So here was my general plan. Finish revising The Proper Way to Say Goodbye. Start querying. Then start work on my next story. I have the basic premise, and a few character details and scenes, but I wanted to try plot it out first. Since I lean more towards pantsing, I would be trying something new doing the plotting first.

Which path do I take?

But my plans changed.

I enjoy dark, edgy dark stories, and I was reading Pushing the Limits by Katie Garry. I like the two main characters, Echo and Noah—who is a foster kid. The last novel I queried, Frosty, had a foster girl as the main character, and I got a new story idea that revolves around two foster kids.

And I’m hoping it turns out to be on the dark, edgy side. (But you never know cause things might change… again.)

So my mind took over, and I had to write out my ideas. Now I still love the premise of the other WIP I wanted to start, but this new one has taken hold. But first, I have to finish The Proper Way to Say Goodbye. (If I can ignore the itch to write.) So I’ll record my ideas, and then I’ll be all ready to go.

Does this happen to you often? When another story idea takes hold and you have to change course?