I am a huge offender of having multiple works-in-progress. Yeah, I said it. And at one point every writer finds more than one project at a time. So, how many is too many? Let’s figure it out!
The Pros:
The panther in me loves to have seven tabs up at one time. I write what I want when I want. This helps when I get blocked up and need to change things up. There is no method and total chaos and I find this is when all the ideas hit me at once.
I’m a vivid dreamer. This multi WIP approach helps when my brain changes stories mid writing. Somehow this calms some of the chaos going on in my office.
The Cons:
I do get things mixed up, and have suffered through more rewrites than I care to admit.
Then the stress of planning a series for each piece, the marketing, it all snowballs out of control and I start to dislike my craft.
The Fix:
After 13 years, I finally caved and started taking some of my own advice. I only have one project at a time. However, I keep another document open, and take notes when the next book idea springs to life.
So the answer you have all been waiting for…
Do what you’re comfortable with! But I recommend just one at a time.
Now go write something.
I recently had three projects going. I made progress, but it was slow until I got far enough ahead in one piece that I could finish it quickly. Now, I have whittled this down to two editing projects (an anthology for another publisher and one for me) along with one writing job where I blow off steam when editing becomes too intense for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am a one-at-a-time writer, but I think that’s a great idea to have another document open to take notes for THAT story when they arrive.
LikeLiked by 1 person