Multitasking

September 14, 2011 by meredithmansfield

First a little housekeeping. Some of you who visited this blog more than three months ago or so may have noticed that several pages were missing from the worlds tab. They related to the world of my first two novels–the same world as MAGIC’S FOOL. But also the same world as a short story I had entered in Writers of the Future. Since the judging of that contest is blind (nobody knows whose story they’re reading), I hid those pages. Since “Becoming Lioness” didn’t place, I’ve put them back.

Now, on to the meat of today’s topic. I’ve decided to try something different. I’m going to have two projects going at once–not, as often happens, one in revision and one in first draft. No, I’m going to try two first drafts at the same time. No idea if I can pull this off, especially with two such different stories. I guess I’ll find out.

The reason I’m doing this is that I’m pretty much stopped on MAGIC’S FOOL. Not blocked. I know what comes next. I can write it. I just don’t. I’ve been trying to figure out why this is. At first, I thought it was my concern over the central conflict. Having had to break up the much longer THE SHAMAN’S CURSE into pieces left me with a more internal conflict for the first story and that worries me a little, especially for a middle grade story.

But, having thought about that, I decided that I should follow Kevin J. Anderson’s advice and just dare to be bad (at first). Get the first draft down and then I can worry about fixing it. That doesn’t seem to have increased my enthusiasm for this project, though.

Now, I think I know what it is. MAGIC’S FOOL is a twice-told tale. I’ve already told the story. True, I’ve reimagined some elements of it, moved some things around, deleted others. But still, I’ve already told this story once. This is the reason some of us (like me) don’t outline extensively. Once I’ve told a story, the excitement isn’t the same.

That doesn’t mean I’m giving up on MAGIC’S FOOL. I just think I’m going to have to approach it differently than I do most first drafts. Instead of immersing myself in it and coming up for air with a completed first draft after six to eight weeks, I’m going to have to go more slowly. I think I may have to be content to just get a chunk done at a time–a chapter or two, perhaps.

But that’s not enough writing for me. The one thing I know for sure is that I won’t get anywhere by standing still. So I’m also, as of this morning, starting on BLOOD IS THICKER, the first sequel to BLOOD WILL TELL. (see a theme, there? Fooled you. It’s not what you think. No vampires, here.)

I normally just write down the ideas for sequels and move on to something new because, if the first book doesn’t sell the odds are even worse for the sequel. In terms of traditional publishing, you’re better off working on something different.

But, traditional publishing is no longer the only game in town and BLOOD WILL TELL is my prime candidate for e-publishing if I can’t generate some real interest in it this go-round. And, with e-publishing, it’s an advantage to have sequels to bring out relatively soon after the first book.

I have to start seriously thinking about that. December or January would probably be the optimal time to e-publish, if that’s what I’m going to do. And I really need the time to figure out what I’m going to do about a cover.

Posted in writing | Tagged fantasy, Middle Grade, Multiple Projects, world building, Writer's Block, writing, Young Adult | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on September 14, 2011 at 4:40 pm | Reply Rebekah Loper

Ah, multi-tasking . . . I think I’m going to have to end up doing some of these same things. I have a rough draft that I’m supposed to be editing right now, and I need to be working on short stories for contest entries (I’m planning on entering the January round of Writers of the Future, btw!). I’ve also got NaNo planning to do.

I’m teetering between two options right now – I really think that my rough draft novel is something that will interest a traditional publisher, but I’ve had such good response to what I’ve told about for one of my WIP’s on my blog that I’m thinking about self-pubbing that one . . .

Decisions, decisions! I think we’ve both got lots of them to make soon 🙂

LikeLike
on September 14, 2011 at 5:13 pm | Reply meredithmansfield

Yes, decisions.

I’m liking this one, though. I’m already starting the second chapter of BLOOD IS THICKER. Fresh story.

LikeLike
on September 15, 2011 at 7:48 pm | Reply Barbara Evers

Meredith, Good luck with the multi-tasking. I’ve been rotating between 3 different story ideas lately, so I completely get it. BTW, you mentioned your story didn’t make it in Writers of the Future. How did you find out? I submitted to the June deadline, but I haven’t heard anything and can’t find the results published anywhere.

LikeLike
on September 15, 2011 at 9:01 pm | Reply meredithmansfield

@Barbara:

The full results for Quarter 3 are up here: http://www.writersofthefuture.com/node/702

The quarters I enter, I join the regular WotF Critique Group on Hatrack River Writers Workshop. Well worth it. This quarter, two of the finalists are from our group. Generally, someone from the group is on top of all the postings of results, too.

This quarter, they had some trouble with the emails. I know several people who never got notified that their story didn’t make the cut.

LikeLike
on September 16, 2011 at 1:07 pm | Reply Sandra McLeod Humphrey

I’m generally working on two books at the same time because it keeps me more engaged and involved. I’m now following your blog and looking forward to your posts.
Fellow MG-YA Campaigner

LikeLike
on September 16, 2011 at 2:28 pm | Reply meredithmansfield

Hi, Sandra.

I’ve worked on as many as three books at a time–querying one, revising one, and writing one. But I’ve never tried to do two first drafts at the same time before. I’m not worried about keeping the stories straight–they’re more than different enough. It’s the voice. Well, we’ll see how it works out.

LikeLike
on September 19, 2011 at 1:50 am | Reply Daina

I’m well familiar with the “release” you get after you write a story down. For me, the story is constantly replaying in my head until I write it down, it’s the only way I can get it out of my head 🙂

I’m having trouble deciding what to concentrate next. I plan on publishing several more short stories on Smashwords, some are finished, some need editing, some are in the process of writing, and that’s what I should be concentrating on, but it doesn’t draw me at the moment. Then I have my unfinished NaNowriMo novel, I keep changing my mind whether to edit it or just drop it. And then, there’s planning for this year’s NaNo. I have an interesting story in mind that needs more planning, but that one also doesn’t draw me to it. If I could just decide on one thing and go with it, I’m sure I could find the enthusiasm to work on it…

LikeLike
on September 19, 2011 at 3:35 pm | Reply Barbara Evers

Meredith, Thanks for the info!

LikeLike
- on September 19, 2011 at 3:50 pm | Reply meredithmansfield
  
  You’re more than welcome.
  
  LikeLike