Writers often refer to their books as their babies. This may seem ridiculous to those, who do not write, but for those of us who do, we so get it. Like raising a child, a writer spends months dreaming about and laboring over the idea of their story, sleepless nights nurturing it and changing its messes, and years developing it into a manuscript we are proud to send out into world. And as with babies, the pain associated with the labor it took to bring the manuscript into the world is quickly forgotten when we are finally holding our bundle of joy.
This photo from the Huffington Post says it all
I began writing SIGH in 2008 and have yet to finish it. The rough
draft is two-thirds complete and patiently waiting for me to return to its story. SIGH's
plot charts and chapter breakdown still adorn the wall of my dining room
administering a good dose of guilt every time I sit down to spend time with my
other writing projects.
According to parenting sites, while
older children get the benefits of all of the “firsts” a child accomplishes and
younger children benefit from the emotional impact of being the baby of the
family, middle children often feel left out and invisible. To counteract the effects
of Middle Child Syndrome, they advise setting aside time to spend with your
middle child.
So that is what I have set as my new
summer writing SMART goal. Having completed my first summer writing SMART goal,
finish the current revisions on my baby FINDING OBENO, I am now going to
spend some quality writing time with my middle manuscript SIGH. I can’t promise
that issues will not arise with my other manuscripts, which may necessitate my
attention, but my new goal should alleviate some of the guilt I’ve felt over my
poor, neglected middle manuscript.
Now, if only there was an easy way to
deal with the guilt over neglecting my actual children and husband while I
write.
So, fellow writers, how do you deal with juggling multiple writing projects?
