“Where do you get your ideas?” I was asked this just the other day. The answer is less an inspiration and more a location and time. I get my book ideas upon waking. Typically at 4 in the morning, and typically with a huge amount dropped into my forethought.

It happened two days ago. My next novel is named The Hurricane Boys. I know the plot, the characters, and the ending just by opening my eyes. I’ve spent the next two early mornings nattering it about. I love it! (But I do miss sleeping).

And I’m not going to write it. Yet.

I have at least six half-finished novels. A friend said that means I no longer cared about that story. Not true, I just got excited by another story and began writing that, and so on and so on.

Other than notes, I’m not going to do that now. The reason why is Discipline. I didn’t have it then, but I do have it now.

The Trouble with Bees is still in rewrite. I just wrote a scene that blew my mind (and not just mine). I am going to continue writing that to completion. Then and only then, I’ll start writing The Hurricane Boys.

Discipline doesn’t mean I don’t want to. It doesn’t mean I’m not able to. It means I won’t. A hidden benefit of discipline is that it gives you motivation to finish what you’re sticking with so you can get on to the next project.

Eventually, I’ll get back to those other half-finished novels, because I really do like them…

Cross-posted from my GoodReads blog.