[pilonsc Posts: 106 Status: Offline Dream Big!]

I'm participating in PiBoIdMo this year and the first 15 days were great...then I started working on a novel. My mind is now totally in novel mode, which means I haven't been thinking of any new PB ideas and have trouble concentrating on any PB WIPs. My mind is concentrated on the novel and in an "older age" mode (If that makes sense). I'm curious, for those of you that write both PB's and other genres

How do you switch back and forth between the genres?  :

[EllaK]

I'm also doing PiBoIdMo, and while I enjoy the blogs and the FB comraderie, I have been doing a lot of nonPB-related stuff this month. You're being productive -- be productive! It doesn't matter what genre. It doesn't matter if you hit the 30 ideas in 30 days mark -- as long as the reason for it is that you're doing what you're supposed to be doing -- writing.

At any rate, I think the more our minds are stewing in creative juices, the more they are working for us subliminally.  For instance, I woke up in the middle of the night realizing how to salvage a PB script I hadn't thought about in months.  And I think the reason all these other nonPB projects popped in my head in the first place was because I was inspired by PiBoIdMo. One of these days you'll switch back to PB gear; who cares if that happens in November or not.

[Vijaya Posts: 7,104 Status: Offline Encourage]

I have to switch between genres because often I'm on deadline and it's not always easy. Write bad poems can flip a switch. Walks. If I am not on deadline, I go with whatever calls me. When I work on a novel, I find it difficult to work on other fiction, but have no trouble writing nonfiction. I find the two very complementary so if you have to, you could try writing NF.

But, if you're cranking out that novel, why not just stick with it and get a first draft finished?

Vijaya

[KateMessner Posts: 270 Status: Offline]

I write novels, chapter books, and picture books - but I don't usually interrupt the draft of a novel to work on picture books.  Once I start drafting a novel, that's where my brain lives, so I don't stop until I'm done. There are spaces in between drafting and revising, though, where it's actually really helpful for me to get my brain away from the novel, and I've written some of my best picture book work during those times.  I also have bigger chunks of time that I set aside for picture books - brainstorming and writing and revising.

[Pam Posts: 1,296 Status: Offline Brianna Bright, Ballerina Knight, 6-5-18]

I write everything but I must confess, I cant work among them. If I write on my novel, that's what I'm doing. Right now I'm in pb mode and have stopped my novel. I needed to have a break since the first draft is done. If you want to do pidmo, why write a novel?

[pilonsc Posts: 106 Status: Offline Dream Big!]

If you want to do pidmo, why write a novel?

I guess it does seem rather silly. I didn't expect to start a novel anytime soon, so I signed up for PiBoIdMo. My brain just kind of shifted in to novel mode and the first draft started to flow. Trying to shift my brain to PB mode proved to be a challenge for me. It just made me curious how other writer's that take on more than one genre do it.

[Jodelle55]

I like to write in various genres and I find that when I get stuck on one type of writing, then I switch to something else.  When working on a novel, if I get stuck on a plot point, or can't think what to do next, then I get out a PB manuscript and the change in form seems to help me get back to work.

[Aimee W. Posts: 382 Status: Offline MADNESS]

Personally, I'd never say no to a novel idea to work on a picture book challenge/idea, but I'm a noveler (is that even a word?). To answer your original question, and it may sound easier said, but I make myself. If I'm sitting in front of a manscript and I can't get focused, I get rid of all backgound noise, make sure my needs are met (usually something to drink), and I close my eyes, breathe, tell myself to get it together, and do so. It's enough to let me jump from, say, a mg fantasy to a ya contemp.