Writing everything at once

I like having several writing projects to think about at once. My work is built rather than arriving in a deluge so having more than one project means I can switch from one to the other when I – and I will – hit a wall.

At the moment, I am working on a short story of very postmodern styling and a novel, the outline of which is clear to me and the first half of which is tangible. Both of these I take very seriously. I dable in non-fiction, and even though of all my work it is this that I have the most success in getting published, I write it when the mood takes me. I also think out loud/experiment/scribble/record on Lead Igloo and writing/sub editing stuff is part of what I do between the hours of 09:00 and 17:00.

Apart from these, there is no telling what will pop up in between or what I will follow.

But I’m not convinced this is the best way of operating. Not only am I fearful of over extending myself and my brain, I worry no project will have the focus and energy it needs.

There is also the question of how similar, or not, these multiple works should be. Is it best for them to feed off one another? Or should they be completely different

I haven’t read much on the topic of writing mulptiple projects. No doubt Writers (note the capital W) do it – but does it work?

LI

Related posts:

1. On workshopping your writing
2. Being a writer vs just writing
3. Miscellaneous Voices