[Stylist] Working on multiple projects

Wed Feb 26 07:34:33 UTC 2020

Hi all, 
I wanted to thank you for taking all the time to write back to me. I'm happy to say that tonight I was able to get quite a bit of writing done with a playlist on. 
I am actually not continuing on with the English route. I've been applying to some vocational rehabilitation counseling programs within California, and have found out that I will hopefully be interning for my own rehab counselor during the summer. 
I have been thinking about what I want to do with my creative writing after the year is over, and even now with my own side writing. It's always been a hobby of mine, and I may just continue mostly writing for fun. I read a book recently about writing techniques, where the author said that every writer needs to figure out their own individual reason for their desire to write. I think, upon reflecting on it, that my main reason for writing is because I have quite the imagination and often create families in my head, and want to use writing as a way to take down their stories. Perhaps I'll consider published writing one day, though. 
Vejas  

> On 25 Feb 2020, at 04:11, Linda Lambert via Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Vejas, you ask such good questions - so thoughtful.  It has been delightful
> to see you growing over the years that I have been on this list. You are so
> mature and logical and I know that whatever you do, or decide to do, will be
> just right.  You can trust yourself in what you choose to work on. I really
> commend you on your achievements and accomplishments - you must be a
> professors dream student.  I predict that you will do whatever you desire to
> do in your writing life, not only now at school, but in the years ahead.   
> 
> So nice to hear that you are near the end of your undergrad degree.  What a
> feeling that is.  Typically seniors are having the same issues  that you
> described - a feeling of wanting to get things finished up, but in a
> quandary of how to do it. We call this Senioritis.  You are ready to move on
> and leave this school .  
> 
> I can only speak for myself in how I do the work.
> I am sure others here will give you additional information that will help
> answer your question. There are some prolific writers here - and they can
> give you  good advice.   I'll share my own methods here, but there will be
> other  writers who can share more and in different ways, I imagine.
> 
> I always have multiple projects going at any time - With 4 published books
> on the current market,  there are others in the wings.  I also work on
> individual publications in literary magazines for both poetry and personal
> non-fiction essays. Continuously.   I don't just send things out randomly,
> but select the magazines that fit what I do best .  
> 
> For poems I have a folder in which I have Poems in Progress, or even Poem
> Ideas to work on.  For the books, I have a folder for each of the books I am
> working on, and some potential books that are way on the back burner.
> 
> In any one day, I choose one to work on. I devote that entire day to that
> one project.  It all depends on the material I have or what is on my mind
> that day that determines what I will do.  I don't make to-do lists or set
> goals. Instead I have intentions and those intentions guide everything I do
> not only for the day, but for the year or beyond.  
> 
> I visualize the work  in "collections."  
> Each particular piece is part of a collection and I never think of it as an
> individual work, but one that will be viewed as part of a whole.
> In my thoughts, I have determined  the next collection that will come out as
> a book, and anything that will be in the book will have priority when I sit
> down to work for the day. Right now, I have 2 priorities - one full-length
> book of essays and one chapbook of poems.  I work back and forth between
> those two - most days. At other times, I have ideas for some projects that
> are coming later, and I will take time to place those ideas in the
> appropriate folder/file so it is there when I am ready to work with that
> project.   
> 
> In between all of this, I have some projects that I work on for
> organizations - such as the upcoming National Poetry Month. I've committed
> myself to do several programs  in person for local organizations, as well as
> a couple of programs on-line where I will present my own poetry and
> participate in discussions about it for a group.  I am very careful to not
> take on anything that is unnecessary or that would interfere with my time
> management for my own creative work.   The writing is my priority - talking
> about  occasionally is not my priority, but is enjoyable if the audience is
> a good one that is appreciative and warm.  Recently, I did a radio interview
> that will be aired in the near future. I also do an occasional on-line
> interview.   But my focus is always on getting my writing projects done. 
> 
> I think of it all as a dance that is carefully orchestrated choreography.
> Best of everything to you as you wind down your semester.  Enjoy it all for
> it will all be over so fast. Don't miss a single moment of  these final
> weeks in your life.  Each day is a  precious gift.  Stay strong to the end.
> You are just about at the finish line.
> I cm cheering you on.
> 
> Lynda
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Vejas Vasiliauskas
> via Stylist
> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2020 2:43 AM
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Vejas Vasiliauskas <alpineimagination at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Stylist] Working on multiple projects
> 
> Hi everyone, 
> I'm having a great final semester of college and am especially enjoying my
> very small creative writing Capstone seminar. 
> I am currently working on heavily exanding and revising two short stories
> for one class, as well as having to write a third short story for another
> class. In addition, I have been thinking about wanting to start another
> story or two that would just be for myself, because I have really neglected
> writing "just for fun" these past few months.
> Luckily, I still have a lot of time, and nothing is due in at least another
> 3 weeks. However, tonight I was feeling in the mood to write, but once I put
> on my playlist (which nusually inspires me), nothing came out. I kept
> drifting from thinking about one project/idea to another. 
> I know it is ultimately my decision, but I wanted to ask these of you who
> have worked on multiple projects at a time how you have handled them. I'm
> thinking of setting time on a to-do list just to focus on one individual
> piece. 
> Thanks, 
> Vejas  
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