A really common question is how do writers get their ideas. What’s interesting is a lot of times what people really mean to ask is ‘how do you know what idea to actually work on?’ most people who are creative have a LOT of ideas. Choosing just one is a real challenge and something most writers have a hard time with (including me!)
So how do I get and choose ideas?
Ideas are all around us. They’re as easy or as hard to find as they need to be. For me, to get ideas at all, I have to be in a good brain space. When I am deep in depression or anxiety, there are no ideas flowing. During my long recovery from burn out, I had no ideas. I couldn’t think of stories or characters at all. It was terrifying.
I remember crying in relief and joy when I started daydreaming again about things I wanted to create. So, if you’re having a hard time coming up with ideas, ask yourself if you’re okay physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. If the answer is no then give yourself the time and focus to rest and recover. The ideas will return.
Now I constantly have ideas and things I want to create. My running list of projects keeps getting longer and longer. So how do I decide what to work on next? I’m trying to be a bit more methodical about this and find a balance between the exciting projects and the timely projects. Here’s what I ask myself:
Does this idea have a solid deadline?
For example, if I want to create a Halloween-themed Dungeons and Dragons module, that needs to be done and out before Halloween. That’s a solid deadline. This also goes for projects I have been hired to work on.
Am I excited about this?
More and more with external projects especially I have to ask myself if I am actually excited about the project itself. If I’m already dreading it and the work hasn’t started yet, that’s a bad sign. How much do I want to work on this project? If I am bouncing around the house talking to people about it endlessly, that’s a pretty good sign I am excited about it, if not… ehhhh… letit sit and wait for a bit. I’ll know for sure in a few months if it’s a yeah or a no.
Do I have the energy for this?
This is a new addition and it’s really been important, especially in the chaos of 2020. Sometimes I just know that I do not have the brain capacity to join a new project, even if I am super excited about it! After my bad burn out that took years to recover from I’m trying to be better about protecting my time and energy. Just because a project is awesome doesn’t mean it’s worth sacrificing myself for. Rest is important, vitally so.
Those are the criteria I am looking at right now when I am building on my ideas, it helps me streamline the process. Timeliness helps me order projects, excitement keeps me from hopping onto things just because it popped into my head and energy makes sure I do not overcommit myself. They work together to help me build a creative practice that is not just working for me, but that feels sustainable.