Dovetailing writing efforts
Sometimes an effective strategy to get more work done is to dovetail various efforts in different ways to complete more than one assignment. For example, in the past year I’ve put a lot of time into researching Jack the Ripper and other modern serial murderers, and it’s paid off in a published article in Ripper Notes #28 and an editor who is hoping I’ll submit more material in the near future.
That’s great, but it’s only one opportunity. In my previous post, I stated how hard it is to get started on the more creative writing style of opportunities coming my way. Perhaps dovetailing would work here. For example, I could leverage my new researched insight into serial killers into my graphic novel.
Or, more realistically, I could write a play about the Whitechapel Murders; Jack the Ripper has often made terrific fodder for stage plays, but few have ever stayed true to the crimes themselves, as they happened. Perhaps that’s my opportunity.
That kind of brainstorming can be more effective than a colon cleanser in clearing out the cobwebs and moving forward in writing pursuits with new energy and commitment.
Tags: Colon cleanser, Ripper Notes, stage plays
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Hi there,
Interesting that you mentioned two things which I am also interested in.
RIPPER NOTES - I belong to the Whitechapel Society (www.whitechapelsociety.com) and we meet in East London to study Jack the Ripper/East End Victorian & Edwardian social history. We also have a Journal that publishes article on Jack.
JACK THE RIPPER MUSICAL - I am the composer on a musical on Jack that completely sticks to the historical facts of the case (www.rippershow.com)
Best wishes,
Frogg Moody.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Frogg,
A pleasure to hear from you; I’ve read of your work in Ripper Notes and hope one day to be blessed enough to see one of your productions staged. Always nice to hear from the Whitechapel Society. Be sure to check out my history blog, it has Ripper-themed posts. (www.historyhype.com)
Appreciate your visit, you are welcome on any of my blogs at any time.