I’m still revising my NaNoNovel from 2007. I’m not giving up! It’s going to get done, because I love the story and really feel strongly that learning how to correctly edit/revise with this novel is teaching me some very valuable skills.

However… I also know that I should be writing something new at the same time.

For just over a month now, I’ve managed to not actually write anything new fiction-wise. It’s frustrating, but I have this wonderful habit called procrastination that I constantly have to be aware of and consciously battle, or else I won’t get anything done. Yes, I’m one of those people who works best with real deadlines.

So, I’ve realized that I need to have a second manuscript nearly done once I start to query this one. I have no illusions about A Work in Progress (yes, that’s the title!) because from what I’ve heard, the genre is pretty much toast right now. It’ll come around again someday, but for now, no one is buying this stuff.

Which means I have a choice to make:

- Write another book in the same genre (I already have one started) and trust that someday, someone will start buying humorous women’s fiction / chick lit again. I just might be waiting awhile.

- Write another book in a different genre (historical fiction, for which I have 2 plots semi-thought out) knowing that I’d enjoy writing it and could see myself continuing to write in the genre, but thus starting from scratch in terms of taking on a new genre

- Write something in MG or YA (again, I have plots for a few books here too) because that’s what’s selling right now

I think I’m suffering from “too many ideas” syndrome. I also think I have a slight fear of being pigeon-holed into one genre… but then I consider that there are plenty of authors who write in multiple genres, and they all had to start somewhere! I guess you work toward being able to write and sell in multiple genres, taking things step-by-step.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Do I stick to writing another novel in what’s been termed a “dead market”, or do I write something else that — although I love the idea and story and am sure to love writing — would mean I’d have to start my area of focus from scratch?

Ah, choices…

What would you do?