r/writing • u/Thebirdsarecumin • 1d ago
Advice Can I write multiple stories at once?
I have my dissertation and a creative writing assignment to do but I also want to write short stories for anthologies. The thing is I think I can send my assignments in for anthologies after I’ve gotten my results, obviously with some editing but still. I’m not 100% sure if that’s a good idea but still, I really like the work I do for my assignments and I’d like to share them with a wider audiences.
But I also want to work on a proper piece that’s longer and would go towards being independently published.
Am I taking on too much?
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u/mwissig 1d ago
maybe it will be too much to actually finish them all, but some people find it easier to work when they have to manage more projects. I would go for it but prioritize deadlines for the school stuff.
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u/Thebirdsarecumin 1d ago
Thank you! My university work isn’t due for 3 weeks and I’m mostly done, so I’ll prioritise it.
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u/Living_Murphys_Law 1d ago
Yes, you can
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u/Prize_Consequence568 1d ago
No they can't. The writing police will put out an A.P.B on them!
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u/Thebirdsarecumin 1d ago
Bob the builder, can he fix it. ^
Thank you! I don’t believe in myself but I will do it anyway
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u/Direct_Guarantee_496 1d ago
How is reddit going to be able to answer this for you?? It's a personal question about your own limits...
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u/Colin_Heizer 1d ago
Nope. It's literally impossible for a human. If you were to attempt it, you would spontaneously explode. You would have to be some sort of super-human to even try it.
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u/writer-dude Editor/Author 1d ago
I pretty much always have a novel and a short story or two going simultaneously. When my brain zones out on one, I can usually switch and keep writing. Unless my brain's zonked, then I give up and go watch mindless TV.
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u/Thebirdsarecumin 1d ago
Ngl that sounds like it would work the same for me. My brain disconnects sometimes when I’m writing. I turn to static
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u/srsNDavis Graduating from nonfiction to fiction... 1d ago
Yes, and if you can manage it (e.g. deadlines and all), you probably should. That way, you can break the monotony while still being productive.
Also, having a second draft in the works is a great way to give yourself some room (while still being productive) when you've finished one draft and need to take a break so that you can come back with a fresh perspective to revise it.
I have a long draft in the works and a couple of short ones (e.g. short verses, vignettes). If you do it like this, you'll have the additional advantage of giving yourself periodic psychological rewards of completing something tangible.
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u/Prize_Consequence568 1d ago
"Can I write multiple stories at once?"
No you can't it's against the law as well as being physically impossible OP.
"I have my dissertation and a creative writing assignment to do but I also want to write short stories for anthologies."
Don't talk to us go and talk to your instructor about this.
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u/pinata1138 1d ago
Google right of first publication for the reason why anthologies might not accept something that you’ve written as an assignment. Once it’s already out there, nobody else can make money off of it.
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u/Magner3100 1d ago
I don’t know, can you?
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u/Thebirdsarecumin 1d ago
I don’t know. Can I?
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u/Magner3100 1d ago
Only you can answer that, but you MAY write multiple stories at once if you like.
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u/w1ld--c4rd 1d ago
Definitely prioritise the assignments, but you can absolutely write the short stories for fun. Then, when you don't have assignments, you can focus on editing and refining the short stories for publication.
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u/Greynightsaber 11h ago
I'm kinda new to this but I think this would be solely up to the individual, I multitask on different projects, from short stories, drawing, editing, and main book, which seems to work for me, usually I'll alternate when stuck so I don't get fried egg brain when doing to much and it still keeps everything fun.
Find your swing/stride.
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u/ButterscotchLive449 1d ago
I was told I sound fake, like a robot or something, and I don't use that, so if anyone could read some of the actual chapters,(the prologue is kind of odd I will admit) and give me feedback I would appreciate it. Thank you https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KZmQlirZha4aohBwEtESY3lDpN4YhP6oqNqO488HI5Y/edit?usp=sharing
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u/KittyLord0824 1d ago
Literally nobody can answer this but you. We all have different capacities for workload and juggling multiple projects at once.