Monday, April 6, 2009

Writer's A.D.D.

I have self-diagnosed myself with having Writer's A.D.D. It wasn't all that hard to do really, I have all of the symptoms...
  • So many ideas spinning around in my head that I can't focus on anything
  • Jumping from one part of the story to another because... "oooh, what if I did this, here?!" (very similar to SOS - Shiny Object Syndrom)
  • etc...
(Oh yeah, disclaimer: I'm not a medical doctor, but I could write myself in a story where I am one... Oh, and there is no such disease as Writer's A.D.D., but it makes me feel better thinking that there's a medical term for what I'm suffering from, lol!)

I need to start meditating again or something. Anything to get my mind to calm down and let me work on one thing at a time. When this would happen during the first draft, I would just do a free write with all of my ideas and I'd be all set to start implementing them. That's not even working this time! Halfway through a note for one idea and my brain is already racing ahead to the next idea.

The excitement of getting this far in the process must have fried my brain. Well, that along with the burst of creativity that hit me once I started thinking about what needed to happen in the second draft. I'm sure my inability to make a decision regarding my main character's age isn't helping either though...

Today, I'm going to try organizing all of my notes for the story to see if that helps organize them in my brain as well. Maybe, having everything together in one document will convince my brain that we have it all down... no need to worry about forgetting something. I'd do just about anything to calm my thinking right now, my brain has more energy than my two-year old... and that's impressive!

Thanks for all of the amazing comments on my last post by the way. Your comments and advice on the situation really helped me realize that I have to stay true to my characters and do what is best for the story. Overall, I've decided that if I can't commit to a decision and support it 100%, then I'm not going to change anything, yet. Down the road, should I decide to change her age or if an editor or agent wants it changed, I know what needs to be done. So, thanks again! You guys are the best!

But, anywho... Off to round up my notebooks and documents so I can start my "second draft to-do list"...

Until I blog again...
Talk 2ya later...

~Willow

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Good luck! I'm sure you'll be fine...and writer's ADD can be a good thing, leading you into the next story...

Aeryn said...

Good luck with the new organizing approach, but I am starting to think your brain is trying to tell you something! You can;t always organize creativity. It is a messy process, sometimes rightfully so, and sometimes you just have to give in. I am a little afraid the more you try to organize, the more your brain will protest by jumping from idea to idea. I say, go with the flow and embrace your burst of creativity. IF your hands are too slow and can;t keep up with your ideas, then record them... we talk way way faster than we type. Then later one, when the creative storm has passed, you can listen to them all and organize them to your liking. Just a thought... All the best!

Kristin said...

Did you read my blog about the tape recorder? I, too, fully understand Writer's A.D.D. And as a real-job clinical therapist, I may petition the DSM IV to have it included! LOL. You're doing great and I'm proud of you. Now if you'll just rub off on me so I can get some writing done!

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