Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers

Multiple Works in Progress

How many of you have multiple works in progress? Are they all the same genre? How do you divide your time between them?

Currently, I have 4 WIP's.... sounds like alot huh? Right now I am thinking that too! As my second book just went back to my publisher for the formatting (after 13 hours of editing, my eyes are still crossed) I find myself looking at all the projects I have in the works.

One project is about half way through - but I had come up with a snag in the plot and I got frustrated so I put it on the back burner. Recently, as I find myself mulling over the issue, I think I found the way to work through my snag... but.... There is a more recent project that I started that I was working hard on. As soon as I figured out how to work through the other issue, I lost my train of thought on the new one.

Then there is the other book that I am working on with another author. Now that one is a huge project that will be in the making for a long time, but we are throwing ideas back and forth and running plot ideas and twists back and forth.

Then there is book 3 of my series (the second book is about to be published). After reading book 2 - and coming back to those characters I find myself running that plot hard and heavy in my mind. Conversations and characters building....

I'm at a loss right now as to exactly what I should be working on. I think I have so many things in the works that I am befuddled as to which one to go to next.

Anyone else get themselves in this situations? How do you work through them?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on September 23, 2011 at 1:44pm

Amy - I laughed at Robert too when I read that! Very funny!

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on September 24, 2011 at 3:49am

Big!

Amy Manemann said:

lol Robert you crack me up. So, how was the dinosaur era?

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on September 24, 2011 at 3:57am

My wife picked me up a book at the library recently, Making the Perfect Pitch, by Katherine Sands. Wow, what a book. Check it out if you can. Lots-a-good stuff. I missed you guys! Haven't heard from you in a couple of days. I supose you have been working on your books. I have been sick all week, so I've had time. Today, I worked on my third book until my eyes gave out. Happy to hear from you guys...

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on September 24, 2011 at 5:32am

Robert - yes it has been a busy week - with little time to do extra chatting - working all weekend on shift work.... it is very wet tonight. Hope you are feeling better.

Permalink Reply by Amy Manemann on September 25, 2011 at 1:59pm

We've actually been gone all weekend and will be heading out yet again today. Just wanted to jump on and say hi to my friends quick as I hadn't chatted in awhile! Hope everyone's weekend aren't as hectic as mine lol xoxo

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on September 25, 2011 at 3:53pm

I brought one of my binders to work last night - thinking I might have a few minutes - maybe during dinner or later in the night to keep me awake... Yeah that didn't happen. I started at 2 pm. I didn't have time for dinner until midnight... and that was only because I was eating while I was typing up my reports. Hope tonight's shift is a bit quieter and I can spend some time reading over a few chapters to get me back into my "Whether I'll Live or Die" project.

Hope the weekends are going well!

Permalink Reply by Steve Norris on September 25, 2011 at 9:52pm

I tend to work my stories through my head during the night. I often wake at 4:00 am and I've solved a myriad of issues at that time. I seem to be able to think more clearly then. When I get up I can't wait to get it written down. Sadly work has dominated so much in recent weeks that 4:00 Am slot has been taken up with cold sweats about the pressures of the job. Fortunately I'm through that tricky period so I'm hoping I can get my pre-work writing back on the go.

Stacy you sound so busy, hope you got some writing time today

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on September 26, 2011 at 3:48pm

Long weekend working... I managed to get most of the last chapter of "Whether I'll Live or Die" written. Does anyone else do this - you get about half way through the book and then write the end? I am always about half way through when I figure out exactly how the end works - so I go and write that last chapter or the last few and then go back and fill in the blanks.

I did get to work on my collaboration work last night - My partner sent me his updates and chapter 4 - so now it's my turn to read - clean - and adjust - then work on chapter 5. I love doing this with him!

Permalink Reply by Amy Manemann on September 26, 2011 at 7:49pm

Stacy I do the same thing, sheesh I thought it was just me lol I usually get past the halfway point and am rolling along when the ending hits me and I have to stop and write it out. I also tend to get halfway through a book and then get a great intro for the next book stuck in my mind so I have to stop and get that written down too. Ah creativity, it makes things interesting that's for sure! :0)

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on September 26, 2011 at 8:17pm

Amy - that is so freaking true!! Here I am writing this very intense novel and all of a sudden I get bits and pieces flashing into my mind that belong in a totally different novel. I too have to stop and put it down before I lose it or it blocks my mind and I can't get my focus back for the other project I was working on.

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on September 26, 2011 at 8:41pm

Same here guys. I have a page in Word that I created: New book Ideas. Amy, I was on another website yesterday and I thought I saw your book mentioned. I was so excited to tell you, but it turned out to be an Amy Green. Which we know is Catherine's last name not yours. It was a big let down. :)

Permalink Reply by Borislava Borissova on September 26, 2011 at 8:47pm