Are You Devoted To One or Love the One…
Writing Can Be Like Dating
Barbara Bettis
In the past few weeks I’ve had an issue with my WIP. When I hit a major obstacle, I thought I’d try what several fellow authors do so successfully—work on another book to divert my thoughts and move back and forth between the two stories.
Some of my friends always have two books going at once, usually in different genres. It works for them beautifully, they say.
Well, I undertook beginnig another story. And learned that for me, writing is a lot like dating was when I was younger. I’m a one-boyfriend-at-a time kind ’a gal. And I learned it the hard way.
My roommates successfully juggled boyfriends with no problem. Surely I could do the same, I thought. So I found myself dating more than one guy—no serious relationships mind, just casual dates here and there. They were delightful boys, very different, and I liked them all.
Until they unexpectedly showed up to visit, all on the same night. To give them credit, they were perfect gentlemen and when each arrived a few minutes after the other, they all sat down to talk. My roommates saw what was happening and joined us to ease the tension. The third and last one brought ice cream. I did what any good hostess would do—I served it to everyone.
Later, my roommates thought it was all hilarious. I did not. I was stressed, I felt guilty and conflicted. I felt like a horrible person. And right then, my dating rules solidified. One at a time, no matter how casual.
That story does have a happy ending. All three guys called to ask me out again and I did date one throughout the summer until college started again in the fall.
Barb’s Best Tips
So how does that apply to writing more than one book at a time? I found myself getting completely wrapped up in the new story to the point I couldn’t concentrate on the first one. Which would take precedence? This switching back and forth didn’t work for me—when I was deep in the medieval mindset, getting back into the Regency rhythm took forever. When I was immersed in the Regency period, my medieval knights sounded way too sophisticated. And anachronistic. And I became conflicted.
For those who can juggle more than one book at a time successfully, I have nothing but respect and awe. But I don’t see how you do it.
Barb’s latest is a medieval
THE LADY OF THE FOREST
Blurb:
He must pursue his enemy; she must protect her people. Can their love survive the duties that drive them apart?
When her elderly husband dies, Lady Katherine fakes her own death and disappears into the forest with others escaping the brutish new lord. Determined to protect her people, she knocks the wrong man senseless. But Lord Henry isn’t an enemy, he’s the brother of her childhood friend. Although his tender confidence tempts her, she’s bound by duty.
Henry of Chauvere has found the one lady he wants for his own, never mind she’s tied him hand and foot. When he learns the king has ordered her to wed Stonehill’s ruthless new master, he insists Kate seek haven with his sister. But she won’t desert her friends. Henry vows to solve her problem, provided he catches a traitor before the threat from Kate’s past catches her.
When a daring rescue compels Henry and Kate to join forces, their attraction grows into love. If only duty didn’t drive them apart.
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21 COMMENTS
Great post, as always, Barb. I guess you and I are kind of the same, but kind of different. I could juggle several boyfriends all the time and usually did until I settled on one. But I’ve tried doing two books at once, even just a re-edit, update of a previously traditionally pubbed book from my backlist, and the juggling really doesn’t work well for me, either. Like you, I need to be totally immersed in the time frame and in the characters. I guess that proves we’re all different.
During that overlap between books when book 1 is being assessed and edited and the next WIP is new and exciting, when I’m working on a draft for the WIP but still editing and can make changes to book 1, I manage okay. But when I’m done done done with book 1 (have galleys), my brain doesn’t discard it. I’ll find I’m working on some change to it in my head, and then I remember: nope, done with that, can’t change it, don’t have to change or improve it any more. Yay. It takes a month after galleys before my brain lets it go and focuses only on the next book.
Yes, Judy! There does have to be a ‘down’ period after the final final edit is submitted. It takes me awhile to refocus, too.
Great post, Laura. I agree with you. I also can only work on one story at a time. When I’m working on my current WIP, I can’t even remember the characters’ names from my previous books. I love medieval romances. Looking forward to reading yours.
Thanks, CB! I hope you love it as much as I did writing it. Unfortunately, the names of my previous characters occasionally slip into a current work–I have to watch myself on that sometimes!
Beautiful post, Barb. The way you dated tells a lot about your writing style.
Yep. If I work on more than one story at a time, there’s the concern that I’ll automatically call the heroes by the wrong name. Not, of course, that that’s in any way reflective of the danger in dating more than one guy at a time 🙂 🙂
Barbara, Writing is different for everyone. I usually have one in edits, one in research and one submitted waiting cover art etc. Most of mine are paranormal, but I do have a suspense and a cozy mystery. Lady of the Forest sounds intriguing. Best of luck!
You a definitely one busy lady, Tena! Maybe working all in the same genre makes your writing/editing move smoothly! Good luck with them all.
Totally agree with you, Barbara! I’ve only worked on two books at once, but thankfully each one was set in the same time-period. It was hectic, but afterwards I vowed to keep my focus on only one–slow and steady! Thanks for sharing!
Yep, I’m with you, Mary. With your time travel stories, I think it would be a challenge to have more than one going at once. Hope to see a new one of yours soon!
Great analogy! I’m also a date one at time person although there was sometimes overlap at the end of one relationship into the new one. I find I am that kind of writer too -once one book is three quarters of the way done the ideas for the next one push forward. I put them in a notebook longhand until the previous one is truly finished.
Exactly, Charlotte. I’ve found that as one book gets toward the end, my next idea crops up and I do want to start on it! Thank goodness we have those notes waiting for us 🙂
Funny story about the three guys! I never dated more than one at a time. However, I can write several books and/or more than one genre at the same time. I think this is partly because I don’t plot ahead of time, so sometimes I’m not sure where one story is going and therefore jump to another for awhile. The only problem with more than one book in the same genre is that I have to be super careful not to get the characters’ names mixed up!
That would be a problem, Barbara, having to check back to see which heroine went with which book 🙂 But I’m happy that you can make multi-tasking work for you !!
Barbara, I totally agree with you. While I have an idea of a next book in my head, I need to finish the one I’m working on first. Knowing me, I’d start getting the two mixed up! Best of luck on your new book!
Thank you Ilona! You mention getting books mixed up. I’ve found that I have to watch that because in a new book, my ‘muscle memory’ occasionally pops in the name of the last hero or heroine in the current story. Probably not unusual–we get so invested in our characters, it isn’t always easy to leave one set behind to start another 🙂
I’ve never tried to juggle writing more than one genre at a time, probably for the same reasons as you. Of course, I’m not really trying to keep more than one genre going right now either although I do have plans to write more fantasies in the future, or even try my hand a YA. Great post!
Donna, you’d do a terrific YA book! And I enjoy reading those fantasies, although that’s one genre I couldn’t try on my own. Good luck, tho!!
Barb, I love this story! I’m fortunate in that I don’t often get “stuck” during a WIP. If I do (or if “real life” has called me away too long) I find the best, surefire way to get back into the story is read, read, read what I’ve already written. The plot and the characters will draw me right in and commence speaking in my head once again. Best of luck, my friend!
Thanks, Laura. You do so well in different genres! And your suggestion is a good one. I just need to print out what I have so far and read it a couple of times–that way I can make notes as I go and can switch around. 🙂