How Beneficial Is Multitasking in Writing?
There are some that would argue that no one should ever multitask because the person is not as “good” at doing it as he/she thinks he/she is. As someone who multitasks—or rather, use to—I would argue the contrary. However, I certainly do agree that multitasking can be challenging. However, let me throw this all in reverse and frame the reason for this topic and where it is going.
As mentioned, I’m a multitasker in just about all that I do. For years, it was the only way that I could function because there were not enough hours in the day. I would have a load of laundry going, dinner in the oven, dishes soaking in the sink, the television playing in the background, and a facial mask deep-cleaning my face while painting my fingernails. The key to my multitasking was finding tasks that did not interfere with each other. Having dishes soaking and laundry in the wash were low-investment tasks. Once I got them started, I didn’t need to pay much attention to them, which freed me to do other things. Likewise, the facial mask needed to stay on for thirty minutes. I could slap it on and move on to something else. And I have to say, I performed all of these tasks well.
Lately, though, I’ve been struggling to multitask at nearly anything. There are many reasons for this that I won’t get into, but not being able to find my groove multitasking has severely slowed my productivity. However, I’m determined to rediscover that balance. As I pondered this thought, I realized there were some tasks that I never or rarely attempted to multitask. You guessed it. Writing, I discovered, was one of those tasks that on one level I was a queen of multitasking, and on another level, I didn’t dare. This is what led me down the rabbit hole to today’s topic. Let me explain.
Writing as a profession is multilayered. It isn’t just sitting at a laptop and typing a story. An author who has intentions to have his/her story published also need to research, edit, publish, select cover art, create blurbs and taglines, reply to email and messages, and develop a marketing strategy. Marketing is a beast in and of itself. As many writers will attest, many of these tasks must also occur while the novel/story is being written. Why? Because these tasks can be extremely time-consuming. Developing an efficient marketing strategy may take months. If an author waited to begin creating a marketing plan after the novel is completed, this could lead to a poor release or to delaying the release for months. Additionally, a writer who is self-publish will need to work out the cover art details while the project is still in the writing stage not only to find the design and artist that he/she wishes to use but also to ensure the artist has enough time to make the artwork into a cover. The point is, writing has many moving parts, and most of those moving parts overlap. Therefore, authors must work on multiple writing-related tasks while the manuscript is being written.
Some writers may handle all of these tasks as they present themselves. For example, an author may stop editing if he/she notices that she has emails to answer. Some writers have livestreams for writing sprints which is a way to interact with readers and other writers while also writing.
Many other authors compartmentalize the writing process either by days or time slots. For example, one author may focus on answering mail and social media on Mondays and Wednesdays, write the main story on Tuesdays and Thursdays, research on Saturdays, and edit on Sundays. Using the same example, an author may focus on answering emails from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM, write from 9:15 AM to 2:15 PM, and conduct research from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. There is no right and wrong in how an author sets up his writing day other than finding a schedule/routine/method that works well for that author.
However, that wasn’t the multitasking writing that snagged my interest. It is when an author is able to work on multiple projects simultaneously that always amazes me. Generally, authors who have this type of routine are authors who are proficient at publishing. And it only makes sense that they would be because they are producing a lot of material. But wouldn’t this be confusing?
So, for the naysayers that argue that the quality of work will suffer, let it be known that many well-established, award-winning authors use this process. Is this something for everyone? No. Can it work? Yes. Has it worked? Yes. Is it difficult? Depends on who is asked. Now, I may have started multiple stories at the same time, but enviably, one takes the lead and gains my focus. I think of my having multiple stories going as more of brainstorming—how I feel my way around the meat and bones of what to develop. Not all will get equal love. Honestly, I find attempting to write more than one complete story at the same time difficult. This led me to ask: how do some authors do it?
Surprisingly, the answer is not much different than how I multitask in other areas of my life. The key is to find balance in writing projects. One author expressed it well by saying that anytime she has multiple writing projects (which is all the time), each is in a different phase. She explained that one WIP (work in progress) will be the one that she is currently writing, one will be in the outline/research phase, and the other in the editing phase. She divides designated portions of her day to dedicate to each WIP. This creates a smooth flow in her production and prevents her from getting stuck or blocked.
The flow: edit, current, and research/outline. By the time she completes editing and is ready to publish, the WIP she currently working on is ready to move to the editing phase. Likewise, the WIP that she has been outlining and researching is ready to advance to the writing phase. Then, she can begin researching/outlining a new WIP. She uses a block schedule as would be seen in many school systems and follows the schedule as if she had any other nine-to-five jobs. As she explained, writing is her profession and not a hobby. If she expects to make a living from it, she must treat it as she would traditional employment. She can’t just show up and write when she wants to, and she can’t afford to make her effort be unproductive. This is how she makes her living. If she had a traditional job and was unproductive each day, she would be fired and not get paid. While being an author she isn’t at risk of being fired, she is vulnerable to not receiving any funds if she doesn’t produce new novels and market herself.
In the morning, she begins with writing because she says that is when her mind is freshest. She begins around 8:00 AM and works until close to noon. She takes a break for lunch and picks up again around 1:00 PM when she does research. She elects to do research second because it “cleanses her writing palate.” The shift from writing the current story to researching and outlining is huge and prevents her from confusing the two projects. It also affords her an opportunity to get out of her house/office, as her research may afford her to visit a specific place (e.g., library, museum, play, zoo, etc.) to gather data and information.
Around 4:00 PM she works on self-editing and formatting a WIP that is close to being submitted to her publisher or professional editor. Here, she is not having to create any ideas. Rather, she is looking for grammatical, continuity, clarity, and structural issues to help strengthen and perfect her story.
At the end of the work day, she always documents her progress. This helps her keep on track and make any necessary adjustments. For example, if she finds herself much farther behind in her research than she is in editing or writing, she may need to add another research session at the end of the day or research what would be her regular day off in a traditional job. The end of the day is also the time she responds to emails and messages and handles marketing.
It also should be noted that she does not work alone. She does have an assistant to help, and since she is traditionally published, her publisher helps with editing and marketing which is why she leaves those matters to the end of the day. This allows her to see what her assistant and publisher have done so that she can fill in any gaps.
I used this author as one example, but she is in no way alone in using this method of writing. The order and times may vary, but many authors have segmented work schedules that allow them to work on multiple writing projects simultaneously. But again, this process doesn’t work for everyone. Moreso, not every writer has the time to write all day every day. Writing is hard, and for many authors, what they earn from their writing isn’t enough to support themselves. Therefore, they have full-time employment in other areas and write when they can. It may be more beneficial to writers with limited time to focus on a single project. In the end, it is up to the writer to determine what is their best writing process.
That’s all I got. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.
Get ready. It’s time to hit the ice again. Future Goals has arrived and is available for download!
When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.
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Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.
Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.
Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.
For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.
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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.
Author Bio
Genevive Chamblee resides in Bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm”, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.
