Juggling multiple writing projects:

Manuscripts of novel length take enormous effort, and shortcuts should be avoided if you want a finished project that holds up. But what happens when you’re deep into one—say, your newest baby on paper—and someone approaches you with a paid offer to write a screenplay?

The answer is simple: take the job if you can meet their deadline, then return to your manuscript when it’s complete.

Always prioritize paid work once you’ve agreed to it. If you’re already committed to another project under contract, decline the new offer. Nothing damages your reputation faster than overcommitting and missing deadlines.

For me, the hardest part is often getting back into the rhythm of the project I had to pause—especially if I left off in a strong creative flow. Sometimes it helps to give myself a few days or even weeks to reset before diving back in. I never force the writing. If I’m not feeling it, I wait until I am.

Can you bounce between multiple projects at once?

Of course. There are no rules to writing. Period. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong. There have been times I’ve juggled both—a script and a novel—because I was ahead on Project A’s deadline and something about Project B was burning to get out. If the timing feels right, I let it happen.

The editing phase of either form can also give you breathing room. With a screenplay, each time you send a draft for feedback, you’ll have a short window to return to your other work. With a novel, you usually can’t switch gears until you finish the draft—but once you send it to your editor, that review period often buys you a full month to focus on something else.

The key? Don’t sweat the small stuff.

The takeaway: never stop writing. You can juggle if you plan smartly. Don’t take on more than you can finish. Find a rhythm that works for you. And when the process feels daunting, remember—there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

Happy writing, everyone. ~ C. R. Buchanan