(personal/writing) Getting back into the swing of things

[vg_ford]

I’ve been writing again.  In fact, my new streak is at 8 days and counting.  It feels good to write again, like I’ve found the right thing that I need to be doing.

 

I used to wish I was one of those authors who could have two or more projects going at once, because they always seemed to be getting stuff done.  However, as part of learning my own process, I’m realizing that I’m not built that way.  I have two current stories going, and I’m going to be putting one aside so I can concentrate on the other one.  I can’t switch back and forth from different worlds – not when I’m writing, at least.  So I’ll choose one (Pendragon, actually) and then, once that draft is done, I’ll switch back to Midsummerland.

 

I’m okay with this.  Yes, it takes me longer to write and finish things.  But that’s okay.  It’s my process, and I’m owning it.  I have other things I can work on as well (like the page proofs for Last Rites), and the sooner I finish Pendragon, the sooner I can start shopping it around.

 

And that’s a good thing.

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[peartreealley.livejournal.com]

I dunno about the "one project at a time taking longer" thing so much, because unless you're also writing/thinking twice as much, you're still only able to devote energy to one project at a time (even if you are flipping back at forth). Thus, two 3 month projects are still taking 6 months, you're just maybe finishing them both within a month of one another... or something like that :)

Then again, I'm a one project-at-a-time sort for most projects I do (1 writing project, 1 knitting project, 1 spinning project, etc.), and speed has never been a problem XD I just focus really hard on that one thing I'm doing.

I'm glad you're feeling better and I hope your streak continues! Now I should get to work....

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

I think it just seems to take longer for me, because I'm only doing one thing at a time, whereas some of my writer friends have several projects at various stages and they always seem to be just finishing SOMETHING. But I'm okay with being slow. Good things come to those who wait. :)

And I'm really trying very hard to finish projects before I start any more.