tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post1939472068506488774..comments2024-03-27T03:14:07.652-04:00Comments on Seekerville: The Journey Continues: Battling Shiny New Idea SyndromeMissy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-77584542528197157132018-04-21T22:52:35.074-04:002018-04-21T22:52:35.074-04:00You're welcome! Glad I could helpYou're welcome! Glad I could helpWinnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-85882902580122302012018-04-21T20:24:11.134-04:002018-04-21T20:24:11.134-04:00I was named for my aunt--my mother's only sist...I was named for my aunt--my mother's only sister. Winniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09906713469755821006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-41238041127980013412018-04-21T19:37:53.860-04:002018-04-21T19:37:53.860-04:00Hi Winnie! You're absolutely right, there are...Hi Winnie! You're absolutely right, there aren't very many of us around, but I rather enjoy the uniqueness of it :)<br />I was named for my grandmother. How did you come by it? Winnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-87716831586400093542018-04-21T18:52:09.293-04:002018-04-21T18:52:09.293-04:00I've actually chatted with you on FB before, b...I've actually chatted with you on FB before, but it's been a looooong time.Winniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09906713469755821006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-53374076623279983512018-04-21T18:51:31.536-04:002018-04-21T18:51:31.536-04:00Hi Winnie. I'm not a writer. I just read what ...Hi Winnie. I'm not a writer. I just read what others write, but I just wanted to say hi to another Winnie, and tell you I enjoyed your post. There aren't too many Winnies out there, so I have to connect when I find one! Winniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09906713469755821006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-19358919260957955312018-04-21T17:28:13.130-04:002018-04-21T17:28:13.130-04:00Thank you! Great steps for what do with those idea...Thank you! Great steps for what do with those ideas! Amy Mariehttp://ampine-hearthridgereflections.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-75526385965876861772018-04-21T16:44:44.806-04:002018-04-21T16:44:44.806-04:00Oh it is most definitely a thing! :)
And you have ...Oh it is most definitely a thing! :)<br />And you have my sympathies, as well as support - you CAN beat this!!!Winnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-39480448946899000322018-04-21T16:43:14.867-04:002018-04-21T16:43:14.867-04:00Winnie, I have SNIS right now. I didn't even k...Winnie, I have SNIS right now. I didn't even know that was a thing. :)Karen Sargenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10762000226496483451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-34579851725755932442018-04-21T13:31:39.400-04:002018-04-21T13:31:39.400-04:00Hi Kelly. So glad this post resonated with you and...Hi Kelly. So glad this post resonated with you and added some tools to your writer toolbox!!Winnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-83018772081367416702018-04-21T13:30:50.165-04:002018-04-21T13:30:50.165-04:00LOL Megan, no judgment here. But you know what the...LOL Megan, no judgment here. But you know what they say, the first step to overcoming a problem is recognizing you have a problem... :)<br />As long as you're enjoying your process, go for it. But of the indescribable joy of finally typing THE END!!Winnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-87975686483693670852018-04-21T10:28:29.639-04:002018-04-21T10:28:29.639-04:00Winnie! Thank you so much. I definitely have falle...Winnie! Thank you so much. I definitely have fallen victim to SNIS. Your tips are great. I will be opening up a file for these in the future and setting a timer up!Kelly Blackwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14114157685843686254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-80072999516413850862018-04-21T10:26:47.482-04:002018-04-21T10:26:47.482-04:00Wow Vince! Excellent truly!Wow Vince! Excellent truly!Kelly Blackwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14114157685843686254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-35844924498067834822018-04-21T00:04:27.873-04:002018-04-21T00:04:27.873-04:00I'm hiding under my desk after reading this on...I'm hiding under my desk after reading this one. I'm a self-diagnosed chronic plotter. I'm really great at planning, outlining, mapping out GMC and character arc. I've got something like nine full novels planned out with scene lists and everything. And...not a single complete draft for any of them.<br /><br />Please don't judge me, Seekers! :D<br /><br />I also struggle with getting 50-75% of the way through a story and then have a brilliant idea for that story that entirely deconstructs it, refocusing on a different plot line or character, and feel like I need to start the same story over from scratch. It's more than a bit of retooling...it's a complete rewrite from the first line. Ack!<br /><br />I keep all of my shiny ideas in a single Scrivener file with different binder folders for different genres. That way it's all in one easily-accessible place.<br /><br />Now I need to just buckle down and actually finish my wip....Meg Brummerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15283942009322222663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-79416955619792266512018-04-20T22:28:15.655-04:002018-04-20T22:28:15.655-04:00You're quite welcome Pam!You're quite welcome Pam!Winnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-60833287250654288542018-04-20T22:23:34.187-04:002018-04-20T22:23:34.187-04:00Oh, yeah, I've had shiny new idea syndrome man...Oh, yeah, I've had shiny new idea syndrome <b>many</b> too many times to count! Thanks for the great tips, Winnie.Pam Hillmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08604636348596615139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-69654736157150175922018-04-20T21:40:47.851-04:002018-04-20T21:40:47.851-04:00Dude. Dude. Jes Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01461289214917876396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-33232289130447739302018-04-20T20:41:43.754-04:002018-04-20T20:41:43.754-04:00Hi Bettie. Thanks so much for those kind words - g...Hi Bettie. Thanks so much for those kind words - glad I was able to help!Winnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-18530016924995421962018-04-20T20:32:52.559-04:002018-04-20T20:32:52.559-04:00Thank you so much for sharing your process. I'...Thank you so much for sharing your process. I've had some of those shiny distractions before. I also have to force myself to go back to that WIP. That can become an inner battle. You have provided encouraging words that will help me get back to work!<br />Bettie Boswell https://www.blogger.com/profile/14557387595895531869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-80113167737652253272018-04-20T18:46:24.780-04:002018-04-20T18:46:24.780-04:00Hi Vince. I love this phrase you used "They d...Hi Vince. I love this phrase you used "They don't want to see into the future. They want to dream into the future. " That fits so many folks...Winnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-36047474112991772302018-04-20T17:46:41.806-04:002018-04-20T17:46:41.806-04:00Hi Winnie:
I've had to deal with SNIS for dec...Hi Winnie:<br /><br />I've had to deal with SNIS for decades as an advertising copywriter and editor. New writers, when stuck on a project, often 'come up with a better idea'. <br /><br />They want to drop the old idea we've been working on and use their new idea instead. They often think that their new idea is so strong the ad will "almost write itself."<br /><br />When this happens here are some approaches I would take:<br /><br />1. Monkeys are distracted by shinny new objects. You are better than that. Say five times: "I am not a monkey". (Warning: expect to have three copywriters mimicking the three monkies: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, when you come back into the room.)<br /><br />2. If you are young and new to writing, then always drop your WIP and start on the new shiny idea. Do this until you're jaded. Become like the person with five ex-spouses who finally realizes that spouses are the same and it would be better to have made the original marriage work in the first place.<br /><br />3. If the writers are new to writing and they want to pantser, then -- like little kids who play in the streets -- they need to be spanked while they can still be saved.<br /><br />Pantsering invites major writing problems.<br /><br />Here's how it can happen. A writer has a great shiny new idea! All options are open to make this story the great American novel. The imagination can just 'see' the wonderful story this idea can create. Such infatuated writers even use 'creative visualization' to experience how great they are going to feel once their wonderful reviews come pouring in.<br /><br />The idea is so hot in their hearts there is no time to plot out the story line. They must strike while the iron is hot!<br /><br />Then reality sets in. Each page they write closes story options that can be taken. By the time they are halfway into the story, so many options have closed that they don't know how they are going to go on…to say nothing of how what they have so far can even be publishable! It's the sagging middle! When things are darkest, there will always come a new shiny idea. Rather than wallow in the slough of despair, they follow the light to the next shiny idea as helpless as the children following the Pied Piper of Hamelin into the unknown! <br /><br />How James Patterson sells more fiction that anyone else!<br /><br />He spends two to three months coming up with an outline that is so powerful ordinary people can't read it without asking him when they can buy the book. Every scene is its own chapter. Every scene asks questions that readers absolutely must have answered as soon as possible. Every scene is so important to the story that it changes the trajectory of the plot outcome.<br /><br />Of course, if you try to write such an outline you really, really, must have a bright new idea because the outline will prove it or disprove it. Most writers do not want to wait until they really have a bright new story. They don't want to see into the future. They want to dream into the future. They are like pilots without instruments flying into the clouds relying on the seat of their pants to get them safely to a destination they are not even sure is out there!<br /><br />Pantsering is great for creating the great outline…the proof the idea really is great. Of course, you'll find this out ahead of time…long before the sad sagging middle! Pantsering, like carbohydrates, is a major cause of sagging middles!<br /><br />A world famous economist once said when asked if he played the commodities, "Whenever I get the urge to play the commodities I go into a room alone and wait until the feeling goes away."<br /><br />That might also work for SNIS. :) <br /><br />I'm just playing…go pantser all you want and enjoy what you do. <br /><br />Vince<br /><br /><br />Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-85911227069930193712018-04-20T16:51:26.463-04:002018-04-20T16:51:26.463-04:00:) That's why no one process works for every...:) That's why no one process works for every writer - we're all so differentWinnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-87231074209068179432018-04-20T16:49:40.548-04:002018-04-20T16:49:40.548-04:00Another multi-tasker! My hat's off to you and ...Another multi-tasker! My hat's off to you and Nicki.Winnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-66891926923738765592018-04-20T16:44:25.376-04:002018-04-20T16:44:25.376-04:00And you're much better at focusing at one task...And you're much better at focusing at one task than I am. There's no way I would be able to focus on one WIP with the ideas of a hundred more banging on my mental doors.Nicki Chapelwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975226105127466970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-49396949347952811742018-04-20T16:39:59.917-04:002018-04-20T16:39:59.917-04:00LOL - your SNI box sounds like my photograph colle...LOL - your SNI box sounds like my photograph collection that I keep saying I'll organize 'someday' :)<br />And what a fun way to tackle them - by turning yourself loose on one during Nano!!Winnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-30502521403704835702018-04-20T16:38:14.959-04:002018-04-20T16:38:14.959-04:00Oh Nicki, you're a much better multi-tasker th...Oh Nicki, you're a much better multi-tasker than I could ever be! There's no way I could ever keep all the characters and story threads straight if I tried working on that many stories at one time.Winnie Griggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295070748234710260noreply@blogger.com