Hello writers and readers!
I’m often told that I have a high creative output. It’s true — I’ve been lucky to write and direct films, and now am publishing books — and I’d like to share one of my techniques for how I balance multiple projects while avoiding burnout.
If you’ve got a creative project in the works, chances are you’re also juggling life at the same time. It’s a rare person who’s able to write full-time as a career, and the rest of us are relegated to balancing our creative projects alongside other life commitments.
Right now, I’m working on the scene-by-scene for the fourth Seen in Silverbridge book. I’m also developing a TV show with funds from one of our nation’s leading networks. I’m also editing a series of behind-the-scenes videos for an international feature film I recently worked on, co-writing a horror film with a writer I haven’t worked with before, consulting on a theatre script with a writer I have worked with before, and acting in a guest role a couple of days a week on New Zealand’s leading soap.
It’s a lot.
But it’s fun, and somehow I still have time to read, eat, and watch films with friends. Some people might say I have a problem saying No to projects — and they’d be correct. Being self-employed in the arts means spending the first decade of your career hustling for work, and the idea of turning work down is preposterous, so we develop a habit of saying Yes and just … having to figure it out. But even though I take on more than I it may seem I should, I’m making it work and am fulfilled.
So, what’s the big secret to biting off more than you can chew, and chewing it somehow anyway?
🚜 Crop Rotation
It’s a farming practice. But please bear with me.
Before I apply the concept of crop rotation to your writing life, let me give some background about how it works.
Crop Rotation is the process of — you guessed it — rotating crops, to optimise soil health, reduce diseases, and maximise overall productivity for SHITLOADS OF YIELD.
Some smart farmers back in Ancient Times figured out that planting the same crops on the same piece of land exhausted the nutrients of the soil, but by alternating the crops from grain to legumes to vegetables, the soil was juicy and fertile all year round. This meant their crops were always cranking.
Growing grain exhausts nitrogen in your soil, but growing legumes replenish it. In turn, legumes deplete phosphorus, potassium and calcium, so then you gotta plant some leafy greens to replenish those things. Then it’s time to bring back the grain! And so forth and so forth.
It makes for an almost four times higher harvest because your soil isn’t all worn and sad from constantly doing the same thing every day (like a factory worker might get easily exhausted if their only job is to turn the doohickey on the jiggybox and nothing else).
Now we know what crop rotation is, let’s apply the concept to our own creative lives.
🔄 Project Rotation
Think about your projects like different crops. Which would make you the tasty, resplendent, fertile field and your creative energy the nutrients. Your goal is to keep your nutrients/creative energy replenished so you can nail your projects all year round without getting exhausted.
The secret to this is rotating what you’re working on, or what ‘working phase’ you’re in for each project. For example, you could be writing the first draft of one project while editing a second project, while also working on your cover design or formatting for a third project. This means you don’t spend all morning working on a draft only to open the next project and realise you’ve fatigued your writing muscle.
The ‘nutrients’ in play for each part of the process are different. Writing a first draft takes a completely different set of brain powers than editing, and marketing is another set of skills and considerations.
👩🌾 How to Rotate Your Crops
So, how can you achieve crop rotation in your writing practice? Here are some actionable steps to get you started:
- Prioritise and Plan:
Alright, what have you got going on? Write all your projects down on a piece of paper, or in a Google Sheet, or on Notion (I use Notion, and it helps me keep track of where I’m at with which project). What stage of the process are you at with each project? Planning, drafting, rewriting, awaiting feedback? What are your priorities? Maybe you hit them first thing in the morning, or at the weekend. What can wait? Make a plan. - Replenishment Time:
Shake up what you do when you rotate projects. Don’t write two things at once, because you run the risk of burning out the writing muscle. Instead, write one project for an hour or two, then switch to marketing a different project or editing. Research and gathering ideas can be a great way to relax the writing muscle, leaving you ready to rock the next session. - Embrace Variety:
Don’t worry about jumping across different projects, even if they’re different mediums or different genres. If you can remember Harry Potter characters and Game of Thrones characters, you can remember all your own characters across projects. Variety is good — you’ll find that your projects will feed each other. - Stay Organised:
Once you’ve made a plan, stick to it. Use tools like calendars, to-do lists, Notion, or a spreadsheet to help you keep track of deadlines, progress, and ideas. Sometimes you might get pumped on one project and decide to miss a day on another. I urge you not to do this. Stick to the plan. It’s better to leave a project when you’re really excited to keep working on it than to burn out. - Cross-Pollinate Ideas:
As you jump from one project to the next, you’ll find that they start informing and inspiring one another. Something you try with one project might end up being perfect for an issue you’ve been having with another. Shake it up and let yourself become inspired.
I know it seems nuts, but it works. You might think you’ll burn out, but I guarantee you’ll find yourself more engaged and enlivened for each phase of the process. The more you do, the more you want to do, and the easier it becomes. That’s not just some woo-woo nonsense; I’m speaking anecdotally from my real-life experience.
Go forth and rotate your crops! Replenish your soil’s nutrients! Multiply your yield!