Here is a quick reference guide to identifying the stages of a writer’s relationship with a novel. For your convenience, I’m including some common phases from each phase.

The You-Couldn’t-Understand Phase 

My head is spinning. I love, love, love my Slutty Next Novel (SNN). Can you believe how perfect my main character is? My concept is the best concept there’s ever been. It’s so cute and funny and exciting and…well, perfection. I’m going to treat it right. This time – THIS TIME – everything will be smooth sailing. We’ll be so happy. How could we not? Look how amazing we are together. I totally know everything about my SNN. Or everything that’s important. Back off, you couldn’t possibly understand what we have.

The Just-In-My-Head Phase

Ahhh. I’m having sooo much fun. The plot and the characters are flushing themselves out. The pacing: Spot On. My heart flutters when I think about it and I can’t STOP thinking about it. I get grumpy when I miss our time together. There is this one thing though…never mind, it’s nothing. Probably just in my head.

The Small-But Phase

Me and the SNN are really, really happy. Truly. it’s got structure and voice and great humor. *Sigh*Long Pause* but I’m just the tinniest bit worried that the main character is unlikeable. I mean, no big deal because I’ll fix it in revisions. We’re fine. Forget I said anything.

The I-Think-I-Made-a-Mistake Phase

I dunno. I just dunno. I think I made a mistake. How did I ever think this concept was good? Character arcs: mine are as flat as Kansas. And don’t get me started on how many times I use the word ‘smile’. Ugh. I want to be DONE with this Novel. Know what? The other day, I had a G-R-E-A-T idea for this other story. Let me tell you about it…

The I-Hate-This-Novel Phase

I. Hate. This. Novel. 

I’m never thinking about it again. It’s disgusting.  Let’s go have a beer or twelve and leave *that* mess at home. There are plenty of other ideas out there that appreciate me, ya hear?!

The Time-to-Compromise Phase 

Okay, I over-reacted before. There’s substance between this Novel and me – something that other ideas just don’t have. It’s going to be tough to make this work, but we’ve compromised: I’ll put in the time and it’ll be easier on me. And we’re both *really* committing to each other.  

The Might-Make-It Phase

My apologies for being so distant, me and the ole’ Novel have been real homebodies recently. But, yeah, things are solid between us. We’ve still got our fair share of problems – and they’re basically the same ones I used to rant about, but each revision is easier. I think we might make it.

The I-Love-The-Ole'-Novel Phase

Despite its faults, I love that ole Novel. Sure, there are still things I’d change, but I’m happy with what I have. The ole' Novel’s pluses trump the minuses any day. 

You've heard of these, haven't you? That brilliant idea that pops into your mind when you're halfway through your current work-in-progress? It's bigger, better, shinier than what you're working on?

SNI's were not something I understood until very recently. I tend to be very single-minded about things - what I'm working on gets all my attention - so I was always envious when I heard other writers talk about their SNIs (Looking at you, Talia). Then a few weeks ago, in the lobby of my acupuncturists office, I picked up an old magazine, read an article, and BAM! There it was. 

Sparkling, gorgeous, and soooo SHINY. And gorgeous. With soooo much potential. I could go on. I want to go on.

I cannot wait to work on this idea. The only problem? I have two books to finish before I can touch it. That would put me somewhere in late 2013, early 2014 by the time I can write it. Yeah... a year and a half. Ouch. It seems too long to wait. So I'm not going to wait.

Here are some of the ways I'm going to keep the idea shiny and close until the time is right:

Let it simmer - I've been thinking about the protagonist's backstory, the setting, the story arc, the antagonist. I love having these ideas swimming around in my head.

Write it down - I've got the file started. I don't look at it often, but it feels great to know I'm building something little by little. I almost feel like I'm stashing away presents, until it's the right time to open them.

Research - SNI will require a lot of research. I have ordered books and magazines and thought I haven't had time to read them yet, I hope to start soon. The best kind of research inspires, and I'm excited to see where that phase will take me.

A year from now, I hope the allure of the SNI is stronger than ever. And I hope, by spending this time researching and imagining it, the story sings when I finally get my hands on it.

The lure of the shiny new idea.

Sometimes it's impossible to resist.  It might start as a concept, or a snippet of a scene that takes root and grows in my imagination.  Sometimes a character shows up, fully formed, and will not stop talking until I get the words down on paper.

Those moments when inspiration strikes are special.  It's insta-love.  And I've been known to gush.  Yes, I'm one of those authors, the kind who emails her critique partners in a fit of excitement, going on and on about a new story as if it is the one, before I've even written a word.  I usually make it an entire 24 hours before the idea is honed into a pitch and dashed off to my agent, who will politely respond without even mentioning the revision that's due next month. (Love her!)

Then I write.  Before I even realize what's happened, I'll have fifty pages.  I will love those pages.  I do love those pages.  But by then, the idea is not quite so bright.  Certainly not new.  And it does start to look like work.

And that's when we have our first fight. 

"How do I know that you're the one?"  I ask.  "I thought I knew where this was going, but you keep changing directions.  It's starting to feel like we're going nowhere."

The cursor blinks up at me accusingly.

The guilt sets in.  Is it fear of commitment that's keeping me from seeing this through?  No, I love this idea.  I want to commit to it.

I swear.

I do.

It's just that this morning, on the way to the work, I was hit with an idea that I can't not write.  A character so compelling, that I'm already falling for her.  A plot twist so delicious, that I want to write that last scene before the rest of the book.

Okay, maybe commitment is a tad scary.

Confession time.  Right now, I have three partial manuscripts sitting in my drawer vying to be the next novel.  One of them might even be the one.

Maybe.

Oooh.  What is that?  Pretty....

We interrupt our regular post for a short commercial break.  I'd like to announce the impending launch of The Class of 2k12 -- a group of authors whose YA and middle grade novels debut next year.  Check us out tomorrow.  I'll be there, and so will a number of talented, creative and energetic authors.  Plus there will be multitudes of giveaways over the course of the year, including a "director's cut" of GILT.  Stay tuned.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming:

You know the book I’m talking about.  The one that calls to you with its siren song at the worst moments.  While you’re struggling to find a way to end a first draft.  When a revision just gets too hard.  When the revision is done, but the book isn’t ready yet.

That’s when the call gets to you.  It’s a better idea.  A more compelling story arc.  An inspiring and charismatic protagonist.  A book that presents itself to you as concept, as logline, before you even begin to write.  And you know that this is the one.

As Donna said yesterday, the SNN.  The slutty next novel.

Unfortunately for most of us, the one often stops being so enticing after the first forty or fifty pages.  Because, like any relationship, that’s when you catch sight of the uphill journey.  And it’s up to you if you want to make this journey – with this protagonist – or not.

I’m one of the lucky ones.  GILT was a slutty next novel. When I didn’t think I had anything else to add to my middle grade adventure story, I was hit by a flash of inspiration.  The Tudors.  Catherine Howard.  And I wrote the first fifty pages (which are no longer in the book, I might add).  But then the going got rough.  And I knew I wasn’t finished with the middle grade so I went back in for two more revisions.  But it turned out the middle grade was through with me.  (see my post on my In The Drawer novel here.)

So my slutty next novel got to be my first novel.  And it has been so worth it.  I am lucky because I was kicked to the curb and my SNN picked me up and tended my bruises.  But that siren call does not mean the book will be any easier to write.  GILT certainly wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination.  But it was fun.  And it was worth it.

If you hear that call, take a look at the boat you’re in now.  See how it’s weathered previous storms.  See if it’s still seaworthy.  See if the next storm will break it to pieces.  Only you can make that call. And if you decide your current novel is still worth the writing, stop your ears.  Tie yourself to the mast.  Put your bum in the chair.  And write.  If she’s that good, the SNN will wait.

New relationships are scary. Exciting, mesmerizing, enticing...but scary. It's hard to commit to something so fragile and undefined. There's just so much uncertainty. What's going to happen? Will there be conflict? Will it end badly? I can't even talk about you to my friends yet. They ask, of course. "Have you thought about moving on?" I smile, and answer vaguely, "Maybe."

For now, you are my little secret.

I AM thinking about you though. A lot. You've invaded my thoughts with tantalizing whispers of something different...something NEW. I go to bed thinking about you and wake up thinking about you. You're in my mind while I'm driving, and when I'm supposed to working, and, most of all, when I'm showering. Voices. Images. Plans for the future.

It will be hard to say goodbye to the past. It was, after all, my first. And it isn't like it ended badly. Far from it. The whole experience was more than I could have ever dreamed, and yet my mind and heart is running headlong toward you.

The truth is, it's time to leave the past behind. I know it and you know it.

So hello, Slutty Next Novel. Your sexy new ideas have convinced me. I'm all in.

Go ahead. Whisper your revelations in my ear.

I'm listening.