So Many Ideas, So Little Time

My idea file has grown steadily over the years at a rather slow pace, an idea here, an idea there, but hardly everywhere. Sometimes I blend a few ideas together and turn two into one. At two books a year, it'll take a dozen years for me to fully develop 24 ideas into books.

Lately, though, it seems as if an idea occurs to me every couple of days. It's out of control, like hamsters reproducing. I feel like I'm going to go nuts trying to balance the four ideas that won't shut up, and to make matters worse, I can't so much as go to the store without coming back with yet another book idea.

This is, as you can imagine, both a blessing and a curse.

Recently I was pondering the idea of writing being a gift from God. I decided it wasn't; the work involved is too hard. Surely if it were a gift the words would flow from me as easily as those beautiful notes that come out of the mouths of those gifted with vocal talent. I struggle with every book, and if I weren't so hard-headed I would have given up before I ever saw the light of publication. (I hate to blame God for my being stubborn; that's not right.) But in the midst of wishing I can stop my mind from running wild whenever I see people, places, and things, it occurs to me what my true gift is.

I've been gifted with imagination. That's what comes to me with no effort whatsoever, as natural as breathing.

That's one of the greatest gifts God can give. Without it I couldn't write a word, and for that I'm eternally grateful.

Now, to go and try to tackle all those ideas . . . .