by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
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| Image: MorgueFile: haphthat |
I don’t go to a lot of
conferences or give a lot of talks. When
I do give a talk though, and it’s time
for an audience q&a, I know which question I’ll be getting.
conferences or give a lot of talks. When
I do give a talk though, and it’s time
for an audience q&a, I know which question I’ll be getting.
“Do you work on all
three series at once?”
three series at once?”
It used to be that I’d
get the famous “where do you get your ideas from” question most often, but this
new one has definitely surpassed the other.
get the famous “where do you get your ideas from” question most often, but this
new one has definitely surpassed the other.
And I don’t really
know why people are interested in this.
Maybe they’re looking for tips for juggling their own stuff.
know why people are interested in this.
Maybe they’re looking for tips for juggling their own stuff.
Here’s the answer—not
unless I have to.
unless I have to.
The reason—I get very
confused.
confused.
The series are very
different. My protagonists are very
different. But…when you’re writing humorous cozy mysteries set in Southern
towns, there’s enough similarity there to get your mind boggled.
different. My protagonists are very
different. But…when you’re writing humorous cozy mysteries set in Southern
towns, there’s enough similarity there to get your mind boggled.
The toughest is when
you’re working on more than one first draft at a time. I avoid doing this at all costs! If I’ve got to, then I try to work one day on Project A and the next day on Project B. I would rather have a “if it’s Tuesday, it
must be a quilting mystery” scenario than a “if it’s 2 p.m., it must be
quilting, if it’s 3 p.m., it must be barbeque mysteries” scenario.
you’re working on more than one first draft at a time. I avoid doing this at all costs! If I’ve got to, then I try to work one day on Project A and the next day on Project B. I would rather have a “if it’s Tuesday, it
must be a quilting mystery” scenario than a “if it’s 2 p.m., it must be
quilting, if it’s 3 p.m., it must be barbeque mysteries” scenario.
It’s even easy to get
confused when you’re drafting one book and doing edits on another. I just got an email on Thursday that the
proofreader had found an error on the page proofs and my editor asked me to
correct it. Now I know that working on page proofs means that
the text is already set…any corrections need to have the same number of
characters as the original to prevent text reflow. But I’d already forgotten that we were in the
pass page stage of the process since I’m busily drafting another book. I sent in a broad correction (I deleted most
of a paragraph) and emailed it to my editor. She emailed me back a very patient
reminder.
confused when you’re drafting one book and doing edits on another. I just got an email on Thursday that the
proofreader had found an error on the page proofs and my editor asked me to
correct it. Now I know that working on page proofs means that
the text is already set…any corrections need to have the same number of
characters as the original to prevent text reflow. But I’d already forgotten that we were in the
pass page stage of the process since I’m busily drafting another book. I sent in a broad correction (I deleted most
of a paragraph) and emailed it to my editor. She emailed me back a very patient
reminder.
This week, though, I
came across a post that actually recommended working on multiple projects
simultaneously. I read the post with
interest since this is a blog that I regular follow and tweet and have found
some great information on: Cockeyed
Caravan. The blog’s author is Matt
Bird, a screenwriter. Matt says:
came across a post that actually recommended working on multiple projects
simultaneously. I read the post with
interest since this is a blog that I regular follow and tweet and have found
some great information on: Cockeyed
Caravan. The blog’s author is Matt
Bird, a screenwriter. Matt says:
Writing a few pages of
another project is helpful in multiple ways:
another project is helpful in multiple ways:
- It
buoys you up out of that sinking sensation and allows you to start fresh
on new challenges. - It
reminds you that not everything is riding on your main project, so it can
be what it needs to be, instead of being all things to all people. - It
allows you to move that big problem to the back of your mind, but it keeps
working the muscles that you need to solve it, which makes it more likely
that you’ll have that “Eureka!” moment, when a solution for the supposedly
forgotten problem suddenly flashes into your head. If you take days
off to just think about the main problem, it’s more likely that you’ll
forget it entirely.
He’s specifically
talking about writer’s block in the post.
Writer’s block isn’t something that I have a problem with. But I can see his point—working on more than
one project means that when you reach a stumbling block with one book, you can
make headway on the other and feel like you’re not missing your goal. It could be a good way for some writers to
stay motivated and keep a creative spark.
talking about writer’s block in the post.
Writer’s block isn’t something that I have a problem with. But I can see his point—working on more than
one project means that when you reach a stumbling block with one book, you can
make headway on the other and feel like you’re not missing your goal. It could be a good way for some writers to
stay motivated and keep a creative spark.
For me, though…there’s
always that temptation to cheat on my current project with a new project. It’s known as Shiny New Idea Syndrome. Plus, for me, there’s that aforementioned
confusion factor.
always that temptation to cheat on my current project with a new project. It’s known as Shiny New Idea Syndrome. Plus, for me, there’s that aforementioned
confusion factor.
Sometimes, though, I
do have to work on multiple projects at once.
Whether you’re working on more than one book by choice or because of
publisher-set deadlines, here are a few tips:
do have to work on multiple projects at once.
Whether you’re working on more than one book by choice or because of
publisher-set deadlines, here are a few tips:
Keep a style sheet or series bible for
your series/each project. A style sheet
listing character names, short descriptions, setting names, character traits and quirks, and relationships
between characters can help you keep organized and jump back and forth between
projects much easier.
your series/each project. A style sheet
listing character names, short descriptions, setting names, character traits and quirks, and relationships
between characters can help you keep organized and jump back and forth between
projects much easier.
It can be easier to
edit one book while drafting another…the processes seem to use different parts
of our brain. If you’ve got to work on
two books at once, see if you can avoid drafting
two different projects at once.
edit one book while drafting another…the processes seem to use different parts
of our brain. If you’ve got to work on
two books at once, see if you can avoid drafting
two different projects at once.
If you’re writing
series, it’s helpful to keep the old Word documents of already-published
previous books in the series. That way
you’ve got an easy way to quickly search a book for details you might have
forgotten (or have forgotten when working on the other project.)
series, it’s helpful to keep the old Word documents of already-published
previous books in the series. That way
you’ve got an easy way to quickly search a book for details you might have
forgotten (or have forgotten when working on the other project.)
Noting where you left
off with each story is a helpful way to quickly jump back in the next day. If you’re writing Project A and it’s time to
move to Project B, do a one-line recap to refresh your memory when you return
to the book the next day: Myrtle finished
questioning Sybil and now plans to talk with Lucas about the argument he had.
off with each story is a helpful way to quickly jump back in the next day. If you’re writing Project A and it’s time to
move to Project B, do a one-line recap to refresh your memory when you return
to the book the next day: Myrtle finished
questioning Sybil and now plans to talk with Lucas about the argument he had.
One more tip–if you’re working on multiple projects, you might want to take care to carefully put everything on your calendar and make lists for all your non-writing-related activities. I’ve dropped the ball in a spectacular way several times when I was working on two books at once. Your mind is just so thoroughly engaged in the two worlds that it’s hard to remember the dentist and doctor appointments, the carpool you’re supposed to drive, etc.
And take care of yourself if you’re working that hard. Remember to eat and sleep and exercise. Those things are also easy to forget when we’re busy.
Have you ever worked
on multiple projects before? Did you
enjoy it? How did you make it work and
keep it all straight?
on multiple projects before? Did you
enjoy it? How did you make it work and
keep it all straight?
I work on multiple projects all the time! It’s refreshing to toggle between working on non-fiction and my mystery novel-in-progress.
I’m not so sure I’d do the switcheroo if working on multiple FICTION books, though. I can do it with with non-fiction, but I think I’d lose the creative flow that makes a book unique if I tried working on several fiction books. Having said that, I DO have two other novels that I’ve started and go back to once in awhile…
I wanted to make a complete switch to fiction writing only, but I’m finding that it’s not as fulfilling as staying with where I’m most comfortable right now: Mind/Body/Spirit non-fiction.
An insane juggling act no matter how you slice it!
Elizabeth – I’m like you in that I easily get confused if I try to work on more than one project at a time. But you’ve given really good advice for times when it’s unavoidable. One other thing I do is that when I work on Project A, I only open documents relevant for that project. When I work on Project B I only open documents relevant for that one. It helps me focus on the project I’m actually working on at any given moment.
I used to try and work on two first drafts at the same time, but I found I kept getting ideas for the other one and not wanting to work on whatever was in front of me. While I could handle working on two series at the same time, it would have to be a case of getting one manuscript completed in one series, then moving on to write the mauscript for the other.
I don’t do well with multiple projects, although I have edited and drafted at the same time. Besides the different plots, it’s too hard to keep the character’s mindset and the worlds straight.
I think drafting two separate projects would be difficult, although I know writers who do that all the time, especially with short stories. I do see where it could prevent writer’s block though.
Janet–I can totally see working on a non-fic and a fic project–might actually be a relief to get away from the fiction project…ha! You’re good to work on more than 1 novel at once. My poor brain just isn’t up to the challenge!
Paul –Exactly! It’s hard not to get excited about Project B and keep working on Project A. :)
Margot–Good tip! I definitely keep too much stuff open on my computer…I need to learn to shut windows down.
I don’t like to work on multiple projects at once. I get confused too.
Clarissa–Glad I’m not the only one. :)
I can only work on one at a time. I would confuse myself otherwise.
I used to jump between projects all the time. I had a severe case of Shiny New Idea Syndrome. LOL!
Now-a-days I only work on two books at a time within a year and they’re usually different genres to lessen the confusion.
Working on two stories curbs my urge to work on new ideas (I record them in a journal and move on) and keeps down my frustration when I’m struggling with a book.
I’m at different stages in 5 or 6 books, 3 of them more active than the others.
Those three are similar: cozy mysteries. Of the other two, one is a coming of age story, very different. The other is non-fiction.
So far, they’re all straight in my head. But since the three mysteries are books 2, 1, and 1 of three different series, it’s probably gonna mess with my head before long.
I’ll have to take steps, won’t I?
Elizabeth, I call working on more than one project at a time “The Asimov.”
And here’s how to do it.
I work on multiple projects all the time, in terms of my freelance work and my novel writing. However, I can only work on ONE novel at a time. I’ve tried working on two, and, like you, I get really confused. It’s hard enough to immerse myself into ONE world, let alone two. :) So while I’m writing a novel, I’ll write freelance articles and blog and work on nonfiction books, but I stick to one novel at a time.
Carol–Exactly. I can imagine that short stories wouldn’t be as much of a problem, though. Might be a good way to curb our desire to work on a different project.
Alex–I know what you mean.
Elke–Good point! Different genres would definitely help with that problem. I think my issue is the fact they’re all cozy mysteries.
Joel –I don’t know how you’re doing it! I’d be writing characters into the wrong book/series. Nancy Drew would end up making an unplanned cameo in a Hardy Boys book. :)
Dina–That seems like a clever way to approach it to me. I’d imagine the nonfiction doesn’t affect the fiction writing much at all.
Hi Elizabeth .. not the way you do writing novels or series .. but being organised is an essential isn’t it.
I just put on hold things I can’t cope with and deal with what I need to .. I’ve new projects, which will come along soon – the A- Z needs to finish first!
Cheers Hilary
Dang! You are always so busy; I love your insights and organizational tips.
My blogging and writing projects are on the back burner for right now, and I miss it all very much. When I read your posts though, I can’t wait for things to settle down with my new job so that I can get back to that other part of me.
Thanks so much for stopping by to see me.
Kathy M.
Thank you for the insight into how you juggle it all. I’ve decided to write short stories and poems in between rewrites. If I start another book I will want to finish it and may never get back to the original one. I’m impressed that you can keep more than one series going at once.