#1. How to juggle writing multiple projects at the same time:
As anyone that's done it can tell you, it’s not an easy task writing a polished script or novel. When I say polished here, I mean, to a glossy shine full of mistake-free pages, with great arches, and a plot that ramps smoothly enough to hook. It's further daunting when you're writing both, or two of one or the other, at the same time.
Manuscripts of novel length take a lot of work and shortcuts are to be avoided if you want a nice, finished project. But what do you do if you're in the middle of one, let's say a manuscript that happens to be your newest baby on paper, and you get approached by someone wanting to hire you to scribe a screenplay? The answer is simple: you take the job and meet their deadline, then hop back to completing the novel when you're done.
Always make a paid job a priority if you decide to take it on. If you can't do that because you’re on another hired deadline for something else you're writing, then don't take the job. Nothing's worse than tackling something you can't accomplish within the agreed parameters of... and tarnishing your reputation.
For me, the toughest part is sometimes getting back into writing whatever I had to stop working on for a while, especially if I was in the midst of a great flow. Sometimes it's best for me to give myself a few days, or weeks, between what I'm writing to get my head cleared or back into it. I never force writing. If I'm not loving it, I don't do it.
Can you bounce back and forth between multiple projects at the same time?
Of course. There are no rules to writing. Period. I don't care what anyone says about it. There have been times when I'm juggling both, but I'm way ahead of my deadline on project "A", and I took a day or three to write something in project "B" because it was eating at me, I had the time to do it, and it felt right.
The editing phase of a script or novel can lend you time for this as well.
With a screenplay, each time you send your draft back to whoever hired you to write it, you'll have only a little time to work on your manuscript while the other party gives it a read for feedback. With a novel (if you're on a deadline) you'll most likely have to wait until you complete it before hopping onto a project you're writing for poops and giggles. There is, however, a silver lining here: when you send a manuscript of novel length to your editor, it will free up about a month of your time so you can work on your other project.
Regardless, don't sweat the little things.
The takeaway?
Never stop, you can juggle if you do it smartly, don't take on tasks you can't complete, find what works for you, and don't stress too much when things start to feel daunting. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Happy writing, everyone!
- C. R. BUCHANAN
www.crbuchanan.com
www.lunchbox-films.com
www.cheyennebuchnan.com
Manuscripts of novel length take a lot of work and shortcuts are to be avoided if you want a nice, finished project. But what do you do if you're in the middle of one, let's say a manuscript that happens to be your newest baby on paper, and you get approached by someone wanting to hire you to scribe a screenplay? The answer is simple: you take the job and meet their deadline, then hop back to completing the novel when you're done.
Always make a paid job a priority if you decide to take it on. If you can't do that because you’re on another hired deadline for something else you're writing, then don't take the job. Nothing's worse than tackling something you can't accomplish within the agreed parameters of... and tarnishing your reputation.
For me, the toughest part is sometimes getting back into writing whatever I had to stop working on for a while, especially if I was in the midst of a great flow. Sometimes it's best for me to give myself a few days, or weeks, between what I'm writing to get my head cleared or back into it. I never force writing. If I'm not loving it, I don't do it.
Can you bounce back and forth between multiple projects at the same time?
Of course. There are no rules to writing. Period. I don't care what anyone says about it. There have been times when I'm juggling both, but I'm way ahead of my deadline on project "A", and I took a day or three to write something in project "B" because it was eating at me, I had the time to do it, and it felt right.
The editing phase of a script or novel can lend you time for this as well.
With a screenplay, each time you send your draft back to whoever hired you to write it, you'll have only a little time to work on your manuscript while the other party gives it a read for feedback. With a novel (if you're on a deadline) you'll most likely have to wait until you complete it before hopping onto a project you're writing for poops and giggles. There is, however, a silver lining here: when you send a manuscript of novel length to your editor, it will free up about a month of your time so you can work on your other project.
Regardless, don't sweat the little things.
The takeaway?
Never stop, you can juggle if you do it smartly, don't take on tasks you can't complete, find what works for you, and don't stress too much when things start to feel daunting. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Happy writing, everyone!
- C. R. BUCHANAN
www.crbuchanan.com
www.lunchbox-films.com
www.cheyennebuchnan.com
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