On Multiple Projects

Many of the folk I work with carry a lot of different pencils.



In addition to being writers they are artists, musicians, painters, photographers, boat-builders, bloggers, businesspeople, mothers of toddlers. When it comes to writing, these folk start numerous projects one after the other in rapid succession. I, too am an idea person. It's a good way to be.

Yet when you've got twenty ideas it's difficult to decide what to do first. We're challenged simply keeping the passion for a long-haul project when a new, shiny project comes along.

Should I just do one thing at a time? people ask me. Yes, you should. I should too. But we often won't.

My solution is this: rotate consciously. When you shift from one project to another, do it for the right reasons. These might be:

* to rest a just-completed project before revisioning
* to act on a new idea you might otherwise forget
* to take advantage of an immediate opportunity
* to pick up a project long waiting in the wings

If your "rotation" is a pattern for avoiding writing that is unpleasant, scary, or frustrating, then you're missing something wonderful: the joy of facing down your obstacles and completing your work.