The Writer's Guide to Side Projects

So, here is a brief tutorial on how to manage side projects.

In a previous post, I had mentioned that it is good to get your juices flowing with a "side project." Well, some of you emailed me, asking what a "side project" really is, in terms of writing. Simply put, it's something to keep you from going crazy writing the thing that you're really meant to finish.

Side projects usually develop from awesome intriguing ideas you get whilst writing the main project you should be working on right now. These ideas happen at random, sometimes being somewhat related to your current project, but most of the time having absolutely nothing to do with it. The only way I can really explain why little ideas like this crop up is this... basically, having your brain write the same thing for weeks, months, years on end is like feeding yourself the same food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for six weeks straight. By the end of that six weeks, your body wants something new, your palette craves a new flavor; so, you begin to have new ideas of what you'd like to eat. It is the same with writing. Not to mention, your brain is a creative entity, which is why you have this main project in the first place. Having little side projects can help keep your creative little brain healthy and excited for whatever else it's going to put on paper.

There is, however, a problem that comes with side projects; the problem being that sometimes we get lost in them. This unfortunately happened to me over the past years that I've been trying to finish my [hopefully] best selling series. Along the way, I've created 10 side projects, only one of which I've actually finished the first draft, none of which are actually related to the series itself! Because of these little ideas, I've unfortunately written less in the series combined than I have in that one completed first draft!

That being said, some side projects, like this one, can be productive in helping inspire your creativity. Through this side project, I've been able to find ways to help others, gather a following, and read other's books in the process. It is a great experience, though it does start out slow, and I would reccommend this to anyone who is able to dedicate their time to it!

In all, side projects can be good for your brain in keeping it healthy and satisfied--just don't get caught up in them and lose sight of what you've been striving to finish for so long.

Cheers!

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