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Write more than one story at one time ..
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Writing Tips
 01 Mar 2010, 11:45 #82748 Reply To Post
This wouldn't apply to all cases - e.g. if we'd told Joseph Heller to stop concentrating on Catch-22 and write more than one thing - but we've noticed throughout the site's history that it can be good to explore and have different stories going at the same time. For example site member Doug Jackson had two stories uploaded when he started, Caligula and a crime story, both did well but Caligula which was later signed up by Random House definitely had the edge. Putting both out for feedback gave him the information from readers to know which story to go with over time.

Some may say multi-story writing may drain focus from the 'one big story' but perhaps focusing on another story can also allow the creative juices to come back to the story you have a particular interest in afresh while growing a new story .. It seems to be a trend that the site writers who usually do best never just stick with one story ..
MLT
 01 Mar 2010, 17:32 #82796 Reply To Post
The problem is doing enough reviews to have the credits to attach to more than one story
pam123writing
 01 Mar 2010, 19:04 #82808 Reply To Post
Quote: MLT, Monday, 1 Mar 2010 17:32
The problem is doing enough reviews to have the credits to attach to more than one story


Very true, Marjorie. I'm feeding four at the moment with another on the way. It's hard work.
"And, in the end, the love you take / Is equal to the love you make." Lennon and McCartney 1969
Crossmouse
 02 Mar 2010, 18:09 #82871 Reply To Post
Quote: Writing Tips, Monday, 1 Mar 2010 11:45

Putting both out for feedback gave him the information from readers to know which story to go with over time.



I did that when I first started and it was the story I didn't think much of that got the better vote. Bummer.

The problem with writing more than one thing at a time, I find, is that I can only keep one set of characters in my head. If I try to multitrack I find that characters slip from one book to another, which is strange and unsettling. I have several books on the go at the moment but I can only work on one at a time. The ideas keep flowing but the characters sort of jostle for position. Does anyone else have this problem?
pam123writing
 02 Mar 2010, 19:22 #82878 Reply To Post
Quote: Crossmouse, Tuesday, 2 Mar 2010 18:09
Quote: Writing Tips, Monday, 1 Mar 2010 11:45

Putting both out for feedback gave him the information from readers to know which story to go with over time.



I did that when I first started and it was the story I didn't think much of that got the better vote. Bummer.

The problem with writing more than one thing at a time, I find, is that I can only keep one set of characters in my head. If I try to multitrack I find that characters slip from one book to another, which is strange and unsettling. I have several books on the go at the moment but I can only work on one at a time. The ideas keep flowing but the characters sort of jostle for position. Does anyone else have this problem?


I'm sorry for laughing but I have this mental vision of your characters running amok all over your desk, leaping from page to page and all ending up in the wrong story! But I know what you mean. They do jostle for position. I swore I would leave my triology characters behind after the third novel. I've even finished with THE END, rather than To be Continued but they're not taking the hint! Ideas keep coming into my head. I wish they'd all go home and leave me in peace for a year or two.
"And, in the end, the love you take / Is equal to the love you make." Lennon and McCartney 1969
sophiemp
 03 Mar 2010, 01:00 #82900 Reply To Post
I've taken breaks from my novel to write short stories, but I don't consider that working on two things at once. It's just working on one instead of the other. I can't even imagine having two novels going at once. I'd have to start drinking.

The thing about Doug Jackson, though, is that he's GOOD. If he had only posted his crime story, he would still be where he is today, because it would have been one of the most well written crime stories any of us had ever read.
papa stas
 26 Mar 2010, 21:56 #84897 Reply To Post
"I can't even imagine having two novels going at once.
I'd have to start drinking."


Anything wrong with that, sophiemp?

papa
stas

The difference between a CHAMP and a CHUMP is U.
sophiemp
 27 Mar 2010, 09:39 #84922 Reply To Post
Quote: papa stas, Friday, 26 Mar 2010 21:56
"I can't even imagine having two novels going at once.
I'd have to start drinking."


Anything wrong with that, sophiemp?

papa
stas



It's not a good look on me.

And anyway, I have enough vices as it is.
awrigley
 27 Mar 2010, 16:01 #84962 Reply To Post
Quote: Writing Tips, Monday, 1 Mar 2010 11:45
It seems to be a trend that the site writers who usually do best never just stick with one story.


No, but they do finish them. YWO is great for learning how to start a novel, but that isn't all there is to it.

It's easy enough to rattle off 7000 words, and somewhat more difficult to stitch those into the same fabric as the other 60,000+ needed for a novel.

Me, I've only done it once.
Memory... What was that?
paula8888
 27 Mar 2010, 17:46 #84968 Reply To Post
Quote: sophiemp, Wednesday, 3 Mar 2010 01:00
I've taken breaks from my novel to write short stories, but I don't consider that working on two things at once. It's just working on one instead of the other. I can't even imagine having two novels going at once. I'd have to start drinking.

The thing about Doug Jackson, though, is that he's GOOD. If he had only posted his crime story, he would still be where he is today, because it would have been one of the most well written crime stories any of us had ever read.


What are you working on at the moment, Patti? Have you got another novel near completion? I've just had a nosey round the web but can't find any info on you!



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