Should Writers Work on Multiple Pieces at Once?

While studying writing, I found this website that gives writers advice.

The first thing that Henry Miller says I should do, is work on one piece of writing at a time.

For me, this is the one thing I don't do. I work on multiple pieces of work at one time. Personally, I get blocks on my longer works, and need to write something else to give my brain another direction. That's just how my though process works with my fiction.

Sometimes I take a break from some plot to write a short scene or story. I've figured out that's basically my plan with one of my stories, completely changing my writing style.

I do finish things. I've just finished my story about mermaids, and it's in the editing stage. But working specifically at that one piece of writing, even with an outline, can become stale for me. I have so many ideas flowing, some of them short pieces telling me about my character, and then some of just smut. Either way, I'm going to jump back and forth.

And on top of all the fiction, I also write my opinion pieces down, and those also give my fingers some time away from writing made up stuff.

This is something that I know will always be a part of my style. Do a lot of writers work on multiple things at once? Or is the majority in the single idea mindset?

I guess that's it for right now. I have a lot of writing to get back to.

What the Fuck Do I Write?! Or One Author's Exploration into Publishing

I don't even know how to begin this post... I don't quite know where it is going... I guess I should just start from the beginning.

I have my Writer's Market. I'm reading it, and I'm actually beginning to look through magazines and such for publishers and agents that want writing similar to what I do.

I didn't realize just how hard it is to categorize my writing. I don't want to sound like a neophyte, but I'm so confused! They use words I don't know, and fancy terms, and so very few seem to want anything to do with writing that is like mine. Most of the places specifically say no erotica. I understand if you publish, let's say, Christian writing, you wouldn't want stuff like mine. Totally understandable. But there are places, that say things like "we want great fiction, no matter the genre" and then two sentences later put something like "no erotica or werewolves because it's overdone". Really, really?

The more I look through the stuff that is selling, the more I wonder exactly what I would consider my writing. Yes, most of the time it has graphic depictions of sex, but there's also a bunch of other good stuff going on in the pages. There is a plot, and great story telling, and dialogue that the reader will laugh at. The one thing I do have in mind when writing, is how a reader will enjoy it. It's gotten to the point where there are some markets that ask for some niche things, and I'm going to do custom pieces just for them. You want Black lesbian literature? You got it dude!

I don't know if I'm going to continue to read through it right now (I think I need some coffee just to begin to comprehend just how small of a viewership this makes me feel I'll have). I think I have to regroup, and come back to it. I'm just so.... I don't know... confused? Anxious? Unnerved? I think all of the above, in a blender, on high.

Will I have to modify my writing, and make it more marketable? Or should I stick to my guns and continue to wallow. This just further cements that I will need a full time job, this writing is not going to pay my bills any time soon.

Kindle Direct Publishing and Graphic Porn

This has left me pissed off.

And rather depressed...

So, I had something of an epiphany when I was writing and working on a short scene. Suddenly, I realized that I wanted to put a lot of little sceneys of mine together in a collection I call "Taboo". It was supposed to contain stories from all the parts of human sexuality that aren't discussed in polite society.

And by this, I barely mean BDSM. I meant incest, underage, rape and zoophilia. I happen to have at least one story that falls into each of the categories (although the underage was written when I was underage). I thought it would be a clever, although controversial collection. Although I didn't expect any one individual to find each story arousing (I only find a fraction sexy), but I thought there was a little something for everyone.

So, whilst on my computer, I go to Amazon.com and I download the Kindle Publishing handbook... I'm so happy I found now, before I put in the extra time writing other little shorts for this collection.

I'm reading through it, looking at the policies that are in place, how to go about it. Amongst the final pages, I find the list of prohibited content. The first fucking thing is "graphic or hardcore pornography". Immediately, I thought a blood vessel in my head popped.

All of my erotic writing is graphic and hardcore. In my mind, that's what makes good erotica, the ability to see, touch, taste and smell what's going on. I want the reader to feel that everything they're reading is happening right in front of them.

Thinking that there might be some other things not allowed by KDP, I went to their forum (I already have an account), and I found that not only are graphic depictions prohibited, so are rape, scat, underage, and anything else that one might find in 120 Days of Sodom.

Most of my stories and outlines for stories contain themes like that. Hell, it's usually a major conflict. What can I say, my first favorite author was VC Andrews.

Even my stories, the longer pieces that I'm working on, cannot be published under KDP. I really feel some sort of way, my head and heart are aching right now. I don't know what's keeping the tears at bay.

Now I'm just wondering what it is I'm going to have to do... I think I will wait, finish a major story, and then see about finding an agent. That will probably be the only way to get out my work, since it's too graphic and "wrong" for me to publish independently.

I have to find a way to get my mind back on track with my work...