Choices, choices…

I know I probably shouldn’t complain about this but I have too many ideas for writing projects at the moment. I have been writing them down in a small notebook that I always carry with me. As ideas strike – including those darned middle of the night brainstorms – I grab the notebook and jot them down. Some of them are awesome. Some are less stellar. They run the gamut from mystery to psychological drama to young adult fiction to romance.

Time to Take a Leap of Faith?

None of this would be a big deal except that National Novel Writing Month is looming. I have exactly six days to figure out which one of these ideas, or which new idea, will get to be the start of my November NaNo novel. In trying to decide between these ideas, I sometimes think I should just pick the one that would be easiest to write and go with that. After all, when one is sprinting to the 50K work deadline in just 30 days, you don’t want to get bogged down in a ponderous plot or a work that’s going to require major research. I made the research mistake once during Script Frenzy and I never finished that play even though it would be perfect for middle school performers and has a wonderfully subtle feminist message while still incorporating themes that would appeal to male students and audiences.

Then I think perhaps I should write the novel whose story appeals to me most. That’s tougher, because this morning, a taut psychological tale with tangled familial dynamics sounds like a fascinating topic and later in day, it seems like it would be a huge downer to spend 30 days working through other people’s problems.

As of today, I have no idea what I’ll be writing. Based on past NaNos, I know that I will almost certainly win but I want something that will serve as a decent rough draft for a future novel. I’ll keep you updated but whatever I decide to write, you’ll be the first to know. If you have suggestions for me, please leave a comment or suggestion: I’m open. And I can be bribed. 🙂