Writing Tip of the Day #14
âThe rule of plot bunnies:â
Sometimes in the writing process, it gets hard to stick to just one idea. Brainstorming sessions often bring about more off-topic ideas than expected, or a random idea pops into existence during routine tasks. I call these ideas âplot bunniesâ.
A plot bunny is a plot or character idea that isnât completely thought out yet. Usually, plot bunnies have nothing to do with a current project, or only loosely fit into it. These ideas are often enticing and exciting to explore. Sometimes plot bunnies are simply discarded as half-baked ideas, or theyâre used to suddenly create a new project in a spur of the moment decision. If youâre someone who constantly starts and drops projects, you could be a victim of plot bunnies.
Iâm a victim or at risk of plot bunnies. What do I do?
Youâre bored or getting bored of your current project. It might be hard to face, but if a stray plot thread can entice you away from your current project completely, you need to reconsider the outline or direction of the story youâre telling.
Keep a plot bunny journal. Stray, half-baked ideas are still ideas. Those are valuable, especially in times of writerâs block. It is hard to curb the enthusiasm of a new idea sometimes, but if it canât fit into what youâre already writing, store it away into an idea book. That way, the next time that you have a writerâs block, thereâs a chance that reading over these ideas can jumpstart your enthusiasm.
Reuse, reinstate, recycle. Sometimes even the most unfitting plot bunny can be incorporated smoothly into your current project if the idea or plot is restructured. This could breathe newfound enthusiasm into your work. Plus, it could always be cut in the editing stage if it strays too much from the main focus. Even if it does get cut, the plot bunny has fulfilled its job of keeping your enthusiasm for the work at hand. Restructuring an entire established plot around one idea may seem drastic, but often itâs exactly the quality of life boost that the narrative needs.
Follow that plot bunny, but take time to refine it. Itâs a sad truth, but projects sometimes just donât work out the way they were initially planned. If youâve hit a brick wall in your narrative and decide that chasing a new, exciting idea will keep you from burning out, do so. Donât throw away your previous idea, though. Keep the idea in case it can be refined later. If you do this, be sure to brainstorm and outline the new idea to give it more depth, otherwise youâll run into another brick wall when your enthusiasm curbs again.
Consider balancing projects. This one is simple: If you have an ongoing project and you come up with a new one on the spot, consider jumping between them. This can give you a break to reconsider your first idea while still keeping enthusiasm. However, try keeping these ongoing projects to just two. If you find that you cannot limit yourself to two, then this probably isnât the solution for you.
Finally, remember that thereâs nothing wrong or shameful about plot bunnies or cycling through projects. If the cycle is fun for you, thereâs no reason to stop. These suggestions are simply for breaking the cycle of plot bunnies and constant ideas for those seeking help sticking to one project.