When it rains, it pours. That's how I've been feeling about writing lately.
To elaborate. I'm in the process of revising Siren 2 (official title TBA soon, I hope!), and that's going well...but I keep getting distracted. There's the fun middle-grade project I've been working on and am very excited about, the YA contemporary I started a couple of months ago, the other YA contemporary I started last weekend and can't stop thinking about, the YA supernatural-ish idea I've been researching, and so on and so forth. Siren 2 is currently my main focus, and while revisions are almost done, I'm still having a hard time ignoring other WIPs. I'm usually a single-project kind of girl, diving into whatever idea I've committed to and putting mental blinders on to others until I've seen the first one through. That's how I've been most productive in the past. But does that mean that's how I'll always be most productive?
So I'm curious. What do you, my fellow readers and writers, do when you have many ideas and only so many hours? Do you work on a few at a time? Assign days? Divide days? Force yourself to stick with one at a time? I'd love your thoughts!
7 comments:
Hi, Tricia.
I work on which ever story "sings" for me. But, I have a WIP file, where I put upstart ideas (believe me there's a BUNCH!) and then leave them to germinate. When cultivation on my main project slows, I can plow into one of the WIPs and work there for a while. But I'm not under major deadlines like you.
When under deadlines, I work as much as possible on the main project and keep a pet WIP on the side for those much needed brain breaks.
I have this problem a lot. My ADD kicks in and I cannot stay focused on just one thing. I have to make lists on post-it notes so I will remember it all and try to do it in order on the list.
I also have found that working on one thing for a while and then going back to it later gives you new perspective. As a blogger, I write my review right after I read the book so I get all my initial thoughts out. Then I go start another book, work on something else, whatever. Then I come back and re-look at my review and change some things around, maybe the wording was funny, or something else came to me. I think taking a step back can be helpful sometimes because if you force something, then it feels forced and it might not be your best work.
So I say, work on one thing for a while, then if you get bored or restless, stop and go do something else for a while and come back. Okay, I am done rambling sorry...the teacher in me comes out sometimes too. Good luck with all the books you are working on :) Especially Siren 2!!
Hi, Ann and Meaghan!
Thanks so much for the tips. I definitely like the idea of focusing on one WIP and allowing time for breaks and distance. Haven't done that much before, but it just might work well now--for the brain AND the main project! :)
Thanks again!
Hey tricia,
I find that it's easiest to work on my main focus in writing (Whatever i'm going to finish and have published in the long run.) whenever you find yourself feeling like you are slowing down on your work, in this case siren 2, then work on one of your completely random "fun projects". when I do this I easily am thrown back into the novel i'm working on at the time, and i've made time to work on something else. I go wit whatever I can't stop thinking about but always take about3 hours a day for my main novel:)
Hope this helped. loved siren!
Cassidy
Thanks for the advice, Cassidy! Three hours a day for the main project and a little time for fun projects sounds like a good balance to me. :)
And so happy you enjoyed Siren!!
I have that same problem and I dabble a little in all but still have a main focus to stay on track!
Brenda
Hi, Brenda! That sounds like a great plan! Thank you! :)
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