How many of my readers know what WIP means? For those who are new to the abbreviations of the modern writing world; WIP stands for Work In Progress. There is actually some discussion going on as to whether it is better to have several WIPs going at one time or if writers should focus on a single work at a time. Many authors seem to be of a type where they have so many ideas trying to burst forth from their brain that the idea of focusing on only a single work seems very limiting, if not counterproductive. Yet there are others who say that they cannot get anything accomplished unless they keep their focus and finish one book at a time. I am in the former group, but let me play mediator here; let us talk a little about each option.
Before I begin my own discussion, however, let me present a TED talk which discusses the benefits of slow-motion multitasking (I sometimes call it macro-multitasking) rather than the micro version most of us think of when we hear that loaded word; multitasking.
This TED talk gives Einstein as an example of the benefits of slow-motion multitasking. Einstein had many WIPs and was incredibly productive. I am going to pose this question while I play devil’s advocate; these were simply the works to which he dedicated himself. He did have other tasks besides his academics. There is evidence to suggest that he pretty much neglected relationships. There is also evidence to suggest that his first wife actually helped him with more than one of his WIPs. (See my post on “Family, Mentors, and Friends.”) He did have a day job for seven years, but it is suggested that he had no life outside of: 1. regular work, 2. scientific work and 3. sleep; though sources give differing opinions on how much sleep he actually got a night.
Like Einstein, many authors have to hold down, at the very least, a part-time job in order to support themselves and, possibly, a family while they pursue their passion. We don’t know how many other things Einstein had to handle in day-to-day life, but we get the idea that there weren’t many. So, what I am going to do is give the modern authors a bit of a break and say that they have at least two other items in their day-to-day lives that must take up brain power and time, especially for those who are more relationship minded than Einstein. For those who can only juggle two or three large tasks at a time, they can only focus on one story because their brains are taken up with the tasks of life.
Each person will, of course, be able to switch gears between a different number of tasks. Some people might be able to handle a job, the children, and the house, while still having room to spare for juggling two or three different stories. I am somewhere in the middle.
Let me talk from my own experience. One of the downfalls of multiple WIPs is that it takes longer to complete any one project. There have been times while I am working on my main WIP that I have rerouted in order to follow inspiration from another WIP or a new concept altogether. As such, I have almost ten WIPs, if you count story ideas with only basic concepts. If you do not count those, I have about five. This, of course, has delayed me from finishing my main WIP as soon as I would have liked, especially since I like to follow a flow of inspiration until I hit a roadblock. Worse, since I have managed to outline the entire series of my main WIP, my brain is trying to tell me, “Been there. Done that. Move on.” Therefore, the extra time taken to get the project finished is not beneficial to my flow in that way.
On the flip side, having that other inspiration to follow also helps to give my brain a break from focusing with such intensity on that one WIP day in and day out. Some hypothesize that there is no such thing as writer’s block; I only partially agree. This is one of those moments were I agree because, in this case, writer’s block is definitely writer’s boredom. We could also call it writer’s burnout. When you focus on one concept to the exclusion of all others, forcing your imagination into submission, squashing inspiration and bending it to your iron will, despite your brain begging for mercy, you run the risk of a full scale overthrow. This is the reason why, even though there are downfalls of having multiple WIPs, for me, I feel it is mostly benefit.
Here is a downfall that applies to both sides of the argument: the keeping of notes. When you have inspiration for another WIP you can just write it down and come back to it later when you are finished with your current WIP, right? Yes, you can, but thoughts have a tendency to flow better when they are straight from the proverbial source. This is what I have found to be the case for me, and I am not the only one. You have to find a way to organize all those bits and pieces of inspirations, otherwise, they will become a jumbled mess, and you will not be able to fully trigger the inspiration. It is even possible that you will be uncertain as to what you meant at the time.
Of course, if you are able to follow your various bits of inspiration, you will have scenes from various WIPs. You still have to keep those organized. The difference will be that you will have the scene at least in skeleton form and if you have that skeleton, it will be easier to flesh out than if all you have is a keyword here and a choppy sentence there.
Then, there is also the consideration of the brain power involved in keeping multiple WIPs going. Trying to remember all your story ideas is difficult if you don’t have them fleshed out, but once you have them fleshed out they become easier to remember … in a way. The problem becomes the fact that they are now fleshed out in your mind, and you have multiple stories with multiple characters that you have come to love all vying for your attention. You can see my Instagram post on that subject. (“All At Once”)
Honestly, when it comes to whether a writer should stick to one work in progress or have multiple going, we writers should know that everyone is different. We know this from our characters and from the mere fact that we, as writers, fall into the category of “different.” So, let’s cut each other some slack. Discussions of methods don’t have to get heated. One writer needs to focus in order to clear their mind for the next story. Another has so many ideas popping into their heads that they simply can’t contain them and have to get those ideas written so they don’t just float away and vanish. For the most part, it is individual temperament and only a little bit about choice. So, as you go along, try to figure out what feels best for you. It will take experimentation; it will take time, but once you figure out which is your best method, it will just set with you properly. When you are struggling to get your thoughts out, or to retain your thoughts, or to make them form your vision correctly, you do not want to add the frustration of trying to force yourself into a method that does not work for you.
Remember, we are all individuals. I would like to quote Dr. Susse here. “. . . You are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” Let us accept each other’s methods and, just as important, let us accept our own, so that as we write through our single WIP, or our multiple WIPs, we can take a breath and take a moment, to make it easier to enjoy the wonder.
If you enjoyed this post, please, share this site with others, and like this page. If you want to receive further posts directly to your email before they are posted on my site, subscribe. Feel free to leave a comment or make use of the Contact page.