Too Many Sweet Choices
How long has it been since you’ve had too many choices in a good way? My current circumstance is how I imagine I would feel when confronted with one of those cheesecake samplers. Which one do I try first? They are all wonderful and I will die a little with each bite. Which one should be the first to feel the stab of my fork?
I spent time on Saturday with a respected friend trying to decide which project to tackle next. I have multiple novels in various stages of development, two nonfiction books, and ideas for the website. Where do I begin? I’ll enjoy it all, but which do I savor first? Looking over the sampling of novels in their conceptual stage (freewriting, maybe a scene or two, and backstory), how do I choose which to work on?
What a delicious dilemma! I have made my selection, but I’m also hording that sampler. When this one is done, I’ll choose another. It might take me a while, but I will savor every bite of the different kinds of cheesecake on this tray. Yum!
How do you decide between multiple projects that all call sweetly? Do you apply any criteria for them?
I’ve never thought about how I make my decisions, but there must be something there pointing out the direction I should go in.
If I ever figure it out I’ll certainly let you know!
In the meantime, enjoy the idea you are working on now, and it’s wonderful that you have so many others waiting for their turn!
I am an expert at this because my day job requires a high amount of prioritization.
Creative endeavor are not exempt from this type of analysis. It just as some additional considerations:
Is this accomplishing my goal to get published?
Do I really understand what is at stake here with this work?
Is this fun?
Does it lead to fun?
Will this get the wife out of her clothes?
Etc., etc.
The idea is to prioritize and stick with the plan. For example, if you want to write a novel, specify a minimum daily goal of 300 words a day on your fiction piece. Do NOTHING except tend to the family until tis is done. Do not watch TV. Do not blog. Do not yack on the phone. Do not play with the hubby… nothing.
My average during the workweek is 2000 words a day, and I can get the work done. What’s hard for me is choosing between several tantalizing plots or characters. Every time I finish a piece it happens again. This one or that one or one of several others? They all have potential.
You are right that some are more fun than others. Some characters are just more cheerful and talkative. However, though I don’t worry about getting your wife out of her clothes, but I do sometimes consider getting my husband out of his (wink).