Writing in Parallel: cross pollination or creative deathtrap?

[thedungeondelver]

I recently had an MS returned to me requiring some re-writes (it was not, I will admit, my best effort). Additionally I've got a three-module run I must at the very least get started. There's an OSRIC project in the works that will hopefully rock the world of all concerned or interested...and finally, a little thing called a product review for Network Computing Week (which, as should be evident, is not D&D related in any way).

But the other four items, as they need to be done just the same, I'm going to have to stack them side-by-side rather than one on top of another. Write things in tandem, so to speak.

So, fellow adventure writers: have you done this before and if so what is your experience? Do you find things getting muddied, ideas accidentally (and un-wantedely) slipping from one project to the next? Or do you welcome, rather than eschew, such crossing of circuits?

 

[Drawmack]

At any given time I am prparing lectures, writting at least two different gaming things, and working on a program or two.

I usually keep the multiple gaming things far apart so that they do not interfer with one another. For example right now I'm working on an adventure path which takes place in a desert city built on a major crossroads around an oasis. So its a pretty dark and gritty place. I'm also working on articles for world forge magazine about a planescape type city. Very different places so things do not transplant well and ideas slipping between the two is almost impossible.

However, I do often move ideas from my lectures to my writting. For example I was lecturing on java and one of my in class examples was defininf the properties and methods to simulate a door. This led to an awsome riddle for in game use.

YMMV

 

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

I can get more totally words per week written on three projects than one. When I hit a slow point on one project I hop to another. When I get back to the first project, my brain has usually worked the problem out without me, and I can proceed at full speed.

That said triple writers block is terrible, and usually requires a movie.

 

[SiderisAnon]

I agree with OStephens that having multiple projects to work on when you get stuck on something is nice. In my writing for work, I will complete a project such as a user manual, then go work on something else for a day or two, then go back and proofread the first one. That way, it's not so fresh in my mind and I find it easier to see any mistakes I might have made.

However, I do have to admit that when doing gaming material for my own use, if I'm running two different systems in two different games, I have a hard time switching back and forth. I tend to do silly things like ask for a Stealth check in D&D and a Dexterity check in Shadowrun. Then again, I know my work related material is generally more professionally polished than what I would do for a home campaign.


Look at it this way, you should be congratulated for being popular enough to have multiple projects going at the same time.

 

[thedungeondelver]

I agree with OStephens that having multiple projects to work on when you get stuck on something is nice. In my writing for work, I will complete a project such as a user manual, then go work on something else for a day or two, then go back and proofread the first one. That way, it's not so fresh in my mind and I find it easier to see any mistakes I might have made.

However, I do have to admit that when doing gaming material for my own use, if I'm running two different systems in two different games, I have a hard time switching back and forth. I tend to do silly things like ask for a Stealth check in D&D and a Dexterity check in Shadowrun. Then again, I know my work related material is generally more professionally polished than what I would do for a home campaign.

I think I'm going to at least attempt it. The software review will get done - by itself - tomorrow. The modules I'm going to line up and see how working in tandem with them goes.

Look at it this way, you should be congratulated for being popular enough to have multiple projects going at the same time.

Heh. Thanks. I'm not sure if it's "popularity" or just pushing myself on small companies.