Too Many Ideas

An Idea clutches me by the throat, I feverishly write/type it down and begin constructing the plot, I write all day in tense anticipation for what will come next... Then, (the horror!) I pause to catch my breath.

Big mistake.BIG mistake.

The dreaded WRITER'S BLOCK looms up through the shadows. I'm trapped.

Then, (happy music), I get another brilliant, fantastic idea that clutches me by the throat, I feverishly write/type it down- need I continue?

A little over-dramatic, but do you see the pattern? I have thousands of ideas floating around in my head, but being capable to stick with just one plot past the first three-or-four writers blocks and new idea bursts is another matter. Does anyone have any tips for keeping those new ideas at bay, and those original ideas exciting and fresh?

I know people have probably asked the same questions a million times before, but I need help!

-Mel

I went through this so much when I started writing (the time I got the bulk of my plot ideas). I came up with a system eventually.

Write out everything you have for this new idea that's jumping at you. Every, single, thing. Then, once that's out of the way, pick one project to work on and stick with it. The only time you are allowed to leave it is if another idea is preventing you from sleeping. Then, you write out every detail for that idea, store that other idea to work on later. Go back to the idea you want to stick with. Start plotting it out. Learn to discipline yourself to get past those writer's blocks and keep focused on one story.

The reason you take the breaks to write out the ideas that are bugging you is you don't want to forget those ideas while you work on another project. Then, once the idea you're dedicated to finished, you can pick up your old ideas without much of a problem.

Like Rosey already said, keeping a record of all the ideas and the details is a must. I'm finding as I get older, that a lot of the ideas I had when I was younger were really good; I just didn't have the skill to pull them off then (and, in some cases, I still lack the required skill). Oftentimes, if I'm really blocked with writing, I'll take a look at my idea record and see if I can fit any into my current project. Usually, I can, and that usually takes care of the writer's block.

In cases when that doesn't work, I usually have multiple projects that I work on at any given time, with a large number of inactive projects. If I begin to get bored with one, or if I'm blocked on it, I rotate it with another project that interests me or that I'm not blocked on. It's not a good system if you plan on being published, but since I write as a hobby and because I enjoy it, it works for me.

Thank you for the advice, I am in both your debts! (crawls out of the pit of despair)

I'll add my thanks to that.