Hey everybody! Hope you’re all doing fantastic! Today is the
first Wednesday of a new month so it’s time again for another IWSG. :D
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a wonderful place where writers can share their worries and failures as well as their successes and advice. Led by our fearless leader Alex J. Cavanaugh, IWSG meets the first Wednesday of every month and you can join on his site here. There's also a brand new website now so be sure to check it out here.
So I’ve been working hard on a couple of pieces lately, one
being my novel assignment for the Institute of Children’s Literature and the
other being a short contest piece for the Central Oregon Writer’s Guild’s Annual Contest (which just opened up state wide! :D Woohoo!). They’re both
coming along great and I’m really excited about both, but they both also have
some upcoming deadlines. The first third of my novel’s rough draft is due in a week
or so and my contest piece is due on the first of September. I’ve almost got my
novel’s first third done and I’m really close to having my contest piece fully
written out, but the editing process is going to take a while. I’ve been having
a bit of difficulty switching back and forth between the two; I get focused and
then I have to switch back to the other piece. When you’re working on multiple
pieces, how do you juggle them? Do you have a system that helps you better
manage your time? Let me know in the comments below and thanks for stopping by!
^^ :D
Hey, great to meet you! I have Oregon history (college, then a dozen years in Portland) so I consider it my heart state, even if I'm in Michigan now. As for juggling... I tend to put things on a calendar and do them one at a time, but writing and revisions are different animals. If you are going to work on them at the same time, maybe try to do it in different places. Easier to change gears when the external cues are different (at least for me). Alternately, set aside your draft completely and do the short story draft, then come back. I think novels benefit from some distance before trying to revise anyway. (I typically give several months, but for a class, you don't have that luxury)
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you too! That's a great idea! I will give it a try. :) Thanks for stopping in Hart! ^^ :D
DeleteCongrats on having the commitment to write two pieces at once :)! I always get sidetracked by one and then forget about the other....I'd probably say that since your novel draft is the one that's due in first, maybe try and get that done and out of the way, before starting to edit your contest piece. After all, you have until September to edit it :). But that's just my opinion, and obviously, it depends on what other commitments you have as well!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! And happy writing!
Thanks for your advice Rachel! :D
DeleteI'm working on revisions and just started Backworlds #6, so I'm revisioning and writing at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI usually switch back and forth, giving the project that needs the most focus the best part of my time. As deadlines near, the one with the closest deadline will get more time than the other project. And I set a goal for each... how far do I need to get today. That can help. Sometimes it takes less time than I think.
That makes a lot of sense! Thanks Mary! ^^ :D
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