I have one question for you...
HOW do you do it????
I'm currently writing two parts of the SAME story (the back story and Book 1 of my novel), and boy am I getting myself confused. The back story isn't even a real part of the book - it's strictly just for me and my own knowledge.
To make matters worse, I think I'm toying with ideas that shouldn't even come into play until three books from now. And on top of that one, I'm also getting ideas that shouldn't even be in this story PERIOD.
So I'm just jotting everything down and sticking with my guns, no matter how tempting that shiny...new...distracting...eye popping...amazing...grrrrr... idea IS. It's not even like my current story is falling to the wayside (thank goodness), it's still there too, and my mind feels like it wants to explode!
But despite all my frustration......I.... I love it! I absolutely love it, and wouldn't change it for the world. I would take being too creative any day to having my muse go on vacation again. Those were not fun times.
Do you ever feel this way? Do you have so many ideas from different (or the same) projects bouncing around your head that need to get out?
p.s. For those of you with more than one on the go, I bow to you - you guys are brilliant!
16 comments:
I am writing more than one. But the first is in the editing stages and is close to being complete. The second book is in the first draft stage. They are both very different stories too. It makes it easy to keep the story straight.
I wish I could write more than one at a time, I just can't bring myself to do it. I get the ideas and write them down though. I think I get confused way too easily to multi-write. lol.
I know exactly how you feel. I wrote a non-fiction and a suspense at the same time and I'll never make that mistake again. My mind stays much happier if I focus on one project at a time and give it my full attention. Otherwise I feel as if I'm not doing justice to either book.
Jai
I've been writing one, editing one, and plotting a third. Driving me crazy, but I'm with you . . . better too much than not enough. :)
I often do have more than one project going on, but at different stages. I'm a strict itinerary writer, keeping everything focused and on track so that I don't get bogged down and keep making forward progress. Enjoy this creative zone you're in :)
oooh yeah - being too creative instead of not creative enough is definitely the problem you want to have.
i just try to write all my ideas down in a journal and that seems to appease the muse (of course she is a horrid drunk so she gets distracted pretty easily)
I'm always working on multiple stuff. I have what I call my "Junkyard," where I put stuff I don't need at the time. Down the road when I'm stumped and need something, I visit the Junkyard, pull a part, plug it in and I;m good to go.
Stephen Tremp
I outline one while revising another, but I writing both at the same time would be tough.
I think there comes a time when you have to put some of your little idea monsters to bed and focus on the story at hand. I myself have about four WIP's on the go, but haven't even looked at any of them since I started editing my one MS. Until I'm done, it's only that one and nothing else. That's what my journals are for (sneaking in ideas that come to me, so I can fool myself and say I'm not doing anything but working on my one MS).
Never fear, I'm just working on one at the moment!
I write a few stories at once. What I do is read the previous day's work before jumping in. That usually keeps it straight in my head. If I leave the story for too long, though, I have to re read a bigger chunk to make things tick again.
I read multiple books at the same time, but I'll never write more than one at the same time. Maybe I could do it, I don't know; I just want to devote all my energies into one. But I do have an idea for a completely different book that's separate from my little series....
I've never written more than 1 at a time. I can sometimes edit one and first draft one, but I usually alternate days. Don't know how people juggle it all otherwise!
I am actually in the middle of writing two novels. One is a sequel to THE RAVENING, a novel being released this Nov. The other is a collaboration with another author, a Steampunk novel tentatively called, "The Breach".
I am currently on summer vacation from school, where I teach, and so I get up in the morning, make coffee, and walk directly into my office to work. It helps when one feels the pressure to perform and knows a deadline might be looming.
When school starts I will work a couple hours in the evening. Each evening.
I guess, what I am trying to say, is that I believe in writing each day, working toward a specific goal, and keeping in mind that the only way to continue to be published and read, is by producing.
Tabitha - I'm glad they're different enough to keep your ideas straight :)
Lindsay - I feel exactly the same way!
Jai - That's a great way of looking at it!
Janet - At least you're at three different stages with three different pieces of work - good luck!
Joanne - I'm so very glad that it works for you! I wish I could do that same - then maybe I wouldn't be so tempted to be distracted ;)
Sarah - I hear you! I'm with you on writing things down until we get to them.
Stephen - That is a great idea! Not only are you able to get those ideas out, but you also have material for later :)
Holly - I completely agree!
Nathalie - So true! It's all about focusing - although sometimes that proves to be the hardest task!
Alex - Thank you - I'm so relieved to know!
Aubrie - Great plan! I should try that one day - thanks!
Amanda - I think I've read up to two books at the same time, so multiple is amazing, but I'm with you on sticking to writing one at a time.
Jemi - I hope when the time comes, I'm able to do that - it seems very efficient and a lot of people keep moving forward that way.
Stewart - You are absolutely right - great advice!
Writing more than one, and they are about TOTALLY different things, and different genres, which helps me when I am bored or stumped. They are in different phases, so that also helps! I guess I'm an ADD writer
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