I understand that loss of focus thing....

I have a process that I use to keep me focused. It came through trial and error...a LOT of error, but now seems like an old frind.

1. The Idea

I'll get an idea for a plot. Knowing that an idea is not the basis for a book, I write a short story based on the idea alone. I use short stories this way: how to get across the idea in as few words as possible with a beginning middle and end. Must be a least 3 paragraphs. If I can do it, and often I find I can't, but if I can, I will opt for the second part...

2. The Outline

Never written in stone, but this outline expands on the 3 parts on my short story.

3. The Ripple Effect

This part fleshes out the outline a little more, by simply hitting the high points.

Then once I have that done, I can start and know I won't stray too far from the object which is to tell a story with a beginning middle and end, interesting protagonist, antagonist and enough branches on the trunk of the main tree to keep the reader interested.

So far this approach is working and has kept me from dalliances with whims within the frame of the ending.

Do you ever write the ending first? I did with this novel I am into now. The end was a foregone conclusion before I ever wrote the prologe. But the second novel I have half done was the opposite...I changed the ending 4 times after writing the third chapter, and I am still not sure how it will end *LOL*

I hope someday to be published, but I don't let myself think about it too much. It makes me nervous!