What to Write Next

After finishing a book (or article), every writer asks herself, “What should I write next?” I have certainly asked myself that question many, many times (because I’ve finished many, many books). And, usually, I have a lot of ideas to choose from. Some of the ideas are for fiction, some nonfiction. Some are for adult books, some for children’s books. I have what one might call a wealth of topics to choose from.

Right now, however, I have fewer than usual to choose from, and I think that’s beca...