Bright and Shiny and New

So you know how while you're in the middle of one manuscript, a new idea for another pops into your head?  So you frantically open a new document and furiously type out your idea to make sure it doesn't float away.  Then you close it and continue on your trusty manuscript in front of you because even though your heart is screaming "WRITE THE NEW ONE! WRITE THE NEW ONE!" your brain is screaming "DON'T GIVE IN! THIS IS WHAT SEPARATES REAL AUTHORS FROM THOSE WHO DON'T EVER FINISH MANUSCRIPTS!"  So you listen to your brain (hopefully...if not, you'll get there) and finish your current WIP.  Ahhhhhhh.

Now.

It's time.

In the midst of those edits of your trusty current WIP (c'mon, we all need a little break from mind numbing edits) you open that word document you so frantically typed up 6 months ago.

And there it is.

Your bright and shiny new idea.

Your heart beats faster, your fingers itch to start typing.  Your characters are screaming in your head to be let out and the story is bursting at the seams ready to be told.  Every day as you edit your current love, the new love calls your name.

Your mind churns while at work and you have to grab any piece of scrap paper to jot down the ideas that are rolling around.  You come to revelations while in the middle of a playdate.  So you try to type up some kind of cryptic notes on your phone praying you'll remember what they mean (and praying the other moms don't think you're a crappy mom for seemingly texting on your phone all day) (and praying that your child doesn't fall on her face while you aren't watching...oh wait, mine already did that).

That's where I'm at right now.  I have that old feeling I got when I started writing my first novel.  That feeling that made my hands twitch all day, itching to write it all down.  For now, I'm satisfied with beefing up my notes and fleshing out the plot.  I've written the first chapter.  Now it is waiting patiently for me to finish my edits.

Because I have to balance myself.  I still have to reign myself in and truly finish this first ms so I can start querying.  And once the querying starts, I can pour myself into my bright and shiny new novel.  Because if my current WIP doesn't cut it, I have to have this one ready to try.

And if this new one doesn't work, I have tons of other bright and shiny new ideas waiting their turn.

That's what makes writing exciting for me.  That is what keeps me coming back.

P.S. I know I've been pretty nonexistent anyway, but I will be taking August off of blogging to finish up my editing.  Hope you all have a fantastic end to your summer and are ready to face all the fun things that come with Fall!