Starting New Projects

Why do I keep starting new projects rather than finishing old ones? Is it that the inspiration passes? Am I growing toward better approaches? Am I just too divided to focus?!

Are you like me or have you found ways to be more disciplined? I used to be more disciplined, but working toward deadlines just isn’t conducive or healthy for my current life full of kiddos. I used to just plow through, but I just don’t have that kind of time or energy right now.

Maybe it will all work out. I’ll keep various notes and just skip from project to project until, who knows, I finish five at nearly the same time! 🙂

For a while, I was proud of my publishing record (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016), but publishing just takes too long to keep that up. (CPH, I’m still crossing my fingers about that complete proposal you have from me! Come on, my children’s books seem to be selling well!)

What do you think? Do you allow yourself the flexibility to jump around on projects? Do you think that detracts from mental and writing discipline or just maximizing what little writing time exists? Can I pretend things are simmering away on each project and then I’ll write whatever goodness bubbles up during my quick computer moments?! 😉

At least we have a more reliable computer now. Yay! And I thank God and the cleverness He gave man that resulted in Google Docs and Dropbox!

Starting new projects is good. I think I’ve got some good, viable ideas right now. If I can just get to actually working on them!

Wishing you that very same thing this Advent and Christmas season.

2 Comments

Filed under Writer Troubles, Writer's Life

2 Responses to Starting New Projects

  1. I’m working on this, too. It isn’t a struggle so much for me with writing–I tend to immerse myself in whatever project I have before me. (Though right now, I’m struggling with choosing between two possibilities.) with crafts/sewing projects, though, I’m notorious for starting and not finishing projects. It’s embarrassing, really. I’m working on finishing unfinished things, and just starting one thing.

  2. Pr. Harri Huovinen

    Thank you for posting this! It’s comforting to hear that I’m not alone with this question. I, too, have several different writing projects going on at the same time.
    I wasn’t sure this was a good way to go about it, until I asked my PhD supervisor, a well-known Finnish Professor of Theology and Patristic Scholar, how he manages to publish so much, year after year. His humble reply was that while reading (which he obviously does a lot), he’s constantly collecting information and making notes on several different topics that interest him. Ultimately these notes become books, one after another—in his case, massive theological works on huge subjects. This was encouraging to learn, since this is exactly the thing I myself have been “forced” to do, while preparing sermons and other material for my congregation, writing theological articles—and yes, trying to find time for my wife and four kids!
    On the other hand, I keep reminding myself that with this method, it’s easier not to finish projects because while you’re at it, you might as well collect some more information on the topic. Obviously, somewhere along the line you have to find more time to concentrate on finishing the project, too.
    Blessings!

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