Working on two (or more) projects at once?

[Caged Maiden]

I can't function without multitasking. Perhaps its just habit, but I am always working on multiple things.

[Benjamin Clayborne]

Since I started writing my NIP, I was only working on that for the subsequent six months or so. Then in January I wrote a couple of short stories, then I went back to my NIP. So I'm really only working on one, maybe two things at a time.

I have lots of ideas but they'll keep. The only way I'm going to finish something as large as a novel (and it's creeping ever closer) is to focus on it.

[Devor]

I have lots of ideas but they'll keep. The only way I'm going to finish something as large as a novel (and it's creeping ever closer) is to focus on it.

The way the human mind works, another writing project can sometimes take the pressure off, help your mind relax, give your subconscious time to think, and actually help with the first project. I don't mean to suggest juggling - that has all it's own problems - but it might be worth trying something like the prompt of the week and to see if it might help or not.

[Sheilawisz]

In my case, working on three different stories back in 2009 and 2010 had an awful, devastating and nearly crippling effect on my writing energy reserves... It left me so exhausted that even today, two years later, I am still suffering the consequences: so burned-out as a writer that I am advancing in Queen Eternal with a speed far slower than the speed that I used to have before =(

I agree that working on two different projects at the same time can be beneficial (that's what I was doing all 2011) but writing three novels of three different worlds at once is too much, at least for me!!

I never want to do that again.

[Will]

Currently working on two projects, constantly getting ideas and thoughts which don't fit either one, I just have to scribble down and leave for later. Also getting a vague idea developing for a third project.

[lawrence]

As long as your actually completing projects then I don't think it matters.

I usually commit to one project at a time until the 1st draft is completed. Once that's done I put it away for awhile (a couple months or so). During that time I will start working on something else.

When the time comes to start editing & revising the 1st draft of the project that's been sitting in a drawer, the writing seems a bit strange. This is a good thing. It doesn't feel fresh in my mind. It doesn't seem like my writing. I find this really helps experience the book more like a reader would and aid in good revisions.

If I can keep enough good ideas in circulation (not always the case) it's a constant cycle.

This is a great approach !

Yes I have to agree, pushing on to completion is so important. And I think that starting another project before the previous is finished could cause you to become enamored of the new one and neglectful of the previous one, which now languishes in a drawer...the passion we once had for it now given to our new love

[The Dark One]

Looks like most of us are the same.

I've always got numerous projects on the go and endlessly having random ideas which get filed away for (hopefully) future use.

Currently working on:

- editing the latest draft of a novel after receiving the second round of comments from my agent's reader;
- two thirds of the way through the first draft of my historical novel;
- about a tenth into the first draft of the sequel to my first novel (published 2010);
- mapping ideas for a completely new novel set in 2030;
- jotting down preliminary ideas for any number of other novels;
- writing articles for a commercial blogging site, my own blog and a weekly magazine;
- working full time.

I have a very understanding wife.

[Helleaven]

Since I am forcing myself to finish my book for the first time in my life, I am working only on my novel. Of course, I don't count the map making process, the history and myth creation, writing the history of each race... Because they're all parts of the same project.

As for working on different projects at the same time, I would like to do that but it's time consuming unless you make money from it. I'm focused on my novel now, trying to make it perfect by all aspects. Actually thinking is taking more time than writing for me.

But I know that some writers are working on small side-works, when they need to relax and get inspired. They put aside their main project for a while, writing completely different short stories or things like that.

As for me, I like sticking with my only major writing project, which includes the history, the character creation, the myths and legends, the mapmaking, etc.

[Benjamin Clayborne]

The way the human mind works, another writing project can sometimes take the pressure off, help your mind relax, give your subconscious time to think, and actually help with the first project. I don't mean to suggest juggling - that has all it's own problems - but it might be worth trying something like the prompt of the week and to see if it might help or not.

I actually was sort of doing that at the beginning of this year, with a bunch of the challenges—but it didn't help. The time I spent doing other things meant I wasn't working on my novel, rather than recharging me or something. I've never really had any issues with getting myself to work on the novel; when I have spare time, I can always dive right in.

[Devor]

I actually was sort of doing that at the beginning of this year, with a bunch of the challenges—but it didn't help.

Yeah, if it didn't help then there's no reason to spend time on it if you want to focus on your novel. But it can help for some people, so it was probably worth the try.