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 Catherine Green on October 28, 2011 at 1:07am

We aim to amuse! ; )

Amy Manemann said:

hahaha you guys crack me up :0)

Permalink Reply by Catherine Green on October 28, 2011 at 1:09am

Ah yes, I like that song too, and I have seen enough of other people with busy parents to appreciate the wonderful position I am in at the moment. That is why I don't mind giving up the computer for my baby. She is just too precious, and she is growing up too fast already (uh-oh I feel the lump in my throat. Time to sneak into the nursery and gaze at my sleeping beauty in her cot!)

Robert L. Allen said:

My son is 30 yesterday. Yes time goes way too fast. When he was young, I spent every waking hour I could with him. I even took him to work with me. One time I let him drive a lift around and I told him not to raise it. I left the room for a minute and sure enough, he raised it 30 some feet in the air. When I came back, it scared the h**l out of me. Now today he is in busness for himself, doing what I used to do. Our life is like the song Cat's in the Cradle, I believe the song is the one where the father doesn't have time for the son and later on in life the son doesn't have time for the father. Which is just life. So Catherine have fun with your little one, time will steal her away...

Stacy Eaton said:
Catherine - I say that as I look at a picture of my 21 year old son and remember the times he wanted to snuggle or have my attention but I was to busy. They grow up so fast.My son is 30

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on October 28, 2011 at 7:58am

Yeah, kids do that to you. They say look out for the terrible twos, but I loved every minute of them, it was in his teenage years when aliens picked him up, as I told him, were the nerve-racking years. Have fun...

Catherine Green said:

Ah yes, I like that song too, and I have seen enough of other people with busy parents to appreciate the wonderful position I am in at the moment. That is why I don't mind giving up the computer for my baby. She is just too precious, and she is growing up too fast already (uh-oh I feel the lump in my throat. Time to sneak into the nursery and gaze at my sleeping beauty in her cot!)

Robert L. Allen said:
My son is 30 yesterday. Yes time goes way too fast. When he was young, I spent every waking hour I could with him. I even took him to work with me. One time I let him drive a lift around and I told him not to raise it. I left the room for a minute and sure enough, he raised it 30 some feet in the air. When I came back, it scared the h**l out of me. Now today he is in busness for himself, doing what I used to do. Our life is like the song Cat's in the Cradle, I believe the song is the one where the father doesn't have time for the son and later on in life the son doesn't have time for the father. Which is just life. So Catherine have fun with your little one, time will steal her away...

Stacy Eaton said:
Catherine - I say that as I look at a picture of my 21 year old son and remember the times he wanted to snuggle or have my attention but I was to busy. They grow up so fast.My son is 30

Permalink Reply by Steve Norris on October 28, 2011 at 11:38am

I reckon Stoke is the North, some might debate it but it works for me. And especially married to a Wiganer.

Catherine Green said:

Actually I'm from Stoke! (Ahhh!) Well, technically, North Staffordshire so yes, I like to be a Northern lass. And I married a Wiganer. You can't beat the good old North of England eh Steve? I love it!

Steve Norris said:

Knocked up - I love it, belies Catherine's good northern routes - just like me :-)

Permalink Reply by Catherine Green on October 28, 2011 at 6:47pm

Cool! We are intrigued to know what sort of accent Elliot will develop as she grows up, since we don't live in either of our home counties anymore...

Permalink Reply by Steve Norris on November 5, 2011 at 7:46pm

Sold 11 books at Doncaster Waterstones - Really helpful staff all giving out leaflets as people entered the store.

Have to go back again :)

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on November 5, 2011 at 8:01pm

Steve that is awesome!

Permalink Reply by Borislava Borissova on November 5, 2011 at 8:08pm

Congratulations, Steve! It is nice to hear it.

On my side I was promoted on two blogs this week and checking up yesterday and today amazon.com I see raising green line on the chart of book's Kindle edition. I really hope it means sales because the book is with more than 7,000 ranks UP and wonder what my publisher would said in January.

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on November 6, 2011 at 7:07am

Good going Steve! It's good to hear from you guys...I have been sitting here attemtping to write a poem that has been eating away at me for weeks. But for reasons unknown I can't seem to reach deep enough inside my soul and pull it out. So I decided to come here and look for familar faces. I hope Amy and Catherine are out there doing what they love. Borissova, are you taking the time to write? Are all you guys? I've been doing a lot of writing. I sent out a couple of queries last week, to agents. Sorry for the distraughtness, if that's even a word, I don't think so. But I'm lost inside myself tonight, and I can't seem to find the way out. And I'm not certain if I want too. Sometimes when falling deep into what some might view as pain, the writing, poerty, comes to surface when one is not found. So before I go off writing crazy anymore I will bid you goodnight and go back to the poetry. I just wanted to let you know I'm here...

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on November 6, 2011 at 1:24pm

Awww Robert.... You seem so down.... I'm sorry! Smiles to you.. We are glad that you are here! We all have those moments.

I personally am winding down from a very busy week where I was involved in a major promotion (Amy was part of it too), and now I am trying to work on another promotion right here with Steve - and yesterday I wrote a short sweet seductive holiday story for a blog contest - then edited 30K words in one of my WIP's so I can start writing on it again on Monday. It has been a busy couple of days.

Your poetry will come - relax and it will flow when the words find your soul to fit the meaning.

Permalink Reply by Borislava Borissova on November 6, 2011 at 1:48pm

Hi Robert!

I am editing my next book, it consist of 105 000 words so the process is slowly. I also try to find beta-readers because based on my experience having ones, having their cooperation is more important than I supposed before my first published book. I have to consider their suggestion the new story to be divided in two parts because it is too large and to publish them separately within six months. Now I have only 120 pages edited /because during days I work as HR in a big company/ and read somewhere that readers could pre-pay for a book before its issue. I need more information about this opportunity so if I publish the new manuscript in two parts, the readers could pre-pay for the second part if they like first.

Do you consider to publish your poem? I would read it :)))

Permalink Reply by Borislava Borissova on November 6, 2011 at 1:57pm

Hi Stacy!

In the past I called "promotion" the day, in which the book is published. Now promotion have much more meanings and a book has multiple promotions to reach the readers. Personally I enjoy them and like to see my book feautured. What kind of promotions are yours, Internet or live at any store? Wish you so much luck with them :)))

Stacy Eaton said:

Awww Robert.... You seem so down.... I'm sorry! Smiles to you.. We are glad that you are here! We all have those moments.

I personally am winding down from a very busy week where I was involved in a major promotion (Amy was part of it too), and now I am trying to work on another promotion right here with Steve - and yesterday I wrote a short sweet seductive holiday story for a blog contest - then edited 30K words in one of my WIP's so I can start writing on it again on Monday. It has been a busy couple of days.

Your poetry will come - relax and it will flow when the words find your soul to fit the meaning.