Screenwriting : Let's Talk Creative Flow: Do You Follow a New Idea Immediately?... What About You? by Debbie Makima

You know, when you’re working on a project and ideas for a new project start popping up in your head, that’s completely normal. Honestly, I think it happens to everyone.

And I believe the best way to actually finish a project is to find someone who can push you—someone who, in a way, even forces you to complete what you’ve started. Because doing it on your own can be really hard, especially when your attention keeps shifting to other projects.

I also find I get a lot of other ideas as I am working on one. I usually have the discipline to stick to the one, but I absolutely add my ideas to a google doc in order to come back to it later.

I think it happens to practically everyone called a writer. Whether a script writer or any writer. Ideas pops into my head whenever I'm writing. Those ideas helped me to add or subtract some information from whatever I'm writing and to jot down somethings for my later write ups. @Dodi Hochez, you're right to stick to one in order not to get confused. And putting my ideas on Google docs, helps me develop new stories as well.

Dodi Hochez

Thank you so much for sharing your method! Using a Google Doc to capture those extra ideas sounds like a very practical and organized system. I really admire your discipline.

For me, it's a bit different, and I find it quite challenging. When a new idea hits me, I often lose all desire to continue the current project. My focus shifts completely to the new idea, and it feels impossible to ignore. I've tried to force myself to stick to the original plan, but it just doesn't work—it makes the writing feel like a chore and drains all the fun out of it.

Since you have a good handle on managing this, I'm curious: have you ever experienced this feeling of the new idea completely taking over? And if so, how did you build the discipline to acknowledge it but still stay on track?

Thanks again for your insight!

Andhi Jeltu Hi

Thank you for joining the conversation! That's a really interesting and positive way to look at it – seeing these new ideas as helpful tools that can even improve your current project by adding or subtracting elements. I love that perspective.

For me, the challenge is that the new idea often feels so much more exciting and shiny than the one I'm currently developing. It doesn't feel like a helpful tool, but more like a powerful distraction that pulls me away completely.

I'm fascinated by your approach. When a new idea pops up, how do you decide if it's something that can enhance your current script, or if it's strictly for a future project? Do you have a specific way to evaluate it on the spot?

Thanks again to both of you for sharing your experiences. It's really helpful to see how different writers navigate this.

Aleksandr Rozhnov

Thank you for this very practical advice! The idea of having someone to help with motivation and accountability is a great one. It makes perfect sense – having an external person waiting for your work can be a powerful incentive to push through when focus wavers.

This leads me to a more practical question: how do you usually find or set up this kind of accountability partnership? Is it with a co-writer, a trusted friend who acts as a first reader, or perhaps within a structured writing group?

I think many of us, especially those who write alone, could benefit from understanding how to create this support system effectively.

Thank you for sharing this valuable insight!

You know, this person can basically be anyone. A co-writer, a producer, very often a loving spouse or partner who sees your potential and wants you to succeed as a writer, pushing you to make your current project, let’s say, perfect so that it gets noticed.

But I’ll say something a bit unconventional: this person can also be yourself. You just need to set an internal goal for yourself — that if you finish this script, something truly significant will happen in your life. And then you’ll be focused on completing the project and making it, let’s say, of very high quality.

Because, probably, every person should at least be their own friend and partner when it comes to their work.

I’ll share my own example. Right now, I’m writing a script that, in principle, is being considered by one company. I don’t know yet if they’ll buy it, but I do know that if they get interested, like it, and want to collaborate with me, a lot in my life could change.

So, my goal is more than just writing the script — I genuinely want to make some things in my life change dramatically. That’s why I’m motivated to make it excellent.

At the same time, I have another unfinished script and a series idea that, in principle, are also waiting for me in another country. I think about them, but I haven’t started working on them yet, because I asked people to wait a little while; I need to finish this current script first.

I’m working on it, but still, in my mind, I sometimes think through the ending of the second script and how I could best develop the series. So, that’s basically how it is.

Hi, Debbie Makima. That happens to me. It can be a hindrance if I'm working on a project that has a deadline. I add the new idea to my idea list to work on later. And sometimes I write a short script version that I plan on turning into a feature script later on. Happy creating!

Aleksandr Rozhnov-how did you get those contacts? Amazing progress!

I just kept knocking, and at some point, someone opened the door.

At the same time, I was working hard to study the industry, watching films, writing, and analyzing what audiences watch and what they love.

I misspoke earlier — no one really opened the door for me. They just took it off the latch for a while.

That's such a great way to put it: a "conveyor belt" of ideas. I think every writer knows that feeling!

Here's what works for a lot of writers I have worked with:write it down, but don't jump ship.

The magic happens when you finish what you started. That's the discipline part. But capturing the new idea means you never lose that initial spark.

It's awesome that you're thinking about your process like this. It shows you're a real writer! Finding that balance is key, and it's something I love helping writers figure out.

If you ever want to chat more about it, feel free to send me a DM. I'm always happy to talk shop.

Happy writing.

Did you get the contacts from pitching at stage 32?

I have a whole bunch of ideas I can work on at practically any time (I have their titles, protagonists, and general storylines down pat--they're almost all documented on my loglines page), but lately I've taken to prioritising my life's works, which to say are my best ideas that will take the most commitment. Sometimes those ideas are also so big I have to put them on pause to raise my skill level or recharge my energies (Petal is famous among my friend circle for absolutely kicking my ass on a good day lol). I'm thinking lately of retooling some of my simpler ideas into short scripts when they were initially envisioned as novels, which I've currently done with Glass Waltz and The Metanoid. But for now all my energy and focus is going into Finding Elpis and trying to get the series sold, then I'll get back to everything else :D

I love my virtual assistant for this reason. I can type it in my phone quickly, get the story "nugget" out of my head, and go back to what I'm writing. Boom. Done.

One "nugget" last night was just a girl telling me, "hey. I got these brothers, right?" A night of insomnia later, I've got most of a skeleton to build on.

I keep these seeds banked to pull up and outline fully later as ideas hit or I can't sleep or the words just won't come out on my main project. I layer as it percolates and grows and becomes. I add details, bank dialogue snippets, and build until I'm ready to write.

If I don't get it out of my head, it'll stop my writing all together from the mess and jumble. It allows me to return my focus back into what I'm currently writing while allowing my creative nuggets to be realized.

Aleksandr Rozhnov

Thank you for sharing your experience, Alexandre. Your discipline is truly inspiring.

Your perspective makes me reflect on my own, which is quite different. To give a bit of context, I started writing after developing idiopathic bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy at the beginning of my medical studies.

During that challenging time, writing became much more than a project; it was the one thing that made me feel good and allowed me to mentally escape. To this day, it remains my anchor.

The challenge, as a medical student, is to balance this intense workload with a passion that is vital for my well-being. The temptation to jump from one idea to another might precisely reflect this need for freedom and creation without constraints.

Would you, or other members of the community, have advice on how to cultivate this passion for writing as a source of joy and resilience, rather than an additional source of pressure? How can one reconcile the need to feel free while creating with the discipline required to finish a project?

Thank you for sharing—this discussion is very helpful.

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thank you for sharing this. Your level of organization is truly inspiring.

My core challenge is the focus you describe. I have a clear main project, but when a new idea hits, it's so compelling that I often struggle to stay on track with my current script. The temptation to jump to the new, shiny idea is powerful.

Hearing about your method of documenting ideas to get them out of your head is a great practical tip. It seems like a crucial first step to achieving that single-minded focus on a priority project.

How do you personally resist the urge to switch tracks when a new idea feels incredibly strong? Do you have a specific ritual or reminder that helps you stay committed to your 'life work'?

Good luck with Finding Elpis!

Elle Bolan

Thank you so much for this super practical tip, Elle! This is exactly the kind of advice I needed.

I love the idea of using a virtual assistant as an 'external brain.' The act of immediately jotting down the idea to get it out of your head so you can refocus on the main project is brilliant. I'm going to try this starting today!

It's so true that if you don't do this, your writing on the current project can really grind to a halt. Thanks for this excellent suggestion!

Maurice Vaughan

Hi, thanks for sharing your approach! It's reassuring to know it's a common experience.

Adding the new idea to a 'list for later' seems to be the key takeaway from everyone. It's a simple but effective way to acknowledge the idea without derailing the current project. Thanks for the encouragement and happy writing to you too!

You're welcome, Debbie Makima. Great topic!

You’re welcome Debbie Makima, and thanks! I’ve definitely mellowed out a bit with age and when I was younger I wanted to work on everything (it also helped that I didn’t have ALL my ideas then like I do now lol) and I actually would work on more than one at a time if it wasn’t super taxing for my brain (one September I remember challenging myself to complete three novels). Right now it’s pretty easy to focus on my life’s works like Finding Elpis because that’s all I have the headspace and energy for. I also like to let my new ideas stew for three days to make sure I still wanna do them since more often than not I’d get over a really shiny new idea after a day or so. If I’m still excited to work on it after three days, I’ll play it by ear. Maybe I’ll start it just so I have something concrete to work with, maybe I’ll plan it out while focusing on my current project. So far I think the only project that can derail me from a life’s work is another life’s work lol luckily they all challenge me in their own unique ways so I’ll need A LOT of energy to work on more than one at a time xD

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thank you so much for sharing this personal insight, Banafsheh!

It's true that the sheer volume of ideas can be overwhelming, and your advice to let a new idea "simmer" for three days is really valuable. I love that approach—it helps distinguish fleeting excitement from genuine, lasting interest.

It's reassuring to know that with time, focusing on "life works" becomes more natural. And you're absolutely right, it takes a tremendous amount of energy to juggle several major projects at once... especially when each one challenges you in its own way!

You're so right: sometimes, the only project that can distract you from one life work... is another life work

No worries Debbie Makima, time is also a crucial component. Ever since I graduated university I’ve been making a conscious effort to have a more balanced lifestyle which naturally means it’s next to impossible to write during the wee hours like I used to do haha. Not only that but two of my biggest influences, Satoshi Kon and Osamu Tezuka, both passed away leaving behind unfinished works (in the case of the latter he left his life’s work unfinished… and I have six such works lol [keep in mind too that the man had been working on it for decades and had made HUNDREDS of manga in the meantime]). So that’s also constantly on my mind. I’m also naturally a quality over quantity type of person; so, as extreme as it is, I like to treat each project like it’s the only one of mine that I might leave behind for anyone to consume. Right now Finding Elpis is wearing that heavy crown lol as much as I would love to work on all of my projects, I don’t know what tomorrow will bring so if this is the only way to leave my mark creatively then of course I can’t get distracted very easily anyway :) all this to say that time being a natural bumper, if you will, helps a lot and has plenty of wisdom in it. One day I’d love to get back to working on Petal and What Separates Us, two of my life’s works currently on hiatus due to being burnt out for novels but for now their little brother Finding Elpis is gonna do his best to support the family lol

I wish I could work on them all… and though it’s impossible to measure energy and drive, I will say I’d need enough to break reality itself to do so lol

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thank you so much for this deep and inspiring share, Banafsheh.

You’re right: time is our most precious resource, and you’ve found a rare wisdom in consciously choosing balance and quality.

What you said about Satoshi Kon and Tezuka is poignant. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of seeing our "life works" through, with all the intention and care they deserve.

I love the idea of treating each project as if it were the only one you could leave behind. That’s both demanding and beautiful.

Finding Elpis truly carries a heavy crown… but what an honor to devote your energy to it! And what a joyful day it will be when Petal and What Separates Us have their turn again

You’re welcome Debbie Makima, and thank you again hehe I think a lot about this stuff, and as I got older I realised how important it is to be healthy because otherwise I can’t create effectively. Especially sleep is important, I can’t effectively tackle my more cerebral stuff without good sleep (especially since I gotta go to work in the morning lol). I think the same is true about projects you want to tackle. Sometimes you have to rest them and other times you have to keep going. I’d say then it’s a question of how much you can handle at a time and what you need to do if you can’t at that moment. If you’re working on a difficult project and have an idea for a smaller, simpler one that you can’t think about, and it’s what your brain needs, I’d say by all means try that for a while. Sometimes working on one project gets me unstuck for another lol

Yeah, and both of them wanted very much to complete their last projects… in fact Tezuka-sensei wanted to create even more (his last words were even “I’m begging you, let me work!” and when his daughter opened one of his drawers after he passed away she found sketches of a female mouse character in different poses which makes you wonder what else he would’ve created). I can only hope I’ll be able to work on more than just my life’s works and the odd smaller project as time goes on, but admittedly it is hard to get a lot done when you’re making an active effort to live a healthy lifestyle lol (and of course burnout is its own issue)

It really will be a joyful day to get back to Petal and What Separates Us :) in a lot of ways Finding Elpis has some of their quirks but in a different flavour so who knows, it might hold the key to getting unstuck for one or both if I follow through with it :)

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thank you, Banafsheh, your words resonate deeply. You're absolutely right: health and sleep are the invisible foundations of creation. Thank you for reminding us that writing isn't just about inspiration, but also about energy and balance.

Your advice is precious: sometimes, switching to a simpler project can unlock a blocked one. That's creative permission I will grant myself more often.

The anecdote about Tezuka is both sad and beautiful... "Let me work"... What a testament to a passion that burns until the very end. It makes your "life works" feel even more sacred.

I love the idea that Finding Elpis already carries the DNA of Petal and What Separates Us. Perhaps by seeing it through, you will indeed find the keys to unlocking them naturally. That's a beautiful path of trust.

Take care of yourself, and thank you for this rich exchange. All the best with Finding Elpis

Thank you so much Debbie Makima, and good luck with your projects :D