Eeny Meany . . . What to Work On Now?

Recently I returned from a road trip to my home state. I don’t know if it was the eight straight days without working or the time spent among my story telling cousins, but I came home with ideas galore. This led me to an interesting problem. 

I’m working on three, big projects (a mystery, a middle grade science fiction novel, and an early grade nonfiction series). They won’t be done any time soon. Two of my new ideas are especially persistent and emerged almost fully formed. I had to decide what to work on first. 

I asked myself these questions: 

1. How does each idea fit into my long-term goals? Thanks to Renee, "Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Gig," we all know to evaluate an idea or a job according to how it fits with our goals. My two pushiest ideas won’t further my three big projects, but they could help me find an agent. Of course, each of my three big projects would also do this. For me, this question was a draw. 

2. What project is most likely to sell? The joys of being a freelance writer include trying to determine which idea is right for the market right now. Middle grade novels are in demand as is series nonfiction. In fact, a publisher has a call out which my series idea fits to a T. My two new ideas are both picture books which are especially difficult to sell if you aren’t an illustrator. That’s a point for working on the series idea and the middle grade novel. 

3. Which project am I most enthusiastic about? This is a trick question for me and for a lot of other writers, because the answer is almost always, “The new project!” After all, the new project is shiny and new and perfect. If I was close to finishing one of the others my answer might be different, but the point goes to the two new ideas. 

4. What answer will help me accomplish something? Hmm. This sounds like the kind of question my mother would have asked me. Staying on track and getting something done means that the point for this question should go to whichever of the three big projects is nearest completion, the nonfiction series idea. 

5. Do you need an easy win? While no writing project is really an easy win, sometimes you need to go with the project you can finish in the least amount of time. That is why a lot of writers work on something long and something short, rotating between the two. Me? I’ve been working on both the series and the new ideas. 

How you prioritize each of these questions will depend on where you are in your writing journey and what you are working on. The answer that is right for you today, may not be the right answer a month from now. Still, asking yourself questions like these can help you make up your mind before you sit down to write.

 --SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 30 books for young readers.  To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.

The next session of her new course, Pitching, Querying and Submitting Your Work will begin on July 10, 2022).  Coping with rejection is one of the topics she will cover in this course.

Sue is also the instructor for  Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins July 10, 2022) and Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins July 10, 2022). 

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4 comments deciding what to work on, goal setting, prioritizing ideas, what to work on next

Story Ideas: 5 Tips for How to Get to Work When the Ideas Won’t Quit Coming

Recently, one of my students contacted me with a problem that is also a blessing. She has too many story ideas. She has ideas for preschool magazine activities. She has magazine and book ideas for high school aged readers. Then there’s her elementary nonfiction series idea. “How do I narrow this down?”

When some writers have more story ideas than they can pursue right now, they freeze up. These five steps can thaw that freeze and allow the writing to flow.

1. Write your ideas down. It doesn’t matter if you use an app like Notepad or an actual paper journal, record your ideas. Once you’ve written them down, you’ll stop worrying about forgetting them. Don’t worry about the quality of the idea. Write it down so you can get to the next step.

2. Check your time. How much time do you have to write? If you are a student with a paper due or there is a big event, like a wedding, birth or move, in the near future, your writing time is probably limited. If that is the case, you might want to pick a shorter project to work on, a magazine piece or poem vs. a novel or series idea. I’m not saying one type of writing is easier but that a shorter project can often be drafted in less time.

3. Check the timeliness of your ideas. Some ideas, like those that celebrate an anniversary, will be marketable now, but not in the future. Seasonal ideas are marketable six to nine months in advance. Is there something that is timely or seasonal? Then you might want to work on that.

4. The idea that won’t let you go. Do you have an idea that is pursuing you? One that you find yourself thinking about at various points throughout your day? Then put that one at the top of your list.

5. Pick three. Once you’ve considered the above, pick three ideas. Rank them first, second and third. Then get to work on #1. You pick three because, once you get started, you may hit a block. Maybe you are waiting for information you need to write the next section. Or you may need to think through a problem. With three “top” projects you can rotate through them and write as your mood, energy or time allows. This can help you keep writing instead of coming to a complete halt.

Having dozens of ideas is a blessing as long as you learn to work around them and keep the words flowing. If there are additional techniques that work for you, please consider sharing them in a comment below.

--SueBE

To find out more about Sue Bradford Edwards' writing, visit her blog, One Writer's Journey.  Sue is also the instructor for Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults. The next session begins May 20th, 2019.

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7 comments organizing ideas, prioritizing ideas, story ideas