Your opinion - Writers Forum

Imalshen · 11-02-2006, 03:03 PM

Is it better for a person to focus only on one story at a time or more? I have a tendency to write fanfiction around sessions of my own books, but now, as I try to focus on my main trilogy, I get this other story idea out of the blue and would like to work on it but don't want to confuse myself or lose sight of how close I am on my current novel-which has already been subjected to public opinion and has a handful of interested people (not friends, but just random people).

rydenthorne · 11-02-2006, 03:17 PM

I'm working on a fantasy novel right now, and I can safely say that one book is quite enough for me. There's so many plots and characters and themes running through the whole thing that I have to keep close notes of what's going on and how the agendas unfold and react with out characters. I think it's good to focus on one thing at a time. Get immersed in the world and work out all its details.

BeautifulSilverSilence · 11-02-2006, 03:43 PM

I don't know, depends on what kind of person you are. Me? I love to flitter from one story to another, granted I'm not writing books or novels so it might not be on the same scale, but I personally feel more comfortable working on at least two things in one space of time. If I'm stuck on one I just work on there other, it's works for me. But like I said it depends on the person I think.

CroZ · 11-02-2006, 05:19 PM

try working on as many things as you can. that way if one fails you have another.

Krim · 11-02-2006, 06:52 PM

Try working on as many as you want, until each is good, and then move on. Don't "work on as many things as you can".

Why does it need to be a trilogy anyway? It's recommended first time authors do stand-alones, but hey, you can always write it.

wordsmith37 · 11-02-2006, 08:10 PM

I'm not the best person to comment I guess. I normally have 2 or 3 things..stories..poems on the go at the same time. Sometimes one overrules the others..sometimes I'm not focused on any. It does always give me something to think about and work on. I am constantly writing down new ideas...bits and pieces to store away for another story. I don't take note of any hard and fast rules. If it works for you then go for it! The important thing is to set aside to write every day.

aspiring · 11-03-2006, 04:19 AM

Some people can't work on more than one project at a time.
Some project can't work on only one project - they need to have two or more on the go.

Neither way is better; it's simply what works best for YOU.

Vee · 11-03-2006, 04:51 AM

I've found when I get another story idea and continue to work on the "one" or the current story I tend to forget the other story idea and get peeved later on for not writing it out.

Fixed · 11-03-2006, 05:47 AM

Quote:

I've found when I get another story idea and continue to work on the "one" or the current story I tend to forget the other story idea and get peeved later on for not writing it out.

yes but at least you keep writing on the current story
I think focussing on one story is far more useful unless of course you don't write novels or anything

Rob · 11-03-2006, 06:25 AM

Different people work in different ways. You need to find out for yourself whether you can manage to juggle writing several things at once or whether you'd be better off completing one before starting the next. At some point you probably have to force yourself to be disciplined otherwise you'll end up with many barely-started and half-finished works and little finished. It's easy to start a piece of work, but much harder to see it through to completion. If you have a cute idea in mind for your next piece, capture the idea somewhere, in as much detail as you feel is necessary. You can always come back to it later and start it then. I have a whole load of ideas in one document, many of which may never see the light of day, but I do come back to some of them and write them. You're still a young writer, you're still to find out what works best for you, and you still have many years ahead of you in which to write up those ideas.

Mike C · 11-03-2006, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring

Some people can't work on more than one project at a time.
Some project can't work on only one project - they need to have two or more on the go.

Neither way is better; it's simply what works best for YOU.

Well, that saves me having to say it. Sometimes I focus 100% on one project. Other times I'll flit from one to another, progressing one, tidying another, editing something else. Do what makes you happy.

Elysium · 11-03-2006, 11:08 AM

Personally, the thought of writing multiple stories at one time really turns me off. I'm afraid I'll mismatch the tones (comedy into a drama) or something like that. It may not always be bad, but I also usually have a certain way of writing each story (how I put sentences together, flirting with grammar issues) depending on what the story is about. Plus, it would give me reason to procrastinate on a story and never finish it. This could have something to do with having some symptoms of A.D.H.D. (not full-blown, says the psychologist, but I take medicine). If I don't focus on one story, I won't get anything done. Or something like that.

Firewriter23 · 11-03-2006, 11:12 AM

I tend to work on two things at once, but thats only because while working on one I get a break from the other. Most of the time I get better ideas from working on two pieces at once.

Pat · 11-03-2006, 12:32 PM

I usually write what my fingers want to. If I want to work on my main project, I will, if I have a good idea for something new or want to spice up an older short story or whatnot, I just do what I feel when I feel like writing. Let yourself be free, but at the same time, just make sure you're writing.

Imalshen · 11-05-2006, 07:34 PM

looks like i got a whole bunch of different ideas here from everyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krim

Why does it need to be a trilogy anyway? It's recommended first time authors do stand-alones, but hey, you can always write it.

Because it's WAY too long a story to be one book. lol