How many projects are too many?

[ldw4686]

So - I have been working on a couple of projects but I feel I am starting to take on too many - so many question to you all is how many is too many?

Currently I am working on 5 things, which all are either in the pre-writing or outline stage - I don't know if I am just juggling these so I don't ever have to write anything down... I am a research and idea junkie... so how many current projects are you working?

L

[mscherer]

ldw4686,

Can only speak for myself, but I don't think I could handle five projects all in the same stage.

What I like to do is work on one or two projects in the planning stage, work on the first draft of a third script, and do a rewrite on a fourth. That way if for any reason I get bored -- heaven forbid -- or blocked, I have something to fall back on. And, at any one time I am working on a finished screenplay, writing a new one, and planning one or two others -- bottom line: more productive; never bored; and I can fiinish/polish at least two scripts a year.

One man's opinion.

[adamcarter216]

Five is a pretty solid and reasonable number, L.

As you said, they're simply in the idea/outline phase, so you're just massaging as many concepts as you possibly can. Nothing wrong with that. IMO, that should be the standard.

I have a pretty quirky approach to breaking down my workflow and managing what I'm working on. I tend to break all my projects down into four groups:

- Conceptualization
- Greenlit
- In Production
- Completed

The Conceptualization stuff is usually just scattershot concepts that may not be fleshed out, but the general "hook" is there. I'm not ready to sit down and start writing them, but they have potential.

Greenlit projects are ideas that I really like, and that are somewhat fleshed out, and that I plan on writing very soon.

In Production projects are scripts I'm actively working on from a writing level, as in actually writing the initial drafts. This is usually only one or two scripts, at the very most.

And Completed is...well, completed!

[shelley]

It's good to hear I'm not the only person who has several projects on the go at the same time.

I've several projects on the go but currently distracted with the idea of writing a script. I've an idea thats been in my mind for a while, I know the beginning of the story and I know the end, which is unusual for me, I normally write free flow, never sure of where it will take me.

Now I've found this wonderful site I've decided to have a go at writing a script, just need to stop procrastinating and get on with it!

I think the most wonderful feeling is when you complete a project.........

[echomusic]

I’ve always got four or five things going on at any given time.
I’m always bouncing back and forth in between things.
Currently I’ve got two features I’m writing, as well as a 6 episode web series that has the first three scripts completed – trying to finish up the final three, I have to write an episode for a friend’s web series as well as finish editing the last episode I wrote and directed for him, and on top of all of that I’m also trying to finish up an ‘album’ of 11 songs to just get it out of my system.
Always doing somethin’

I think I read Joss Whedon once said (yes, I’m a fan of the guy) that he has all of these clipboards with things he’s working on and unless he’s got a serious deadline for one project, he just kind of looks at them and lets whichever cries out loudest be the thing he works on that particular day.

[attatt]

5 projects is about where I am at too, although I am only actively writing one or two while outlining the others or just writing specific pieces of dialog I dont want to lose.

I have found that sometimes two OK story ideas will merge together into one good one. Keeping several things moving at the same time has a lot of value even though it can all seem unfocused/overbearing.

[attatt]

have to add that I think that is a product of working in a multi-tasking corporate world where putting out a lot of fires at once is necessary. I have become accustomed to working on a million things at once.

Anyone else felling that way?