Navigating the Challenge of Excess Story Ideas
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Chapter 1: The Dilemma of Unfinished Projects
The struggle to complete ongoing projects is a common issue for many writers.
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In my family, there's a lighthearted joke that I can't wrap up one project without diving into another. What about you? This tendency seems to be linked to personality traits, where juggling multiple unfinished tasks can often be more motivating than focusing on a single one.
After exploring countless tools like Evernote, OneNote, Todoist, and various mind-mapping applications, I've accumulated a vast collection of notes, titles, and ideas. Whenever something intriguing or frustrating occurs, I jot down a note and transfer it to one of my organized lists. Now, I'm left with a chaotic assortment of digital notes.
Despite attempts to streamline these lists, I often feel like I'm merely postponing the inevitable. Why not just finish and publish the piece instead of adding it to yet another list? I’ve randomly tackled some titles, but I've frequently forgotten what was initially exciting about the topic. The initial spark fades, leading to ideas that feel flat when revisited.
Section 1.1: A New Approach
To tackle this issue, I’ve devised a new strategy:
Forget Lists — Create a Spreadsheet
I’m a spreadsheet enthusiast. I can easily add columns for topics, potential publications, sizes (Small/Medium/Large), and priority levels. Once a story is published, it transitions from “potential” to the “published” section. If I decide to perform further analysis in the future, I can always add more columns. Since I’m already adept with spreadsheets, I don't need to struggle with yet another tool.
Organize Ideas by Themes
Focus on developing one theme across 3-5 stories, then rotate to a different topic. Write a piece for each of the five themes, and then switch again or expand on the one that garnered the most interest. Pay attention to recurring patterns in titles to ensure variety. Plan a comprehensive story that requires research alongside a few shorter ones to maintain momentum and a sense of achievement. Use data analysis to track your progress.
Additionally, I’ve started tagging each story idea, allowing for more strategic development of content and better SEO optimization.
For instance, I initiated a series titled “Traveler’s Rules”:
Traveler's Rule #1: Watch Your Step
Don’t trip up to enjoy your trip.
I also documented our recent slow travel experiences in the Azores:
10 Reasons To Visit the Azores in Summer
Far, far away, in the middle of the ocean, nine islands await.
While I have more insights about the Azores to share, I aim to space them out to prevent them from blending into one narrative. This leads us to the next point regarding deadlines.
Establish Target Deadlines
People often work more efficiently when there are set deadlines. We can be inherently lazy, which is why we create new productivity tools. Commit to finishing three stories by Sunday. Any new ideas should go into the spreadsheet to clear mental space for current tasks.
Allow Flexibility for Passion Projects
Occasionally, a strong emotional experience might prompt an urge to write. When inspiration strikes, don’t hesitate to set aside your rules and write. If you find that your fingers can't keep up, consider using voice-to-text features on your phone.
This is precisely what happened to me when I penned my feelings about a recent encounter with a plumber:
My Name Is Kua Lina and I’m Afraid of Plumbers
In this circle of understanding, I admit: I feel intimidated by plumbers.
Reassess Your Strategy
I suspect there are still gaps in this plan, but I’ll stick to it for now and evaluate its effectiveness in a month. If I find it's not helping me finish what I started, I may need to consider new strategies. It’s important not only to think of fresh ideas but also to implement them. Writing, revising, and refining stories may not be as thrilling as brainstorming, but it is a crucial part of the process.
If you remain stuck in the idea phase, your output can dwindle from three stories a week to one a month, diminishing your writing's impact. Which story will you commit to finishing today?
Chapter 2: Coping with Idea Overload
Explore strategies to manage an overflow of story ideas without feeling overwhelmed.
Discover effective methods to combat the "Too Many Ideas Syndrome" and enhance your writing process.