For years, I’ve been able to sit down in front of my computer and just begin typing away. I have a dozen different prêt à porter story ideas that I can jump into at a moment’s notice. Until recently…

In the last few weeks – or is it months? – I’ve been torn between too many varied projects. I’m not one to stress too much.  I had an incident a decade ago that enlightened me to exactly what unattended stress can do to a body and mind. A little while back, I realized that I was allowing stress to affect me once again and I will not have that happen. Not now. No way.

We (Dark Red Press) have an event in July, the wonderful writers’ convention Lexicon. Our company is a sponsor of the event and I will be speaking, as well. The event is in its third (and possibly final year), as it has grown significantly under the leadership of its creator, author Mitch Haynes. I can only imagine the stress of putting on such an event can be, even with the gracious and dedicated assistance of friends and family.

After this event, I will be taking a step back from my duties as President and Senior Editor at DRP. I am lucky enough to have a great team that will be taking up any responsibilities to which may need to be attended. I’m doing to for several reasons. One is I need more writing time. (Don’t we all?!) As well, I believe all that I’ve taken up within the company has lent to a greater amount of stress than I can currently keep a handle on. Welcome to the real world, I suppose.

I need to get back in shape. I need to finish my WIPs. I need to spend more time with my lovely, irrepressible Wife. I need some “me time.”

Hence, prioritization.

We do what we must to bring balance to our lives.

Which brings me back to the real subject of this post: juggling multiple projects.

In 2011, my first novel was published. It is a Young Adult Urban Fantasy adventure along the same vein as Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. Whereas his is more middle-school level, mine is more 16+ Years. My protagonists are just graduating high school when all hell breaks loose in their lives. The Weight of Night is my pride and joy, as it is a) my first published novel and b) the characters are like family to me. With that being said, the readers really do enjoy the book and I have gotten dozens of absolutely wonderful reviews and personal notes to me about how much they loved it. The main comment is: where the heck is the next one??

Therein lies the rub.

The second novel in the Progeny series, The Light of Chaos, is about a third of the way completed. The characters are growing and getting into even more trouble than in the first book. I love, love being there with them. However…

Last year Dark Red Press published my second novel, a very adult Urban Fantasy filled with sex, violence, betrayal and mayhem called The Blood of Others. It has been very well-received, as well. (Hey, I’m on a streak!) Again, the comments in reviews also ask, where is the next one? And, I do have an answer: it’s about a third of the way complete, as well. But…

For the past fifteen years or more, I’ve had a story in my head. It is kind of/sort of/maybe a little quasi-autobiographical. It is so hard to write even fiction when it hits so very close to home. Yet, every day the damned thing picks and scrapes at me, dancing around my brain and crying to be let out. It is such a dramatic departure from all of my other work that’s been published, that I fear for the reception it may receive. It is a purely non-fantasy/non-sci-fi thriller that dredges up a helluva lot of emotion in me.

Have you ever needed to write something that is also so very difficult to write?

That’s where I am. My creativity is stalling because it is all over the place: like a bouncy ball in a washing machine!

I keep pecking away at my two main WIPs, The Light of Chaos and The Moon Also Rises – yet, the one story that is closest to me will not let me be. It’s sort of driving me nuts.

So, I need to figure out what to finish first. It’s up to me. I’m not asking for advice (although I’d sure as hell take it into account), I’m just venting and getting this down for posterity’s sake.  I suspect five years from now, I’ll look back on this post and laugh out loud at the inane babbling, the self-absorbed BS spouted herein. At least, I dearly hope that is the case.

Still, what about you?

Have you ever gotten caught between projects that were each, in their own way, pulling at you? Did it make it tough to find the right tack? What solution did you decide upon?