Dealing With Multiple Ideas

DEALING WITH MULTIPLE IDEAS

I have, throughout my writing life, always been juggling ideas. Whether that's ideas that have nothing but a small puzzle piece, or ideas that are already pretty fleshed out, or ideas for scenes later in a draft, or ideas for things to take into account when it comes to revision or editing. Before the sepsis in Oct 2025, I was juggling multiple revision projects with one just about to be sent off for edits. Having had to take eight months off, I knew when I came back that I would, at best, only be able to manage two projects, and even then, I still don't know if that will work long term. 

Ideas, for writers, are something that come with the territory. I would, to be honest, worry about my chosen career if I wasn't constantly having to deal with all the ideas. Right now my focus are two revision projects because while in recovery mode I had some sparks of ideas for one that should, hopefully, answer some of my lingering questions, and do the same for readers as well. It makes me happy to be going back into those projects and knowing I am making them better.

However, some of the ideas are coming for new drafting projects, and while, originally, the plan was to start drafting those in April, my body had other ideas, and my life took a sudden turn. But I have found many ways to help myself when it comes to dealing with all the ideas, because as a lot of people know, sometimes you think: I'll remember that, and your memory laughs at you as it deletes all traces!

So how have I managed to keep hold of them all? Being the organised person I am, I have a variety of ways to track, sort, and work out how to make sure none get lost along the way!

#1 WRITE THEM DOWN
It doesn't have to be pen and paper, which hasn't been a viable option for me for a while, and definitely isn't now! I have a notes app on both my phone and iPad, and I will write it all down there in a brand new note. If it's gotten to the point where it's fleshed out completely, it gets moved, but up until that point, it's there on its own, and I can expand and add to it as and when new pieces of the puzzle come to me.

#2 COMBINE WHEN READY
This is what I do when the idea has graduated. Like the initial idea is a seed, and now the flower it blooming. That's when I will move all the notes into another note on my iPad which is basically filled with story ideas that are far enough along for me to think about starting to write them. Sometimes, I'll go back and look at how it's going, and move things around to see if that adds more. This point is the closest it can be to being drafted.

#3 ARRANGE IN ORDER
This part is basically me deciding order of importance, or just which ideas I am more excited about writing next. The order can, and does change, but it's usually only because something newer has moved into this space and I want to write that more.

Basically after this, when I get ready to start drafting, I take the top two and do my minimal outline and jump in! When it comes to ideas for revision projects, while, for some reason they stay remembered, I have a separate note for those and keep an eye on them.

Overall, ideas are plentiful when you're a writer, and how you deal with them is up to you, but whatever way that turns out to be, have fun, enjoy, and keep writing!  

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