{"id":14698,"date":"2016-02-23T01:00:20","date_gmt":"2016-02-23T09:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=14698"},"modified":"2016-02-23T08:06:25","modified_gmt":"2016-02-23T16:06:25","slug":"two-projects-at-once-by-raina-schell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2016\/02\/23\/two-projects-at-once-by-raina-schell\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Projects at Once by Raina Schell"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s welcome back monthly columnist Raina Schell<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cTwo Projects at Once.\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Are you trying to edit one novel while writing another?<\/strong> This is what many writers find themselves having to do.<\/p>\n

Maybe you recently finished a novel, during NaNo<\/a> perhaps. Or you wrote one awhile back and shelved it. Regardless, unless you edit that manuscript several times over it won\u2019t be ready for prime time.<\/p>\n

However, you now have a brilliant idea for your next concept. You can\u2019t wait to start it. Perhaps you\u2019ve outlined it or if you\u2019re a pantster<\/a> maybe it\u2019s been niggling at the back of your brain for days, weeks, months or even years. You\u2019re rearing to go and there\u2019s no reason why you shouldn\u2019t start it, so you do.<\/p>\n

Is there anything wrong with this picture?<\/strong> Not unless you want to publish which includes either self publishing or traditional. For either you have to have a finished product.<\/p>\n

I would never claim to be an expert in this area but my limited experience has painted me into this exact position. I\u2019ve finished three novels and am in the middle of my fourth. One problem is that I chose to write series as opposed to single title. I have started three separate series. Deciding to edit book three while continuing to write book four seemed like the best plan.<\/p>\n

Originally I planned to devote one hour per day to each. \u00a0That hasn\u2019t worked out. I\u2019m currently managing one morning per week where I split my time between the two. I edit for as long as I can, usually one scene and then I try to write on the next manuscript, usually one scene.<\/p>\n

I do have productivity<\/a> ideas in case you find yourself in a similar boat \u2013 remember this is for tackling two projects at once.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Time<\/u><\/strong>:<\/u> put aside a specific time each day (1\/2 an hour, 1 hour, 2 hours\u2026) whatever works for you to edit. Then spend the same amount of time to write.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    OR if you\u2019re a *sprint writer put aside 1-2 days a week and write or edit (or both) for 5 hours (or a chunk of time).<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Day<\/u><\/strong>:<\/u> write one day for a specific amount of time and edit the next day, switch off between writing and editing every other day.<\/li>\n
    2. Scene<\/u><\/strong>:<\/u> work on one scene at a time both for editing and writing, each day or sprinting one day a week.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Whatever method you choose and I\u2019m sure there are others I\u2019m not considering, give yourself a deadline.<\/strong> A deadline can ensure you finish your work. You can choose to work with a time deadline, a word count deadline, a scene deadline or a finish deadline.\"person<\/p>\n