[flickr id=”5079013878″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]I remember the days after I finished my first novel.

Not just the days – the months.

I thought that was it. I loved those characters so much, how could I possibly have another story in me?  Their story was beautiful and deep and not even finished – how could I ever move on?

That novel suffered through years of my tears, queries and rejections.  It now sits in the back of my files, neglected and left behind.  There are days I remember it, days I contemplate its resurgence from the mothballs of my external drive.  I still love those characters in the way you love an old familiar friend. I still truly believe their story deserves to be told.  I also now fully believe that I didn’t tell it well that first time.  It’s certainly not a horrendous collection of words – but it doesn’t shine. It requires far too much time and attention for me to ponder revisiting it right now.

About three years ago I had a whisper of a story idea. In rapid-fire free-writing I cranked out well over 500k words of a story (or 3 or 4) surrounding new characters.  Yes, three years ago.  This is the story that I am now querying out.  The story that I just absolutely love my main characters with a shamefully blinding addiction some days (I wish I were as clever and quick-witted as my heroine).

Last year I started another series based around another couple of characters. Another two characters (no, make that four – or five – or…well, the series has a LOT of characters I love) that I can adore. A story that I can sink my teeth into, that requires multiple facets and stories to cross the depth of all of these people.

Once I reached the point a year ago where I had started on rewrites for both of these pieces I once again wondered where I would find more. How could I find more characters? I certainly don’t want to recycle characters.

Fast forward to today.

I’m in final edits and the query stage for Changing Tracks. Then I have The Tribe still in mid-draft.

And what else?

Well…I have a horror (horror? Me?) flash fiction that I’ve submitted to an e-zine.

I have an Urban Fantasy that’s got about three pages of world-building notes.  Characters named. Story line being plotted.

Of course there’s a short story that I started, but have put on hold. I want to wait on it for personal reasons. It’s a fun little smexy romp that will hopefully get attention before the end of the year.

I just started another HWR short – make that short-for-me – story.  I’m deep in the second chapter and the new characters are becoming really interesting.  They have their damage, but their stories are so rich.

Oh, yes…can’t forget the new story idea that came to me this morning. Still in its infancy. So very young, but so very exciting.  I haven’t met the characters yet – but I’m sure they will be tortured.

Maybe one day I’ll create a character that I don’t torture. That just…is. Maybe.

But as I look at my growing story folders and all of the possibilities I’m startled. I wonder – what happened to the days when I thought I’d never create another story?

What about you?  Do you find yourself in plotting overload?  In a wasteland of ideas with no clue what to start building next because every idea is so exciting?  What do you do with all of your story ideas? How do you keep track of them?

Are you a spread sheet diva (or divo)?  Or do you have notes scattered everywhere? Paper or electronic?

Do your ideas come in a flood like mine have this time? Or a slow trickle that lets you keep up?