posted
First of all I am a very new writer.....but I find it to be a passion. I have 3 WIP atm and have ideas for more...sometimes I feel like writing in my sci fi other times in my fantasy....sometime I have to lead my character by the hand .... other times he seems to drag me along as I try to catch up with an idea he came up with it seems.....is this normal and is writing the only way to feel better?
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posted
I have about 5. BUt I tend to focus on one at a time, that doesn't stop be from shifting which one I'm working on - when inspiration hits.
Posts: 2195 | Registered: Aug 2006
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I tend to only be actively working on 1 at a time. I'm not sure if this is unusual. I like to have an idea waiting in the wings, but usually that's not the case. When I finish writing my last idea into a story, I usually have to concentrate quite hard to come up with a new idea.
I do have a couple incomplete shorts, but I wouldn't really call them "in progress" because I've set them aside because I haven't a clue where the story is going.
Novel WIPs - 5 total: - 1 in Editing Phase - 2 around 60k words, 1 around 24k, 1 around 12k. - 2 'officially' shelved for now - 1 that's really 'active' (written all 24k words in a week) - 1 that I work on when I'm burned out (the 12k one)
Short Story WIPs - 5 total: - 2 in Editing Phase - 3 still being completed
Flash Fiction WIPs - 0 total: - But I do have one that... I guess... is being reviewed by a publisher.
In addition, I write in my little journal that I lug around with me whenever the mood strikes. Guess that's a overly-verbose answer.
EDIT: Oops. Forgot one.
[This message has been edited by Rhaythe (edited October 30, 2008).]
posted
I have 3 Novels-in-Progress: my Historical Fiction (which I work on every night); my Fantasy collaboration (which is still in the outlining stages); and a former WotF idea (Fabntasy) that kept growing.
I have 4 Short Stories/Novellettes/Novellas-in-Progress: 1 Novelette out to critique (which I usually do when I finish the first draft); 2 are in rough outlining/beginning stages; 1 is "cooling off", to be edited soon.
and 2 Flash Fictions want me to write them.
As far as concentrating, I work on my Historical (which is at almost 53,000 words) every night. I try to work on my collaborative outline once a week (I'm waiting for my co-author to get back to me, at present).
The rest come and go in spurts. (No pun intended.)
While my Historical is cooling off, I'll focus on a few shorts and extrapolate on my collaborative effort. While actually penning my portion of the collaboration, I'll work on the ouline to the lengthened Fantasy novel. As I'm penning that, I'll outline the sequel to my Historical. 'Bout that time, My current WIP should be cooled off enough to edit.
posted
i was going to say that i have 3 WIP, but alas, looking at this thread, i realize they fit more into the WOS category (thanks skadder!).
1- a YA fantasy short story that i love but cant seem to organize and finish. im on vacation from it.
2- a strange short story about death that i dont care to work on too much because i find myself crying and depressed (its mostly a theraputic work). im on vacation from it too.
3- a story outline that im not sure i want to pursue after doing some character development and brain storming. it would need some research. its on the shelf under "some day".
i, like rhyathe, carry a journal with me with ideas, weird thoughts, story possibilities, and experiences written in it. after nanowrimo i have several stories ideas worth pursuing and may revisit my WOS.
posted
I have: -Three novels. One being written, one first draft completed, one on third draft. -Countless short stories. There are only a few that I'm actively working on: two being written, four in the revision/publication cycle, and my WOTF entry.
I like having a lot of projects happening at once. At the moment, my novel is causing me no end of trouble, so I'm doing the short stories instead. I find I don't have trouble switching back and forth, but everyone writes in their own way.
posted
Just one, I'm afraid if I start something else I'll get wrapped up in it and will leave this one undone. When I'm done writing this one I'm on I'll edit and move on to something else while editing. I do have several ideas for the next couple ones. I like to let them ferment in my head for a while. I do write down short summarys of them to remember them.
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- One novel (mostly in outline: WIP for 2 yrs). - A few short story ideas filed away, and one started and filed.
Posts: 785 | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
I used to have anywhere between 3 and a dozen works in progress at any one time. Suffice it to say, I was scrambled to the point of massive counter-productiveness.
One of my determinations to become a better (and more efficient) writer is to work on one new project at a time. For novels, I give myself 2-3 weeks for world-building and story outlining, then one week per chapter / section, then 2-3 weeks for revisions / consistency read-throughs / visualization read-throughs / final proofreadings. For short stories, I give myself 2-3 weeks to finish the entire thing, depending on whether I’m writing in a world I’ve already created or am starting with all new everything.
That said, this is what my newly revised list looks like:
Novels-in-progress: • 1 science fiction
Novels-in-waiting: • 3 science fictions • 1 young adult (pending the success of the one I’ve already finished) • 1 mainstream-esque mystery
Short stories in progress: • Technically none, since I’ve put them all aside until the novel is "finished." Looks like I won’t be competing in WotF for another quarter or so.
Short stories in waiting: • 3 science fictions
Short stories in repair or disarray: • 3 science fiction • 2 mainstream
This list does not include the short stories I have on the drawing board. I don’t even remember how many I have.
posted
Yes. Writing is the only way to feel better. Until it makes you feel worse because there are all the other little writing babies you are ignoring in order to pay attention to the one you're currently writing. Their little baby squeals call to you just when you're dealing with the painful confrontation scene between your main character and his gay prostitute ex-wife's lover's best friend's dog's previous owner's cousin.
It's tricky, this writing business. The only cure is more writing. Good for you for getting started. Keep it up!
2 short stories doing the rounds; 3 short stories in final polish; 2 short stories awaiting major revision 3 short stories in rough draft 2 or 3 novellas in backstory, awaiting confidence I can tackle them
I work on the one whose characters clamour most for attention, who have most idea where their story is going, or who most convincingly threaten to quit.
quote: sometime I have to lead my character by the hand .... other times he seems to drag me along as I try to catch up with an idea he came up with it seems.....is this normal and is writing the only way to feel better?
I think this is absolutely normal. When I started I thought I had to finish one story before starting another, and found this was neither fun nor the best way to learn--I learn new things with each new story because the characters and events take it to unexpected places.
Zac chimed.
"And then you invented me," said Zac.
"Yup," I said, wondering where he'd drag me this time ...
Cheers, Pat
[This message has been edited by TaleSpinner (edited October 31, 2008).]
posted
About 35 unfinished novels, and about 50 unfinished short stories.
Realisticaly, some of those haven't been touched in years and probably won't be, but I would say that there are at least 20 novels and 20 short stories that I do intend to complete and thus could in theory pick up and work on at any time. And elements from the others may be plundered and redeployed.
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