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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/42349
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/42349
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Release them as [Plot Bunnies](https://gosparkpress.com/nanowrimo-prep-plot-bunnies/)!

NaNoWriMo has forums for "adopting out" plot bunnies -- see [https://www.wikiwrimo.org/wiki/Plot\_bunny](https://www.wikiwrimo.org/wiki/Plot_bunny) for more info.

Or just create a blog post where you list these ideas, and release them FREE into the world. They're not yours any more -- focus just on the ideas that _you_ need for _your_ work.

This may be a sign that your core work is potentially quite GOOD, and your fear-of-failure (if you're like me) is trying to tempt you to stray. In Elizabeth Gilbert's TED Talk on "[Creative Genius](https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius/transcript)", she mentions that some societies believed that instead of BEING genius, "genius" or "inspiration" was something "on loan" to you from the universe.

So maybe you have a really good genius right now, and it's attracting these unwanted ones -- decide if they're the right sparks for _you_ for **right now**. If they're ones you want to play with later, then put them in a "play later" file/email/folder. If you like the idea, but think someone else could _also_ handle them -- then let them go to another writer.

[Beware the will-o-wisp! Don't be Pixy-led off the trail to completion!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o'-the-wisp)

Also, make a pledge to NOT delete things -- if you have to, remove them from the "active document" and save them elsewhere, or email them to a rarely checked email address. Maybe later you'll recognize some things in them that work with the current project. Maybe you'll want to backtrack to a-few-projects-ago. Perhaps also once a week do a backup of the project AS IS. **Just try following one path to the end**.

The completed project may be practically unreadable, but it's SO much easier to fix a bad ending (or middle or whatever) than to create one in the first place. And if it starts being bad? Be the WORST! Make it the stupidest ending possible. The most cliche'd events to bring characters together. It's actually harder to be bad than you think, and if it's awful -- well, that was your goal. If it's not quite so bad -- now there's something to improve upon!

Original score: 2