Right now I'm working on a romance novella and the first of an epic fantasy novel. At first I wasn't planning on doing this, wanting to concentrate solely on one thing at a time, but I find that there is a "limit" to how much fantasy and romance I can write in a day. I guess I wouldn't say limit, but my mind bogs down. However I can jump right in to the other and I feel fresh. I usually get in 3000 words a day combined; some days my novella will get 2000 words, my fantasy novel 1000, and vice versa. I'm also a journalist for a sports website and I write at least an article a day.
I am currently working on three novels, working on first drafts for all of them. I have about two more story ideas, but I refuse to start any new projects until I'm finished with these three. I have a main project and two "smaller" ones, but "main" story has most of my attention.
Exact same problem here. At first, I'd just write a point-form synopsis of each story and regularly revise it so that the idea stays fresh. However, this also distracts me from other projects. Another solution - which I do NOT recommend - is writing the story arcs simultaneously in the same greater story, which is what I'm currently doing (each story was already in the same universe, which makes it easier I think).
Um, yeah. That's a little beyond where I'm at in my writing. Can I use an "lol" here? Cause it fits. I'm not that advanced.
I have one main project and a few minor projects that I work on from time to time as a break from my main project. I have a tendency to get distracted easily so I'm constantly on my guard about that. There are times, though, when I just don't feel in the mood for working on my main project. At those times it's nice to have something else to write about so that I can at least stay active. Also working on a side project can be good practice. It gives me a chance to improve my skills in an environment that feels less critical to me. I can experiment more.
I can't even begin to count how many projects I have in the works. Which is probably a big problem, but I find I have an easy solution as to how to deal with them. For the most part I'm focusing on one story, my main project I suppose you could call it. Right now I'm doing a lot of needed research for it, so when I get tired of researching, or I hit a road block, I'll try and do some writing skits with those characters. If I can't focus on that particular story at all, I'll see if one of my side projects will catch my interest, or if nothing works at all, I'll write a completely random writing skit about something I seen/did through the day (this is mostly so I can keep myself writing and not fall out of the habit and remain idle for several days). When it comes to new ideas though, I usually end up pounding out the flesh of the story (ie. characters, basic idea, setting, plot, and maybe a few chapters/scenes). Then I'll set them aside with the rest of the side projects and go back to the one I want to focus on the most. I find it's the easiest way for me to deal with the problem.
@silverwolf I was just thinking about doing that... using writing prompts to develop my characters. Take a break from the main story but have fun ways to do short writing "skits". THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAS REPLIED!
Currently, I'm only writing for fun. I post on various fiction sharing websites like wattpad/fictionpress and so on. I usually have 3 or more projects going at once. (I'm coming off a long bout of writer's block, so any writing is good for me!) I don't see it as a big deal since I'm not trying to get them published. If I was trying to get something published, I would most likely work at only the one project until it was finished, though!
Are you a monogamous writer? Faithfully working on a single piece until it's finished, only then, starting something new? Or does your current MS find you getting in late at night with the scent of a strange character on your clothes; someone else's plot stains on your collar? Are you the polygamist type, straying from one story to another like a bonobo in heat?
Monogamy is entrenched in my bones. Not only can I not work on more than a single project at a time, I can only work on one thing at a time, writing related or not. For instance, I can't write a novel and revise another. I can't write a novel and work on writing music. I have a hard time writing a novel and playing a video game at the same time. So no, I can't write more than a single novel at once. The times I've tried all failed--eventually one fizzled out and the other got my full attention. I have plenty of ideas for more, which is good because it makes me work harder and faster on my current piece. Nothing like a good carrot on a stick.
I only ever work on the actual writing stage of one project at a time or I get distracted and end up spending more time jumping between ideas than writing. However I generally also have some half thought out ideas and some in a very vague planning stage.
I terrible with focusing on one story at a time only; right now, I have a third draft on the go, three first drafts, and I'm planning another novel. I also have two short stories on the go. The bright side - the silver lining, if you will - are twofold. One, I can switch from one to another whenever I feel in the mood for a certain setting or theme. Two, I do actually finish these novels and short stories - I've had multiple ones on the go before, and I've completed them all, so I know I can do it. If I knew I couldn't, then of course I would stick to one project at a time.
I have three projects going right now. Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic and Fantasy. Three different genres. I like to switch between them depending on how I feel. It also helps me develop three totally different main characters.
I've been focused almost exclusively on my current project since I started writing it 18 months ago. Twice, I've hit dry spells when I've taken a short break to play with a very different idea, but never for very long. Once I've finished with the first draft, I will take a break for several weeks, during which time I may go back to the other idea or, more likely, read and do other creative things (like music) until I'm ready to take on the editing process. Since I am writing a historical novel, I anticipate the editing process to be much more involved than in any of my other projects.
I only write one novel or story at a time. Sometimes I squeeze in an article, but that's a different sort of creative endeavor. I do other writing related things, such as proofing audiobook files prior to publication and things like that. Again, a different activity other than writing/revising/editing a project.
Currently, I have two on the go. However, the first, a dystopian novel, hasn't been improved by the end of last year, the second, a fantasy series (consisting of short stories and maybe a few poems, ending in a novel) is in early planning. It's my biggest flaw, but it's probably due to the length of those projects. I believe starting smaller would help me with penning larger texts, in the near future.
i've always been prone to and able to work on a slew of things at a time... may be the result of being a mother of 7, since raising that many over nearly 40 years certainly makes one a multi-tasker! as for how many... at one time, back in my writing for money years, i was: writing the lyrics for the title song of an off-b'way musical, for the prez of mca, mike millius writing a commemorative poem for the planners of westport, ct's sesquecentennial writing a novel of my own writing a humorous memoir of my own writing a series of x-rated short storie doing investigation/legal briefs for 2 moms whose sexually abused kids were given to their abusers by the court turning out ad copy, dunning letters, start-up plans for clients such as nestle's chocolates running an upscale rooming house in our home schlepping my 2 last kids to riding and ballet lessons/performances battling husband #2 for a divorce on the opposite side of the country, where he had major clout and i had none that's the kind of multi-tasking i wouldn't wish on my worst enemy... ok, so maybe i would've wished it on the playing-dirty not-yet-ex... it's now 30 years later, and at the moment, i'm: doing this--posting help/advice/info on 3 writing sites posting help/advice/info in too many linkedin threads to count juggling several mentees and their needs dealing with a daily deluge of 30-50 email messages/thread notices, most of which require responses all the while... continuing to pore through and sort/scan/catalog/file the thousands of pages of poetry/essays/etc. of a brilliant, deceased 'new american voice' whose life's work i've been honored with the task of launching into the literary world...
Usually, I do work on multiple projects at once, but this time, for nearly a whole month now, I've been working exclusively on one story. In general, it helps me to juggle some ideas to work on multiple projects, but so far... working on just one story is working out just fine for me after all. I have always viewed myself as the unfaithful spouse straying on their oblivious wife- for some reason, when I make that analogy, I refer to myself as the "unfaithful husband" as opposed to wife, even though I'm clearly a woman. But now this time, I've been staying with one "wife", and am not currently seeing any mistresses at this time. I don't even find myself desiring to stray from my wife. I have a beautiful story waiting to be written by "us", so I will stick with her... until I'm done with that particular story, that is. After that, who knows when I'll be seeing my next mistress...
