Millions of ideas are floating in your brain and scattered on paper.

Half-finished projects galore are on your computer, and one sole heart is overwhelmed.

Does this sound like you?

 Creative types continually jump from one project to the next, a new idea appearing shinier and more interesting than the old one.

 Completing a project is hard because the millions of dream projects overshadow the few you have written down.

Many factors can hinder you from finishing, but procrastination and fear of failure are two of the big ones.

It is possible to juggle several projects at once, but when weighing the quality, it is usually best to focus on one at a time.

If you have multiple projects you want to attempt right now and are trying to narrow them down, then I have three steps to assist you in nailing down your next writing project. 

It can be daunting, especially if you treasure every idea and aren’t sure how to choose, but you can do it.

 Press on!

1. Pray

James 1:5 promises that God will provide wisdom and help if you ask.

He is the author of creativity and loves creation.

He also knows your life inside and out, better than you know yourself.

He foresees the future and what effect your project will have.

By praying beforehand, you are showing the Lord that you want His blessing.

You want Him to be involved in this area of your life. And He’s going to reward that. 

Even though writing may not seem very spiritual, it is.

Think about this: how did the Lord give us His living word? Through the Bible, written by the pens of men.

Words are extremely significant to the Lord! Verses throughout the Bible pertain to words spoken and written down and how they affect people.

God takes writing seriously.

I have personally discovered that when I pray before writing, the result is much better than I could have imagined. I have to let go and let God speak His words through me.

What an amazing honor!

A project blessed by God will prosper and have a stronger impact. 

2. Narrow Down The Choices

After praying, jot down every project you would like to work on and already have in progress. Every exciting idea counts! 

Once you have the list compiled, you can organize it. If you love details, you could create separate lists for each category, i.e. novel, short story, blog post, poem. Whatever works for you. 

Before you select a project, there are several things to consider: 

Which project is easiest/hardest to write?

How much research is required?

Is it a tough or simple topic?

Will it take you years to create all the complex layers and brilliance necessary to write the novel?

How much time and work have you already invested in it?

That question is key. Analyze your novel(s) and honestly ponder your answers.

How much do you know about this specific subject?

How much research do you need to do, and how much have you already done?

How much are you willing to research to make the novel authentic? 

These questions are important because you are the one who has to put in the time and effort.

You can’t assign someone else to research and write the novel for you. That’s part of the writing process. 

I’ve found that it’s beneficial for me to read through my novel and write down things I come across that I need to research.

For instance, one of my novels deals with foster care.

The laws for that are different in each state.

My story is set in Chicago, Illinois, so I needed to look up the laws on foster care for Illinois.

This prevents the scope of research from being too broad, which deters a lot of writers. 

Some writers advise you to write what you know, which is true, but it is also exciting to learn new things.

Which one is the best story?

We tend to attach ourselves to our stories and think each one is magnificent.

Here’s where you need to pull out your honesty wand and wave it over each story. Is it really the best?

Does it have the potential to be the best?

What do you need to flesh out?

Do you need more things connecting your theme?

Is your moral strong? How can you make it prevalent, but not overbearing?

If you’re feeling especially brave, pose these same questions to someone who has read the piece and ask for their opinion.

Second opinions can be very useful! 

Are you equipped to handle this type of story?

Let’s face it, some subjects are difficult to write—more importantly, some aren’t appropriate for young people to write about. If you or others doubt whether you should be writing about this particular subject, please consult your parents.

Pray about it and ask them.

They are wise and want what is best for you.

Are you familiar with your genre?

Certain things are not acceptable in certain genres.

Death in a romantic comedy is not acceptable—unless it somehow morbidly ties into the story.

Read nonfiction books about your genre to help you understand it and then read novels in that same genre to give you a visual of how it should look.

Preparation saves on the amount of rewriting and editing you will have to do later on. 

Which story is the most natural for you to write?

As I mentioned before, writing what you know is sound advice.

Some people write great mysteries.

Others can’t seem to navigate that genre.

I am adept at presenting sibling relationships in my stories, because I know from experience what makes a good and bad sibling relationship.

Science fiction? Not so much. 

There are probably genres you aren’t comfortable writing either.

Find your niche, dig in, and get to work!

All of these questions, moments of honesty, and difficult choices might seem overwhelming.

But I can almost guarantee that afterwards you will have a better understanding of your novel.

Not only that, but you will also be able to make a more concise decision about which project you should work on! 

3. Make Provisions

Thought you were finished when you selected your project? Think again!

If you just grab a project without making any effort to plan, outline, or finish, it will grow stale in your brain and more projects will surface to distract you. 

Once you’ve settled on a project, you can brainstorm everything that will be needed for it. Suppose you chose to write a historical fiction novel. What all does it entail?

Between choosing a historical setting and researching the information, quite a bit of work is tucked in there. Maybe some characters need fleshed out more, or your plot needs beefing up. 

Whatever it is, make a detailed list, or if you prefer a visual, use a mind map and brainstorm away.

Outline everything you need to do and break the details down into bite-sized pieces that are easy to carry out. Now you are ready to plug those tasks into your schedule! 

Congratulations!

Not only have you chosen your project, but you gathered your resources and created a plan of action!

Doesn’t that feel good? Are you excited to start working on it? 

Treat yourself to something special—maybe a spiffed up cup of coffee, with hot chocolate mixed in and whipped cream on top. Or that savory bar of chocolate you’ve been saving.

You’ve worked hard and deserve a reward! So celebrate your victory and prepare yourself before diving into your next project.

- Haley Ramm