day 21: the myth of shiny new object syndrome
If you’ve been working on your project for a while, you might be starting to feel a bit worn out, a bit tired of working on the same idea day after day. Then, a new idea comes in, fresh and new and shiny, and you want to chase it.
Then you remember all of the writing advice you’ve gotten telling you not to give in to temptation. Maybe on top of that advice, you have a collection of half-finished manuscripts as evidence that you can’t focus on anything, or get anything finished.
Maybe, you think, you’re a victim of Shiny New Object Syndrome, that dreaded state of being unable to finish anything you start before you go running after something new, only to abandon that new idea as well.
Why? Because Shiny New Object Syndrome is a myth based on the idea that you mentally can’t handle multiple projects at once. However, as many professional writers will tell you, having multiple works in progress is actually quite common. Furthermore, having multiple projects can actually help you be more productive by:
giving you an outlet when you can’t focus on one project any more;
giving you a chance to reset your mind, which lets you write more without getting burned out on any one project.
Having multiple projects is not a problem. It’s learning how to properly manage those projects that makes the difference between successful multitasking and a string of abandoned pieces.
What should I do when I get a shiny new idea?
When you encounter a new idea while working on your current manuscript, take some time to think about it. Why did this idea come to you now? Is it because:
You’ve been inspired and really want to tell this story?
You’re struggling with where to go next in your current story and think a different/better idea will make everything better?
If #1, great! Write down the idea, give yourself some time to brainstorm, and then let it sit and steep in your mind while you continue with the draft of your current piece.
If it’s #2, check out day 8, day 9, day 10, day 11, day 12, day 16, day 17, day 18, and day 19 of this series for some help and inspiration to move forward with your current story!
You don’t have to abandon the new idea, but give yourself a chance to push through the stuck feeling you have before you let yourself brainstorm the new idea. This step is important because if you get used to switching to a new idea every time the current one gets rough, you will actually train yourself to abandon stories when they start to get tough. I promise, as painful as it is to push through this awkward stage of drafting, it’s worth it for the satisfaction of having a finished manuscript.
When do I get to start writing my shiny new idea?
You get to start your shiny new idea when you’re at the point in your current manuscript that adding another project won’t derail you. This stage is different depending on how experienced you are, how fast you write, and how long the stories are that you are working on.
For example, if you’re working on shorter pieces (10k or less), it’s probably safe to work on three or even more at once because each draft can be read and edited in a single sitting. If you’re working on longer pieces like novellas or novels, you might want to wait until you’ve finished a full draft of your piece, and then start drafting the new idea while you’re editing the first one.
Having pieces at different stages of the drafting/editing process can help keep you from getting burned out on any one project by giving you distinct mental states to switch between (creative brain for drafting, critical brain for editing).
There are also many people who like to draft multiple long pieces at once. They like staying fully in creative mode, but need to be able to switch between different stories when they’re feeling frustrated or burned out on the idea they’re currently working on.
When you choose to add another project to your list of current works in progress depends on you. If you don’t know what’s best for you yet, experiment. Try drafting two pieces at once. If it’s too much, put away the new idea until you’ve finished the first draft of your current story. All of that work will still be there when you come back for it.
The most important thing is to not abandon your current work. Don’t let it go just because you’ve started something new. Keep writing forward, but let yourself chase after new ideas, too. Brainstorming new story ideas is a great creative outlet, and can even help you on your current work by giving you new ideas or helping you think of new aspects of the story you hadn’t thought about when you first wrote your outline.
In conclusion: chase after those shiny new ideas. Plant them in your mind and let them bloom. But don’t uproot the ones that are already there. You had the idea for a reason, give it a chance to flourish.
Shiny new object syndrome only happens if you give up on your current idea. Otherwise, it’s just called having multiple works in progress. Also known as normal.