Writing something new while revising?

TheIT · Jan 7, 2008

When you're revising a draft of a novel, do you wait until you're done to start something new or do you write something new while revising?

I'm revising the novel first draft I finished in October, but I feel somewhat disconnected since for the first time in months I'm not trying to generate a new story. So far I've done a couple of short pieces, but another novel idea is brewing in my mind and won't go away. I'm considering starting it now just so my writing skills don't atrophy while I'm revising my draft.

juneafternoon · Jan 7, 2008

Well, it's a good tactic to leave your finished first draft alone for some time before you go revise it. In that time, I suppose you can go and work on something new to detach yourself from the previous project.

While you're doing the actual revision, though, I'd focus solely on that. I can't multitask with stories. I have some ideas in mind for future projects, but I can't do more than one at a time. It gets too confusing and I hate compromising my dedication and dividing it up in parts. I like giving stuff my all, you know?

That's just me though.

Zelenka · Jan 7, 2008

I always start something new straight away. Takes my mind off the finished draft for a little while so that when I go back to edit, I'm more objective about it.

JoNightshade · Jan 7, 2008

No multitasking for me. I work on one thing at a time. However, if I am revising, I'm also in mass-consumption mode--I read like crazy. (which I don't do while writing. So I am doing something constructive... I'm uploading info to my brain!

Andrhia · Jan 7, 2008

If you have enough hours in the day to work on both, and give each of them justice, then do both.

I daresay the reason you get warnings about working on multiple projects at once is because it increases the risk you won't finish anything, ever. But if you're in the thick of revising, and you've got at least one complete draft, the risk of dropping the project recedes quite a bit.

Of course, I say this as someone who has a completed draft, starting revisions, and I've roughed out just a tiny bit for my next project, too. Hey, at least I follow my own advice!

HourglassMemory · Jan 7, 2008

I revise like....everyday the previously written paragraphs.
But I keep away for a while.
but when I go scan through it, yes I do take away things and add things (even things like "talk about this or that here")

Moon Daughter · Jan 7, 2008

I don't wait to start new projects. Sometimes it's better to just put away an ms when you've finished a first draft, let it sit, sink in, and come back to it. With a fresher set of eyes, you'll probably see the mistakes better. And what better way to pass that time than writing another ms?

joyce · Jan 7, 2008

I'm so close to finishing my novel I can taste it! I had an idea for another story cross my mind last week so I just wrote brief notes on what I wanted to happen so I wouldn't forget it. When I finish I'll probably do a quick edit, then set it aside. This will give me some time to dabble in the new one before I seriously start editing the other. Like stated before, fresh eyes are a good thing. You see so much more I believe once you've set it aside for a moment, days, weeks, or months. Good luck.

ORION · Jan 7, 2008

I do what moon does, i put one draft aside to sit and either start another or revise another- sitting time is crucial

Danthia · Jan 8, 2008

I always have multiple projects brewing. I tend to "write" one novel at a time, but I make notes, plot, do research for other novels as the inspiration strikes, and write short stories or revise other work at the same time. I go where my muse takes me, as long as she doesn't go wandering to far. It's easy to get ff track and not get anything done if you aren't careful.

There is no right way to write. Do whatever works for you

Prawn · Jan 8, 2008

When I finish novel 1, I put it away and write novel 2.
Then I come back to revise novel 1.

Jersey Chick · Jan 8, 2008

Right now I have three WIP in various stages of completion. Sometimes I don't know which (if any) I feel like working on, so there are also a few beginnings saved on my computer as well.

Ahhh... multitasking at its finest

DonnaDuck · Jan 8, 2008

I'm a multi-tasker so I'm working on multiple things at once. Taking out my short projects, I actually have 5 novels in various stages of written scattered about my room but I can tell you know the one I'm working on now will be the one to get done first. I have to agree with all of hte sitting advice. That's how I edit myself before I have someone else look over it. You need to step back from it in order to get a clearer eye on your own work.

TheIT · Jan 8, 2008

Thanks for the replies, I was curious as to how other people worked. I also forgot to mention I did NaNo in November, so I've had 50K words worth of distance from my draft.

Part of my problem is that my skills as a writer have improved since I started the draft, so I'm looking at what I wrote in the beginning and cringing. It makes it more difficult to get involved in the story again. I guess that's normal during revision, but it's still disconcerting. My goal for this revision is to transcribe the whole story from my notebooks into a computer file, no matter how long it ends up, then take a hacksaw to it during the next pass.

Esopha · Jan 8, 2008

TheIT said:
Thanks for the replies, I was curious as to how other people worked. I also forgot to mention I did NaNo in November, so I've had 50K words worth of distance from my draft.

Part of my problem is that my skills as a writer have improved since I started the draft, so I'm looking at what I wrote in the beginning and cringing. It makes it more difficult to get involved in the story again. I guess that's normal during revision, but it's still disconcerting. My goal for this revision is to transcribe the whole story from my notebooks into a computer file, no matter how long it ends up, then take a hacksaw to it during the next pass.

I cannot tell you how much it hurt to read the first draft of my first book after finishing my second book. I wanted to beat myself around the head for being such a stupid kid. I mean, what was I thinking, writing a book at fifteen and one month, when I was such a better writer at fifteen and three months?! (I can probably blame Nano for the long passages of nonsensical prose, but we won't get into that sticky issue.)

I remember feeling depressed and annoyed at the world for a very long time. Once I started revising, it was like hiking up a mountain while poo rained on my head. It wasn't pleasant. At all.

Around the second draft, things started looking up. I could feel my prose improving while I edited. It was exciting and a little scary. I've since revised the manuscript two times.

Right now, I can tell you that there's nothing more rewarding than watching your prose improve by your own hand. I mean, the story was always the same. The characters were always the same. (read: the previous two sentences are lies. LIES.) It was my prose that sucked, and my prose that improved tremendously. Now I feel very accomplished and worthy of a pat on the back or a cookie or some such reward.

I invite you to share one with me.

Tika · Jan 8, 2008

Well......

I'm a big fan of 'To each his own'. Whatever style works for you.... go for it. Keeping organized is the secret. Having too many stories as WIP could be a detriment, in my opinion. I don't know if I could remain focused if I did that.

I am totally involved in a series. I'm working on the 4th book now. Still, I go back to the earlier books from time to time. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how perfect I thought the earlier books were, I still find ways to make them better. The previous comments about stepping away and returning with refreshed eyes does wonders.

How I deal with ideas for future books is by keeping an ongoing Word Document file. If a good idea passes through my brain, I will open the document, write a few paragraphs about what I had in mind and then save the document. Everything is in one place that way and easy to get to if I want to.

Best of luck with your witing

Tika

Thrillride · Jan 8, 2008

I have to have more than one thing going on at all times. So, I revise and write whatever on the side.

~Thrill

Matera the Mad · Jan 8, 2008

I'll take a short story break when things get slow in my head. Then, too, working on the sequel has made me clarify and expand (or cut) things in the primary. Whatever works.

icerose · Jan 9, 2008

After I type THE END on a project I stop for a couple of days, read a few books, then dive right into the next project. As soon as I can I start revising that project I just finished. I absolutely hate revising so I can't do it with nothing fun to do as well.

ChaosTitan · Jan 9, 2008

Danthia said:
I always have multiple projects brewing. I tend to "write" one novel at a time, but I make notes, plot, do research for other novels as the inspiration strikes,

I do this, as well. I'll focus on a single novel, but am always adding notes or photos or bits to the "Idle Ideas" folder.

When I finish a novel, I do go back and do a paper-edit right away. Usually it's to fix things I've noted along the way, change things that have been altered since the beginning (I write urban fantasy and do quite a bit of world-building as I go along, so something always needs to be tweaked).

Then I'll put it away, take a break, work on other things, maybe chose my next project, and come back to the novel for another edit a few weeks down the road. I did this for the novel I completed back in early December, and by Christmas, was able to realize what about the ending bothered me so much. And viola! Much better.

Writing something new while revising?

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

juneafternoon

Return of the Jedi

Zelenka

Going home!

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

Andrhia

HourglassMemory

Moon Daughter

joyce

I'm really shy...

ORION

Sailed away years ago

Danthia

Prawn

Writing is finite,revising infinite

Jersey Chick

Up all night to get Loki

DonnaDuck

My Worlds Are Building

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

Esopha

bam pow zap.

Tika

Old kid, be gentle!

Thrillride

A Suburban Farmer

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

icerose

Lost in School Work

ChaosTitan

Around