I'm just wondering how many of you out there write more than one novels at a time. (it doesn't if you have one started but haven't worked on it for years.
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ps. replace should with do
)ps. replace should with do
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Number of Novels
- Thread starter Jewel101
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Putting one in the drawer and forgetting about it for a while while working on another doesn't count, right? If that's the case, one is the answer, as my vote proclaims.
I've worked on two at one time. Whenever I reach a point where I can't write even another paragraph on that novel, I move on to the other one (and they're different genres, too.). I keep notes as I go so as not to forget a character's hair color or age or speech or whatever. I can see myself even working on three novels at a time. It's the way my brain works. And with a supply of coffee and chocolate....
I have 3 on the go right now, although one of those (of which I'm currently writing the first draft) is a sequel to another (which I'm currently doing the first revision for).
Most of the time I have 2.
Most of the time I have 2.
I said as many as you want, 'cuz I wouldn't want to limit anyone to one. If you're really passionate about something other than the WIP you've been working on, you should go ahead w/ the other b4 you lose that passion for it. And if I'm willing to say two, I couldn't really limit it to just two, but I can't imagine someone having that much passion about so many projects & not abandon one of them (or go nuts keeping track of them all).
That said, I've certainly worked on more than one at a time... in fact, I'm doing it now (but only 'cuz of NaNo)
That said, I've certainly worked on more than one at a time... in fact, I'm doing it now (but only 'cuz of NaNo)
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I was going to click as many as you feel like it since everyone works in different ways. Then I was going to click two along the lines of "working on the first draft of one while another sits away in a drawer to edit later". Then I finally clicked one. Theoretically, you could work on more than one at a time. But I think splitting up focus like that could end up harming each story. Unless you're a really special writer that can devote 100% of your focus on what you're working on without being distracted by whatever else is sitting in your saved file.
Ideally though, one is enough. But, really, to each their own.
Ideally though, one is enough. But, really, to each their own.
I actively work on one at a time, but I have a second one already in progress that I started while procrastinating on the first. I have notebooks going for that one plus one or two others because sometimes the characters don't want to wait for their turn and give you ideas right now.
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Some people are good at multi-tasking. Others aren't. I like working on multiple projects at a time, but that's not to say someone should or shouldn't do that, as the poll question asks.
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One. My brain is too small to handle more than one epic. I do have plenty of ideas floating around, but I won't start on anything until I finish with what I'm working on. I do, however, occcasionally break away from my novel and write some short stories. To me, they're different beasts so there's no conflict of interest.
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I'm working on several concurrent projects. I also read several books at a time. I like multi-tasking. My wife, on the other hand, only reads one book at a time and only concentrates on single tasks until they're complete.
Ultimately, you can work on as many projects as you want as long as you can finish at least one of them.
Ultimately, you can work on as many projects as you want as long as you can finish at least one of them.
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I am one of those persons who find it impossible to do just one thing at a time. I've been working on up to 4 novels at a time, writing on one when I lost inspiration for another. Right now I'm trying to focus only on one but I tend to write while watching tv or talking to someone, just because I can't focus on only one thing.
People should do what suits them.
People should do what suits them.
Novels
I almost always have more than one novel going on. Always at least two, and usually three. The most I've ever worked on at one time was four. I switch back and forth, depending on deadlines. I never let one rest for more than a week. I like switching back and forth.
I didn't do this early in my career. I'd start a novel and plow straight through. Then a deadline forced me to work on two novels at the same time, and I found I enjoyed working on more than one.
I almost always have more than one novel going on. Always at least two, and usually three. The most I've ever worked on at one time was four. I switch back and forth, depending on deadlines. I never let one rest for more than a week. I like switching back and forth.
I didn't do this early in my career. I'd start a novel and plow straight through. Then a deadline forced me to work on two novels at the same time, and I found I enjoyed working on more than one.
I think everyone is different but I prefer to have a couple of things going at once. Then when I get frustrated with one, I have somewhere else to go besides bang my head on a brick wall.
I currently have one finished, one finished but unedited, one almost finished (I can't get the ending right so I'm letting it sit), one that I started because the idea hit me like a ton of bricks (I've only written the first chapter), and one that's 1/4 done that I couldn't ignore anymore so I've set everything else aside to write it. Plus every once in a while I'll throw a short story in there just to keep boredom at bay (Yea, right!).
I currently have one finished, one finished but unedited, one almost finished (I can't get the ending right so I'm letting it sit), one that I started because the idea hit me like a ton of bricks (I've only written the first chapter), and one that's 1/4 done that I couldn't ignore anymore so I've set everything else aside to write it. Plus every once in a while I'll throw a short story in there just to keep boredom at bay (Yea, right!).
I have two novels going at the moment. One is a mystery/thriller and the other is a comedy. They are very different in story and characters so I don't have too much trouble jumping from one to the other. i don't think I'd ever try more than two projects at a time though. My poor little overworked brain might explode. I keep detailed notes on each novel so I don't forget anything. I find if I get stuck on one novel, whether its editing or writing, I just jump over to the other for a while. It works for me.
I can cope with only one right now.
But hopefully there will be a time when I'll manage 3 (or more) novels in different stages(like writing the first draft for one, editing the second one and polishing the third one).
I don't think there are rules on what one "should" do, but rather what one wants to do or would like to do.
But hopefully there will be a time when I'll manage 3 (or more) novels in different stages(like writing the first draft for one, editing the second one and polishing the third one).
I don't think there are rules on what one "should" do, but rather what one wants to do or would like to do.
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It really depends on what I have knocking around my head, what people ask me for, and what seems urgent to me. There are times when I'm happily just writing a short story at a time, finish one and take a break, then start another.
Right now, I have my main novel, I have a secondary novel, I have a series of comic book scripts, and the content-work for a video game.
But strictly novel-wise, I tend to crash my way through the first half of a novel, and then putter out (the second half is the most work, a short story writer by nature the length begins to wear on me). When I putter out, I shift gears and explode into a second novel, halfway through again. Then, I bounce back and forth whenever I have something useful to ply to either one.
I think as long as you're writing and keeping busy, you're fine. I think if you're writing more than one project, though, you might look into getting Mountain Dew fed directly into your heart, though. I have a lovely injection tube running into me right now. I'm a neon-yellow Borg.
Right now, I have my main novel, I have a secondary novel, I have a series of comic book scripts, and the content-work for a video game.
But strictly novel-wise, I tend to crash my way through the first half of a novel, and then putter out (the second half is the most work, a short story writer by nature the length begins to wear on me). When I putter out, I shift gears and explode into a second novel, halfway through again. Then, I bounce back and forth whenever I have something useful to ply to either one.
I think as long as you're writing and keeping busy, you're fine. I think if you're writing more than one project, though, you might look into getting Mountain Dew fed directly into your heart, though. I have a lovely injection tube running into me right now. I'm a neon-yellow Borg.
I voted for one, but personally I think it depends on your individual attention span and ability to focus on either one thing or multiple things. For me, I've tried writing two things of two different genres- fantasy and Star Wars fan fiction- and haven't been able to focus and actually finish a story. Right now I'm working on one novel and have really only written two short fics besides the novel, but they weren't anything that were too distracting for me. So...it really depends on your attention span and ability to focus without letting other ideas distract you from whatever you're working on.
I am working on one almost exclusively, now. But when I get blocked or I don't like what I'm producing at the moment, I put it down for a while and write on something very different, until I regain my voice for my main work. I have fourteen books loaded into the magazine, but only one is in the chamber.
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