Today’s word count: 1964 words
Total word count for this project (which I’m calling Nantucket for now) is 31,804 words, which is actually about 3,000 less words than when I started. That’s because I’ve finished deleting all the scenes which involved the main character I’ve changed, and have only rewritten a handful of these scenes.
The character that I changed is still a little on the wishy washy side. She needs more oomph, especially since she’s the paranormal element. Basically, she’s just too nice – not enough character to her. I think I need to do a stream of consciousness session on her and see what comes up.
Working on Multiple Novels
One of the things I’ve been thinking about lately is whether I should let myself work on several novels at once.
I’m that way with reading – at any given time, I’ve got at least two and usually three books on the go. I’ll pick up whichever appeals to me at the time, and eventually I finish one, only to start up a new one to take it’s place, so that I always have several books that I’m reading.
I was sifting through all the novels I’ve started (which is to say, I was sifting through a LOT of stuff, because my main difficulty has always been finishing. I can’t tell you how many Chapter Ones I have lying around), and there are three other ones that I’d like to be writing right now, too. I’m wondering if I should let myself work on one of these three whenever I have a night when nothing’s really coming through for the current novel.
Or should I just keep pushing through on this one? Finish this one and then start on the next?
I’m not sure what would be best. I’m tempted to work on all of them at once, but I’m very worried that it will take me far longer to have a finished novel doing things that way. On the other hand, while it might take longer, doing it that way might mean I might have four first drafts ready for revision.
For now, though, there’s a part of me that just keeps saying, “I’m writing! I’m writing! I’m writing!” I’m going to go to bed happy with that.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations are writing nearly 2000 words — you met your goal
I am so glad that I recently found your blog as I love reading the insights of a writer! I wish I had the creativity to come up with one novel idea – much less several at one time.
I do read like you do, however. I usually have at least 2 books going at the same time, and oftentimes more than that.
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I think working on multiple novels can be a great way to push yourself to write. Even if you don’t feel like working on one particular story, there’s bound to be something in one of the others that calls to you.
Regarding your character issues: stream of consciousness stuff is really helpful, but I also keep a separate file that I call “tidbits.” I fill it with scenes that would be extraneous in the main storyline but still help me get a grasp on my characters. I’ve learned a lot about my fictional people by working on these scenes, and I’ve had a ton of fun doing so.
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Like you, I’m always reading 2-3 (sometimes more) books at a time. Last year I tried starting a new novel because I was getting bogged down with the current project. I found I lost even more momentum in the current project. There’s something to be said for that daily contact with your novel to keep the ideas flowing.
That said, I do need to jump around – blogging, and writing short stories helps keep that creativity flowing for me.
Great news on your word count – I like seeing you track it publicly, it’s inspirational!
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I wish I could work on multiple projects at one time, or read more than one book at a time, but I can’t. If I try to do that, I find I lose focus. I think it depends on the individual, though. The creative process works differently for different people, and I think people should go with what works for them.
I think the writing process is very individual. I can only work on more than one novel if it is because I have finished a first version of one, and begin plotting a new one, and then the first one comes back from the publishers and I rewrite etc. I don´t want to concentrate on more than one plot at the time.
I joined quite an interesting project yesterday, however. Two women from my writing course persuaded me that we should try to write a crime manuscript together. I am ´the plotter´, and they write the chapters. I think it may be an excellent method of working for me as I have concentration problems. Now I have someone to help me keeping track of the characters and the development.
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Molly, do you ever find yourself, after finishing a book, coming up with an idea? Even a little small nugget of an idea? I find that a lot of my ideas come about that way – after I’ve read a book or watched a movie, all of these “but what-if”’s come to me, and I keep thinking about these small nuggets and suddenly, out of nowhere, many of them bloom into a fully-developed idea.
If you ever find that happens to you, that you put down a book and a what-if keeps nudging at you, try keeping with it, playing with it. I think you might be surprised at what you’ll end up with. And then you’ll be writing along with me!
Memory, your “tidbits” file is such an excellent idea! I have been doing something which I should expand to include what you suggest. I am determined not to reread what I write, not until the whole thing is finished, but I’ve been finding that various ideas come to me AFTER I’ve finished a particular writing session, ideas that require revision of what I’ve just written. So I’ve been jotting down all of these revision notes in a notebook. But really, I should just expand on these and write them out as scenes the way you do. It sounds like an excellent suggestion.
Cathryn, that’s my worry exactly – that jumping around between too many projects will result in a diluted focus. You’ve given me something to think about, when you mentioned writing short stories. That might be a way for me to keep on track with a novel and still be able to work on something different when necessary.
Gabrielle, Dorte, I think you’re right. It’s an individual process and what I need to do is experiment and see what works for me. I’ve been thinking that I should stick with this one project in terms of the actual writing of the novel, but perhaps let myself expand on the other three novels: develop my characters, jot down scenes that come to me, things like that. And maybe once I’ve shown myself, yes, I CAN complete a project, I’ll be able to do the kind of jumping around between projects that really does beckon to me.
Thanks for all of your comments. I can’t tell you how inspirational and motivating it is to hear from each of you. This is the process that’s finally given me the ability to simply sit down and do it, and it’s something I’ve been searching for all these years.
Belle,
First and foremost, congratulations on keeping up with your writing goals!! Like I said before, you’re inspiring me (I’ve just finished writing my 2,000 words and I’m not done yet. LOL)
As for working on multiple novels at one time, I say go for it. One thing I’ve noticed when I work on more than one novel (or begin more than one novel), is that sometimes the stories will merge into one. For instance, I had this amazing story idea, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t get past halfway and just set it aside. Next thing I knew, I was writing another (completely different story) and couldn’t get past halfway on it either. A few weeks later, I had the totally random idea of smooshing them together and it worked! How funny is that? So, long comment short, I say try to get as much on the paper as possible because you never really know how the puzzle will come together.
Plus, setting a story aside for a little while may give you some fresh perspective on it. Unless you’re under deadline, let it marinate for a little while and come back to it with a fresh perspective.
And you’re not alone in how you read books. At any given moment, I’m at various stages of 2-3 novels too.
It’s far too easy for me to become distracted if the story doesn’t absolutely suck me in. (Doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad book, just that I wasn’t consumed by it.)
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Dorte, I forgot in my earlier comment to say that your collaboration project sounds like fun, and a great way to stay focused. I’ve been reading about the co-authors of The Strain and how they worked together, and one of these days I think I’d like to collaborate on a project with someone, too!
Ann-Kat, that’s a great idea, that some of my story ideas might actually be meant to go together. And definitely, at this stage of my progress, getting as much down on paper is my goal.
I read several books at a time and end up finishing nothing quite often. It feels more like reading essays or short stories. And the plots get mixed up, unless the story is really outstanding. I’d better break this habit so as to truly enjoy them.