Bang Head Here?

Over my cup of Hazelnut coffee this morning, I started thinking about my writing projects (along with trying to figure out why I dreamed about running around trying to find a battle axe).  That’s right. Projects!  I have decided to start two of them at the same time!  Wonder if I’ll be able to keep my head on straight after this one though!

*found in google.com image search

My first project is, well, not going so well.  I’m trying a new outlining thing, trying to figure out how many points of views I want, and whether or not to use first or third person (which this part relies on the second ‘figuring’ out stage).  Also, I may be having a hard time writing this because it’s my first time really giving outlining a go and it’s my first time with the paranormal subgenre of YA.  My second project is like the sixth edit of my first novel.  I suppose I should say rewrite because it wasn’t right to start with.

There are a lot of arguments about whether or not to work on multiple projects or not.  I was reading Anthony Lee Collin’s blog the other day and in his post the weight of published words he discusses not only publishing a series but also of having multiple projects going at the same time.  He states:

On another topic, at one point, when I was about halfway through U-town, I stopped for a period of a couple of years, since I had hit a snag that I couldn’t figure out how to solve. It wasn’t “writer’s block,” it was a problem that took time to work through. And I did keep busy during that time (that’s when I started reviewing movies, for example). Because it’s always a good idea* to have two projects going at once.

* “a good idea” is a post by Maggie Madly Writing: Two Is Better Than One.  Here she describes fantastic reasons to work on multiple projects which I’m coming to agree with.

See, yesterday as I was writing, I got stuck in my paranormal story.  I had nothing else to work on besides a few short stories that I didn’t really feel like working on at that time.  So, I broke out my other work.  My second project as we’ll call it.  I read through the current draft and wrote down a few notes about how I want to change it in the new edits.  Then I went back to my first project because I had a chance to think about where I was stuck.

On the other hand, there are arguments against it.  (And I use the word argument loosely here.)  You need to head on over to Tamara Paulin’s blog and read her post 10 reasons not to start a new writing project.  And this doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with multiple projects at the same time until you get into the comments.  (It’s still a fantastic read though so don’t skip over it!  Give Tamara some love and visit her blog!)

She makes some good points about not starting a new project, and normally I would agree.  This time, however, I’m not going to.  I’m arguing for multiple projects!  So what if vampires and werewolves make their way into a suspense story.  It’ll just make it that much more interesting, right?

Nah – I’m pretty sure I can keep my stories apart…well, I’m hoping so-

Are you for it or against it?  Does the thought of multiple projects make you want to bang your head against the wall?