Could you write about how you’re able to work on both [WIPs] at once without getting bogged down, or falling way behind on one?
This question came from Erynne, a fellow writer and one of you who dared to read my blog even though I’d just started. It’s an intriguing question, one I think I should answer (especially because it means I can talk about my books, haha).
Firstly, let me make sure this gets out there: I am not you. Just because I have the time and energy to work on multiple projects at once doesn’t mean you do, or that you should start another, especially if you aren’t intending to go into writing as a career. I pour time and energy into writing because I want to be an author, and that means I have to work for it.
Notice the word work. Writing two, three, or four projects at once means you get finger cramps, have the possibility of running into four Writer’s Blocks at once (that is NOT fun!!), and probably run out of chocolate more easily. You get to cry over four times as many characters, remember four different plots, and, in my case, shift your gears into four different worlds each time you open up a new document.
Lemme tell you: leaping between worlds like that is straining.
But there are rewards too, like having another project you can work on when it’s time to take a break from the first. You can explore different techniques in each book, dive into different backstories and personalities, and get bragging rights to being a multitasker. 😉
That said, here’s how I do it.
Time: I decided not to get a job this summer, so I have hours a day I can fill with writing, plotting, thinking, and talking to my friends about my book. If you don’t have time to pick up another project, you probably shouldn’t. Writing is draining, and you need brain juice for other things too (like saving the world).
Prioritize: I don’t know about you, but if I randomly jump between four projects, eventually I lose interest in each one and I have half-finished stories taking up space in Google Drive. Now don’t get me wrong – losing interest in a story is very common and highly understandable (in fact, if you didn’t lose interest in it at least twice, I’d probably wonder what magic formula you keep using and pester you about it until you let me have some). Find that one story that you’d give your life for and focus on that. Leave the others for when you need a break from The One or when you get random flows of inspiration for them. For example, I haven’t actively worked on A Tale of Two Brothers in over two months because I’ve been focusing on my highest priority, The Keepers of the Nine. And that’s ok.
Take Breaks: Whether this be from only one story or from all writing, your brain will need time to recharge. I find this especially helpful when battling the ominous Writer’s Block or when I just can’t think straight. Breaks can last anywhere from a few minutes to a day or two to weeks to even months. But don’t use “I’m just taking a break” as an excuse to slack on your writing – if you know you have probably spent enough time away from your story, get back on it, no matter the temptation to avoid that hardship.
Commitment: Ok, guys, this one is MAJOR. Every story I’ve posted on my Current Projects page, I’ve thought about and become committed to. If you were to explore my “Books” folder in my drive, you’d find yourself in a maze of half-begun and abandoned ideas. Those snippets of writing were great practice, but as I wrote them I decided that I didn’t want to commit to those. Thus they were tossed onto The Bog of Forgotten Stories. So how do you know if you’re committed to a story? In my world, I know I’m committed when I can tell you which part is the beginning, middle, and end without hesitation. I know where I’m going to, and as soon as I realize that, I become determined to get there.
Partner Up: Yes, I know, telling people about your work is scary business. You have to open up to ideas they may think are dumb or childish and, if you’re really serious, show them your writing. I get it. That’s not always easy. But if you show someone a story you’re working on and they fall in love with the project, they’ll be asking you about it. They’ll be reminding you about it, so it doesn’t accidentally slip into The Bog of Forgotten Stories. And the more they talk to you about it, the more inclined you’ll be to work on it, especially if you speak with this person on a regular basis. If you’re not working on it, you’ll feel guilty when they ask you about it. If you are, you’ll feel proud. Simple as that.
I know, a lot of those had to do more with how to stick with a story than how to keep from falling behind/being bogged down. But the methods that apply to one story apply to multiple stories as well. If you commit to or don’t have time for another few stories and you start to write them anyway, you’ll get bogged down. If you don’t prioritize, take breaks, or partner up, you’ll fall behind.
Once again, I’m not an expert on working on multiple stories. I know people who can juggle a gazillion at a time and people who only work on one. It all depends on you: what Level of Hard you’re willing to take your writing to, ’cause the more stories you commit to writing, the more time you’re going to have to spend on them.
I hope that answered your question, Erynne! I’d love to discuss this with you (and everyone else) in the comments. 🙂
God bless, and have a great day!
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