Have any of you done this? I'm torn between editing my 50,000 word baby that isn't even finished, and building my fantasy world. The manuscript isn't in my fantasy world, so they're not connected in any way really. Anybody have ideas of how to do both without neglecting other parts of my life (chores, family, chores and family)? Any help would be great!

I found this was a problem with Tevo and my HF novel, Wolf. My Tevo world was really getting me excited, I was finding plot ideas, I even started writing about it. I realised then that I was leaving my HF novel behind because of this.

I think it depends which is more important to you. I am not stopping my world building, it just slowed down. It's not going to be my main focus until I have finished my HF novel, because that is what is more important to me right now.

Some people find they manage writing two stories at once. It's down to the individual in some ways, I think. However, basically what I decided was that my HF writing came first, so Tevo is worked on in my free time; my HF writing is done in the mornings and afternoons on days when I have no dogs in to groom. So it becomes my work almost. Tevo at present is done in my relaxation time. When my HF writing is finished I can decide if I want to focus on Tevo as my next story.

Hope this helped a little!

This comes down to how you function best.

I work on one story (or the same series, as is the case now) period. If I have a poetic spurt I'll write those on the side, but for the most part, I live, eat, breathe, and dream my story. I focus on one cast of characters, instead of two. I focus on working through their plot issues.

So for me, I would stick to one. But not everyone is this way.

Thanks for your replies! I think I will probably just try to focus mainly on the manuscript, maybe not work on my fantasy world until I've worked for an hour (or half an hour ) on the manuscript.

I think that sounds like a good plan.

Thanks! Now to put it into action...

Some of the books (and articles, and blog posts, etc.) about writing that I've read have talked about the logistics of publishing (i.e. sending to agents and publishers, working with an editor to revise, etc.) one story or novel and writing another different one at the same time---and they've made clear that nearly all writers have to do this (with at least two stories, if not three or four!) to make writing a financially viable proposition. But, unfortunately, I can't remember any of the specifics of their recommendations about the problem. So I suggest searching the Web (or any books about writing you have or can find in a library) for some of that advice about writing one story while revising another, in addition to your narrower situation.

Let us know how it goes.

Ok! Hopefully I'll get some work done on them both today since its saturday and I'm up already and we aren't going anywhere!