Focus on Novel or Short Stories?

Welcome to AW, DaveMichael!

The answer you're most likely to receive is "everyone works differently".

I've been working on novel drafts & rewrites, but I've also written some short pieces usually in response to the SF/F Challenges in SYW. I can only work on my novel for so long until I get bored or burned out, so I switch off to work on short stories until I get my enthusiasm back for the novel. As far as I'm concerned, all writing is good experience.

So I'd recommend to strike where the iron is hot. Novel writing is a marathon, not a sprint. If you've got ideas for short stories, work on them. The novel will be waiting.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Did you know that some people actually eat coconut? ;-)

I guess it's because we're all different. Some people can't write short stories. Some people can only focus on one project at a time. Some people have project-ADD.

For years, I only worked on one story at time. Lately, since buying a house, I've developed a polygamous relationship with my writing, bouncing back and forth between three short stories. When I'd get stuck on one-- like really stuck-- I went to another one. So far, it's worked out. But there's always a bit of a danger in developing 'shiny new story' syndrome, where the next story is always more exciting and fun than the one that's hard to work on. And then nothing gets finished.

As for how much to write down on a story you're not going to work on-- as much as you need. I try to record everything I have on it at the moment, just because. Maybe I'll use that information, or maybe by the time I pull that idea back out, I'll have some new, better ideas. I have a 3x5 card box stuffed with ideas, as well as a folder on my computer. Ideas come easily-- it's writing the things that's hard. (And new ideas are always better than old ones... just be careful you don't offend the old idea, causing it to go off and sulk. ;-)

Write on!

I'll say you should try both. If it just doesn't work for you--as said above, everyone works different--hit whichever one screams at you the most.

You know, I myself am not a very seasoned writer - but I find if you stretch yourself too thin, you don't write anything. There's no reason you can't have a notebook where you jot all your ideas, while working on a "project" - one you can finish. And I know I sound like an idealist, but you should work on the story you want to write and explore because you want to write it, 'cuz there's never a sure-fire paycheck in anything when it comes to writing.

I am no pro, but that is just my opinion.

And Clair Dickson - I eat coconut! Cheers.

Work on the one that is calling to you most strongly. If you find one day that the novel calls to you and the next day that the short story is calling, work on them both. There's no requirement that you have to complete one before the other. I often start stories, leave them alone for a while and start another, then go back to the first one, etc. I personally find that leaving some time in between helps me to think things through and generates new directions for the stories to go in than I had originally considered. The truth is, though, that there are as many ways to work as there are writers and each writer has to find the way that works best for them.

I can't decide for you whether you should do the short story idea or the novel, but if you ever want the novel done, it seems the latest short story idea should be written down, not drafted or outlined. Just write as much down as you need to, to not forget the good ideas.

As someone already said, novel writing is a marathon. With that in mind I always try and devote the majority of my writing efforts each week to my novel (also a NaNo project that is undergoing massive rewrites and editing). That doesn't mean I don't write other stuff (mostly outlines and rough sketches). I get stuck on the novel and need to take a break. But the focus is still the novel because I know that it will take the longest to get into shape.

Of course, everyone works differently and has different priorities. (If I had another project that promised the possibility of getting paid more quickly I would drop the novel into a drawer without a second thought.) Right now I want to finish my book so it's number one and I probably spend 80% of my writing time working on it.

It will probably take a little trial and error to figure out what will serve you best. But that's okay. That's part of the process.

When you say your first short story is 'outta here' do you mean sold? If so, It would be good to have another one in the works or ready to show the editor, success breeds success. If it were me, I'd stick with what is working. The novel needs a complete rewrite, that's going to take some time. After you have an inventory of shorts ready to go, you can return to the novel, while you are querying the shorts.