In Let Your Book Cook, Pt 1, I talked about what it means to let your book cook. In this post, I’m going to give some pointers on how to stay productive while you let your book cook in the incubation stage.
I’ve found the key to being productive is to stagger your projects.
While you’re writing the first draft of novel #1, work on the outline (or plan) for novel #2 in the margins of your day.
Then, when you finish the first draft of novel #1, put it away (don’t look at it) for at least three months. Start on the first draft of novel #2 immediately.
Repeat the process of working on the plan for novel #3 while first drafting novel #2.
When it’s time to edit novel #1, keep first drafting the novel you’re on, but substitute working on the next book’s outline for editing the previous book that you had put away.
I know this is very idealistic. I am not able to keep this pace myself, but it’s a plan that gives me something to work toward and helps keep me productive. Hopefully it will do the same for you.
Jump. Build, Fly.
F.C. Shultz