I've received some feedback on my plan to cull the number of novels I write at a time down to one. People made some good points, and I've thought it over. Now, I'm interested in what you think. There are three choices here. First, that I only write one at a time. Second, that I write two at a time, switching back and forth every week. And third, that I write two, but split my time on them 3 to 1.
This still only applies once the current three novels start wrapping up. I won't stop the writing schedule I have now until one of the novels ends.
To make things a little more clear, here are your options:
Option one is one novel at a time.
Option two is Novel A weeks 1 and 2, Novel B weeks 3 and 4, Novel A weeks 5 and 6, etc.
Option three is Novel A week 1, Novel B weeks 2 - 4, Novel A week 5, Novel B weeks 6 - 8, etc.
Vote for as many as you like. Poll ends on Sunday.
The more I think about it the three to one split makes sense. Since it, will even out every two months. It also allows you to focus on 1 story for 3 chapters in a month and it reduces the unnecessary chapter review to continue the story.
Writers block is a very real problematic thing. I like the switching and rotations to prevent that. It gives me time to review the story “so far…” What works best for you is most important.
Writers block isn’t a problem for me. I do procrastinate more than I should, but once I force myself to write, it almost always flows. So, I don’t think I need rotations to help with that. In a perfect world, I’d write one story through to the end, but I do like the idea of giving readers some variety.
i love all of yours stories i just hope you choose something that helps stay immersed in 1 or 2 stories i love them all but i sometimes find it hard to remember what happened last in the story when we get ahold of a new chapter 3 or 4 weeks after the last one was released. also on a side note do you and jdseal plan on bringing his illustrations to your new site?
Thanks for the feedback. And no, JDseal and I will not bring the illustrations to this site. It looks like we’re keeping all that at SS for the foreseeable future.
I think 1 at a time. Finish it then on to the next one. I’m not liking the “this week will be story 1” , “this week will be story 3”, “this week will be story 2″…. Seems I have to wait a month before I get back to a story I like. I don’t pick up 3 or 4 books and read a chapter from 1, then a chapter from another and so forth. I read through the whole book. Just my opinion.
Having one continuous story flow quickly was my original thought, but there’s a lot to balance here it seems.
I think the 3-1 balance gives you a useful safety valve around writers block — if you find that you can’t decide how to continue a story, you get an update off to explore another story. Obviously the 50-50 split has much of the same benefit but, as you noted up already, the constant switching back and forth can be inefficient and difficult. A final note, someone up-thread was unhappy with The Wicked Tower — I’ll throw my “vote” in the other direction, it’s my favorite story of yours so far.
Thank you for the feedback. I do lean more toward the 3 to 1 split, but the 50-50 will be better than the current system for sure.
As long as the switching doesn’t require too much division of attention on your part (keeping track of storylines, etc) then I think that would be best. I think many writers need to have more than one thing going to prevent a) loss of interest and b) writer’s block.
I think I might prefer the 3 to 1 split, because it would require less divided attention. But if I can manage the current schedule, I can certainly manage either of the two story options 🙂
I really hope the wicked tower is not the new direction in your stories. (with that i mean, young female led story and insecure, soft male character ) if that is the case i prefer one like the old ones going at the same time
Each story is different, with different characters. I plan on treading new ground with the next novel.
I think the point you make is a good one. Not everyone likes all my stories equally. And it seems most people have different favorites. So, it seems to make sense to have more than one going at a time.
I like the 3-1 ratio best, generally. Seeing a story make regular progress is awesome, but I don’t want to pretend I’m going to like all of your stories equally, so I hesitate asking you to focus on one at a time. With two going, even if your main story isn’t my favorite, the other story would see progress. I also think there’s benefit, artistically and creatively, taking a break to work on another project and allow it to influence or inform your main work.
Good points. I agree. This is why I wanted to have this poll.