tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post6463305549551373710..comments2023-10-31T07:49:59.631-04:00Comments on Edited to Within an Inch of my Life: Front and Back BurnersHeather Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-87880014584445681842009-10-28T09:37:07.902-04:002009-10-28T09:37:07.902-04:00Anne--Adding a project feels right to me. Before,...Anne--Adding a project feels right to me. Before, I felt like I was punishing myself by not drafting another idea. I think I was afraid of giving up during the revision stage, and thought that if I added another cool idea, another book, then I would just run with that one, and not finish revisions. But I need the creative movement of drafting. It feeds my writing soul. And I am so attached to the initial book, that I'm sure I'll keep pounding it out. I'll definitely keep you posted as to how this new method works.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-75702867787199300752009-10-28T09:33:06.004-04:002009-10-28T09:33:06.004-04:00Anna-- That's the real test--finishing the boo...Anna-- That's the real test--finishing the book (in the polished, excellent, agent-ready way). Good luck with all your projects--and with NaNo. It sounds like you've got a lot of great things in the works.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-60799630791344254902009-10-28T09:28:49.931-04:002009-10-28T09:28:49.931-04:00C.R.--I'm hoping to get into a groove like you...C.R.--I'm hoping to get into a groove like yours. Your project load sounds really balanced. I'm actually really excited to start the new project--I've been thinking about it for months.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-2197774206035281492009-10-28T05:34:49.850-04:002009-10-28T05:34:49.850-04:00he-he-he. All the problems you list with your cur...he-he-he. All the problems you list with your current method are the same problems I have. But I'm not a born multi-tasker at all, so I've really struggled with how to incorporate working on multiple things at once. Let us know what you figure out that works for you!Anne M Leonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04547591113801578453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-89561849960311736462009-10-27T19:02:35.003-04:002009-10-27T19:02:35.003-04:00I have two in revision, one in rough first-draft s...I have two in revision, one in rough first-draft shape, and then I'm planning on starting a new project for NaNo. I like to work on a few projects at once, but I think I have one too many at this point, but hopefully one of them will finally be DONE! Good luck with yours!Anna Staniszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316883819771607655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-48164255960688117292009-10-27T14:33:58.838-04:002009-10-27T14:33:58.838-04:00I usually work on 2 projects at a time.
I usuall...I usually work on 2 projects at a time. <br /><br />I usually have one in first draft, one in revision and then if you count the story that is starting to brew in my mind and maybe I'll jot down a few things so I don't forget but I haven't really started writing yet, then that would be 3. <br /><br />I have a hard time just working on one thing, for many of the reasons you mentioned. Sometimes I'm more in the mood to work on a different set of skills or maybe I'm more excited to tackle different things at different times. <br /><br />Good luck w/ your projects!C.R. Evershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09034891037873664976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-81800262416433210452009-10-27T12:32:58.777-04:002009-10-27T12:32:58.777-04:00Sarah--My writing partner has a ton of outlines fo...Sarah--My writing partner has a ton of outlines for book ideas that he has mapped out to write over the course of his writing career. It sounds like he and you might have similar methods. I just follow my next big idea. (Here's hoping there is always one to follow!)<br /><br />I agree--putting something away for a month or two is so valuable. I think we lose perspective when we work with something so closely for a while.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-40223284657806303592009-10-27T12:27:13.224-04:002009-10-27T12:27:13.224-04:00Paul-- it sounds as though you have found your rhy...Paul-- it sounds as though you have found your rhythm. And it also sounds very productive. I'm glad to be starting something similar. It's much more balanced than the way I have been working, which, ironically, I thought would give me the best outcome.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-91560421775820441122009-10-27T11:31:31.432-04:002009-10-27T11:31:31.432-04:00Hm. Tough question to answer. While I have starts ...Hm. Tough question to answer. While I have starts to probably 30 or so books, I am only planning on working up, um, maybe 8 of them. For now. <br /><br />I need to have something fun to work on in the middle of slogging through something less fun. Sometimes revisions can be fun, but mostly, they're more intense - require more creative energy and deeper thought. They break up the writing flow, too.<br /><br />What I also have to be aware of is finsihing or the procrastination thereof. It's important to hang tough with a project and get it to a certain place where it is ready to be sent out into the world.<br /><br />I also find putting something in the drawer for a few months helps with revising and that's a perfect time to get a different first draft under my belt.Sarah Laurensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09252565450452195395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-17664255024826561122009-10-27T09:49:02.041-04:002009-10-27T09:49:02.041-04:00I have four manuscripts that I'm working on. T...I have four manuscripts that I'm working on. They are all in the revision/rewrite stage. Two are much closer to being ready for submission than the others. For me, it is productive to have more than one project because when I need distance from one I pick up another. And each rewrite on any given book helps me with the rewrites on the others.<br /><br />I didn't plan this method. It evolved. When I am struck with an idea. And I mean struck, like it grabs onto my throat and won't let go I start a first draft. I have plenty of ideas simmering but when one reaches out I run with it.Paul Grecihttp://paulgreci.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com