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?

3 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on October 3, 2011 at 9:48pm

Cleveland - Thank you for reply. We have a great system worked out - the project is going very smoothly and progressing faster then either of us thought it would. It has also expanded to two books as we had a lot of things we wanted to implement, and found a great way to split the plot and create two stories.

Now that my second book has been published, I am working on one of my others that I would like to get out early next year. The third one in the series will come once I finish this one.

Thanks again!

Permalink Reply by W.J. O'Neil on October 3, 2011 at 11:52pm

Unfortunately I'm in the same boat & its beginning to sink! I'm working on my second book in my main fantasy series, the third & fourth books in my beginning reader series, my next poetry verse, and have way too much still hanging inside the head, lol. To add the promotion side of things I just threw the other oar away too! Still, I know its all worth it if just 1 person enjoys what I do or I see a new smile on the face of a child after reading one of my stories.

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on October 4, 2011 at 12:00am

W.J. - You are totally correct! Keep moving forward... that's all we can do!

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on October 4, 2011 at 8:46am

Today I went back to the first chapter of the book to take one sentence out. Which was a reflection in the TV. But the room is dark therefore you cannot see a reflection in the TV. I spent seven hours on it and still didn't like it. I was so mad for messing it all up, I thought about it all night at work and when I got home tonight, which is two in the morning, I fixed it YAAAAAAAAAA...

Stacy Eaton said:

W.J. - You are totally correct! Keep moving forward... that's all we can do!

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on October 4, 2011 at 12:59pm

Did you really mess it all up? You have it all fixed now - right? I'm advice - AFTER the fact of course is - if you were feeling frustrated, you should have put it to sleep for the night and then worked on it in the morning.. Or - you could have thrown it out here - and asked for opinions.

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on October 5, 2011 at 7:51am

I rewrote it this morning and wow what a difference. I spent some of the morning reseaching hand guns. I decided on a Beretta Jetfire .25 cal back up gun. I wanted something small and this is the gun for my character. However, in adding this new information, I realized I have to add a chapter between chapters of the crime scene. I have my two detectives coming to the home of the victim to inform his wife that he has been found murdered. I was going to leave the crime scene until later, but I ready for some hard core facts now, which is some times fun and other times quite disturbing. In my first book I had to studied strangulation, what to look for, the bruising, and how the eyes are and so on. I learned a lot. And yes, perhaps I could have put it up here and got some suggestions, next time...By the way, I think I told you, but I loved your synopsis, it was inspiring...

Permalink Reply by Amy Manemann on October 5, 2011 at 12:28pm

Welcome to the club Mariah! lol You fit in perfectly with all of us having multiple works in progress. Sounds like you have a pretty good ebb and flow to your writing process. Congrats on getting your first book to the publisher, you're almost there! Keep up the good work! :0)

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on October 5, 2011 at 1:09pm

Mariah - Amy is right - you do sound like you have a great writing process - and way to handle it all! That's awesome! It sounds like it would work great. What I need to do I figured out - is close off my way to technology and focus... So much going on - and I hit #95 this morning on Vampire Romance on Kindle! All the marketing and other work that needs to be done - plus the socializing.... Yeah - lots of that too!

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on October 6, 2011 at 7:37am

Thank you I may take you up on that.

Mariah de la Croix said:

Robert - as I'm a mortician and licensed embalmer, if I can help you, in any way, with information regarding anything pertaining to conditions of bodies or events or processes therein, just let me know. I'll be happy to share what I know with you - or with anyone who needs first hand information for that matter.

Mariah

Robert L. Allen said:

I rewrote it this morning and wow what a difference. I spent some of the morning reseaching hand guns. I decided on a Beretta Jetfire .25 cal back up gun. I wanted something small and this is the gun for my character. However, in adding this new information, I realized I have to add a chapter between chapters of the crime scene. I have my two detectives coming to the home of the victim to inform his wife that he has been found murdered. I was going to leave the crime scene until later, but I ready for some hard core facts now, which is some times fun and other times quite disturbing. In my first book I had to studied strangulation, what to look for, the bruising, and how the eyes are and so on. I learned a lot. And yes, perhaps I could have put it up here and got some suggestions, next time...By the way, I think I told you, but I loved your synopsis, it was inspiring...

Permalink Reply by Catherine Green on October 6, 2011 at 9:30pm

I think I need to plan a schedule so I can actually do some proper writing. I made the rash decision to sign up for NaNoWriMo the other day, so now I've thrown that into the mix as well. I'm a sucker for punishment as they say! Anyway, if I can organize myself better then I can fit everything in. Watch this space...

Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on October 6, 2011 at 10:03pm

lol... I so know what you mean!

Permalink Reply by Amy Manemann on October 7, 2011 at 2:45am

Ok guys, need some input here. Barnes and Noble will be selling my book at the store for $15, should I price match when I do my book signing? I'm tossing this back and forth and not really sure what the right answer is.

BTW Stacy dear I'm loving book two ;0) Holy cow, that's all I can say!