When Did Ths Happen?

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I thought I was a creature of habit.  Not anymore. When I first started writing, I could never work on more than one story at a time. This week, I worked on four. That's right, four. And I never got confused. I did find a problem though. The villain in one story had the same name as the villain in another. Other than some severe jerk issues, they had nothing in common.  Thanks to a lot of Facebook friends, I managed to come up with another name for the villain in one of the WIPs. I even got some to spare!

I wrote in total silence. Not a sound in the house but the clack of they keyboard as my fingers ran over the keys.  Background noise used to be a necessity. Now, the slightest sound was a distraction.

I didn't pause to get on the internet when I got stuck. If the story stalled, I went on to another one. What happened? At some point during my writer life, I learned to work on more than one story at a time. Don't know if that's good or bad yet. I'll let you know when I go back over the WIPs with a fresh mind. This could prove to be interesting.

Comments

  1. Leigh CaronAugust 31, 2012 at 6:46 AM

    I had a shift in my writing habit also. Something in the stars?

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  2. Liz FlahertyAugust 31, 2012 at 7:07 AM

    Wow. I need the silence just to concentrate on ONE. Even when I'm doing edits, the WIP languishes because my mind won't go there. I hope it lasts for you, Shawn, and I hope it rubs off on your friends!

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  3. AnonymousAugust 31, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    I did the reverse (and I don't know if that's good or bad). I used to be able to work on several WIPs at once. Now I concentrate solely on one until I finish it, then go to the next or start something new. Must have complete silence too or, if any noise, soothing instrumental background music.

    Sounds like you are making amazing progress! :)

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  4. Kristina KnightAugust 31, 2012 at 11:34 AM

    I've always worked on more than one story - I call it Journalist ADD because when I was reporting we all had 2-3 stories every day to finish. J-ADD also means I can't work in silence. Need some noise/music to drown out the Infernal Editor!

    Hope the changes continue working for you, Shawn!!

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  5. MargieAugust 31, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    I go through spurts. Usually in the beginning I work on a couple of projects at the same time and then one clicks and the next two--hello, Bix--is spent on that project.

    Right now I'm back at the beginning--flirting and winking and waiting for commitment.

    Good luck with your new process.

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    Replies
    1. MargieAugust 31, 2012 at 11:45 AM

      it's supposed to say two years, just for the record..

      Delete
  6. D'AnnAugust 31, 2012 at 6:57 PM

    I've always worked on more than one ms at a time. Right now, it's two or three.

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  7. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2012 at 11:46 AM

    I've been trying to avoid working on more than one story at a time. I do edit one and write one at the same time. I'm in awe that you can write four at one time.

    ReplyDelete

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