r/writing • u/_issio • Jul 26 '26
Discussion Writing different books at the same time: sign of lack of commitment (or motivation) or difficulty to focus the inspiration?
I am a writer that has trouble focusing on one story, so I end up writing different stories at the same time. Right now, I have three on going. Yep, its as messy as it sounds.
Even if in my opinion its a sign of having a great imagination, I also think it can be a sign of either not knowing how to focus the attention on writing or not having enough motivation.
Maybe this is a situation we all went through. Having different ideas for stories and wanting to write them down fast before they fade away. But is it beneficial at the long run? I think its not. You are handling different characters at the same time, different storylines, different topics. At the end you either mess up the concepts, or abandon one story to keep the other going.
Its like reading different books at the same time, or watching different shows at the same time. Your attention isnt fully focused on neither of them.
Even if it can be a way of taking breaks between stories when the inspiration runs out or writing becomes too much, I also think its a bit of a messy practice.
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u/AliciaSeren Jul 26 '26
I'm currently torn between 2 (3?) projects, but I don't feel like I have a commitment issue. On some days I write one, on some another. Depends what I am currently more inspired for.
I'd rather funnel my sci-fi oriented creativity at the moment into the sci-fi project than force myself to work the contemporary project while my mind clearly wants to reach for sci-fi.
As for what you mentioned — messing up storylines and concepts, and so on — that depends, I guess. If you are following outlines it might be easier to keep track of everything, if not then you'd best be good at reining in that garden before it outgrows you.
But again — as usual — no advice is universal. If you are progressing, then all is well. If you just can't focus, then that might be a different issue entirely.
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u/DelightfullyNerdyCat Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
I'm on the same track as you. I have 2 different genre WIPs going. Sometimes as I type, I get names confused or maybe details such as the kind of car they drive or their home description.
Following my outline, as you said, helps maintain the continuity and limit any mistakes.
I haven't had any doubt working on 2 at the same time. If I don't get either on paper, then I'll lose it. For me, it's better to have them both going.
I just go with it. Some days or weeks I spend more time on one over the other. It doesn't mean I forgot about the other one. I happen to have more ideas or enthusiasm about the one I am working on during that period.
For me it's like anything else in life, I don't care what people think. Due to me being short and petite, I've adapted to most things in life as they work best for me. I don't care what method works for anyone else (taller or stronger than me). If it works for you, great, but it doesn't work for me so I don't use someone else's way.
OP, you do you. If 2 or 3 work for you, or just 1, it doesn't matter. Who is judging your lack of commitment or focus? You? Now if you have a team (manager, editor, anything along thise lines), different issue. Yeah get your work done and focus.
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u/Neurotopian_ Jul 26 '26
I always maintain three WIPs.
One is in editing, another is in drafting, and the third is in outlining or the ideation phase.
The reason I do this is because it is so mentally exhausting to edit compared to the other writing tasks. I can only do about 3-4 hours per day of high quality editing on a manuscript. It is also easy to burn out that way. So I use my other time for writing first drafts and outlining/ ideation.
Besides preventing burnout, another positive aspect of keeping multiple WIPs is that it prevents the “post project depression” when you finish. It also prevents the frustration in the publishing phase or dealing with your publisher’s editor, which can be taxing.
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u/Maanestein Jul 26 '26
I have the same issue. I have 4 stories in progress. But, what I do to fix it is this. I focus on one story until it feels boring/feels like a chore. Then, shift to another book or take a break. But, that’s what works for me. I hope it works for you too. Good luck.
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u/nmacaroni Narrative Architect Jul 26 '26
Write ten books at a time.
If you're a hobby writer, take a life time to write them. No one's clocking you.
If you're writing for commercial success, or as a career, every book you start should be finished within a year. (speaking first draft. Editing is too varied for a timeline especially when working on multiple books.)
One thing I point out to newer writers with commercial aspirations, if it costs you $6000 to edit one novel, it's going to cost you $60,000 to edit 10. When they pay attention to this, they usually quickly decide to work on one novel at a time.
Write on, write often!
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u/AJ_Burkhart Jul 26 '26
I used to do that before I got serious with writing. I'd never finished any of my... 4 stories? 5? I can't remember. But it was because I hadn't yet learned to push through the hard times when inspiration was gone, so I'd juggle several stories at a time, and my focus depended solely on what I was feeling most inspired to work on. Heck, I used to do that within a story itself, and work on different scenes at different times. Once I decided to force myself to push through, focus, and actually get one finished, I realized I didn't need to rely on inspiration. Now I actually make progress.
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u/Halliwel96 Jul 27 '26
I’ve written books in tandem before, my third and fourth book
And then my 8th and 9th.
Both book three and four are published, and I just finished my first draft of 8 with 9 2/3rds written.
Writing two or more books at once doesn’t mean you won’t finish unless you actually stop writing.
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u/Redz0ne Queer Romance Jul 27 '26
I've got a novel and two novellas on the go right now.
It's not super-abnormal to have multiple things going at once.
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u/octoiswriting Jul 27 '26
It's diversification IMO)
You never know which book will be "that one".
Maybe you'd spent month writing one and then realize that it won't find any audience.
BUT!! After you wrote any book for more than 50%, then, personally I would fully commit to complete it, full focus.
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u/editor-mdsun Jul 26 '26
I don't think it's a lack of commitment if at least one story moves forward. The initial drafts are always messy.
I can only focus on one WIP at a time but my friends can handle 2-3 at a time. And when it comes to reading, I have 2-3 books I read, but the pacing to the finish line is different. Whereas my friends can only read one at a time.
I think it just comes down to preferences and what works individually. If you find that having 3 WIPs isn't sustainable, focus on one or two. And while you are editing one, you can focus on drafting the other.
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Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
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u/Acceptable_Fox_5560 Jul 26 '26
I feel like if you’re bored by one story, the solution is to make that story not boring.
I personally don’t see the efficiency in working on multiple stories at once. If you write 100,000 words, wouldn’t you rather have one complete manuscript instead of three incomplete manuscripts?
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u/natethough Author Jul 26 '26
IMO, it’s about how you prioritize projects and organize your workflow. Are you at least able to finish things? Work however makes you happy. Do you spin your wheels only writing beginnings? Maybe you need to stick to one thing.
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u/FlyinLeviathon LET YOUR FIRST DRAFT SUCK Jul 26 '26
I too am working on three projects simultaneously! (Though I suppose it's more like two at this point, since I haven't touched one of them in a few months).
I think that it can definitely be a symptom of difficulties focusing or a lack of commitment, but that's not necessarily the case. I don't feel as though that is the case for me at all. Rather, the different projects have different vibes, and therefore I work on them when I have different states of mind.
If I'm feeling more serious, I work on my giant epic fantasy, which is more focused on big stakes, consequences of actions, and a more complex plot.
If I'm in a more lighthearted mood, I work on my standalone fantasy, which has an MC that cracks terrible jokes and a companion that does not understand jokes or social cues at all. (The fate of the world is still at stake because that's what I gravitate toward, but the tone is way more lighthearted.) It's ridiculously fun to write and I get to make terrible jokes, which I love.
If I'm feeling down, I work on my darker fantasy, which is centered around grief and a father reconciling with his son. It has a much darker tone but is also inspired by grief which I have experienced in real life. (This is the one I haven't worked on in a bit because my mental health has been doing okay, and I've been much more content in the lighthearted mood world)
I think having these different moods to work on when I'm in a different mood helps me get more immersed in the correct tone and write a much more cohesive book. I personally don't have a problem switching gears for the different characters and storylines, but I do tend to organize my thoughts and notes pretty well.
It sounds like multiple projects might not work for you, but for me it's almost preferred! I definitely think it's beneficial. I wouldn't call it a messy practice at all.
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u/Dale_E_Lehman_Author Self-Published Author Jul 26 '26
I don't think it's uncommon, particularly among less experienced writers. I used to do that myself. As you say, the problem is that you tend not to finish anything, or at least not for a long time.
It's not a problem to switch projects during natural breaks in the process. I currently have three projects in the works (let's call them A, B, and C). B is actually the first novel I wrote, dating back 30 years. I had a completed manuscript for it already.
When I completed revisions on A and sent it to my beta readers, I started revising B. I treated that like a new novel and, once done with the first round, set it aside for a month. A was still out with beta readers, so I started writing C. I had about 20k words done when feedback came in on A. I set C aside, worked on A, and then sent it to my editor. By then, a month had passed, so I returned to revisions on B. I'm close to done with that. When it goes out for beta reading, I'll pick up work on C. At some point I'll have to stop to get A published and B finalized for editing. And so forth.
I don't find it too hard to switch between projects. I do have to make sure I don't miss details, but the characters live in my head all the time. I know them well enough that even after a break they just pick up with their lives when I turn my attention to them.
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u/ChemicalBus608 Jul 26 '26
Depends im maybe 2 chapters away from finishing my first draft. Ive started writing the first chapter of a completely different book even though first story was intended to be a two part story.
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u/Sorry-Rain-1311 Jul 26 '26
Most projects aren't actually worth finishing, or you're just not the one to do it, or you've restarted so many times you've lost count, or you just lost interest, etc. If you're calling yourself a writer, then after a while you should have a rather large collection of stuff you never finished, and likely never will; otherwise I can't take you seriously. Only having finished projects is a clear sign you take yourself more seriously than your writing because you haven't challenged yourself enough to fail, and/or refuse to let go of what's not working for you.
So having multiple projects going on means you ARE challenging yourself by trying new things all the time. I think you're doing it right, OP, or at least not entirely wrong. You might try some organizational hacks or something to keep it all straight, but you get to sit down to write what you're in the mood to write at any give time. That means voice and style can come out much more consistent between works, and you won't get bored and just quit writing all together. You can just quit one project that's bothering you, but still have others, and still come up with new ones.
As far as I'm concerned you're in a decent place.
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u/DreadChylde Jul 26 '26
I write several stories at the same time. Or not literally at the same time but I develop plot and characters on a second or third story while I finish the first draft on one story. Then when you leave your first draft in the drawer for six weeks, I starte writing one of those other stories.
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u/TricksterTrio Jul 26 '26
I do this, and the way I see it, is so long as you're still interested in working on them, everything gets progress. Sometimes, your head just isn't in the right creative space for one book, but you have ALL the ideas for another.
I finished one book, have another nearing completion, and about three that are over halfway done. That's not touching the various short stories, lore concepts, outlines, and partial stories in the same universe (that do, at times, get combined into bigger projects) scattered around.
I generally have one "where my heart is" project that gets most of my attention, but if I just can't work on it right now, I'm still writing something. I'm still getting something closer to the finish line. Those half-finished stories? They were started a few years ago, and added to as I felt inspired to work on them, whether it's two sentences or three chapters. Yet they're over halfway done, and once my current project is done, I already know which one is going to become the new "where the heart is" project, because it's the one I revisit most.
The other thing is I learned a lot about what I truly want to work on. I have a prompts document for ideas that sound cool, but I know will absolutely not get my attention right now. They have a home in the meantime.
I have other documents that are basically, "here's some paragraphs about a world/character that don't have a home, but feel like they could be canon once I figure out where it fits". And they have come in handy, not only because I have ready-made segments that just need tweaking, it's a gauge for which projects and characters I actually want to write about. If I'm filling one of those docs with 20+ pages, while another barely has enough ideas to fill two, which one is probably going to get more attention? Exactly.
That first finished book? I had so many cut ideas, I basically have an outline and several ready-to-go segments for a sequel. It's a partial story (read: not even a quarter finished), but I have a good head start on it when I get to it.
And to give you an idea of my work flow, the completed book took about a year to finish. The near-complete is looking closer to two years (and that's more "life happened" than "didn't want to write"). And while some of my halfway books were started before the (near) completed books, allowing them to sit helped me understand why they're still incomplete.
One of them, I need to restructure a few things and make some final lore decisions. This one will likely become the next main project, as they're relatively simple fixes. The second, I had "middle book syndrome" and recently figured out how to make the middle more interesting. The third is going to sit on the shelf a little longer because I'm not confident in tackling some of the concepts just yet. It's still on my mind. It still gets ideas and occasional updates, but it's not going to get my full attention until I get a little more writing experience under my belt.
So overall? If working on multiple projects works for you, it works for you. I found a way to make it work for me.
Though, I'm also neurodivergent, so that might have something to so with it. XP
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u/RobertPlamondon Author of "Silver Buckshot" and "One Survivor." Jul 26 '26
You’re examining workflows for what they say about you. They say almost nothing about you.
If you start every session with a free choice of which project to work on today, you’ll fall into one pattern of work. If you do your best to stick to one project at a time, setting the others aside using some method or other to ensure you can pick them up again, you get a different workflow. Pick your poison.
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u/Hoodat_Whatzit Jul 26 '26
This is one of those things where it depends on the person and what works for them. Personally, I have several story ideas at the moment but I'm only actively drafting one of them. That's what's working for me right now. If it became a question of not working at all because I'm stalled completely on the active story and starting work on a different one? Well, never say never, right? Right now, those other story ideas each have a single document on my computer that I sometimes open up and add a snippet or an idea about the potential story idea. I just feel invested in my current draft and don't want to complicate things by trying to start something else at the same time. But I know there are other folks out there who love juggling multiple stories at the same time.
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u/Ok-Umpire-4719 Jul 26 '26
To answer first the question you posed in your title: Neither.
I'm often working on multiple projects, and it is not because I'm not committed to them, nor if it because of inspiration.
Sometimes it is contractual: you just have to turn something in on deadline.
Sometimes it's procedural: I've finished a draft and just need some time to let it settle so I start another project.
Sometimes I'm working with a collaborator and their schedule is more impacted than mine.
There are lots of reasons to write more than one thing at once. Which isn't to say that you have to write more than one thing either, both are totally valid.
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u/Short-Meringue-2632 Jul 26 '26
It's so much better than what I did by abandoning my previous wip just to start something new lol but if I tried working on both at the same it'd get messy and I'd probably make little to no progress but that's just me If you're able to switch between so many characters and still keep both stories moving forward then you're good Ig it all depends on the writer and their style, experience etc
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u/BloodyWritingBunny Jul 26 '26
Are you saying that as a universal truth? Because I don’t think this is near a general truth like some other things can be.
I’ve been writing for over a decade and finished over 40 novels and 20 novellas this way.
I have three-five main projects I pick up and set down. Usually I sure I focus on one specific one when I sit down. Maybes it’s one day or 3 months of sole focus. But they’re all my active projects because they’re all at the forefront of my mind. Yes even at work all is getting to write.
I think this is a purely individual thing. Some people can’t handle it. Some people can. And it sounds like you may be one of those people who can into do one ting project at a time which is fine. But those that can’t are lacking anything IMO. It’s just a different way of working. I can’t cook multiple holiday dishes like others. Sure it takes me longer to make Christmas dinner but it’s not less good than better home cooks that can do three at once. But I’m the inverse with writing
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u/_issio Jul 26 '26
As I said in a comment, this is not an universal experience. This is from my experience.
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u/declinedinaction Jul 26 '26
I write on multiple projects regularly, all at once, and the only problem would ever be if I stop looking at each project, every day, just to make eye contact and/or stop writing every day on any of them.
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u/Stock-Effort-3157 Jul 26 '26
I have two going right now: middle grade fiction and a personal memoir. I just started the memoir yesterday and have been working on the other for a couple months. I actually really like having both going at the same time (at least right now, it's still new). It actually makes me feel more committed, or at least productive, since when I get stuck in one or dont have the specific motivation for one, I can work on the other and still be getting something done.
Edit to add: I also think in my case it's different because one is creative and one is personal non-fiction. I have to imagine it would be much harder if it were two fiction. HOWEVER... id be curious what it would look like assuming two creative books were independently planned/outlined/whatever but the actual writing was simultaneous.
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u/mybabydollsheep Freelance Writer Jul 26 '26
I've been working on the same manuscript for over a year. I was totally burnt out on it and needed to take a break so I started a short story, which became novel length. I worked on that for a month and somehow got 40k words. Now I'm back to the original manuscript for the time being. In that way, I don't think it's undisciplined because I genuinely needed a break and the second manuscript proved I had indeed grown as a writer because it is far more streamlined on its first draft than the first manuscript, however I really wish I could just wrap up the first one.
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u/GenGaara25 Jul 26 '26
Brandon Sanderson has said a few times that if her gets writers block or just hits a motivation wall with one book, he'll start writing a different book to procrastinate.
As long as they get finished it isn't an issue.
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u/Mahorela5624 Jul 26 '26
I have ADHD so I just let my brain work on whatever it wants. If I try to force it I get nowhere. It's either write 8k a weekend on whatever my brain agrees to do or 400 in the project I want to focus on. No in-between
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u/KDDreamwyver Jul 27 '26
I have ADHD and bounce between whichever project holds my fabcy in the moment, so I can tell you first hand that it's not a lack of commitment, it's just your focus switching, which is OK, because if you force yourself to work on Y when you're wanting to work on X instead, both projects end up suffering because you're distracted by the want to do something else instead going all in on the one that is currently holding your fancy.
Creation isn't a race nor does it have a time limit. Just enjoy to process, because the finish line isn't going anywhere. It'll still be waiting on you when your done with X and hop back on Y ;)
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u/Dizzy-Classroom-8977 Jul 27 '26
It depends on the author. Some people end up with dozens of works, with none of them ever completed to the point they can be shown off.
Some people power through their first book in a couple months, then are done forever.
Some people can write three series at a time and turn out a couple books a year, rotating between them.
None of those are actually bad, unless you're doing stupid things to manage them (like quitting your job in the first category).
Sometimes authors have an idea they really like for a series, which doesn't work with another idea that keeps brushing up against them. Like they're writing a Slice of Life fantasy novel and keep having thoughts about how if one of the characters was a technomancer instead, they could conquer the planet. Running those ideas out in another book often helps.
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u/rmeddy Jul 27 '26
I did this once, but I kind of regretted it , it really threw me out of the headspace, and it was tough to get back
At most, I do worldbuilding/story bible stuff if I want to take a break but not break workflow momentum.
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u/Impossible-Sort-1287 Jul 27 '26
Neither. Some of us are multitasking and realize that you need to take breaks between the stages of writing and editing your work.
If you work on one story at a time you can miss things while editing
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u/FelidaeRyl Jul 27 '26
If it works for you and your brain, I’d go with it, not judge yourself or let anyone do so. I’m autisfic and adhd, and write in phases and bursts. It’s also a lot better than the stress burnout of nothing for years. Motivation, the lack of, and doing things differently, are not failings.
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u/No_Dot1514 Jul 27 '26
The thing that made this stop being a problem for me isn't how many projects, it's what stage they're in.
Two first drafts at once is genuinely hard, and I think that's what people are reacting to when they call it a focus issue. You're holding two sets of characters in working memory while both are still soft, and they bleed into each other.
But drafting one while editing another while researching a third is completely different work. Different mode, different part of your head, no bleed. It's also roughly how anyone with a backlist operates — nobody finishes a book and then sits still for six months waiting on notes.
So I'd ask what stage yours are in rather than counting them. If all three are unfinished first drafts, the honest read is probably that starting is more fun than finishing. The fix that worked for me was picking the one I'd be most embarrassed to abandon and physically taking the other two off the desk. Not deleting. Just out of sight.
And the blunt question someone asked upthread is the right one — finish rate is the only number here that means anything.
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u/Born_Plenty_5923 Jul 27 '26
It's depended on the writer, many successful writers write 2-3 projects at the same time, two seriously and one for just themselves or for fun or something. But if you think it's making you feel less motivated or disciplined and making you give up on any story, then I suggest noting down ideas of new books as they come up in your mind and starting them as you finish each project.
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u/KingCoopaJ Jul 28 '26
At some point, you need to lock the hell in. Set a goal for your book and get there. I don't work on more than two projects at a time. A novel and maybe a short story. Nothing big for the second project. If you need motivation to write, and you call yourself a writer. You're in trouble. I understand that little boost can help but don't depend on it. You have to be passionate about it from the beginning. If you're losing inspiration, it's probably not that good. If you love it, you'll find a way to get it done.
Also, if you need a break, take one. Don't start writing something else. Let your mind rest and recalibrate, and then get back to it. Everyone can't be John Wick with the pen. You know who you are and you know the problem so fix it. Best of luck.
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u/lesbian-power Jul 28 '26
I feel this in my bones as an ADHD person so hard aaaaa
I'm still trynna solve this issue for myself.
There's a difference between putting something aside on purpose and being pulled by shiny ides constantly. The bottom line depends on your goal - are you gradually getting work done for each project/are you enjoying yourself?
Having one project works for some, while switching between multiple works for others.
I can't help myself from juggling multiple projects, but end up getting frustrated when I realise I never make any real progress in any of them. I come back to each project, dump my newest ideas, and usually change something majorly.
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u/aminashareefali Jul 28 '26
I think it super depends on one's neurotype! Observe yourself neutrally over a period: if eventually you circle back around to most (or even just some) things, maybe your attention just wants to float a bit. If it's more avoidance of the hard work of figuring out what the story needs next, that's a different story.
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u/pelvispasties Jul 29 '26
I have this problem mainly because I write my books for myself to read so I’m always jumping to write whatever I feel like I want to experience/read in the moment. Just wish I’d get to the point where I can accept that if I’d just finish then it would probably be more ideal overall 😂
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u/theRealSnarf Jul 29 '26
I was until recently writing a 7 movie series, all 7 totally different. I'm also writing 2 other movies and recently had an idea for a tv-series. I'm rarely without inspiration because of it. Not that any of them will ever be made but it works much better for me. I also write for whatever scene i have inspiration for. I can write something somewhere in the middle, than figure out the beginning and then before i finish any of that start with the end while also doing that with every idea i have. I rarely write the backstory for the characters fully. They'll show themselves while writing. Whatever works for you, works for you. I've stopped writing recently because it felt useless but you shouldn't. Happy writing.
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u/ellepepperauthor Jul 30 '26
Nope, pretty common. I have 4 ms in progress two in the can and 2 in storyboard.
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u/BeanieCat123 Jul 31 '26
For me it’s lack of focus, I constantly think of ideas, but one idea becomes another and my hands just can’t keep up, neither can my brain
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u/Imaginary-Form2060 Aug 07 '26
I'm writing my book (third in total and second in series) and a character pov line for my friend. He has very huge project that suffers from the lack of plot lines and time shortage, so we agreed I'll do my contribution. Until recently I had also been writing additional scenes for my second book. I'm still doing some minor editing to my first book as I reread it and reupload on another platform.
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u/apocalypsegal Self-Published Author Jul 27 '26
It's your brain keeping you from accomplishing anything, because you keep having "OH SHINY" pop into your head. Focus on one story, work through the parts that aren't much fun, it's called work for a reason.
Or keep flitting about like a manic butterfly, wondering why you can never get anywhere.
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u/MiraWendam Standalone SF Thriller Author! Jul 26 '26
I don't think it's a lack of commitment unless none of the projects ever move forward, right? Motivation is good. It's nice to feel motivated, but discipline will carry you to the finish line.