Last night I woke up to pee (I bet you are sooo happy I shared that bit of info with you) at 4:30 AM…I got out of bed, did the deed and went back to bed. CORRECTION…I tried to go back to bed. Then out of the blue, and when I say out of the blue I mean WAY out of the blue (… as in it had nothing to do with anything I was dreaming about or thinking about or anything … my head hit the pillow and suddenly…) my mind went ‘boing!’ and I had an idea, a really good idea!
So of course, like all other awesome ideas, I had to wake up and write it down. Now I didn’t want to wake up the husband so I stuck my hand in a drawer and fished around till I found a pen and a crayon. Then I grabbed one of my old journals off the night stand and turned it over. The pen didn’t work of course, so I wrote, in complete darkness, my idea down with crayon on the back of the notebook. I love ideas that come at inappropriate times!
The idea is about a new book I want to write. It’s about a kid who ………… well I don’t think I want to tell you yet! I seriously think it is totally original and I can’t remember reading any books about this and it is awesome and fantastic and I can’t wait to get started.
BUT
I haven’t finished the book I am currently working on. I need to focus on this book so I can complete it and edit it and get my queries out there! I love this book!
BUT
I love my new idea too. I mean it is a REALLY good idea.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
One idea at a time please!!!
So has this ever happened to you? Did you finish what you were working on or did you toss it aside to start the new project?
OR
Am I the only crazy writer here? 
Valerie
I’m going through this right now! I don’t think it’s crazy at all. I hope it’s not! I think it’s a sign of creativity.
I still have to finish the first draft of my NaNo project, which I left another project to do, and yet this new idea is just nagging at the back of my mind. When I go to bed it’s all I think about.
I started a notebook for it, and I’m really excited about it but it requires serious research and like you, I really want to finish my current book and get started querying first.
I think it’s always better to have too many ideas than not enough. Give yourself a little bit of time each day to sit down and think or write about your new idea, make notes, and then get back to your current book. I find that helps me.
Scott
I normally jot down notes, plot out some things, do a loose – very loose – outline, and then get back to what I was working on before my moment of brilliance (I have many, many, many moments of brilliance, btw) struck me. I used to dive right into new ideas, but that left so many unfinished projects, that I had to make a change in my life. Still, even with new ideas, I try to set aside maybe 30 minutes to flesh things out a bit more after I finish editing/revising/whatever else I’m working on.
Holly Bodger
The “only” crazy writer here? You say that like there are some of us who are sane. 🙂
I get all of my book ideas at the most inopportune times. And yes, they come by the dozen. But like the other voices in my head, I’ve learned to ignore them while I’m working on a different WIP.
Must go…the voice is telling me I need chocolate now and O I never ignore the chocolate voice…
Natalie
YES!!! I’ve had this happen way too many times. The new idea is always more shiny than my WIP and I sometimes (usually) drop the WIP to work on the new story. Not smart. I think I have about 15 starts currently (two that I’m actively working on). Finishing is good.