Do you work on & publish chapters from several novels/novellas in parallel, and if so how many?

[John_Vandermeer]

I recall some answers from previous threads that some AH authors never even release a chapter until the whole 100K+ words volume or whatever is wholly done. But I also know of very successful Lit authors (by readership and rankings) that might have a dozen story lines open and do keep coming back to them, even if sometimes with a year long hiatus for one or another. So this is not a request for the "right" answer, but a poll and opinion solicitation on where do you stand.

I ask because with a new submission today (always an exciting moment) I will soon have four chapter novellas open. And I do feel the need to balance starting new ideas--given an authorial interest that might fizzle, no matter how intriguing the idea, if I do not do so--and finishing ongoing ideas for myself and my readers--ironically, given we are not paid a cent by our readers and they are not always exactly effusive with the appreciation either.

What about you?

 

[KeithD]

I do sometimes have multiple series being written at the same time. More often, though, I'm reviewing a series at the same time I'm writing a new series. It's a truism that I don't submit the first chapter of a series anywhere until the whole thing is written and reviewed.

 

[SeraphNocturne]

I post chapter by chapter, but plot out well in advance to keep myself on task. I’ve been trying to avoid starting any new projects because I fear my ability to keep focused on the one I’ve already fully committed to, which has a small following who are happy to buy ebook copies, and offer to buy unpublished work, quite often. My issue is I don’t have a back log.

I can’t lie I really wish I had the completed work done, before I began to resume publishing here. A lesson of learning for future endeavors, I suppose. I have gained a lot of knowledge by moving into more advanced publication, and the attention of several editors. It’s been a good kind of stress trying to keep up with the eagerness from the readers, but it has been stressful regardless. I’ll finish any future series work and set it on a release schedule, that’s for sure.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I have been working on two long series in parallel and even planning to start a third one, maybe even a fourth one, but that is all in the wind right now, as my motivation is quite low. Plot wise, I had no problems switching from one series to the other, although switching from the mindset of one character to another does take some adjustment time... I found that my sexual brain most of all needs time to realign when I switch from writing one series to a different one.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Nope, I'm a one-story guy. My tales are complex enough as they are, with several cris-crossing plot threads and interlocks with my other stories. Not losing my head is taxing enough as-is and writing another story alongside is just not possible. I might jot down plot ideas or a short vignette for something else if the muse really does overtime with the blowjobs, but I keep focused on one project at a time.

 

[SeraphNocturne]

I have been working on two long series in parallel and even planning to start a third one, maybe even a fourth one, but that is all in the wind right now, as my motivation is quite low. Plot wise, I had no problems switching from one series to the other, although switching from the mindset of one character to another does take some adjustment time... I found that my sexual brain most of all needs time to realign when I switch from writing one series to a different one.

This right here, I struggle with this as well. You wouldn't think it would be so rough going from one world to the next but man... the characters are an entirely different matter. I guess that means we've done well creating them, not being able to seamlessly jump between them due to personality types, quirks, flaws and erotic inclination, right?

 

[John_Vandermeer]

I have been working on two long series in parallel and even planning to start a third one, maybe even a fourth one, but that is all in the wind right now, as my motivation is quite low. Plot wise, I had no problems switching from one series to the other, although switching from the mindset of one character to another does take some adjustment time... I found that my sexual brain most of all needs time to realign when I switch from writing one series to a different one.

There is indeed an adjustment time to switching between story lines. But frankly I feel that anytime I have taken a break from writing, even if a week or two, regardless of whether it also involves a story-line switch or not. As for characters I find I am invested enough in the main characters I remember how the think, feel and act regardless. But sometimes for minor characters that might be mostly in and out but come up again once or twice sometimes I even have to go back to recall their names...

 

[Winter_Fare]

I switch between at least 2 or 3 projects. Partly so I don't get frustrated, partly to give each installment a rest before final edit and submission. Lately I've been thinking I need more focus as there's priority stuff in real life competing for attention. I'd probably get more done if I stuck to one thing at a time though.