Obviously this phenomenon isn’t limited to fanfiction or even writing, but it seems to me that there are (at least) two styles to long writing projects:
- Serial: Pushing through to the end on a long-fic before starting a new one, or
- Parallel: Writing multiple long-fics side by side, depending on what feels right to write at any time.
I’m curious where other writers see themselves in this split, or if they do at all - maybe I’m totally off the mark!
As far as I go, I definitely fall into the first bucket, even when it’s tough & I reeeaaaalllly want to explore the new shiny idea my brain has come up with. There’s a sense of completion that comes from focusing on one core project & knowing that I’ll see it through to the end. Sometimes my brain won’t let me write it for short periods & I’ll jump away from my long-fic to write a one-shot or shorter multi-chapter story but I don’t maintain multiple long-fics at the same time because I’d just get confused & struggle to relate to my story (especially as I focus on the same characters/fandom for all my writing so far).
I’m always hugely impressed with writers who manage to juggle multiple long-fics at the same time, even if they don’t finish some of them. It seems to me like it’d be a lot less stressful to be able to just write whatever inspires joy in the moment & leave a story without the need to complete it - I’m totally aware this is a “faraway fields are greener” situation, but it’s nice to think that it’s a more enjoyable approach.
I recently came across a writer who’s maintaining at least 3 long-fics that I could see & every new chapter comes with a note at the end saying which story is next on the list to be updated. Now, chances are they have at least one of these fics pre-written, but either way, I’m in awe of them. 😮
Yeah if I had a more stable life I’d post sooner but that’s not going to happen hhhh.
I wouldn’t call someone who only had one good project in their history the same thing. Those people still have a desire to create regardless of the struggle. That is what they spend their time on.
I don’t think it’s sad if someone only has one story to tell. Some people hop hobbies. For a few years, it’s writing. For another set of years, it’s knitting and podcasts. Another, swimming.
I personally cannot grasp how, but that’s how some brains roll.
So, I’m one of those people who tends to hop from hobby to hobby. Tbh writing fanfiction is probably the one I’ve been most consistent with since I started a year ago, & I’m kind of terrified I’ll end up dropping it because I really enjoy it! It definitely feels like a hyperfixation for me & I worry one day I’ll wake up & that focus will be gone. It’s also the one that’s most freeform creative so I think that may be linked to my worry (I’m usually much more of a consumer than a creative).
I guess if someone is at peace with hopping between hobbies & concluding a project & then they’re done with the whole hobby, then that’s not sad. But where I am at the moment, I feel I’d mourn it a bit. But then I guess I’d forget about it because I have terribly poor autobiographical memory… 🤷♀️
Ah! Goodness, I’m sorry you have that to dread about! The few I’ve talked to who hop hobbies have told me they may not “miss” a previous fixation, but just angry/upset about having to ride the chaos. Especially since some hobbies are very expensive.
Some others however, once they found fandom and it’s flexibility there is an “easier” bouncing of hobbies. Usually migrating from one fandom to another but still deep in fanfiction. The frustration instead comes from putting so much work into a story for your brain to drop it and wanting to work on a whole new story, setting, characters.
Thanks! To be fair, it’s not an awful worry to have in the grand scheme of things 😅 but now that I’ve found something I really like, I want to stick with it (at least that’s the way I feel at the moment). And yeah, maybe if I do bounce, it’ll only be as far as another fandom (which is a pleasant thought!).