Polygamous Writing

Sep 23, 2010

Normally, I'm a faithful, one-story kinda girl. I get an idea, I develop it, I write it, I revise, then I write the next one. Of course, I usually have a few other ideas percolating while I write, which enables me to jump into the next story when I'm done with the first.


Something's different with the current percolation.

I've been working hard on Devs the last few weeks, trying to finish the first draft. And during those last few weeks, a new little idea has exploded into a big, I-can't-stop-thinking-about-this idea. So occasionally, I've taken some of my writing time and started world-building this new idea.

It's weird for me. I've become a polygamous writer.

Luckily, I'm very much in love with both of my stories, so I'm not ignoring Devs. It still gets the majority of my writing time. And in a way, it's good that I'm getting this new idea ready to go, because I plan on taking time off from Devs for a few weeks before I start in on revisions. I'm glad I'll have something else to work on.

So, my friends, now I'm wondering. Are you a polygamous writer, or a monogamous one? How many stories/ideas do you have going at once?

11 comments:

Jennifer Hoffine said...

So far, I'm hopelessly monogamous, only able to do research on a second book while working on another.

I do hope to get better at juggling, as I know many professionals do. I think I would always need to be at different stages with each book, researching, writing or revising.

Michelle Merrill said...

I'm pretty much a monogamous writer. With that said, new ideas will pop up and I'll write them down along with anything else that comes to mind for them, but typically I mostly focus on one main WIP.

Elana Johnson said...

I love the title of this post. I can write one project and edit another. But I can't write two at the same time. My brain isn't wired that way.

M Pax said...

Sometimes I write two. I'll dedicate my best hours to the one that needs the most work, and time later in the day to the other.

I'll jot down notes for future stories as I go along.

I can only handle one novel at a time so far. I can work on a short later in the day with the novel. But I find I need to get lost in my novel world and don't seem to be able to get lost in two at once. I friend of mine sometimes writes 3 at a time. I have no idea how.

David P. King said...

I typically work on two or more stories at once, but I tend to focus on one and then jump to the next if my current project isn't working. That way, I apply the ideas I have for those stories, get them out of my system, and conjure up other ideas for the story I put aside. The trick is to always write. Every day. Now, one thing I can't do is write future scenes, or scenes that will take place chapters later. I have to write sequentially, though I draft short summaries for each chapter before I even start a novel.

Sandy said...

I'm very much a polygamous writer, a terrible one who tends to abandon her old loves for SNIs for stretches of time. At any given time, however, I'll likely only be working on one project (even if there are others lying around at various states of incompletion), because I can't immerse myself in several projects at a time. :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Right now I'm monogamous because I'm trying to finish my current WIP, but at times, when new projects are fresh and dynamic, I'll branch out and be more poly :)

Unknown said...

What a great topic! I found you over at Lynda Young's place and I'm glad I did, your blog is gorgeous!

I'm a multi-tasker. I have so many pieces going on at once because my brain moves a mile a minute, those stories don't like to wait, and my characters are completely against waiting for their turn. Makes life interesting!

Michelle said...

I'm a beginning YA sci-fi writer. Book one of a series is out for submission review, and I'm working on book two. Guess that makes me monogamous to a single story-line?

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

I'm forced to be polygamous! It's not my fault! I made myself write a short story every week, so even when I'm working on my novel, I'm also working on stories. But they don't *really* count, do they? More like little flings or something? I'm not actually *married* to them -- not like my darling WiP. Right? Please, help me assuage the guilt.

Amy

Kittie Howard said...

Hi, I dropped in from the fest. Nice to meet you. Saw that you loved Africa and, well, me,too. Lived in Nairobi for three years.

I'm a polygamous. What can I say? Such is life.

Really enjoyed your post. Am following you now.
Have a great weekend!

 
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