GOOD OR BAD?

Posted by Pam Champagne, 05/24/08 05:17 AM

I’ve always written one book at time. Now I think I’ve created a monster…well actually six monsters. I have three stories in progress. I write a chapter for my Reno gambling/serial killer book, and then a scene for my hero and heroine on the lam from both the bad guys and the FBI.

If I spend too long on my Reno story, the librarian, who writes erotica on the side, whines, “It’s my turn.”

Not to be outdone, the horror author who wants the erotica writing librarian to live in a haunted house with him says, “Hey! What about me. You haven’t paid any attention to me in over a week.”

Sometimes they get so obnoxious I demand they leave me alone.

“Who are you talking to, honey?” my husband asks from the other room.

“Myself,” I quickly answer. No sense letting him know I’m crazier than he already suspects.

I’m locked into these three books. Although this method delays completion of a manuscript, on the brighter side I’ll have three novels ready at approximately the same time. Once they’re complete, I’m hoping to go back to my old ways—one story at a time.

I’d love to hear from others who do this dance.

HAPPY READING AND HAPPY WRITING

Pam Champagne
www.pamchampagne.net

Category: | 05/24/08 05:17 AM

Comments: [5]

  1. 1 Kimber An

    I used to do this, but I’ve forced myself to stop because it slows down the completion of each novel. It’s the most painful when I’m in the Polishing Phase of Revision. Otherwise, I get cross-pollination and pretty soon I’ve got plot lines grafted on plot lines. It’s insane! And it creates tons of extra work sorting it all out later.

    The way I keep it under control is to have notebooks. I keep one in my purse and one at each end of the house, as well as files on my computer. When a story fragment pops into my head, I jot it down real quick and stay on track with the one I’m supposed to be working on.

    Comment by Kimber An · May 24, 07:26 AM
  2. 2 Kerri

    Pam,
    You have my sympathy. I have a writer-friend who juggles 5 projects at a time, and is successful with all of them. I dipped into her method about a year ago, and now I’m paralyzed. I have a comedy, an erotic thriller, a mainstream, and a romance all going at the same time. And to make it worse, I have three co-writers. So the voices that call for my attention are REAL. I am not able to immerse myself in more than one story at a time. When I key in on a great phrase, I have to decide where to use it….who gets the prize? Anyway, I’ve created a schedule for myself, and I only allow myself to work on certain projects on their designated days. It does feel a bit forced, but at least it keeps me from ditching them all in the trash!

    Comment by Kerri · May 24, 09:04 AM
  3. 3 Kimber An

    From my observation at Enduring Romance (my book review blog), genre readers like it best when their favorite authors release two to three novels (80,000 to 125,000 word novels) each year, every single year. More than that and the authors I’ve observed have no time left for anything else, like promoting the novels and raising children. Any less than two and the readers kind of forget the author. So, that’s what I’m striving for – two to three novels every year. If I juggle more than one novel at a time, I can’t accomplish that. I might finish four in one year, but then it would take another two years to get the next two or three novels out. During those two years, I could lose my audience.

    Comment by Kimber An · May 24, 11:00 AM
  4. 4 Pam Champagne

    Thanks everyone, for your comments. And of course everyone is right! LOL. I’ve got to choose one of these three and stick to it. I guess it will be the characters who yell the loudest.

    Comment by Pam Champagne · May 24, 04:08 PM
  5. 5 Kimber An

    Doesn’t your editor advise you which one to polish up next? Wouldn’t he or she have a good idea which one would be best for building your readership?

    Comment by Kimber An · May 24, 05:43 PM

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