My friends and fellow writers, I write this note to warn you all of a very serious disease which is threatening to become pandemic. It is a disease endemic to our society.
Doctors have classified it as Multiple Writer Personality Disorder, or MWPD.
Symptoms include a propensity for shiny objects, many voices in your head screaming for attention, and are not limited to but may include thoughts of suicide, murder, mayhem, and general mischief-making.
Severe cases may include obsessive-compulsive tendencies, aversion to sunlight, food, and housework, and depression from loss of socialization with others outside the writing community.
All care should be taken to avoid contracting this dread disease.
Not every solution is ideal for every writer, but I would like to share my strategies for getting through a case of MWPD.
1- I keep binders/notebooks for every idea that comes to me. Currently, I have three binders that are active in any sort of way. One for my current WiP, one for the book I think I'll develop and write next, and one for my poetry collections. There are three others sitting there on my shelf, waiting for me to toss in some bits that are floating around on scraps of paper. Two of those stories may never see any sort of real effort, but at least I have a collection bin for the randomness. The third is one I definitely will work on. Might just be the one after the next one.
2- Sometimes, I have to take a half hour or so to just sit and think things through and let myself entertain the new ideas.
Okay, so there's not much there. Really, there isn't a lot we writers can do to entirely prevent a case of MWPD.
What are your strategies for dealing with this?
I do just what you say, only I'm not as organized about tracking the notes. Whenever I have an idea, I let myself think it through and flesh it out, capturing notes or bits of scenes or dialogue that come into my head at the time, and then when it's time to write I make myself go back to the current WIP (or reWIP, as I'm editing right now). It's important to capture those details while they're still fresh and exciting!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Jem. Capturing things while fresh is absolutely important. Thanks for coming by!
ReplyDeleteI find structure (meaning a designated time and space to write) and respite (AKA time off) helps. ;)-
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Yeah, it's a scary thing, isn't it? I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with this. Mostly I just ignore things really well.
ReplyDeleteLaugh out loud, funny! Thanks for the chuckle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Laura!
ReplyDeletelol. Thanks for the smile today. I needed that!
ReplyDelete