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How many projects do you have on the go at once ?
I was just wondering how many different writing projects people have on the go at once.
I have my main novel on the go which is YA, and also have an idea for a chic-lit novel too which I keep doing little bits on, and also looking at the 2500 word bonk buster story comp. Am I trying to do too much or is it good to keep moving to different things ?
Thanks :)
Comments
If you use search, you should find it.
At the moment, I have two short stories I am working on, plus looking for a market for one I have finished.
At the moment I have three novels on the go, one is serious (34,000 at moment), and the other two are mostly notes and structural stuff but I add to them quite often. Three completely different genres as well...which is fun :S
I'm writing two short stories at the moment as well (3000 and 2000 at moment), both of which need to be finished ASAP.
I'm learning to deal with multiple projects in a much more productive way, and sometimes having another story to switch is a good way to make sure you keep writing.
Some comments on how people deal with multiple projects:
http://www.writersnews.co.uk/writers_talkback/comments.php?DiscussionID=138722&page=1#Item_18
I have a steampunk short story, possibly novel, idea which I am working on. Then somewhere deep in the dungeons of my mind there are at least 3 other novel ideas lurking - in 3 different genres.
Then I have various short stories on the go - including any competitions I want to have a stab at.
I have 2 blogs
...and a partridge in a pear tree! ;)
Wow. Puts me to shame. One novel finished, one at 30,000 words plus a couple of short stories. When I get stuck on the novel, which happens quite often these days, I do something with a short story. Any new ideas get noted and filed. I try not to work on more than three things at a time, but I'm very tempted to go back to novel one and improve.
Then there's Magenta Shaman who is hanging around in notebooks across the house and jut waiting for her first outing to be snapped up.
Two novels, too many story ideas than shoes, etc etc.
Otherwise, I write little bits of fiction - like talklback's owc - and occasional travel writing or fiction competitions if I think I can come up with something suitable. I like to do these bits and bobs in and around my article writing; makes the writing life more varied and interesting.
Of course I have my main notebook for my main work and then the ideas book for anything that comes up. But I've introduced a new book called Flow which is for anything and everything. It's like a dumping ground for ideas and I don't have to care what goes in there. There are story ideas, bits for my novel and next one, drawings, songs, musings and anything else that flows from my head.
I guess my point is it doesn't matter how much or how little you have going on as long as you record it and work on it when you can.
Maybe I should learn to concentrate?
For me, it is where spirit take me. There is a serious WIP going on here, plus the revival of a 20 year old novel that is finally going someplace, Elizabeth and Mary's book is under way, Katherine of Aragaon's is under way, Paul of Tarsus has one chapter done already, the new one, The Road To Calvary is building. But ...I am scanning books into the computer to put back out in the market place, one of those occupied all of yesterday evening's work session. 65 pages done and counting. They are part of my writing pension, I need them done.
As always you've all been great :)
One of them said that when you finish your first draft you should put it away for about a month [or 3!] and then get on with something else i.e. another novel.
At the time I laughed at this - I wouldn't have anything else to work on while I left the first draft. However now it looks as though the only problem I'll have when I finish my first draft and it is 'maturing' is trying to decide which of the other projects I have, to get on with!