Writing more than one story at the same time
- Thread starter JohnSm123
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SoCalAshley
Life is a beach
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I just started writing a few months ago and I have lots of ideas. I open a new document for each idea, start an outline, and then fill in the details. There was a point two months ago when two stories were close to publishing. One was further along in my thought process so I finished the first and submitted it. I just finished the second one and submitted it yesterday.
Euphony
(=_=)
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I'd assume more have than haven't.
It's a bit of a balancing act but one plenty are capable of and a far better alternative than one's creativity grinding to a halt.
Some ideas spring to you when you don't expect but they just aren't congruent with the characters you are currently working with.
Those ideas should be given homes.
Some people gather them into outlines but don't classify those as "main story" cheating, others live in creative polyamory and it suits them.
Go with what works best for you, always.
It's a bit of a balancing act but one plenty are capable of and a far better alternative than one's creativity grinding to a halt.
Some ideas spring to you when you don't expect but they just aren't congruent with the characters you are currently working with.
Those ideas should be given homes.
Some people gather them into outlines but don't classify those as "main story" cheating, others live in creative polyamory and it suits them.
Go with what works best for you, always.
TheRedChamber
Apprentice
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- Mar 21, 2014
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Oh boy...
At the beginning of last week I had 20 stories in my drafts folder. I've had some writing time and I've now stuck endings on five of them. Yesterday I wrote about 1k words on two stories (I didn't finish either).
I regard it as a bad habit which I've been trying to cure. I've been jumping around recently just not finishing anything (until last week). I've got about the same number of words (200k) both in stories that I've published here and in stories that are sitting unfinished.
The first six months or so when I started writing I was very good about only working on one story at a time. I think two things changes - I started working on longer projects and told myself it was okay to toss out the occassional shorter one as light relief and also I lost the fear that I wouldn't publish. When I started writing, I was nervous about whether I could finish a story or not. Once I had a handful under my belt, I no longer saw it as a disaster if I set a story aside for a while to work on something else as I know I'm capable of publishing.
As with everything, it's a question of balance.
At the beginning of last week I had 20 stories in my drafts folder. I've had some writing time and I've now stuck endings on five of them. Yesterday I wrote about 1k words on two stories (I didn't finish either).
I regard it as a bad habit which I've been trying to cure. I've been jumping around recently just not finishing anything (until last week). I've got about the same number of words (200k) both in stories that I've published here and in stories that are sitting unfinished.
The first six months or so when I started writing I was very good about only working on one story at a time. I think two things changes - I started working on longer projects and told myself it was okay to toss out the occassional shorter one as light relief and also I lost the fear that I wouldn't publish. When I started writing, I was nervous about whether I could finish a story or not. Once I had a handful under my belt, I no longer saw it as a disaster if I set a story aside for a while to work on something else as I know I'm capable of publishing.
As with everything, it's a question of balance.
onehitwanda
Venatrix Lacrimosal
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When I'm writing I usually have two to three on the go. It helps to have something to switch to when I'm trying to resolve problems in one.
John_Vandermeer
Wet Nightmare Writer
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I have four separate chapter novellas going. But generally focus on one chapter of one at a time.
Smuttyandfun
Literotica Guru
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I do the same. I used to think I had to finish whatever I'd started. When I decided to let some stories sit and simmer till I was ready to work on them again, I was surprised that they often turned out better than if I'd rushed through them, just to get them done. Even contest stories I'll sometimes put aside for another year.
If I get inspired, I can finish a short story in an evening. Which means everything else has to wait, which isn't always a bad thing.
Smuttyandfun
Literotica Guru
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Get well soon.
Seadog777
American Man
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Thank you.
I finally started recovering like I normally used to over the weekend.
My teenage daughters told me that my lifestyle is finally catching up with me. LOL.
jaykaythree
Really Experienced
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I usually have a few knocking around in my head, but only. two in the Drafts page at the moment. That's how I usually do ... I work on the one, and them let the next one come out of my mental queue to get worked on.
But that's just me ...
But that's just me ...
ElectricBlue
Joined 10 Years Ago
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Currently, three active, two started but parked up. Situation normal for me.
Rustyoznail
Aussie smartarse
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Three of mine, and one collaboration on simmer.
I was browsing the ideas forum, and SirHugs had a story title that clicked with me. I'm running with that one at the moment. Making good time, too.
I was browsing the ideas forum, and SirHugs had a story title that clicked with me. I'm running with that one at the moment. Making good time, too.
Rob_Royale
with cheese
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I usually have two to three where I'm actively writing them, but at some point, one story ends up being more complete in my mind and it jumps to the head of the line and it gets finished.
Duleigh
Just an old dog
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I usually have a couple open, and it goes smoothly until one of them becomes a labor of love. Usually the Geek Pride story event does that to me. Last year I did a fan fic of an anime, this year was a fan fic of Terry Pratchett. Those stories take over everything, they force the other stories into the shadows. But they're done for now and I've got 3 stories in the works now, two contest entries and another event... we'll see if one of them becomes a diva
ronde
Really Experienced
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I usually have several stories in partial completion. When I get an idea, I'll at least write a few notes and save it with a title. Most of those go nowhere, but I usually have two or three in process at the same time. I'll write on one until I reach a place where I need to let my characters decide where they want to go. Then I'll move on to another.
AchtungNight
Lech Master
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Same here. So many stories, so little time. Then there is the version of me that pursues the main me and sparks dissatisfaction... not sure how many authors have such a persona, but the matter is worth discussing. 
Speaking of which, are links to fanfiction net allowed? Or is it considered a competing site? I have read some great fanfics I'd like to share with you.
Duleigh
Just an old dog
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Nope, not allowed. It's best to keep links to stories, articles, and poems inside Lit. I usually only link to stories that I've written or stories that have inspired what I just wrote.
jaykaythree
Really Experienced
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I published one in January, and am now in this situation with two ideas:
* The first one, I've been working on, here and there when I can, since February. Problem -- I'm at 5500 words, and was thinking to make it a longer piece than normal, with a lot of slice-of-life vignettes along the way. Unfortunately, that would get me into Part 3 before we get to the real 'action', so to speak. I was thinking to scrap what I have and redo it, with the first two parts condensed into a highlight reel. But I will finish it, in this form or another. Bank it
* The second idea knocks at my brain as much as the first, and I was wondering whether to suspend my usual protocol and work on it simultaneously with the other.
I've been here nearly two years and a month, and I still am feeling my way around, getting my feet wet, as it were ... but it's a hell of an enjoyable journey.
* The first one, I've been working on, here and there when I can, since February. Problem -- I'm at 5500 words, and was thinking to make it a longer piece than normal, with a lot of slice-of-life vignettes along the way. Unfortunately, that would get me into Part 3 before we get to the real 'action', so to speak. I was thinking to scrap what I have and redo it, with the first two parts condensed into a highlight reel. But I will finish it, in this form or another. Bank it
* The second idea knocks at my brain as much as the first, and I was wondering whether to suspend my usual protocol and work on it simultaneously with the other.
I've been here nearly two years and a month, and I still am feeling my way around, getting my feet wet, as it were ... but it's a hell of an enjoyable journey.
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Cali_Love
Experienced
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- Apr 23, 2020
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Writing stories in parallel can actually help. For me anyway. In story A, I get an idea that’s great but doesn’t fit. That idea goes in story B. Back and forth, as energy levels ebb and flow. It works. For me.
Sometimes the big PAUSE button comes on and I read someone else’s story in between, or re-read a past story of mine, published or one of my many rejects. That helps too.
Sometimes the big PAUSE button comes on and I read someone else’s story in between, or re-read a past story of mine, published or one of my many rejects. That helps too.
