In January, I foolishly made some writing goals.
Hey! It was a moment of weakness. I wrote a list of 10 projects I would like to start or finish or at least chip an icicle off. I must’ve been feeling inspired and energetic that day. Don’t worry: won’t happen again.
Revisiting that list taught me several interesting things:
a) I’m an overachiever. Okay this was not a surprise.
b) I’m hopeless at making goals and achieving them. It’s like I make goals to purposely break them.
c) I have way too many ideas. Stop, brain, stop.
d) I have writers-ideas-ADD. Which basically means, I see an idea, I write it down, then…OH NEW SHINY IDEA!
We’re halfway through the glorious year of 2014, and I’ve ticked off 3 things from my list.
I’ve done round #1 of edits with my agent on my fantasy book. I wrote 52 Dresses Not For Dancing (it was as pathetic as a soggy waffle). I rewrote Six.
3 out of 10 isn’t horrendous, but it definitely means I will not be finishing off my list this year. Would you like to know why? Oh of course you do. Hold onto your socks, because here comes a shocker:
I have more new ideas.
I’m not talking passing whimsies. I’m talking full-fledged, writable, half-plotted, pinterest-boarded BOOKS. My brain is swarming with them. And every few weeks, a brand new one crops up and what should I do? Hose it back or embrace it?
Adding to the 7 books I already have to write, let’s add:
1. THEM HUNGRY BONES (YA – zombies)
This one gets top of the list because (I think) it’ll be the book I write next. Unless, you know, something else hits me with more passion. So far, Them Hunger Bones is about apocalyptic Australia, where a zombie virus wipes out entire cities in days. A girl and her teenage uncle take a roadtrip to escape, and accidentally pick up a preschooler wearing a tutu and batman mask. Mostly everyone ends up zombies. It’s about family. If your relative became a zombie, what would you do with them? Huh?
2. FURIOSO (YA – musical contemporary; co-written)
Mime and I have a book we want to co-write! Last year, we wrote Canonic, and Furioso is in the same series. Music. Sarcasm. Sibling rivalry. Family drama. A crazy grandfather. And pianist wars. What could be more awesome?
3. HELLO, DEATH (YA – paranormal/apocalypse; possible trilogy)
This is my baby. MY MOST EXCITING BABY. I haven’t thought up a series since I write 6 fantasy books. This, too, is an apocalypse. (I have a teeny obsession with the end of the world, okay?) But it’s a quiet end-of-all-things with a spin off Greek mythology, teenagers creating utopia, and Life and Death being people and retiring. Because that’s insanely logical. In fact, the entire book SCREAMS logic, don’t you think?
4. STAR KILL (YA – sci-fi; Star Rust #2)
Just like I suck at reading series, I suck at writing them too. I always wander away. BUT! This is a companion book to my sci-fi novel, Star Rust. Except Star Kill will involve 3 sisters who rule a planet and have had their brains modified to include war data from hundreds of generations. They will be the smartest people of their universe. And they’re…not even finished school yet.
I like this one because it’s about world domination where the villains win. Mwaha ha ha.
5. THE DEAD BOY AND THE PAPER CUT (YA – paranormal)
I don’t write fluff! What is this! Peoples, in a word: fluff. It’s a paranormal romance about a boy who was killed with a book and therefore is a ghost attached to a book. A girl borrows the book out of the library and…welcome home, Caspar. (I’m joking, his name is not Caspar. It’s Louis.) The girl must solve the murder mystery and lay the ghost/book/boy to rest. Or marry him and have little ghosty children.
6. NEVER, NEVER trilogy (YA? MG? Who knows? magical retelling)
I’ve written book #1, but would you believe I’ve plotted book #2? I DON’T PLOT. What is this. Book #3 is partially plotted, as well. There are titles, characters, plot twists, settings: the works. It’s my Peter Pan retelling which just takes the squishy Disney fairy tale and turns it into bloodsucking faeries who steal children to Neverland to eat them. Delightful, really. Nice happy story.
7. THE BOYS IN THE CORNFIELD WITH THE MAGIC (MG – paranormal)
I’m desperate to write a Middle-Grade book. It’s eluding me, which only makes the challenge more delicious. This is a story about a little girl who finds a cricket in her cornfield, but actually the cricket is a kid and it’s complicated.
8. CRIMINAL INSIDE (YA – sci-fi)
Who’d have thought I’d be so keen on sci-fi? Suddenly: I am. This one is a play of the historical-fiction concept of England dumping their criminals in Australia. But instead, the world is dumping their criminals on another planet.
Plus on top of this NEW marvellous list, I have 8 more book premises.
They’re barely more than 3 sentences each, but they’re still books, and 2 of them have complete plots all there and ready for me to sit down and flesh out a little. Once upon a writers block, I never thought of books with plots. I got characters. I got settings. Plots? Please, let me go fishing. Now, 90% of the time the book comes to me with plot, characters, and setting. I just have to fill in the 50,000-word blanks.
How do I handle this? HOW DO I SURVIVE MY OWN BRAIN?
My survival instincts have kicked in and I basically approach my ideas with a Jack Sparrow attitude:
Sanity? Do I really need it? On a scale of 1 to Moriarty, how important is my sanity?
I’m not bragging about my overflow of ideas. Honestly, I’m not. Writing is hard work. While I have a lot of book plots, I worry that my character sound too much the same. Should I shake my style up? Am I repeating the same themes? Has this book been done before?
Just like I want to read everything, I secretly want to write everything as well. Stories are my life. I love hearing them and making them. I love that words are so powerful. And all I can think of is that quote from The Book Thief:
Of course I have to stop fussing and just write these blasted stories…
Someday.
Cait just read THE MAZE RUNNER and is suffering from the need to write down some dystopian ideas. NO. SHE REFUSES TO FALL PRET TO THAT WHIM. Currently, she’s taking lessons in fabulousity from Jack Sparrow and making lists of books to write instead of actually writing them.
Is there a possibility to read Canonic and Furioso? I would love to do it!
Not yet! These are mostly just works-in-progress. XD Still need loooots of edits.
Oh Cait, I totally understand what you're going through, haha. I have god-knows-how-many Word files with a couple of pages written. I also have so many ideas for general stuff but somehow the plot just never comes to me, so I always only write the first couple of pages and then I'm sorta stuck because WHERE DO I GO NOW? And then *pop* a new shiny idea surfaces and hey, let's start that one! But I can never actually finish writing a book, so I'm impressed.I'm afraid I don't have any advice or something, because I completely suck at pushing through with one book 😛 But if you ever need a beta reader, I'm here for you! Cait, you are wonderful and fabulous (no, but really) and I love pretty much all of your ideas. I'd love to beta read one of your books if you're ever looking for some feedback and such :)Good luck with your writing, Cait!
OHhh, those premises. THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL AND SHINY. How can they be ignored??! I have to tell myself not to make pinterest boards for all of them. Only the ones that have like vaguely enough plot/characters to actually be a book in the near-future.*tackle hug* I MIGHT NEED TO TAKE YOU UP ON THE BETA OFFER.
Please do! You can always email or tweet me or something and I'll be ready, complete with superhero suit and all.
Cait, why do you not share just how amazing you are at writing more often? I swear, some of those books you've mentioned, The Dead Boy and the Papercut, Never, Never, Hello Death, they sounds amazing and I would so read the hell out them! You ever need someone to read them for you for some opinions, I'm right here girl, honestly! I've always wondered what it'd be like to write a book and maybe one day I might actually do it, but right now, I tend to focus on my erotic scenes (I'm not weird honestly, I'm just good at it..) and it's being able to right a plot and story with those in that alludes me. One day, I shall succeed! You should be proud though, you do so much and you should be pleased! 🙂
N'aw, shucks. *scuffs ground* I'm only fabulous on days that end with Y. (Okay, I'm kiiiidding. lol. But you're the nicest!) Ah, the plots are the tricky parts. Like figuring out a WHOLE plot to fit 300 pages?!! I've written like 10+ books and I still struggle with it. I hope you do try a whole book someday! It's the BEST feeling to have finished one.
You have a lot of ideas. And I thought I was bad coming up with a ten book series about superheroes. Goalwise, that series has ruined everything and a lot of editing has fallen by the wayside. I really need to do better in the second half of the year…adjusting my goals, probsbly want to edit rwo books and write one. (The only thing certain about this goal is writing one book. Gotta love NaNo.)
Nope. You're very reserved at only 10. Besides 10 is a nice even round number? Who wouldn't like it, right? Editing is haaaard. There is a lot of excitement and adventure (and leeway for mistakes, I think, hehe) at drafting. XD I need to try NaNo one of these days…
Oh. My. Gosh you are insane (also I want to read EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE especially the contemporary ones because DUH contemporary but also all of them). So whenever any are even slightly ready for another human being to look at…look at me. Seriously. Even if you just have tiny midget ideas…I love hearing them :)3/10 is not bad. I've barely written anything this year! I too have a billion ideas rattling around. I might copy you and make my own post, actually (I tend to do this a lot. I might as well just have my schedule a day behind yours and just copy all your posts). My ideas are branching out of contemporary at the moment (I blame Alice in Wonderland). I hope I can buy these all in a bookstore someday. My favourites are: The Dead Boy and The Paper Cut, Never Never trilogy (PETER PAN), and The Boy in the Cornfield with the Magic. Also have I mentioned how much I love your titles? Because the answer is A LOT. I got to 50,000 words on Wanderland just now so I'm going to take a break for a day…then I am back into it 🙂
I KNOW I AM. *sigh* Take these ideas away from me, seriously. Sometimes I just read book after book and ignore them because there's too many and who do I even pick to show attention to?! That's hard. Picking favourites out of your kids.DO IT. MAKE A POST. I WAAAANNA SEE ALL YOUR IDEAS. Blame Alice for everything. I do. (I blame Supernatural for all my other un-Alice problems actually.) My titles are a little nuts. Either I get them or I end with ones like "Six". HAR HAR HAR. That still needs help. YAY FOR 50K! THAT'S AN EPIC GOAL.
I do wish you would talk about writing a little more. We do love it so much. My writing year is going well. My own book is approaching that point where you take the plunge and look for one of those angels known as agents. I shall have to go into trimming mode very soon because the dear thing is looking to be about 200,000 words if it keeps lengthening at the rate it is.
Aw, really?! That's kind of nice to know! I usually don't, because I'm scared it's boring. >-< Ohhhh, agent searching is pretty dang hard. I HOPE YOU DO WELL. 200,000 words is…wow, a lot. o.O
At least your still making progress, which is huge! When I was younger I wrote all of the time and went on to major in creative writing in college, because I was so passionate about it. But now here I sit, in my 30s, and I haven't written anything in years sigh…. I do have a very rough draft for an ebook in the works, which is a non-fiction memoir of sorts, about my weight loss journey, but so far all's I've actually written down is the title and introduction, blech. Someone needs to come over here and move me along with a cattle prod, lol.
Yess! Progress! Must focus on the progress. *eyeballs teeny progress and demand it continues to grow* I guess writing comes in fits and starts during lifetimes? I know I really slacked off the year before last. Barely squeezed out a word and I had horrible writers block. But last year? I was extremely productive and I'm putting my this-year-self to shame! >_<
I can't believe how many ideas you have! That has to be so overwhelming. 3/10 is still pretty good, because even though it might not be as much progress as you like, it's still progress. Also, you did a round of edits with your agent? You have an agent and you worked with her on your book! If that isn't progress, I don't know what is.As for my writing progress this year, I think I'm making good progress. I just won my first Camp NaNoWriMo this morning, so I'm almost done with my first novel. Soon, it will be on to edits. I don't know whether I should be excited about editing. Also, after entering an essay contest and failing last year, I placed this year. I also have a few more ideas for books that I want to write when I'm done with this first one, but I don't know which one to start first. And you already know that I nominated you for a blog award.
They are so overwhelming. *breaks down and cries over ideas* I WANT TO WRITE THEM ALL. But I end up writing nothing because I can't even pick. How am I supposed to choose anyway??! But exactly. x) I'm insanely lucky to be doing edits with an agent. I KNOW. Lucky and blessed and omg, can I hyperventilate a moment?? OK, THANKS.Yay for winning NaNo! And only this morning?? This deserves cake. LOTS OF CAKE. I usually wait about 6 or so weeks (I think Stephen King said that?) before editing something, but edits can be kind of fun. I put too much pressure on myself though and I end up preferring first-drafting. xD And you placed in an essay contest? LEMME GET OUT MORE CAKE.
Cait?YOU SOUND JUST LIKE ME. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MY PINTEREST IS OVERFLOWING WITH STORY BOARDS AND AAAARRRRRRGGHHHHH……And of course. MARRY HIM AND HAVE LITTLE GHOSTY CHILDREN. IT'S THE OBVIOUS ANSWER.
I'm glad you like that ending. I DO TOO. Who can say no to little ghosty children??! Come now. It'd be adorable. DUDE WHERE IS YOUR PINTEREST SO I MAY FLAIL WITH YOU??!!!
My writing year is going beautifully. I finished (what I thought was) final edits of the book I was editing in May. And now I'm working on a new novel (which you already know). No… no fabulous new plot bunnies. Except the Shifting Sands one. I got the initial bunny back in April then allowed it to grow in June. ~Robyn
Ah, feeding those glorious plot bunnies. x) Mine just grow and reproduce and then eat me as you can see…*sigh* And Shifting Sands is going well? I hope it's going well.
Oh, I love this post. Your ideas are brimming with energy and sound like books I'd like to read. 🙂 Also, laughed a bit at the scale of 1 to Moriarty! And you have an agent. I mean, if that isn't a sign of progress, I don't know what is! I'm still trying to finish a first draft, but my problem is that I end up editing as I go along, which I know is a BAD idea. I just can't help myself. My goal was to have that first draft done in May, but now it is by November so I can do NaNo because I too have a million ideas running around in my head for stories. I just won't start them seriously until I'm done with this draft.
I'm not quite at Moriarty yet? RIGHT? Right. The agent is definitely a sign of progress. x) IT WAS VERY EXCITING TO DO A FIRST ROUND OF EDITS. I might be nuts, but I'm actually excited for round #2. oooh, I used to be very stuck in the edit-as-I-go mode. I do not do it now. Not at all. I get too caught up in perfection if I try that. I want to do NaNo in november! Can you buddy write for that? I have NO idea how it works. But I'm going to need buddies. *focus, focus…looks at random idea flitting past*
Ahaha, "Hello, Death" is a great title! 😛 And I understand the feeling of having too many ideas – welcome to my life. -_- Even worse, I FORGET loads of my ideas!
Hehe. I KNOW it's not original. I just…I couldn't help myself. XD (Isn't it an old band? I think it is.)
Ah, the woe of having too many ideas. Yeah I make lists of the books I want to write, but it's so hard to see them into fruition! And then I worry about how the real thing won't be as good as the one in my head. SO FRUSTRATING. But anyhow, just keep on writing! And listing them ideas. And writing them. And listing some more. And then writing them.It's okay to leave an idea for another…as long as you'll get back to it in the future!
UGH. I know that feeling. It's practically a movie in my head and I know the second it hits paper it's going to suck. Sometimes it's nicer to have them in my head.
I would read almost every single one of those books (even the zombie one…which is weird, because my stomach can't usually handle zombies). Seriously.I like to call myself a writer, but I'm yet to finish anything that I've started…one day…
EEEEH. This makes me happy. xD And Mime said the same thing…but more emphasis on how she hates zombies and therefore I should feel special that she's willing to read mine. HHEHE.If you write at all, you're a writer.
I REALLY REALLY WANT TO READ ALL YOUR NOVELS I THINK YOU SHOULD LET ME OK THANKS I'M AN AWESOME BETA READER I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW.Also, no joke, this post made me [almost] cry because you have all the ideas and i have none. you have written a gazillion novels and i have written none. I WANT TO BE AN AUTHOR but my brain won't let me and i don't know how to plot i never do which is why i cant write novels why is your brain so majestic giving you characters, title, plots and plot twists?[slight] rant over. i'm going to bed.
WELL I BELIEVE YOU AND I WILL KEEP THIS IN MIND. JUST LEMME FINISH HYPERVENTILATING BECAUSE THIS MAKES ME RIDICULOUSLY HAPPY. ohhh, I'M SORRY. *hugs and offers condoling chocolate* If you want it, trust me, IT WILL HAPPEN.
WHY. AREN'T. YOUR. BOOKS. FINISHED./PUBLISHED. YET. why Cait. WHY. WHY???? Do you know how long it would take to take all of these books and read them? Yeah, probably a day, or less. BECAUSE THESE BLURBS ARE ALL GOLD. Just take all my money, pleaseNo, but seriously, I think it's fantastic that you're working on developing so many stories. Coming from someone who can't write creatively, I'M ENVIOUS. I think if you just take everything a step at a time, and not worry about starting new stories here and there, you'll be fine. Because you'll at least get something done! And anyways, sometimes you just need a refresher in order to get over that writer's block, or you just need something new. I mean, I'm sure you're not the only writer with this problem, aha
BECAUSE THE WORLD BELIEVES IN PATIENCE DARNIT AND I MUST ACQUIESCE TO THAT TRADITION. *takes all your money* Don't worry, I'm putting it to good world-domination use. THE WORLD WILL BE MINE. Mwhahaha. And yes, I'm lucky (Very very lucky) that I have so many ideas, but I'm mildly overwhelmed that I'll never get to them all. If I think up 10+ ideas a year, how will I ever catch up to myself??!
Your ideas sound awesome! I was writing a Peter Pan retelling from Hook's POV, but…well, his voice was hard to pin down. You don't get enough from him to be able to get a solid voice. So, I decided to read the book before I write mine. Now I'm working on some Sherlock fanfic short stories. My 2014 goals are going nowhereXD
I did mine from Hook's POV too! *hi fives* Great minds think alike. Except I made…*coughs*…Hook a…girl. A very nice girl. Misunderstood. It was awesome. (Although the draft sucks badly, trust me! XD I just have fond thoughts over it.) Sherlock fanfics?! THAT IS SO COOL. How do you think up mysteries? That's what I find difficult.
5 and 6 look delicious to me! I actually have had two ghostly stories floating around my head for several years now (which is funny because I'm not into creepy much). One was inspired by a dream I had and the other by a song. I have a lot of stories that are inspired by my dreams. Mostly weird, but good enough to make me interested in possibly writing them down someday. I've written a couple short stories but that was for school…..I'm not good at sitting down and writing. My hubby, Robert, has a brilliant series planned and some of the first book written, but real life has gotten to him and now he isn't as motivated as he used to be 😛 I WANT HIM TO FINISH. I want to read the books he has in his head! GAAAAH! It's frustrating.
I almost never remember my dreams…but honestly, last night? I had one that REALLY inspired me…but dragons. Hehe. It didn't even make this list. OH THERE ARE TOO MANY IDEAS. I'm glad you like #5 and #6. I think #6 has become quite a special little one for me, just because it's really all there and that's never happened to me before. Usually I'm plotting for months trying to figure things out. I hope your husband finishes, though! Finishing a book is the BEST feeling of ever.
HAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIII GUESS WHO'S COMMENTING AGAIN! THAT'S RIGHT, YOUR FAVORITE PERSON IN THE WORLD. (Who pretty much broke into your house, shoved Supernatural at your face and told you to go on a hunting trip…) BUT I'M STILL YOUR FAVORITE. (even though I'm not. I like to be annoying. lol.)Kay, I want to read the books that you and Mime co-wrote. Or are co-writing. MUSIC? YES PLEASE. All your book ideas…. dang girl. I feel like getting you fandomized influenced your ideas. I mean… death, paranormal… zombies? You have OD'd on SPN and now it's come back to bite you. (and possibly turn you into a vampire, but there you go.)On a scale of one to Moriarty, I think you're Sherlock. You're not a psychopath…. *yet*I'm considering the Maze Runner…. we'll see.
YES YES. DON'T DOUBT YOURSELF. YOU'RE MY FAVOURITE PERSON IN THE WORLD. They're not aaaaall because of Supernatural. *scuffs ground* Okay, well, maybe 2 or 3 were inspired but I PROMISE THE ZOMBIE ONE WAS BEFORE I STARTED WATCHING SPN. I promise. But maybe I did OD. *sobs* My feels…ohhhhhh my FEELS. I don't wanna be a vampire. I want to be a hunter and let my hair flow in in the wind as I ride into the sunset shooting monsters. Okay? Okay.SHERLOCK. I CONSIDER THAT AN EPIC WIN. Unless…wait. Does this mean I'm annoying?
Aww girl! I can definitely relate. It's so easy to go on tumblr and find these inspiring picture. You then head over to a word document and sketch out characters and a general plotline.I have around 394082 of these documents and when it comes to actually fleshing out these ideas into something more?? Yeah that's a lot more difficult. I can't seem to turn them into stories.You, on the other hand have 890483 stories ready to go, but just don't know where to go. The new ideas you have sound quite amazing, honestly. Them Hungry Bones is about zombies which basically has me able to tick the awesome back already. There's just so much room for exploration there, PLUS IT'S SET IN AUSTRALIA AND I JUST WANT TO READ A BOOK THAT TAKES PLACE THERE OKAY. Hello, Death sounds like so much fun (: I love mythology and think it would be great to see you incorporate. Also: death and life are people oooo. Reminds me of Supernatural and their "Death" who is super sassy omg. Please make Death sassy! For me [; The Dead Boy and the Papercut also sounds good omfg. I'd love to see you write fluff girl (: Your posts on this blog are so funny and I feel like your hilarious humor would carry through in fluff. Never, Never omg. I LOVE FAIRYTALE RETELLINGS AND ESPECIALLY DARK ONES SO THIS IS PERFECT. The fact that you're making it a trilogy tells me there's so much complexity going on, which intrigues me to no end. So girl, I've really be 100 percent unhelpful here. All of your ideas sound wonderful and I want to read them. Haha[;
I think I'm going for Them Hungry Bones next because honestly, it's been burning my noggin for long enough. EXCEPT I HAD ANOTHER IDEA. I know, right? Ridiculous. Someone remove my brain. (actually. Don't. I want it.) I totally get you with the millions of word docs just full of ideas. And then I cave and I get millions of Pinterest boards with these half-ideas and ohhh I JUST NEED MORE TIME. I end up reading and ignoring all the things because it's too hard. (I'm such a wuss.)I want to see me write fluff too. Trust me: it will be an interesting experience. VERY INTERESTING. I'm totally up for the little ghosty babies though. HA HA. Just kidding. Everyone will die.DARK FAIRY TALE TELLINGS, THOUGH, AMIRITE?!!! I love stuff like Cinder and Cruel Beauty. Dark and scary = insta-awesome. (Although not mine. Hehe. It is an incredible mess. But I'm fond of it.)YOU'VE BEEN 100 AWESOME. SO THAT COUNTS.
Wow. Wow. Wow. There are writers and there are writers. I was looking at your Pinterest earlier (which when I type it out makes me aware I sound like a creepy stalker, I'M NOT, IT'S THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS, I'M BORED, YOUR BOARDS ARE COOL KAY), and I was *terrified* by the amount of WIPs you have. I have been writing the same novel for a year. It is only just past 30k. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND YOU.I do have the new ickle baby germ of an idea though … Sleeping Beauty spin-off. Because if the royal family all went to sleep for a hundred years, the people would NOT be like "lol I guess we'll just rule ourselves till the princess wakes up!" There would be civil war. And what would happen when she *did* wake up?? And what if the prince who kissed her wasn't her true love??? And what if there was a nationwide fairy conspiracy???? All these questions are rocketing around my brain currently. But apart from that … one novel. I salute you and your nineteen hundred ideas … good look writing them all! PS Never, Never trilogy sounds very cool.
Haha, you're so cute. Honestly, I feel nearly uninspirable these days (if that's a word). And when I fish for ideas, I usually only find ones fit for short works, like short stories. I might be thinking too much about getting ideas and forgetting to, you know, get ideas. It's a bit of a problem.But. I really enjoyed your list, and although you don't think you're doing too well this year, I think you're fine. You're halfway through the year— don't focus on getting ten specific problems done, focus on getting ten projects (whatever they may be) done and on the shelf. Also, there's a thing with pantsers where occasionally, if they air their ideas to any sort of audience, they lose enthusiasm for them. For that reason I keep all my ideas inside my head until the day before I begin writing, even if I have to plot the thing. (I plotted my last novel the very day Camp NaNo started, and it worked beautifully.) Another tip: throw some ideas together. Make a giant novel with five of those ideas all in one. For instance… Okay, yeah, I have no idea. You're on your own. But combine, definitely. Take a setting from one and a character from another, a theme from a third place, and put all that enthusiasm into a single place. And another tip: some of those stories would work perfectly as short stories, but you'd have a little more trouble expanding them into novels/novellas (at least from the ideas I'm getting of the stories). I would love the book/ghost story as a short story, as well as the zombie one— and the boys in the cornfield one would work too. I'm just looking at little, intriguing ideas which might not have an entire plot to them, but would work well in a short period of time. (If you do go with short stories, post them here. I want to read them.)But that's my take on your stories, and you don't want that. Just dive in, as quickly as you can. Some of these stories you might have to write sloppily on purpose— others you might want to take more time on. But get in there and start writing. (It's okay to be less prolific, blogging-wise, in the meantime.) Have fun.
I've always wondered what it would be like to be a writer. I prefer reading because I don't have the eloquence or imagination (or patience!) that writing requires, but I admire those who do. All your ideas sound absolutely frabjous though Cait! Promise me you'll send me some ARCs or let me read them early okay? <3
I have an opposite problem: I love to write stuff, but I have the hardest time coming up with ideas! I am good if I can come up with a basic concept, but that is the absolute hardest part for me. I have some kind of ADD too, where I sit down with all kinds of lovely ideas, only to start writing and have my mind go blank and start thinking about complete nonsense: "I wonder if any books are on sale today?" "Did I forget to DVR something?" "Do I have any chocolate?". Useless, I am useless! But your ideas are AMAZING. Like, I want to read them all. Immediately. And I may need you to write Hello, Death sooner than immediately. That won't be a problem, right? In all seriousness, don't be so hard on yourself! Just think- you have SO many ideas, and even if they don't get written right now, they WILL. And then, someday, if you do have some of my special brand of writer's block, you'll have all these lovely ideas just waiting for you to write them! And, from the sounds of it, you'll have a lot of willing and eager readers as well 😉
STOP! Stop what you're doing right this instance and start work on Them Hungry Bones. Please. You know what, no, I demand you write it. An apocalyptic, a quirky little poppet, road trip and Zombies.I love you. I love you this much. Probably best you just imagine me spreading my arms wide. If you do nothing else for the rest of the year, and I'm including things like keeping your hygiene in check, eating nothing but cake or even sleeping in your linen closet, THIS you must finish.I realise that I'm pretty crap at motivational speaking, so I'll arm myself with a wooden spoon. It always gets the job done. Go on, scat, start writing.
I just need a moment to get past all of those awesome titles. HOW DO YOU DO IT? I'm literally the worst when it comes to thinking up book titles; it's actually ridiculous. I may poke you until you give me a good name for my current novel. BE PREPARED FOR POKING, CAIT!
Cait, you're wonderful and fabulous. BUT REALLY. OH GOD. CAN I MARRY YOUR BOOKS? In a non-weird way…if that's possible. It's kind of late, I'm tired, my brain's frazzled but AHHH! I just…I envy you and your amazing plots and your amazing titled. I suck at coming up with titles and amazing plots, I want your skills. GIVE THEM TO ME (I'll give you cake in return). Also, I kinda freaked out about your oh so casual Sherlock reference there. I cannot be calm in the presence of something that could be related back to Sherlock, it just doesn't work like that. Anyway, these are beautiful.x Ely
That sounds extremely awesome!! Mine's where Hook is actually not as bad as we think he is:) And I honestly have no clue how I think up mysteriesXD I guess I watch too many detective/forensic/crime showsXD
YOU JUST LEAVE THOSE IDEAS BE. JUST START THEM, AND THEN LEAVE THEM ALONE. One day you'll get back to them, but sometimes you have to get that idea out of your head, in order to continue working on an old idea. Or else, ALL YOU THINK ABOUT is that new fresh plot line. it's called Cait Theory. But truthfully, I can see how you could just keep writing new stories forever lol.
I kind of hate you right now! It's harsh but true. I love the sound of so many of these and want to pick them up and read them… and I can't!!! ;'( You need to get Never Never completed because I love the sound of that one and wish to devour it! PLEASE?!? I could give you virtual cake or chocolate, or even chocolate cake! I have started to think of some book ideas, but haven't started writing any of them yet. I think you should be proud that you managed 3 of your goals, that's still pretty impressive! 🙂
*hides under bed* FORGIVE ME, CHARNELL. I PROMISE TO SIT QUIETLY IN THE CORNER IF YOU DO. Oh I accept anything of the chocolate variety, don't you worry. Someone just take away my TBR pile, because that's my biggest procrastination right now. I keep thinking, "But I just need to read 10 more books before I write"…and then I don't write.
ohmyword Cait I LOVE all your ideas! Do you put your WIPs up for beta? Because I would really like to eat some of them. My own writerlyness: I finished the second book of my Beauty and the Beast rewrite! bgerioghreioghero goodness that thing has been a part of me for years. A good three or four years. And it's done. My baby. *sniffles and strokes it* BUT it has a companion novel about one of the minor main characters so it's not a complete goodbye… yet. Also I have my baby Broken Wing//Something to Focus on. FIRST PERSON PRESENT TENSE. I have never had so much fun writing as I do when I write Broken Wing. The POV is so FUN. That's the only word I have for it. And, you know, experiments and falcons and people with wings and chases, escapes and true love… XDDDD
I have never actually done that. But I feel BAD for my poor CPs because I absolutely flood them with books that need help and they can't keep up…so I might ask for betas one day. >_<BEATY AND THE BEAST REWRITE??!! JFDSKLAFD I love retellings! I love them! I know how it feels to get so attached though…I've been constantly rewriting one book for like 5 years and I've just got to the point where I WANT to keep rewriting it because…awww, I'd miss it otherwise. XD
Woah. So many ideas it's making my head hurt. I do hope you get to write them someday. I especially love Number Eight!
Oh I'm glad you like number #8! I've had that one in my skull for ages and I just can't wait to have a chance at it eventually. XD
You're not a creepy stalker. XD HOLIDAYS FTW, right?!! I like stalking…er, *cough*, looking at other peoples pinterests too. I have so so many WIPs but I promise! Not all of them are actually written. Maybe 1/3 are written? Even less of that is actually edited. I do write fast, though, I admit. I write fast adn I don't worry about mistakes. Because that's what edits are for. But it's taken me like 5 years to learn to write fast. A Sleeping Beauty spin-off sounds awesome! FAIRY CONSPIRACY. <– That is golden, right there.
Yes, yes, I'm absolutely adorable with all my fishy ideas. I just need to, you know, steal Time and then pause it while I write ALL THE THINGS. What if I get this many ideas every year? I'm never going to catch up. And the plots might be all there, but it's making different characters that concerns me. >_<The Boys in the Cornfield will be short because it's MG, but the Zombie one is HUGE. I actually have it plotted for once. (I'm hit-or-miss when it comes to plotting…I used to write 10K plots and now I write about 2-pages and leave it at that.) I've never ever written short stories before. I'm not sure how to go about it….eh. I should research it up. xDTrust me; I write fast. And messy. First drafts are just about blurting the idea on the page for me (I am for like 50-60K and then flesh out later). But I get burned out fast…which then I don't write, I just huddle away reading other books. BECAUSE IT'S EASIER. I am bad.
Reading is easier. XD READING IS ALL FUN. Because you get to have the adventure and then you get to critique it. Hehe. Dude, if I ever get all these published, trust me, I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE THINGS.
And then "don't forget to check Pinterest". XD Hehe. I get very easily distracted too. Actually my tBR keeps me from writing a lot because I promise myself I'll just get it down to "manageable size" and then I'll write, har, har. I need to not let that be my procrastination.Eeeep. Hello Death has a special place in my skull at the moment, only seconded by the zombie book, for some reason that one is like EXCITING ME NO END. I'm pretty sure it's the one I'll go for next.
*runs away screaming from spoon*Apart from the scary last bit, your motivational speeches WIN. But I'm totally up for eating nothing but cake and just writing. I need one of those tiny apartments in Paris where I live on nothing but coffee and typewriter ink. THERE WILL SOON BE A MOVIE OF MY LIFE. Just you wait and see.
Book titles are SO hit or miss for me. Honestly it's either something I'm fond of like "Them Hungry Bones" or "Six". HA. Six?! That is not an acceptable title. -_- *arms self for poking attack*
YOU WISH TO MARRY MY LITTLE FRANKENSTEINS? This is glorious. YOU CAN EDIT THEM TOO! HA HA HA *collapses in insane giggles* Seriously, there are too many. I sometimes lie and look at my bookshelves and calculate how much space I'd need if all my ideas were actually finished physical copies. SHERLOCK. I like to put in the randomest of references and see the fans spark on fire.
Oh Cait, you have so many ideas! I think it's great that you're making plans to work on everything in turn, and even if you're not achieving them in the space of a year, you can't forget that you're still achieving them. I mean, it might be slower going than you'd have liked/envisaged, but you're writting novels, lady, and that's fantastic and a lot of work. I think you're going splendidly. I never plot either. Basically I come up with an idea and, depending on how much I want to work on it, I start immediately/finish my current WIP and THEN begin immediately. I think fondly of the time last year when I abandoned my novel mid NaNo and began a new one, never to finish the first. Ah, those memories are fond.
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/kristanaa/http://www.pinterest.com/kristanaa/<br />FLAIL WITH ME
YES and I didn't mean for it to be a retelling. It happened by accident XD And the companion novel is sort of trying to be slightly Little Mermaid-ish. Apparently fairytale retellings like me o_O