Have you ever sat down to write... and sat.... and sat... and sat? Well, that's a little of NaNoWriMo is like for me this time. I can't seem to focus on one story at a time. What do you do when you can't keep your mind on one story line?
At the moment I keep two Word documents open. I have the NaNo project I'm working on, and my wall document. That's what I call my go to story when I hit that writing wall. Writing for me is like changing the channels on a television or radio for others. If I don't like what's going on in one place I just switch to the other. No time wasted, and I'm still writing... I'm still writing... I'm still writing.
What will happen next? Well, that just depends.. if I can keep all the characters in the right stories.
Do you write more than one thing at a time, or are you loyal to that one project until it's complete?
It's tough when the words won't come. I've taken to outlining, which helps--gives me somewhere to go when I have to force the words out without inspiration. I like your approach, too--multiple tasks. Come to think of it, I have multiple tasks, too, with MSS in all stages. Tiime to get back to work!
ReplyDeleteI know many writers who work on more than one project at a time.
ReplyDeleteThe up side? They are never bored!
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Sounds like that's a good approach as you're always being productive, as long as you can keep the two stories separate! My problem is I'm easily confused, so I have to work on one thing at a time and stick with it. Hope NaNo goes well for you!
ReplyDeleteThe writing wall is a great idea! I can totally relate to the sat and sat and sat feeling. That happened to me yesterday :-) Here's hoping today is more productive. Cheers - Ellen
ReplyDeleteYes, I definitely do that. I think it's cool that you've called your other story "The Wall." :)
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG day and Happy Writing!
I do a lot of freelance and ghostwriting so when doing my own writing I try to stick to only two projects at a time. I have a folder that I put ideas in, if I am stuck on one of my projects. Other times I go through the folder and delete stuff I don't think will become anything.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with NaNo!
I would get so confused. But even with two stories, it all counts to the word count, right?
ReplyDeleteAnd welcome back to the IWSG.
I have three writing projects going at all times. (I have two different publishers, so it's necessary.) Also, I have NO excuse for writers block then!
ReplyDeleteDue to two projects with the same deadline, I had to write a couple of things simultaneously in Oct. It wasn't easy, but I did it. I like writing one thing at a time so I don't overload the circuits.
ReplyDeleteI always keep a few projects going at once, usually in different stages. One finished manuscript that's just stewing or maybe editing if I'm feeling energetic. Writing a new piece, which is always the fun part. And usually another one or two in the outline phase, so I know what's next. I'm certainly never bored. :-)
ReplyDeleteI definitely write other things if I'm having trouble focusing. Sometimes just the act of writing clears my mind and makes it easier to focus on what I need or want to. Hopefully you were able to use this strategy in writing for nanowrimo and possibly complete your story? Looking forward to an update, if you do, on how you are doing this month and if you were able to complete your story! :)
ReplyDeleteFor years I was all over the place, writing many things at once, and I liked that, thought it was the only way I could write successfully. When I decided to try NaNo three years ago, I wasn't sure I could keep focused on one WIP. A few months before November, I started a writing exercise I called, Daily Paragraphs. Every morning, I sat down and wrote whatever came to mind. Three to five paragraphs of the most inane, silly, sometimes amazing things. After writing those paragraphs, I would pick a project and work only on that. It was hard at first, but became the routine. When I started NaNo, it was easier to keep on one project. I found I had to have music on, access to the Internet, and the freedom to allow myself to get up and walk around whenever the mood struck. It worked for me. Who knows, it may work for someone else as well.
ReplyDeleteI am working on 3 mss at the moment. Two are completed and I'm just polishing. The 3rd is done to chapter 42. I think there's probably 5 more chapters. I sit a lot and stare at chapter 42. I read it over, hoping I'll get into the jive and when I get to the end, I'll type chapter 43 and carrying on. It's been over a year now and I'm still reading chapter 42 over and hoping to move on to chapter 43. You wouldn't happen to have some free time, would ya? Happy New Year, Vanessa!
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