Writers: are you able to work on two (or more) projects simultaneously?

I know exactly how you feel - I am working on one book, but there is another one forming in my mind. I decided that if I was going to finish the one I had started, I had better stay with it. It's no chore as I am enjoying writing it. I am jotting down notes for my next one though.

I think every writer works differently and in the end discovers what works for them. If you feel you can write two at one time and can complete both - try it, but just make sure that it's not a case of you getting bored with the first book or writer's block.

I've found, in my writing, that if I'm working on more than one story at a time, I generally tend to focus on one as an individual, getting wrapped up in the characters and involved in the plot, and then to have the other get a little attention every now and then. Of course, my focal point changes --- sometimes every couple of days, sometimes a couple of weeks, sometimes a month or two. Working on more than one story at a time does sidetrack from completing the original at an orderly time. And, the way you're talking, the writing is probably different for each novel. Making a leap from one genre to the other sometimes shows.

However, when you have writer's block, sometimes it helps to write on a different story for a little while. And writer's block seems inevitable. Also, writing a different genre could give you insights into the characters in the other genre. It's a give-and-take process.

I don't see anything really wrong with it, if you can find a balance. =]

I always have more than one going at once. Right now I really have 2 major projects, and I'm brainstorming/developing the 3rd. I find I work better with multiple projects. If I hear a character from one story talking in my head, I want to get that down as soon as I can. I don't believe in "taking notes and waiting til it's time to work on it" because it'll never be the same as it was in the initial moment. And if I get stuck on one story and still want to write, I can work on the other, and usually during that 'break', I figure out what I need to do with the part I'm stuck on. It really helps my creative process if I'm not tied down to one piece of work. It's not for everyone, but I think if that's how someone likes to work, more power to them. :)

Good luck with your stories as well!

This from the perspective of composing....

When it was 'newer' to me, I could not go past one unsolved measure in a piece. I had to have everything in place, sequentially, before I could proceed. Later, with more cumulative experience under the belt, I could jump around and work on various parts and successfully complete the work.

Further experience allowed me to have several works in progress, often of very different character. I find if I am 'stuck' in one, I can go to another and keep producing. Sometimes, it seems the work on one seemingly unrelated piece allows the subconscious to intuitively find some solutions to 'problems' in the piece which had been set aside.

Further, some material generated seems to 'belong elsewhere,' either in a new piece or in one of the others in progress - the well is primed, keeps flowing, even if it is to fill another vessel....

Still, I am most comfortable "working through," a piece in its entirety.

as always Hafwen, best regards.

I find it best to do one thing at a time, especially when they are so different, because ideas from one can often lead onto another and i don't think you want your humorous whodunit to have traces of you dark psychological story. It is kind of like reading more than one book at once. you should really finish one before you start the other.

I love working on multiple things - it gives me an opportunity to get a lot of things done, enjoy variety, and keep myself from becoming "rusty". Right now I'm writing a historical fiction story about the Babylonian Exile and a fantasy. No confusion. :)

If you're writing for fun, there are no deadlines. I say go for it.

I work on more then one story at a time. Usually when I have writers block I start another story. Currently I'm writing three stories. I work on one for a few days to a week then I work on the others. It's also a nice change if you work on more then on.

2 works at most for me. I have over 30 projects on standby, but I feel like it will take me sometime before I get to finish them all. I don't want to sacrifice the quality of my work by rushing things so I keep usually write only two stories at a time so I don't burn myself out.

Goodness! I could never write two books at the same time. Haha. I write for fun also.

I think Edgar Allen Poe was by far the best writer ever known!!! I mean his short story "The Tell Tale Heart" was amazing. His best poem though would be "Annabelle Lee". Most ppl think that Shakespeare was the best. I strongly disagree!