November 11, 2009

Any writing day can feel overwhelming if you’re trying to juggle a lot of projects. Right now, I’m 17,869 words into a new novel on NaNoWriMo. I’m revising a different novel for an agent who’s expressed interest. I teach some. I blog. I’m in a study program with a friend. I have a novel critique to do. EEEEEEEEEEEK!

Bouncing Off the Office Walls

My own writer’s personality prefers working on one project at a time. I like to fully immerse myself in the characters and plot, writing and rewriting, rethinking and editing, polishing and submitting. In the early years, before it was my career, I could do it that way. Everything was written and submitted “on spec,” and no one was waiting with toes a-tapping for my prose, so I could take my time–and do one thing at a time.

Just thinking about what needed to be done today put my brain in a cramp. My little neurons short-circuited up there, and the brain waves came to a halt.

What to do?

First, today and every day, I need to accept the fact that (except for the lessons and critique), none of the other things will get finished today. I need to make my “to do” list reflect this, and yet move each project closer to completion. (I’ve tried just working on one thing at a time before, but I found I lost mental contact with my fiction characters and had to keep starting over. Working on the books daily helps me “remember” who everyone is and what comes next.)

I’ve discovered that if I make a “to do” list that says I will write for one hour on each project that needs to be moved along, then I will do that. I set my kitchen timer for one hour, get my project papers out and ready to go, put on blinders, start the timer, and then focus on that one project for an hour.

I don’t get up during that time or think about any of the other projects. I work on the computer that will NOT connect to the Internet, so there is no temptation to check email. I let my answering machine take calls. [NOTE: This is me on a good day like today. The "yesterday" me made the mistake of getting online early in the morning, and it was downhill from there! Will I never learn?]

But just an hour?

Can you get much accomplished in an hour? An amazing amount! I am constantly surprised how much just fifteen minutes of concentrated writing time can produce. At the end of a writing day where I’ve focused one hour on each project, they all have moved along significantly toward the finish line.

Do I like writing this way? Not really. But I’ve discovered that I can write many more hours in a day when I change projects–about eight hours, as long as I stretch a lot. Writing on the same novel, I am fairly burned out in four hours of writing (four hours total, usually a couple of two-hour sessions.) So productivity is higher when I have to work on multiple projects with multiple deadlines.

Maybe–in the end–I’ll enjoy working this way for that very reason. In the meantime, it’s a good way to get the work done. Try it–you might like it too!

13 Comments »

1. 

   Ok, Kristi, you are convincing me. This might actually work for me, but I need to get a heavy set of blinders! Best wishes on all your projects!

   Comment by Jane Heitman Healy — November 11, 2009 @ 1:33 pm

2. 

   Thanks for reminding me to use my “To Accomplish” list! My commitment to Nanowrimo, in addition to an overwhelmingly full schedule, is challenging my ‘Miss Efficiency’ claims every minute of every day! I will press on!

   Comment by Kerstin T — November 11, 2009 @ 1:50 pm

3. 

   That’s a relief to hear. I just thought I had a really short attention span for writing. I do better when I write awhile, and then break it up with something else before coming back to it. That’s good, because life is good at breaking up my writing time.

   Just curious, Kristi. How seriously do you take Nanowrimo? When you went into Nano, was it with the idea that since you are a professional writer that this new novel has to become something down the road to justify the time and effort you put into it in November?

   Comment by Beth Mac — November 11, 2009 @ 3:17 pm

4. 

   Oofff, you’ve got a full plate. I actually only write about an hour a day because of other responsibilities. This means I prefer to work on one long project at a time as well.

   When I was doing more magazine work, I found that I could juggle several short pieces but I haven’t had to do that with a novel.

   But the advantage of working on multiple projects is that you never get writer’s block and one form of writing can inform the other …

   Great progress on your Nano novel, Kristi.

   Comment by Vijaya — November 11, 2009 @ 4:47 pm

5. 

   This is a very pertinent article Kristi. Thank you for writing it. I have finally decided that I need to follow your lead and either write on paper in another room away from my computer, or not connect to the internet during my “specified” writing time. I can set a timer, or set a goal of “x” numver of words, but I cannot use the internet during that time. Now mind you, this is what I need to do….not necessarily what I have been doing. But, I’m going to give it a try tomorrow! Thanks once again for sharing something from your life that fits my life!
   Audrey

   Comment by Audrey McLaughlin — November 11, 2009 @ 6:07 pm

6. 

   Your plan sounds like a good one to me. I’m not at the place (yet) where I have to juggle projects, but hope to be there in a year or two. I’m also doing NaNo — 14,316 words so far (and a lot of revising that needs to be done later).

   Johnnie

   Comment by Johnnie — November 11, 2009 @ 7:49 pm

7. 

   I’m sorry not to answer each comment individually today, but I did want to thank you all for your comments. About the NaNo commitment: I am taking the time to explore a different kind of novel this month, something that may not ever sell, but something that’s been in the back of my mind to try for a long time. Last year in NaNo, I put pressure on myself to “produce something to sell.” It was no fun–and also it didn’t turn out to be very good! I approached it differently this time. I decided that right now, not every single hour I write needs to be a “billable” hour. I’m tired of considering the “bottom line” on every single thing I write. My girls are grown, my single parenting days are over, and I can give myself a bit more space to experiment. That’s what NaNo is for me this year.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — November 12, 2009 @ 6:49 am

8. 

   I think your focus on “being in the moment” with whatever project you’re working on is so important, Kristi. Whether it’s for five minutes, an hour, or more, that’s how we can accomplish even one small piece. When I’m overwhelmed with too many “to-do”s, none of it actually gets done!

   Comment by Carol Coven Grannick — November 12, 2009 @ 8:18 am

9. 

   Very sound advice, Kristi! I think I’ll have to look for some blinders that totally encircle me and block out everything around!!!

   Karin Larson

   Comment by Karin Larson — November 12, 2009 @ 1:37 pm

10. 

    Kristi:

    Great idea on using a timer. Congratulations on your word count thus far for NaNo…You go girl! I never believed even 15 minutes a day would make a difference and it truly does. A whole 60 minutes is fantastic! Kudos to all tackeling NaNo…best wishes.

    Warm regards,
    Donna
    Children’s Author
    Write What Inspires You Blog
    The Golden Pathway Story book Blog
    Donna M. McDine’s Website
    Don’t have time to write and post your media releases? Contact: Dynamic Media Release Services

    Comment by Donna McDine — November 12, 2009 @ 2:38 pm

11. 

    Kristi, your comment about “billable” hour is spot on. It doesn’t matter whether the story will sell or not. I think we all deserve this time to experiment and grow (and not just for Nano). That’s what keeps the love alive. I’m proud of you.

    Comment by Vijaya — November 12, 2009 @ 9:33 pm

12. 

    Oh, how I can relate to this article! Thank you for the wise words - I wrote my entire second novel in four months (that would be during preschool 3 days/week) using a timer, so I’m quite attached to it and constantly singing its praises! Somehow I’m finding it incredibly difficult to balance revision with getting the word out about the first novel…and it’s not even on the shelves yet. So why didn’t I think of my trusty timer?? Perhaps, tomorrow, I shall schedule revision FIRST!

    Comment by holly cupala — November 12, 2009 @ 10:57 pm

13. 

    Thanks again to everyone for all the comments! It apparently hit a nerve, huh? I loved the idea of having wrap-around blinders! I bet those would be a hit for a writer’s Christmas gift!

    Comment by Kristi Holl — November 13, 2009 @ 4:31 pm

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