We all know what it’s like to get caught up in an idea, right? What happens when the idea becomes the sole focus, to the exclusion of all other thoughts, responsibilities, or interests?
It’s called an obsession. (That’s the mental health link. I slipped it in there when you weren’t looking. *wink*)
The “shiny new idea” syndrome mimics this. Think about it. A story idea wakes you at 3am or while you’re in a meeting. The idea is so great, you have to work out EVERY. SINGLE. DETAIL…immediately, of course. From the moment you open your eyes in the morning to the time you shut them again at night, the idea gets mulled over, honed, and built upon.
This is the part of writing that I find the most exciting and engaging. It’s the time where it all feels new and exhilarating. I can usually go with substantially fewer hours of sleep and not pay the consequences the next day. My carpel tunnel acts up, but I don’t care because I’m creating.
How about you? Do you get obsessed when a new idea strikes? How does it feel?
Be sure to check out Lydia and Sarah’s posts on medical and psychology related topics!
Author Laura Diamond--Lucid Dreamer 
That obsessive feeling is good – I must get this on paper despite the lumpy middle finger and hand strain 🙂
I get this way when a new story pops in my head, but the sad part is I haven’t trained myself to actually write down all of my musing. So if you are playing with your obsession, you’re a step ahead of the game. lol
Oh yes. It’s like a fever!
I hate to admit it, but I’m very obssessive. When I get an idea for a story or even a scene I just have to get it out, and sometimes I even forget about the need to eat until someone reminds me.
Oh my word yes. When I start a new story, I’m lost to the entire world. My hubby often says, “Wow, you’re really focused.”
I think it’s his nice way of telling me I’m a raving lunatic. It’s like I’ll go mad if I don’t get the story out.
Oh, yes! I’m obsessed with my non-fiction project. What’s scary is the obsession has lasted over 6 months. A year? Where’s the time gone? 😉
I get completely obsessive. I love to mull things over while I commute, and often find I’m at work before I even realize it!
hi miss dr laura! im sorta like that cause when a idea gets in my head i just gotta find a way to get it started no matter where i am or what im doing. one time i was in my cousins swimming pool and i was swimming under water and a idea popped in my head. i got to the surface real quick jumped out of the pool and ran in their house and got my notebook (i dont never leave home without it) and started writing and didnt get stopped even when it was time to eat that barbque. but for sure i stopped for strawberry shortcake with icecream and whipped cream. ha ha. my cousin tonys a writer so him and cathy his wife forgave me for getting the house all wet cause he could know what its like getting a idea. 🙂
…hugs from lenny
some of my best writing is done at 3am! laura…i have a character whose sleep/wake cycles are flipped…she sleeps in the day and is up at night (no, she’s not a vamp!)…is there a name to that disorder?
please stop by my blog today and say hi to comtemp fantasy darin kennedy…he’d appreciate it!!
kathee
ouh!!! This sounds eerily familiar. I’ve been there not long ago and I don’t think I’m out of it yet. It’s very exiting indeed. Every time I think about my “shiny new idea” my heart beat goes up. 🙂
I do get obsessed with a new idea and enthusiastic as well. If the enthusiasm remains, I stay with it. Found you thru the a-z challenge. Nice to “meet” you.
Karen
My problem is that I have these ideas *all the time*. When I first come up with the idea, it solves all my problems, makes everything that didn’t work in the story perfect, and saves my entire manuscript. After two days of thinking about it, I realize it was the worst idea ever, and I have to go back and weed it all back out of the story. *Sigh* Am I creative? Yes. Impulsive? Very. Practical? Resoundingly, no.
Totally! And I love it until I’m so sleep deprived I have to catch up!
My novels are like a love affair. I love the feeling in the beginning, but I find it a challenge to keep the spark alive about midway through. By the time I’ve finished (which has only happened once), I’m more in love than ever.
Reading the blogs of other writers, I do not identify quite as much as I thought I would. I may get up in the middle of the night if I am inspired. It’s very likely that I’ll be inspired while lying quietly in bed without distractions. I don’t think it goes as far with me as I’ve read on the blogs of other writers. I enjoy blogging more than writing. Oh oh! Conflict. You guys are obsessed; I’m conflicted. Ha! Blessings to you, Laura…
I only wish it lasted longer!!! I sure wish I could get back into the obsession stage with my WIP right now!
Is this darn A to Z thing an obsession with me these days? I dream about it. I wake up and immediately check my comments. I keep reading posts throughout the day. I fall asleep thinking about my upcoming posts. Then I dream about it until I start the cycle over the next day. This too shall pass, but for now it seems like an obsession.
At least it’s kind of a fun and productive obsession.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Twitter hashtag: #atozchallenge
I’m soooo obsessive about new wips (among other things, currently peanut M&Ms) and it’s like a high. It feels good. So undescriptive for a writer, huh?