My Head is Overflowing
Geothermal energy, deriving a sedative from passion flower, animal mutations, a male-dominated society dependent on plural marriage, magical powers in a jewelry box.
What do all those things have in common?
They’re stuck in my head and I can’t get them out!
I have at least five story lines circling in my brain right now. I’ve chosen one to work on, but I have a friend who can work on more than one manuscript at the same time…in completely different genres. I’m so jealous!! (Yeah…you know I’m talking about you Trisha!)
I know I’m not that only writer who is faced with the challenges of what to write now. (Right? Others of you have this problem. Please tell me I’m not crazy!). How do you determine which idea to focus on or do you work on multiple projects at one time? If so, do you work in spurts and bursts? Just when your muse strikes? Share your thoughts so we can have a beautiful discussion…and maybe I’ll get some sleep.
(P.S. I tried working on three ideas at once, and it wasn’t bad. I just didn’t get anywhere because as soon as I met with a problem I just switched stories. It wasn’t a productive use of my time.)
What do all those things have in common?
They’re stuck in my head and I can’t get them out!
I have at least five story lines circling in my brain right now. I’ve chosen one to work on, but I have a friend who can work on more than one manuscript at the same time…in completely different genres. I’m so jealous!! (Yeah…you know I’m talking about you Trisha!)
I know I’m not that only writer who is faced with the challenges of what to write now. (Right? Others of you have this problem. Please tell me I’m not crazy!). How do you determine which idea to focus on or do you work on multiple projects at one time? If so, do you work in spurts and bursts? Just when your muse strikes? Share your thoughts so we can have a beautiful discussion…and maybe I’ll get some sleep.
(P.S. I tried working on three ideas at once, and it wasn’t bad. I just didn’t get anywhere because as soon as I met with a problem I just switched stories. It wasn’t a productive use of my time.)
36 Comments
Norma Beishir
I’ve worked on more than one at a time. They weren’t always good, but I worked on them. My agent once compared me to Picasso–she said he had his Red Period and Blue Period. She decided I was going thorough my Ugly Period.
But that only happened once. I swear, just once.
Joanne
I only work on one major project at a time, but always have smaller projects or writing tasks going on too. I keep it all together with weekly To-Do lists, to make sure I’m moving forward on all, and not letting any details slip by unnoticed.
Lindsay N. Currie
I feel for you Becky! I currently have only two projects going at once but they are radically different, so their characters and plotlines really can’t live in my head at once. I have to write on one, clear my head and then dedicate my mind to the other one – no bouncing back and forth.
Becky Wallace
@Norma – I can’t imagine anything you’ve ever done being ugly!!
@Joanne – Do your to-do lists every get ridiculous? I never put my writing tasks on my to-do list…but if I did, I’d have more to check off.
@Lindsay – When I go to sleep at night I dream of my dystopian MC in a harem costume! I wish I could clear my mind, but somehow little elements sneak back in!
Lindsay N. Currie
Becky, I included you in my new Saturday Thank-You section:)
Lynn Colt
I am awful at working on more than one novel at a time, so I wind up having to pick one and stick with it. When choosing I tend to go with the one that has characters who won’t let me ignore them any longer 🙂
Sometimes if I’m stuck on my WIP I’ll take a day and world-build or something for a different story in my idea file, but then it’s back to the WIP.
William Kendall
I’m working in two completely different genres, and so far… it’s going well.
*knocks on wood*
Joanne
I’m just the opposite … I put only writing tasks on the To-Do Lists, and don’t keep one for everyday things 🙂
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