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The Research or the New Thing?
Recently I've spent about a month and a half researching for a novel I'm going to embark on and it's been getting to the point I've been feeling quite nervous as to how this research is going to turn into a novel, I don't have a plot yet or any characters. I was sort of plodding on with research, partly with the hope that something would spark from it (Sarah Waters style).
Now the weirdest thing happened last night. A completely new idea for a novel requiring very little if any research sprang into my mind and grew and grew and I love it! But it's totally unrelated to my recent research.
My creative side says dump the research and go with the new thing, I need to enjoy what I'm doing and I don't enjoy research and this new thing is exciting and means I am writing for a real purpose again. But I fear this is perhaps giving into my fish-like attention span maybe. Am I going to be one of those writers jumping from project to project, never finishing anything, if I don't stick with the research now? On the other hand this 'new thing' is something I can start writing NOW.
What would you do? I think I know the answer as to what I should do but I would love to hear some other thoughts on this.
Comments
Not sure if it will resolve your problem but I did an epic post a while back on exactly that subject, Emma :)
Might be useful.
I have a background research project going on for a medieval story I've had in mind for years: but I've recently shot off into a different direction, which is hard work (writing and editing is) but fun. Why should you plod on with something that you have no real use for at present? You've got a new idea, and it may be that this is the right way to go. How will you know if you don't follow your nose?
If you have characters queuing at the door shouting, "Me, Me!" and a plot that wants you to follow it, that's the one to go for. The research will always be there afterwards - if you don't ditch it altogether. You can't write in a vacuum, but nor can you write in some worthy world of research and knowledge-accrual with no story involved.
Go with the new thing - it needs you attention!
Thanks too for pointing out my mistake with putting this as website problems, oopsy!
Flighty things, these ideas. Pin the blighter down, pronto.
(One day the research stuff will come together and hit you with a sledge hammer.)
Save it - it's never wasted.
Good luck with both projects!
Edited to say: Don't forget to save in triplicate all that research which is going into mothballs.
It is the first time in a long time I have got something with a definitive plot line that I'm really excited about.