Typically, I wouldn’t be working on more than one major project at a time. I am happiest when I have a behemoth to work on.
Before I get into the nitty-gritty of how it’s working for me to juggle two beasts, let me confess this: I rarely FEEL like working on these projects. Both of them carry a lot of emotional baggage. Both of them feel just beyond my skill set.
I wrote in a recent article about the feelings we think we need to do a project. Instead of thinking I need a certain feeling to start the work, I go for the feeling I want to have after I’ve written. I’ve achieved that consistently. After work on my projects, I feel:
- empowered
- in integrity
- a triumphant sense of progress
- greater confidence.
It’s hard to describe, but I also feel a wholeness when doing these projects. As I’ve said before, they’ve both been on my list for years, and giving them the space they deserve just makes me feel better about life.
It helps to keep a separate notebook for each project. I use the Hahnemühle Diary Flex because it’s small and easy to take everywhere. I do my reflective writing about my process in them. I make notes during meetings and also capture ideas and insights. More about how I use an ‘author notebook’ here.
Specific deadlines make all the difference for me. I use the structure of my coaching group, Write ON, to have a weekly agenda for writing. These fluctuate according to what else is on my calendar. Having to declare what I will do by Friday makes it easier to keep on track every single week.
External deadlines like working with an editor and going on a trip help me stay focused. This is especially helpful when I don’t ‘feel’ like doing the work. I want to feel free and at ease when I go away, knowing I’ve set myself up to come back easily to the project.
In March, I was taking a class for the book proposal. I wanted to get as much done as I could during that time, so that creativity chastity belt helped me stay with it every day. I had to devise my own deadlines after that.
I often wake up between 3 and 4 am, and it takes a while to get back to sleep. This is when thoughts of the novel float in. I get insights. It’s like this quiet, dark, liminal space allows me to see more and get ideas. Luckily, I remember them and write them down in my novel’s notebook.
Most days (except weekends), I do a bit on each project. A book proposal is vastly different than a novel. When it gets hard, and I get squirmy, switching to the novel feels easy. I like variety in my days, always have. I call this ‘mode switch’, where I am able to get things done by moving among disparate tasks and projects.
I always want to do more. There never feels like enough time in the day. But I also know that writing is a sloooooooooow medium. Patience and persistence win the day. I love the feeling I have from working on both of these books. I am eager to finish them and get them into your hands because while these are my passion projects and I gain a lot from doing them, I am writing these for you.
What about you? How do you juggle more than one big project at once? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!
In just the past day & evening, I’ve been thinking of returning to my wake-up time if 4:30 am. That was – gosh 30 years ago. But I loved the quiet darkness, then watching the sun rise when I was usually all written out. I have rewriting to do now – that was my plan post-transplant. But that got waylaid by the emotional onslaught after surviving 12 years of hospital “torture.” I DO finally feel ready & able to take on that task of making my 2 first drafts of novels to make them publishable. At last! Oh and finish my 3rd novel, a pandemic romance! I’ve had hospital ER staff beg me for that! If the 4:30 plan doesn’t work out, I know another plan will arrive that does work!
Dana,
Have fun writing your book! If it were me, and the choice was among two or three of the same genre, I would do one at a time. I was able to work on two books at once because they were so different.
Try it and see what works for you!
During the pandemic, I started a short fiction critique group within the S.C. Writers Assn. I met some wonderfully talented writing, and the writing form was a nice break from novels. Last year I began writing the sixth novel in my mystery series and tried to continue writing short fiction at the same time. Sadly, both my novel writing and short fiction writing suffered. What I learned about myself during this time was (1) I have a one-track brain–switching back and forth between projects or writing forms just doesn’t work for me, and (2) I prefer a bigger “canvas” on which to develop my story. My novels include subplots and multiple characters, and I found that the limitations of short fiction became frustrating and limiting for me. Short fiction was a great pandemic diversion for me, but like many things during that time (e.g. stocking up toilet paper) have now been discarded.
Hi Raegan,
Great to hear from you! I think your dilemma is because you were writing in similar genres. While stories and novels are different, they are both fiction.
I think it is great that you explored short stories. Now you know what your true heart loves to write – mysteries. Have fun with it!