How many projects at once? - Writers Forum

beth10 · 01-21-2006, 11:45 PM

I am curious about how many writing projects people work on at the same time. I have a screenplay about 3/4's done, a novel I put aside over a year ago, and a new novel idea plus short story ideas.

Do you work on each thing or see one all the way through? Do you have a schedule for working on different projects at the same time?

Thanks

SxThorntonxS · 01-22-2006, 05:14 AM

I could be working on 3 or 4 project at any given time. As soon as im burnt out on one, i work on another.

Superlagg · 01-22-2006, 06:49 AM

I work on one thing at a time. No more, no less. I tried another project, but it turned out badly, and was based on an old version of my story.

Lady_Kristin · 01-22-2006, 04:34 PM

I've finished one book... I think. LOL! I can't seem to stop editing.

Now I'm writing the sequel to it, of which I'm on Ch. 27 now. I've never written so quickly before.

I also have two other stories that I've worked on quite a bit. I have about 10 -12 chapters written on those, but stopped to write the sequel to my first book.

I've also begun writing two children's stories, but I haven't gotten far on those. I think I've finished only 4 chapters on one, and two on the other.

The rest are just in the ideas stage. One of them is filled with A LOT of ideas (Ghost/Past Life story) but I'm not going to start writing it anytime soon.

mammamaia · 01-22-2006, 05:43 PM

this is being discussed in at least one other thread right now... question has been asked many times before... you might want to scroll back for more on the subject...

here's what i added to the other fairly current thread ["what do you do?"]:

Quote:

i've always had a vast array of writing projects 'in the works' at any given time... in my old, 'ordinary' writing life, i might have been working on a play, a musical, poems, song lyrics, and several books, at the same time as a screenplay and assorted work for the clients of my writing consultant business...

nowadays, i pretty much start and finish a piece at one sitting, and don't write for paid publication, so quite a few earlier projects are languishing in my files, probably never to be completed...

davidray · 01-22-2006, 06:07 PM

I think the key is to write every day. On something. Make progress and prioritize, but remember that even if you're not working on your #1 project, almost all writing is good practice.

mammamaia · 01-22-2006, 06:34 PM

more good advice from david... you're a welcome addition to the forum, dr!... glad to have you aboard... hugs, m

Dresdor · 01-22-2006, 09:55 PM

Two. One is the Forgotten, which is a short story for a contest and the other is the Fifth Horde, which I really hope will be my first novel.

Usually I limit myself to one, and if I come up with new ideas, I write a brief summary in a notebook of ideas I have. That way when I'm ready for a new novel I can start writing one from that notebook.

bob rulz · 01-22-2006, 10:28 PM

I usually try to do just one at the same time, but sometimes I'll write an excerpt I thought of on another story. I have tons of story ideas in my head, but I try to limit myself to writing just one at a time since I have so little time on my hands.

Bumblebee · 01-23-2006, 05:14 AM

I used to work on at least three or four projects at the same time. Now I am concentrating on one project and for my standards it is going really well. Even if I have no inspiration I force myself to write at least a couple of lines each day. It does not have to be great, cause it's a first draft and will be fleshed out when I type it into the computer.
Also, I am one of those old-fashioned types that writes longhand. I find typing on the computer completely uninspiring and I prefer sitting curled up on the sofa listening to the radio with my notepad on my lap or lying in bed writing.

Other ideas still spring into my head, but they can wait, it's the one I am writing I am excited about.

The Thing · 01-23-2006, 10:03 AM

I'm working on 2 at the moment. One is a short Samurai horror called The Sickness. The other is possibly a novella - haven't decided on length - called Minotaur which is a modern adaptation of the greek myth.

Oracle · 01-27-2006, 12:36 PM

3 novels (they're all part of a trillogy though, so I guess you could call it one project. I do switch back and forth between them once in a while though).

1 musical stage performance (I've just started the rough ideas for this though, so I can't count it as a full project yet).

1 other novel (I haven't worked on it in ages though)

And I think that's about it right now.

Kimahri · 01-28-2006, 04:37 PM

I have decided to just work on my first novel right now and dedicate all my time to it. I think if I were to work on some of the other ideas that I had I would neglect the one I am most commited to. I think that because it is a story I am really excited to write helps with my dedication.

kimahri

CZ · 01-28-2006, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beth10

I am curious about how many writing projects people work on at the same time. I have a screenplay about 3/4's done, a novel I put aside over a year ago, and a new novel idea plus short story ideas.

I've been working on the same novel for the last year and a half or so. At the same time I'll work on whatever projects/stories my editors assign (newspaper). I can't work on more than one of my own creative projects at once, so while writing a 1200 word nonfiction article and then finishing up a chapter of my novel is all right for me, I can't switch between "personal" projects, so it's my novel, or nothing.

On rare occasion I'll do a writing prompt, though.