How many stories do you work on simultaneously? - Page 2

silvi · 08-02-2012, 09:45 AM

One novel plus one short story or non-fiction article.
All other ideas for stories or characters I can't use in the current projects, I write a brief outline and file away to look at later.
I like to think that I can multi-task, but the truth is that once I am into a story I have to go with it, or I lose interest.

fidvo · 08-13-2012, 11:39 PM

Seventy or eighty. But that's because I never officially abandon a story, so every single one I've ever started is still technically in progress (and I've been writing since I was in grade school).

In practice, however, I'll usually work on one for a while, maybe a couple of weeks up to a couple of months, then get bored with it and move on to something else for a change of pace. It's not uncommon for me to come back to a story after 5 years and work on it again, which is why I can't really say I've moved past any of my stories.

frahse · 08-15-2012, 02:04 AM

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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08-02-2012, 09:45 AM	#16
silvi Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 1140036 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Kindle	One novel plus one short story or non-fiction article. All other ideas for stories or characters I can't use in the current projects, I write a brief outline and file away to look at later. I like to think that I can multi-task, but the truth is that once I am into a story I have to go with it, or I lose interest.

08-13-2012, 11:39 PM	#17
fidvo Addict Posts: 296 Karma: 1599870 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: none	Seventy or eighty. But that's because I never officially abandon a story, so every single one I've ever started is still technically in progress (and I've been writing since I was in grade school). In practice, however, I'll usually work on one for a while, maybe a couple of weeks up to a couple of months, then get bored with it and move on to something else for a change of pace. It's not uncommon for me to come back to a story after 5 years and work on it again, which is why I can't really say I've moved past any of my stories.

08-15-2012, 02:04 AM	#18
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,314 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	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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