research. Idea #2 is very similar, also historical, but featuring characters I know better already and with a female narrator, not a male one like Idea #1 (which is harder!). I’m thinking I might try and work on both for a while; the huge advantage of Idea #2 is I can just write whenever I have a bit of time and energy, without having to do more reading first.
Isn’t it interesting that the Shiny Idea always appears when you’re having trouble with the current project? I always consider it a sign of ‘the grass is always greener’ and try to ignore it and push through with whatever’s actually on my plate. If it’s really a good idea, I may make a note or two in a file and see if it warrants attention once my current project is done.
I’ve never heard of this syndrome. Sounds like manuscript adultery. Current WIP too hard? That’s okay. This next idea will make you happier, richer AND better-looking. LOL! Now that I know about it, I’ll probably contract it. Thanks for the interesting post.
So far it hasn’t hit me, but now I’ll know what to do if it does strike.
As a happy hobby writer, I don’t suffer from SNIS (and only have good old Tourette as my company), But I’ve sensed SNIS-like things in geophysics research; should I jump on a new idea immediately, or complete my on-going work first? Sometimes my solution is to get work power from students.
When prioritizing writing, me priority is as follows:
1. Is it entertaining to write?
2. Is it provocative (I’m childish about this)
3. Does it sell – actually I’ve never thought about this >:)
Cold As Heaven
I had SNIS hit right as I was trying to finish my last book. I couldn’t get the characters out of my head so decided to write it down. 6k later and a couple more pen and ink pages, let me get it out of my system and finish book #1.
I think it’s best to get it all down right as it hits. If I don’t, I know I’ll lose the idea. And who knows, that one could be the best-seller.
Got this problem going right now, actually. Shiney New Idea keeps crowding into my thoughts but it’s probably because I’m in the drudgery of re-writes and editing on my WIP and something new sounds like more fun. Trying hard to keep my focus on the work at hand.
I’ve had a few ideas threaten to derail me, but I always finish my current work first.
I have so many SNIs that my list of unfinished books keep piling up. However, I have to do what you say, make priorities. What book has the potential to sell? What am I feeling in the mood to write right now.
CD
Oh, I know that syndrome. Can be very serious.
I never knew there was a proper name for the syndrome – I like it. I have a one track mind so I can only focus on one big project at a time. If I get a new idea while working on a different story, I jot down all the information in a notebook.
Writing is an adrenaline addiction. That’s why most of us get so antsy when we aren’t writing.
When we’re slogging through the final stages of a book or reach an impasse in our story so that the adrenaline stops pumping, that SNI appears to give us another jolt of adrenaline.
I call this appearance, the idea demon, because it is trying to tempt you away from finishing what you are doing.
I take copious notes on the new idea and keep working on the old one.
“What’s your goal and which story is more fully formed,” I like that! Thank you! This post will help so much!
Great – and timely – post! I’m currently working on a shiny new idea for nano. I put aside my rewrite for it. I decided I was in a funk with the rewrite, and needed a breath of fresh air. I’m hoping to spill out words for nano, then head back to it.
I have a big problem with SNIS. Sometimes I feel like the guy in the scene from the great Steve Marin movie Pennies From Heaven where he’s dancing and all of the coins are falling around him. Do I just start grabbing and stuffing my pockets tell they burst? Or do I focus on one shiny coin and do something with it?
I tend to keep notebooks, computer files, and scraps of paper with ideas to stow away when they come up. Sometimes I’ll go back to look at them and they don’t seem as shiny as they did at first.
All in all I do have a problem with getting distracted and being derailed from what I’m doing which is why I haven’t finished anything yet.
Lee
Tossing It Out
I tend to commit for the long haul. I let myself spend a day or two jotting down notes, maybe writing a scene or two… but I know myself well enough to know the story will be better after rattling around in there for a while ANYWAY, and once it’s been set aside anyway, I can wait until I have time to get back to it.
I CAN’T edit and write at the same time… not really. I can ‘proofread’ and write, but real editing i think takes too much–there is nothing left for fresh story.
Mallory–That’s a great idea! Then you’ve got a fully-formed idea to work with next time…one that you know you’ll be excited about.
Juliette–Good luck with both projects! It sounds like the books are different enough from each other that you’ll be able to juggle them.
Margot–And the nice thing is that you’re writing quickly. So you were able to write “B Very Flat,” finish it, then pick up the SNI while the ideas were still fresh. That’s the best of all possible worlds!
Teresa–Hope it helps! And good luck with your writing. :)
Michele–I think it would be a great learning exercise. Actually, it was the ONLY writing I did about fifteen years ago–just totally all over the map as I tried to figure out my voice, how to plot, how to write dialogue, etc. I don’t have anything to show for it (never finished any of those books), but my writing is definitely better for having gone through it.
Robynn–Yes! It’s just like adultery, I think. Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence…except, it’s *not*.
Alex–Not having it is a GOOD thing!
Cold As Heaven–Now THAT would be a great solution! Get someone else to write the idea. But James Patterson has already done it, I guess.
I’d think provocative would be fun. :) I can’t do it right now, but I’d like to sometime in the future.
Anne–Those characters can get really demanding!
I do think it’s a good idea to do a brain dump with the new idea. I like using a voice recorder for it. :)
Linda–Brainstorming is *definitely* a lot more fun than revisions. Congrats for keeping focused!
Terry–I think Parker must have been a genius! Wish I could work that way.
Diane–That’s a great approach!
Clarissa–I think our own mood and the market should definitely play a part, if we’re looking to write a book for publication. Otherwise, it’s easier to just go with what will satisfy us the most.
Jane–I think that sounds like a very organized approach!
Marilynn–That’s a very good point–it’s like a rush, isn’t it? If we could only harness those ideas so they apply to the WIP instead of the SNI!
It IS demonic, isn’t it? And unfair…because we already have something we’re working on and have put a lot of time into.
Heather–Good luck with it!
Elspeth–I think I’m most creative for brainstorming when I’ve reached an impasse with my current manuscript!
Arlee–I’m tempted to say that you should probably look through all your ideas or brainstorm for ideas for a while and then see which you like the best–and write it through. But different things work well for different writers, honestly.
I’ve seen bits of old projects of mine from ten to fifteen years ago and I’m with you–they don’t seem as interesting as they must have seemed at the time. I’m wondering if that’s because the idea really wasn’t good, or if it’s just that I don’t remember where I was going with it at the time.
Hart–That’s a good point. Stories get better with time and we can continue coming up with ideas for them.
I’d much rather NOT edit and write–it can be draining. It’s doable, but tough.
Kristen–Yes it can! :)
Jemi–I think NaNo can be the perfect time to try one out! After all, a month isn’t a huge investment of time…then you can return to your old manuscript. :)
Thank you for telling me what I am suffering from! I had a severe attack of SNIS the other night. It nearly always happens late night. What I do when I wake up is jot down my ideas while I remember them, and afterwards I usually let them simmer for days (or forget about them again). I have not quite made up my mind what to do about my latest idea which is for some Danish thrillerish thing, but I have wondered whether it would be useful for me to work with two WIPs simultaneously: one English cosy and a Danish thriller. It might be possible for me to write in Danish on days when I am too tired to cope with English.
I don´t know yet, but at least the idea is there – somewhere in my computer. And if I never use it, it is probably because it wasn´t as brilliant as I thought that late night …
How nice to know I’m not alone! And my syndrome has a name – I like it! I usually contract SNIS in the middle of an edit – and I HATE to edit – so the SNI always looks extra shiny but I just put it in a notebook and stick it away as a treat for later. I’m with Terry – it’s like dessert after the current WIP :)