Getting sidetracked by a new story while working on a current story

[Verdant]

I basically got some ideas and “What if’s” about a new story. So far, this has happened with every story I’ve tried to come up with. Whenever I sit down and start thinking and writing, I literally end up wanting to work on that story more lol. It also helps that I have a better idea of where I went wrong in my current story.

For example, I feel that Aperol Spritz (my current serializing story) has a lot of flaws. Namely weak chemistry between characters, lack of subplots, a boring protagonist with no goals, flat and boring villains, janky worldbuilding, and generally a boring and empty world with steam punk technology thrown in there for zero reason.

Keeping this all in mind, I seem to be way too much of a perfectionist to keep working on a story where I find this many flaws lol. I wonder if this happens to other people? Where they end up sort of disliking their main story, and instead focus on a potential new story that’s more improved?

 

[AverageMaidLover]

As someone who has way too many ongoing series, I understand perfectly.

My advice is to write what you feel good about and not what you don't. If you're not confident that will show in your story. Conversely if you feel good about what your writing, that should transfer as well. If you want to completely detach it, change some names and make some changes to the world and bam!, you have a new story.

 

[Deleted member 166076]

I think you have two different problems here.

For the first, why not do some story planning for your story idea? You can file it up and pull up the information at a later date when you need a good idea to write a story about and you won't have to worry about having forgot anything since you'll have already written everything down.

For the second, you can always go back and edit, rewrite, etc. the parts that need it once you identify the problem areas. You should also check out some tiktok authors, they're really big into pointing out how stories should be written in drafts. The first draft doesn't have to be perfect as you can always improve upon it, but you can't do the same with something you never write. Just finish the story, flaws and all.

 

[GabrielTenma]

I get what you mean, Sometimes I'm chilling and I just get a zing in my head that has an idea I really love. I don't like leaving things unfinished though so I just open google docs, write down the idea, what I know I want to do at the moment (If I'm really excited then a quick draft chapter 1) then I leave it and try to go back to my main story.

I know my story might have a crazy amount of flaws, hell a review nitpicked most of them and left me sideeyeing my story and feeling down at the amount of mistakes but not completing it makes me feel as if the characters, the plot and everything else will never move and stay in one spot.

Even if I need to give the most abrupt ending, I think it would be better than leaving your characters and world frozen in purgatory.

TL:DR : Note down the idea and maybe even a quick chapter and then get on track, if your story has lots of mistakes and you can't bother fixing them then hit the readers with a " then 'insert main character(s) name' woke up, ate some breakfast and went back to sleep after saying, "What a wacky dream." The End~

I'd rather someone outright tell me something I enjoy is not being worked upon anymore than it being left for dead. This is the best advice, scribble hub's worst author can give you. Good luck.

 

[TwistedRomcom]

This could be indicative of two things.

Option one:
You've outgrown your current work. You see new flaws that you didn't before. You're dissatisfied with the level of quality because the current you could do noticeably better. This might be because you made a lot of progress in a short time.

Option two:
Perfectionism is a form of procrastination, and procrastination is caused by emotions. Introspect. Diagnose if you're procrastinating on your current project, and if so, why? You might find that your perfectionism comes from an anxiety. For example, you might be afraid that what you publish isn't "good enough" and people will think you're a bad writer. Remember that if you aren't willing to look like a foolish beginner, you will never become a graceful master.

 

[Verdant]

I think you have two different problems here.

For the first, why not do some story planning for your story idea? You can file it up and pull up the information at a later date when you need a good idea to write a story about and you won't have to worry about having forgot anything since you'll have already written everything down.

For the second, you can always go back and edit, rewrite, etc. the parts that need it once you identify the problem areas. You should also check out some tiktok authors, they're really big into pointing out how stories should be written in drafts. The first draft doesn't have to be perfect as you can always improve upon it, but you can't do the same with something you never write. Just finish the story, flaws and all.

1. I am currently doing that
2. My “current” story (Aperol Spritz) is finished, the entire outline at least. The details—aka the chapters aren’t finished. I would have change way too much, especially the villains for me to merely want to edit it lol. It’s a possibility but there are other ideas that are easier to pull off (mainly this) and seem to give me more satisfaction.

 

[Zagaroth]

Everyone is going to have a different solution to this sort of problem. Here's mine:

A) My main story is going to continue being my primary focus until every chapter is completely written, but
B) I have a file with a list of all the other story ideas that crop up, and
C) My top-tier Patreon has the first few or more chapters of the stories I needed to at least get started to clear out my headspace. I add a chapter upon occasion. One of them will become my primary focus after I have my current main story complete.

I don't know if that will help you or not, but it's what I have to offer. :)