I'm NaNo-ing my way through a first draft right now. It's going well. I'm over 30,000 words on Day 16, so a little ahead of schedule. But I think that's a good thing, because I'm pretty sure this draft is going to need more than 50,000 words.
I've long suspected that I'm not a great multi-tasker. I cannot work on two projects simultaneously. One project always ends up being the twin who doesn't get enough nutrients--small, under developed, runtish. I'm better with singleton stories.
But honestly, I almost hijacked my own NaNo experience. See, this one day I had a sudden urge to work on my "other" book, the book I set aside so I could fly through NaNo.
BIG MISTAKE.
I lost my momentum with my NaNo story completely. I could barely eke out a thousand words that day.
So, I've committed myself anew to the NaNo story. I've made peace with the "other" story. She'll take a rest while I work on this one, and then, then I will set apart a large portion of time to really work on that poor, other, neglected story. The one that's been pining in the wings for far too long. I'll give her center stage for awhile.
How about you? Can you work on several projects simultaneously or do you prefer to be totally immersed in one?
I try to stick to one, unless I'm blocked for some reason, then I'll work on another until I know how to proceed with the first :-)
ReplyDeleteOooh, your fingers are on fire, Amy. I am soooo impressed. 30K already?
ReplyDeleteI am monogamous with long projects, polygamous with the short stuff. Too many ideas, all so tasty to chew on.
Congrats on the word count! You are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI can only WRITE one project at a time, but I tend to have two or three in different stages. So I'm mulling/researching an idea, while writing a novel that is already planned, while revising one that is "finished." For me, this keeps me from having excuses that I'm not in the mood to do one thing or the other--there's always SOMETHING I can do when I have the time. Probably not the most productive way to work, though, as that hijacking does happen a lot...
Well done with your NaNo progress so far. I'm afraid I flit from one thing to another too much for my own good although things do get done in the end.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed by your output! I'm not a NaNo-er.
ReplyDeleteI like Vijaya's way of putting it: monogamous with long stuff, polygamous with short.
Love is never having to say no to NaNoWriMo.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Unfaithful Verb
The only way I can work on two stories at once is if I'm at totally different stages on them. If I'm in an early draft of both, it would be nearly impossible.
ReplyDeleteWow! So awesome you're so far along! I'm just at 4000 words with my wip, and already I'm thinking about revamping! Having trouble writing straight through w/out editing myself. So I understand how switching to your other book could derail your progress!
ReplyDeleteNot really. I can sometimes "edit" a book while writing the first draft of another. But that's about it.
ReplyDeleteI need to fully be into the characters to write.
PS. You're making fantastic progress!!
I'm no good with several stories either. I need focus, or I get nothing.
ReplyDeleteAnd yay for you with NaNo!
I can't work on 2 either. Well, I can do it for a little bit if story 1 is being drafted and story 2 is in revisions. But my brain prefers one at a time!
ReplyDeleteI can't work on two projects at the same time because I become too involved with one to worry about the other. I can alternate, but as long as I'm not at the same point in the process.
ReplyDeleteI would like to point out that I am suffering from this NaNo obsession of yours. Ahem. :)
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