Today's topic was chosen by Terri. She asks,
Do you focus on one project at a time, or do you have many irons in the fire at any given moment?
Please check out Shaun's answer before me and Rebecca's answer to be posted tomorrow.
The short answer is: It depends.
When I was writing KATANA, Rileigh's voice was the only voice inside my head. She was so much fun that I breezed through the first draft in a month. Crazy, right? I wanted to jump right into the sequel, but submission purgatory has me a little superstitious. I'm worried that if I start writing book two book one will not sell. I'm quirky like that.
But I can't NOT write. So I came up with two ideas, narrowed it down to one and started writing. My new MC, Edith, is quiet and depressed - a far cry from KATANA's Rileigh who obsesses over the perfect shade of lip gloss. So I find I can only write from Edith's POV in short increments lest I begin to become a bit depressed myself. Seriously, it's happened. So I write a chapter of BREATHLESS (Edith's book) every two weeks or so and the rest of the time I spend with Garrett and his friends. Garrett, my MC of Dragon Blood Dice, is 14, girl crazy, and his friends are a riot. He's just the life preserver I need when I find myself falling into a dark place.
So I wonder if I've strayed from the selected topic of multitasking to the topic of whether or not my characters impact me in real life. Hmmmm, I just may have found my blog chain topic for next week.
At any rate, when I find myself feeling down this video is always good for a laugh:
When it comes to actually working on a manuscript, I can only do one at a time. I sometimes will start two or three before one takes...but once I've written that first chapter or so, I'm committed for the long haul. I also can't really send queries out until I've reached the end of a project. I feel like it disrupts my concentration.
ReplyDeleteYay! I get first comment.
ReplyDeleteI have trouble focusing on a story in the first place. I couldn't imagine skipping back and forth.
And yes, impact would be a great chain topic! Go for it.
Curse my pokey fingers. Stephanie beat me to the punch. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am the same way about starting my sequel! I wanted to start it after my first manuscript, but something's holding me back... So here I am working on a totally different project :).
ReplyDeleteGreat post, and great insight!
Rebecca -
ReplyDeleteanother reason I'm holding off is the advice from my agent. He said that when a publisher buys a book series they might love book 1 but disagree with the direction of book 2 and want a rewrite. Something else to think about.
Love the Family Guy bite! So funny! I think you definitely answered this chain's question. You are a multi-tasker all the way! I'm so jealous, I have to be really careful lest I confuse my narrative voices.
ReplyDeleteI share your superstitiousness, and I've seen you struggle with which project to follow firsthand. As I've said before, you go with the one that speaks to you and don't force it. It will come.
ReplyDeleteSounds like switching between two different POV characters works well to keep you balanced!
ReplyDeleteYeah, writing two projects is WAY too hard for me most of the time...Great post!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't picture you writing anything depressing. Go Garrett!
ReplyDeleteLol, that clip was awesome. And I'm the same way about holding off on the sequel, although I had so much fun writing my current WIP, I think I'm going to write the sequel regardless. And I applaud you for being able to work on two books at once. Multitasking superhero!! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, that is really cool that you flip between a girl and a boy in two different stories.
ReplyDeleteI also am on the 'no writing book 2 until something happens with book 1' train, but like you, I plan on starting something else in the meantime so that I don't stagnate.
Love the Family Guy clip. :D I can only work on one thing at a time. I get so wrapped up in whatever I'm working on, I have no desire to work on anything else.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! I agree with the sequel statement. My next project is going to be a multi-book project, which terrifies me. Let me know how it goes :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE STEWIE! Great post, I could totally relate. In my first, I cried like a baby every time my MC cried. Not good.
ReplyDelete:) Terri
I had never considered that about sequels before. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteAt least there are always more ideas to explore while the sequel is on the shelf.