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2 or 3 where substantial work is being done.
I am always open to ideas, to riveting or clever scenes that may or may not relate to a book already started, so there are hundreds of paragraphs or sentences not yet connected to a book or theme except in a loose genre way.
When I get well into the last chapter of a book I am trying to finish, I concentrate on that book. I may touch up previous portions but I push toward a "end." When I finally get there, I still will edit, tweak, and touch up but that doesn't usually take much time. The major changes were made along the way. Thank goodness.**
**Once when I was younger, I was told that I "would have to make major changes in a just finished book" due to another author's book that had just come out and was doing great. It was too similar. I was quiet and then carefully said to the suit, "O.K. I will check into it and estimate the time." I walked out the building. Walked around these giant streets for a 2 to 3 hours. Ate. Missed a flight. Came back into the building about 3PM. Said I had to see the "man." "Something urgent has come up." He walked out of a meeting to speak to me briefly. I said. "Mr. __, I can't do that. I am finished with that book. I will get back to you when I have another." Four years later the book I didn't change did pretty good. It is just not in my nature to change a story. I will write you another, but no one screws with my finished story. They are my children. (I am like Dylan in that.)
One thing I like to do is take a break from my regular writing which comes in the form of books and magazine articles, both fiction and non-fiction. I break with short stories. I like the ability to write something quickly.
Without this variety, I would go crazy.
Of course all this comes along with a regular job, so if you assume I am a ADHD type, you assume correctly.
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