I used to work on multiple projects all the same time, and to some extent, I guess I still do.
I had two-novel length projects going simultaneously. When one started to fizzle, I leapt into the other. Then, I got ideas for new characters, a new novel-length story and delved into that a little - mostly character development and outlining, little more. Sometimes I wrote short stories on the side, although, admittedly, I don't write many short stories.
The problem with this was, the more projects I engaged in at once, the less I really got done with any of them. Does that make any sense? I'd write scenes here and there, character studies and whatnot, but I wasn't really getting anywhere with
either of my novels.
Early last year I really began to throw myself into one story in particular, the one that's been brewing in my brain, and on paper, for years now. In April I did my own version of Nano - I was too impatient to wait until November! - and that really got me going. Of course, much of what I wrote that month was absolute rubbish but I really felt I had made some progress anyway. Since then, that story has been my primary focus. I've written a short story since, and some outlining/ scenes for others, but that novel is my priority. If I keep my focus on that one project, I really feel it progressing.
Of course, sometimes I need a break from the story, so it's good to write about something else for a change. But I've pretty much decided to keep chuggin' and not delve into novel-length stories until I can put this down, in some sort of complete form. Works for me
