Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Need Your Help in a Literary Tug of War

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I don't make resolutions. Partly because I like going with the flow, but also because I really don't like to set myself up for failure. Unfortunately, that strategy is backfiring on me this year.

I currently have two works-in-progress begging for my attention - and I honestly don't know which one to work on.

First, there's Hidden, my next YA high fantasy. I'm really, really excited about this. I'm also going to pub it under my Megg Jensen pen name. Megg needs a little love. She hasn't had a new release since last fall, which is practically an eternity in the ebook world.

But, there's this YA contemporary adventure I started three years ago. I abandoned it then because I wanted a career as a fantasy author - not contemporary. Every conference, article, tweet told me to pick a genre and stick with it. Publishers didn't like authors jumping genres.

But I'm e-pubbing now. I can do anything I want! So, the contemporary is whispering in my ear, begging me to pay attention to it - while my fantasy won't leave my imagination!

What I need are two brains, four arms, and another computer. Then I could do everything I want. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure none of those are an option right now.

How do I choose? I honestly don't know. Has this ever happened to any of you? How did you decide which story to work on when you're equally passionate about both???? HELP!!!!!

Megg, Miss Enchanted ePubber

4 comments:

Dani said...

Megg, not that I've managed to write much recently with all the editing, but I have a similar dilemma. My YA fantasy or a contemporary that I feel rather connected to. What I've decided is to write on the one that speaks to me the most. If you're not hearing that little voice that says, "Write this one! Write this one!" then you could try sitting down, closing your eyes and just start typing...you'll see which one of the two starts to come out - and that is the one that you should be working on. For me, the answer was my contemporary, so that is the novel I'm hoping to finish the draft on in the next few months.

Emily Marshall said...

I have this problem a lot. I wish the two brains/four arms combo was really an option! Usually I end up picking which one I have the most developed in my head. But I have been known to flip back and forth between projects. I don't advise that though, since I usually have to edit more than normal after it's all said and done, to make sure everyone stays in character.

Bonnee Crawford said...

I don't want to be limited to a genre either. I love writing fantasy, but I come up with a lot of story ideas, and not all of the ones that stick in my head are fantasy. At this point, I'm not going to limit myself. Maybe I'll find I'm stronger in a different genre that I haven't tried yet. But perhaps, if you're worried about genres, use your name for one genre and your pseudonym for the other genre(s). Otherwise, why not write both just to be able to say you've done it? Good practice anyway :) Write on!

DeenaML said...

I have like three novels I want to write! A dark contemporary YA, a sequel to my unsold but I might epub spec fic YA, and a complete revision to an old contemp MG. Need more hours in the day!

What did you decide? If the contemp is a stand alone, you could get that one "out of the way" and then focus on your fantasy series?