tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post8338316655511142781..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Juggling Acts: Can You Work on Multiple Novels at Once?Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64629560490475779342013-12-03T15:41:36.564-05:002013-12-03T15:41:36.564-05:00LOL, that would be tough. On the bright side, you ...LOL, that would be tough. On the bright side, you might finish all of them around the same time and have a slew of novels.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-71465054555117504142013-11-19T00:28:52.901-05:002013-11-19T00:28:52.901-05:00Working on multiple projects is my forte, finishin...Working on multiple projects is my forte, finishing them is not ;) but my WIP was first in line, it would feel weird finishing off the others before that onesjphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05772883091207430753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-32752892966641850902011-06-22T08:03:53.463-04:002011-06-22T08:03:53.463-04:00I do admire those of you who can juggle multiple p...I do admire those of you who can juggle multiple projects. I always wished I could, but it just never works out well for me. At least I can plot and plan multiple novels at once, so that does let me "work" on several projects. That does cut down on the down time between projects. Though actually, I enjoy that downtime. Hmmm...Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52404900425526869722011-06-21T06:00:01.167-04:002011-06-21T06:00:01.167-04:00I've set aside a novel for nearly 4 years beca...I've set aside a novel for nearly 4 years because I did not have the inclination to learn the craft of writing. I have now picked it up and am feeling the "oh shiny" still - - I expect it will wear off in time...but I'll enjoy it for now. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15508887711850480059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-84058156307275745762011-06-20T23:16:00.843-04:002011-06-20T23:16:00.843-04:00I've realized that when I go to work on a new ...I've realized that when I go to work on a new novel, the old one gets left behind. Hopefully I can go back to one this summer. Great tips. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-24039553029842785272011-06-20T20:11:25.356-04:002011-06-20T20:11:25.356-04:00I've got four novels going right now and worki...I've got four novels going right now and working on staying focused on them. When I need a break from one, I go to one of the other ones. I'm still making progress, so I can't say what a crazy thing it is, but it's certainly not the easy way. It's taking a long time to get to the end, but I haven't given up yet.<br /><br />But working on one story sometimes suggests a solution for a problem area in another one. Sort of the idea that you find what you're looking for when looking for something else.Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04942272578488986874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-68692677568265189652011-06-20T19:47:58.260-04:002011-06-20T19:47:58.260-04:00I had one that I set aside. It was my first novel...I had one that I set aside. It was my first novel, and I'd run into a major problem on it. I'd get to about pg 100 or so and get really stuck. I couldn't figure out why I was stuck, so I'd rewrite what I had, hoping to find the solution, reach the same point, and get stuck again. I couldn't even figure out what the problem was, so I couldn't solve it. But it was my only idea, so I stuck to it. It wasn't until someone offered to cowrite a book with me that I thought about it and realized that if I stuck with the first book, I'd never finish one. Since I couldn't quite bring myself to shelve it, I decided to put it on hold and work on the other one. Finishd the second one, and in doing so, I realized that I had spent so much time on the first novel that I'd grown out of it. So I had no qualms about shelving it then.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the second book with the cowriter ended up being shelved to because that relationship blew to pieces.Linda Maye Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07203020058437093901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-3964759498907291712011-06-20T18:58:38.896-04:002011-06-20T18:58:38.896-04:00"This happens most often when we're doing..."This happens most often when we're doing a lot of revising and reading the book over and over. The story might be boring, but it might also be that you've read it so often nothing feels fresh. This is a good example where working on something new can jump start the creative juices and give you time to forget the story so when you go back, it feels fresh again."<br /><br />This statement sums it up for me. I never move on to the next story, until I am finished with the second draft. Then I let it sit for a long while, before returning to finish the last two drafts.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-13410177904676917422011-06-20T17:50:55.350-04:002011-06-20T17:50:55.350-04:00I find I typically have one "main" WIP a...I find I typically have one "main" WIP and several other ideas I'm working on less seriously. Having multiple projects definitely helps spark ideas and entice the muse. <br /><br />I'm working on an adult fantasy right now, but whenever I need a boost, I turn to my middle-grade project. It's got a lighter tone, faster pace, and is tons of fun to write. It's like a mini-vacation that re-energizes me to return to my "main" piece.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680066584646789184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-50257376026304825582011-06-20T17:41:18.285-04:002011-06-20T17:41:18.285-04:00Good thoughts on whether to do more than one proje...Good thoughts on whether to do more than one project at once. I'm thinking of trying it and have sort of started it. I juggle things so much at work that it might not be bad with writing. Especially when one is pretty done and you're waiting for your beta reader comments.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-34600857694544688672011-06-20T11:51:00.304-04:002011-06-20T11:51:00.304-04:00I have wondered how other authors do this. I can w...I have wondered how other authors do this. I can write one & edit another, but it's hard to jump between writing two novels when the voice is different. Thanks for the tips.Julie Gloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14750682989494250914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66546247969580713672011-06-20T11:38:09.493-04:002011-06-20T11:38:09.493-04:00I jump from my fiction to my nonfiction project, d...I jump from my fiction to my nonfiction project, depending on my mood that day--which seems to work for me, even if it does make me feel like I have multiple personalities. I do the same with reading as well; I usually have three books stashed in various places around the house!Jennifer Prescotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14668379038698377139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-57820980546189576802011-06-20T11:32:05.872-04:002011-06-20T11:32:05.872-04:00I do all the time. Too many ideas in my head, they...I do all the time. Too many ideas in my head, they've got to find a home.<br />Probably a bit mad, but it works for me. I have several projects on the go. A question to know your priorities, I make notes and get back to the main project. It keeps me excited, and helps producing a fresh flow of ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52475197986407306982011-06-20T10:47:30.456-04:002011-06-20T10:47:30.456-04:00I can edit book one--write book two--and outline b...I can edit book one--write book two--and outline book three, but that is all the multitasking I can do. <br /><br />If I need a creative bump I will try to write a boring scene from a new perspective.Angela Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09243582290698922119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-73119862051839623732011-06-20T09:58:40.180-04:002011-06-20T09:58:40.180-04:00I have enough trouble working on edits of one MS w...I have enough trouble working on edits of one MS while trying to write another. I'm definitely a one project at a time person.<br /><br />Terry<br /><a href="http://terryodell.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a>Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20026632858766823432011-06-20T08:06:55.403-04:002011-06-20T08:06:55.403-04:00I have a YA book I'm working on as a side proj...I have a YA book I'm working on as a side project to my main WIP, the follow-up to my first book. It's been great fun having a different world and set of charactes to sink into if I need a break. Though I am concerned I'll end up spending too much time away from my main WIP.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-1198791066210511962009-08-27T16:37:58.592-04:002009-08-27T16:37:58.592-04:00Very cool observations, Janice.Very cool observations, Janice.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64439292987309385102009-08-26T14:10:08.280-04:002009-08-26T14:10:08.280-04:00awesome! i'm working on four books at once rig...awesome! i'm working on four books at once right now, but they're all related and it's actually helping me iron out details. :DNaomi Westhttp://naomiwest.webs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-76304657294201035262009-08-25T19:00:50.587-04:002009-08-25T19:00:50.587-04:00Great post! I've tried to do multiple projects...Great post! I've tried to do multiple projects, but it's too hard for me to shift gears. I get so wrapped in one imaginary world, if I try to work on something else, one of the projects will inevitably suffer. Thanks for the tips!Abby Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543937393055900844noreply@blogger.com