Whether I like it or not, it feels like I always have multiple projects vying for my attention.
Sometimes I want to play by the rules for events like NaNoWriMo—to participate, I need a fresh story idea and a blank page on the first day of the month. Other times, inspiration simply strikes at an inopportune time.
Most of the time, I can handle keeping the story or characters that come to mind in the notes section of my phone, leaving them on the back burner until they become relevant. There are some cases, however, where I can’t—maybe there’s a deadline involved, maybe the story is simply begging to be told. Either way, I must sit down and write, regardless of my current projects. Since I’m a writer, a blogger, and a full-time student, that’s pretty frequent.
When this happens, it’s easy to lose track of the details. I don’t want to cross-contaminate projects, and I also don’t want to take on too many projects at once. If I progress too slowly, I know I might become discouraged. That’s why, whether I’m plotting or not, it’s important to stay organized as a writer.
There are three key things I’ve picked up so far that have helped me juggle multiple projects effectively. Whether you’re writing a book during NaNoWriMo, rounding out a paper or three, or just keeping them in mind for later, hopefully, these key tips will help you, too.