Scott,
you've sort of answered this, but I'd like to see it addressed specifically: do you think it's a good idea to be working on more than one idea or even more than one script at a time? Is there a downside of dissipating your energy or...something?

Right now, due to time limits (still earning a living full time), I mostly am only working on one script, but I have other ideas...not sure what's the most productive use of my time - getting that one script to where I want it to be ASAP or cultivating more than one, with the possibility that it delays completion...

Thanks for any thoughts.

Judith

The more you can do, the better off you are.

I usually work on a couple of projects simultaneously. If you get stuck on one, then hop over to the other.

During lunch at my job, I try to do prep writing on various half-hatched ideas--snatches of conversation, plot points, characters, etc.--that often become future projects.

Judith, I did address this question in one respect here because the fact is professional screenwriters can and do 'stack' projects. So it does behoove you to be able to work on multiple projects at once.

However there is work and there is work. And if you'll read the article at the link above, you'll see there's a method to madness so that at any given time, you are actually only doing page-writing on one project. Yes, you can be prepping projects. Yes, you can be doing a polish. But when you're in first draft mode, I strongly suggest you focus your attention there. Because, as you note, working on multiple projects -- actually writing script pages -- can dissipate your energy, cause you to lose focus, etc.

It takes a lot to fully go into a story. You don't need other stories diverting your attention.

Now a caveat: That's just me and my advice. There are writers who can write multiple projects at once. More power to them. I don't recommend it.

But stacking projects, absolutely!

OK, what you and the Unknown Lyricist said makes sense and sounds doable - take notes & prep for various scripts but focus page-writing on one.

thanks.

Judith