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 November 6, 2011 at 2:20pm

Borislava - I was very involved with the launching of "Come Back to Me" with Melissa Foster. There were 35 authors who were assisting her in her launch called the #99centbookevent . It was an intense one month promotion period that went extremely well.

Melissa Foster is in the process of getting the "WoMen's Literacy Cafe" (WLC) up and running very soon. The WLC will be helping authors to promote new books, blog tours, interviews and such. It is a place where authors will be helping authors. I'm excited to be helping Melissa with this. You all will be able to be a part of that in the future when it finally goes live.

I have also been on a four week blog tour - plus I am involved in quite a few other blog events over the next two months to gear up for the holidays - it is a busy time.

Permalink Reply by Amy Manemann on November 6, 2011 at 2:50pm

Hi Gang! Sorry I've been MIA, as Stacy mentioned we've been tied up with a major promotion that finished up last week so things are starting to settle down once again, yay!

Robert I'm glad to see that you're still here *hugs* Congrats Steve on a wonderful sale, what fun! Mine went well too and I'm looking forward to lining up a few more for the holiday season.

I'm hoping to get some writing in today but we'll see how that goes. I'm also fighting sinus headaches and sore allergy eyes so it probably wouldn't hurt to take another day of hiatus. Talk with you guys later! XO

Permalink Reply by Catherine Green on November 7, 2011 at 12:02am

Hello Everyone! I'm still here, just had a busy week and been avoiding the distractions of internet while I wrote. Well done Steve, Amy, Stacey and Borislava, and Robert I know how you feel. Just let it take you for a while and you'll find your way. For my part I have been powering on with my Redcliffe sequel, and have written almost 18,000 words in the first week of NaNoWriMo. I have also written a short story, Deadly Reunion which is on Write and Share. I have had a weekend off while I went to a huge crafting exhibition which was excellent but left me exhausted! I should be more active on here this week, speak to you later x

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on November 7, 2011 at 4:27am

Thank you!!! I ended up writing the poem. I was beautiful but not what I hoped for. Poerty seems to take on its own life. When I want to write one thing something else comes forth and I go with it. This morning I worked on the book and the writing was great. My antagonist is a female hired killer. Today I gave her more than a face. I gave her a past. It was fun and exciting! I didn't want to go too deep with her at this point of the story, but I felt it was time for the reader to have some kind of feeling for her other than fear and hatred. So my mood last night turned positive this morning...Happy to hear you are writing. I think so many of us get lost in trying to sell, we sometimes forget to write.

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on November 7, 2011 at 4:38am

Not sure! I don't think it's as powerful as it could be but here it is if you want to read it. I know putting it on here it takes the risk of being taken by other writers, however this thread identifies it belongs to Robert L. Allen. Hope you enjoy it even through it's a bit hard:

All that is good

Standing in the wreckage of life

the seeker

falls in search of which is not known

looking for the truth

only to find

truth has many faces

cultivated by deceit and lies

in barren fields of stone and the lizard

and still the seeker does not give up nor give in

to the vultures waiting at every corner

who would gladly deny the sins of man

and take onto themselves the horrors of the world

where love shall not be permitted, not even in the smallest slivers of the earth

they stand on the highest peaks screaming at the top of their lungs

testifying against the Father

who has bestowed the truth

by giving his own blood

to save the lost

and silence the adversaries

all that is good Robert L. Allen

Borislava Borissova said:

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 7, 2011 at 8:37am

Thank you, Robert! I love reading poems, in the past I started with verses and in 2001 in an anthology was published my first poem. Unfortunately I stopped writing in this genre but I would like to suggest you to find an anthologies publisher and send it to him one day. Perhaps you would like to re-read it with sime time passing but later it would be good to find a place for publishing. Every our work deserves to come into the world.

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on November 7, 2011 at 1:17pm

That was excellent Robert - Thank you for sharing! Glad you also got a story to go with your face!

Permalink Reply by Borislava Borissova on November 7, 2011 at 1:45pm

It sounds wonderful, Stacy! And reminds me that I also should make a schedule of promotions during Christmas time. I hope everything will be good for all us.

Stacy Eaton said:

Borislava - I was very involved with the launching of "Come Back to Me" with Melissa Foster. There were 35 authors who were assisting her in her launch called the #99centbookevent . It was an intense one month promotion period that went extremely well.

Melissa Foster is in the process of getting the "WoMen's Literacy Cafe" (WLC) up and running very soon. The WLC will be helping authors to promote new books, blog tours, interviews and such. It is a place where authors will be helping authors. I'm excited to be helping Melissa with this. You all will be able to be a part of that in the future when it finally goes live.

I have also been on a four week blog tour - plus I am involved in quite a few other blog events over the next two months to gear up for the holidays - it is a busy time.

Permalink Reply by Borislava Borissova on November 7, 2011 at 1:49pm

You are perfect if you do 18,000 words in the first week of NaNoWriMo, Catherine! I cannot re-edit so many words for the same time. When I am tired of the text, of the long time behind the laptop I must stop before I start feeling hate against writing itself.

I hope you will share the result of NaNoWriMo at the end of the month.

Catherine Green said:

Hello Everyone! I'm still here, just had a busy week and been avoiding the distractions of internet while I wrote. Well done Steve, Amy, Stacey and Borislava, and Robert I know how you feel. Just let it take you for a while and you'll find your way. For my part I have been powering on with my Redcliffe sequel, and have written almost 18,000 words in the first week of NaNoWriMo. I have also written a short story, Deadly Reunion which is on Write and Share. I have had a weekend off while I went to a huge crafting exhibition which was excellent but left me exhausted! I should be more active on here this week, speak to you later x

Permalink Reply by Borislava Borissova on November 7, 2011 at 1:50pm

Wish you speed recovery, Amy!

Amy Manemann said:

Hi Gang! Sorry I've been MIA, as Stacy mentioned we've been tied up with a major promotion that finished up last week so things are starting to settle down once again, yay!

Robert I'm glad to see that you're still here *hugs* Congrats Steve on a wonderful sale, what fun! Mine went well too and I'm looking forward to lining up a few more for the holiday season.

I'm hoping to get some writing in today but we'll see how that goes. I'm also fighting sinus headaches and sore allergy eyes so it probably wouldn't hurt to take another day of hiatus. Talk with you guys later! XO

Permalink Reply by Catherine Green on November 7, 2011 at 9:21pm

Thanks Borislava, I will keep you all updated and will no doubt blog about my progress too.

Robert, I don't usually read poetry but I actually enjoyed that one. Well done, it was worth persevering with!

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on November 8, 2011 at 6:54am

Thank you and all of you. Here's an idea. I did this a long time ago. Or should I say I started to do it but did not finish for reasons that are not important. I called the locol cable company, after hearing that they wanted TV shows. I informed them of my idea. It was to interview poets on cable TV. And to read their work. My program would have been called PTV. Poerty TV. Anyways, it does not cost a dime, unless you take out the trucks to film elsewhere then the only cost is gas. I went into the studio to talk to the people and they informed me that they would help and teach me everything I need to do to put a program on air. They are always looking for new ideas. I had to create, I believe 13 shows before it would air. It was fun and quite exciting. They have everything you need. If you want, just call and find out what they say. I'm not talking about comcast or anything like that. I looked up in the phone book under cable TV and found the number. You could interview writers who call in or who come in to promote their books. I know it sounds scary but it's not. Just a thought!!!

Stacy Eaton said: