Multitasking

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Ali Pennell

New Member
Mar 1, 2016
4
14
Oregon
I have been flipping back through all the notes and underlined passages in On Writing and I can't seem to find what I'm looking for. Does SK discuss working on several pieces at once? I feel like he did when he talked about his time in college.

My main question is this: Do you work on multiple pieces at one time or do you compartmentalize your writing? I have been working on a series of short stories to build my platform, but my ultimate goal is a novel. I feel like I would struggle to keep the integrity of my novel if I'm working on other things at the same time.

Thoughts? Advice?
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
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Cambridge, Ohio
I have been flipping back through all the notes and underlined passages in On Writing and I can't seem to find what I'm looking for. Does SK discuss working on several pieces at once? I feel like he did when he talked about his time in college.

My main question is this: Do you work on multiple pieces at one time or do you compartmentalize your writing? I have been working on a series of short stories to build my platform, but my ultimate goal is a novel. I feel like I would struggle to keep the integrity of my novel if I'm working on other things at the same time.

Thoughts? Advice?
...welcome ma'am!....although King will not answer you personally, I don't believe from what I've picked up on over the years-that he dabbles in multiple story writing efforts, beyond jotting down ideas for possible projects as they occur to him...
 

Ali Pennell

New Member
Mar 1, 2016
4
14
Oregon
...welcome ma'am!....although King will not answer you personally, I don't believe from what I've picked up on over the years-that he dabbles in multiple story writing efforts, beyond jotting down ideas for possible projects as they occur to him...

Thanks for your reply! I assumed SK doesn't reply on here. "You" was intended for anyone who was willing to answer :) And I think you are right. I've been jotting down ideas as they come, but my brain has a hard time working on multiple pieces at once... just as I prefer reading one book at a time!
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
Thanks for your reply! I assumed SK doesn't reply on here. "You" was intended for anyone who was willing to answer :) And I think you are right. I've been jotting down ideas as they come, but my brain has a hard time working on multiple pieces at once... just as I prefer reading one book at a time!
...I thought it was probably a collective "you" but wanted to try to stave off any disappointment from no reply from the big guy....
 
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AchtungBaby

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Dec 5, 2011
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I have been flipping back through all the notes and underlined passages in On Writing and I can't seem to find what I'm looking for. Does SK discuss working on several pieces at once? I feel like he did when he talked about his time in college.

My main question is this: Do you work on multiple pieces at one time or do you compartmentalize your writing? I have been working on a series of short stories to build my platform, but my ultimate goal is a novel. I feel like I would struggle to keep the integrity of my novel if I'm working on other things at the same time.

Thoughts? Advice?
He has said he often worked on two or more projects at once in the '80s-- for instance, I think he wrote Misery by day and Tommyknockers by night. Those were the cocaine years, though.
 
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