Navigating Novel Ideas: When to Stick and When to Switch

As an SEOer at Google, it’s crucial to understand the nuances of handling novel ideas in the realm of creative writing. The decision to continue with one idea while discarding another can be challenging, especially with the potential to be sidetracked repeatedly. This article delves into the importance of sticking with an idea, the risks of constantly switching, and the benefits of maintaining a focused writing process.

The Risks of Constantly Switching Novel Ideas

It’s not uncommon to encounter moments where a new, more promising idea arises, luring us away from the one we’ve already started. However, doing this repeatedly can have significant repercussions. Continuously switching ideas can lead to a lack of completion and stagnation. Once, I experienced this personally. It felt like I was perpetually starting projects but never finishing any of them.

Experience: If you never stick with one idea, you won’t actually get anything done. It’s acceptable to switch once or even twice, but if you find yourself doing it systematically or even five times, you might be on a path to nothingness.

Just Write the Novel You Love

Choosing to continue with the novel you love can seem like the most sensible course of action, especially if you aren’t committed to the idea or if you haven’t formally engaged in the professional process of accepting an advance. In these cases, it’s perfectly fine to abandon the less appealing idea. It’s not a binding commitment like continuing a relationship, but rather a book idea.

No Commitment: Write the novel you love. If you’re not committed to the first idea and haven’t accepted an advance, then ditch the less interesting one. You’re not in a marriage, you’re just working on a book.

The Importance of Consistency and Focus

Continuing with a single idea, even when a better one comes along, is crucial for productivity and completion. Typically, after a few chapters, the initial enthusiasm might wane. At this point, it’s natural to question the quality and viability of the project. However, abandoning it for another idea can result in a never-ending cycle of half-finished manuscripts and no completed work to submit.

Writer’s Discipline: Keep writing the first one. There’s always a better idea later. Usually, after a couple of chapters, it doesn’t look so good anymore. But if you keep quitting one book and starting another, you’ll never finish anything. Maintain a few ideas for when you’re burned out on the main book, but keep it to a minimum. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a dozen half-finished manuscripts and nothing to send out to publishers.

The Path to Success

Sustained effort and persistence are key to a successful writing career. While it’s understandable to seek better ideas, it’s equally important to recognize and capitalize on the value of maintaining a consistent writing practice. By sticking with one idea and seeing it through, you gain valuable experience and confidence that will serve you well in your writing journey.

Ultimately, the decision to stick with an idea or switch based on a new, better idea should be balanced with the understanding that the first step is often the hardest. Having the discipline to push through and see your work through to completion sets a solid foundation for continued success.