Multiple Projects and Characters Based on You

It's possible to write more than one book at the same time, but does that make a difference in the quality of your writing? I'm not sure. I am currently revising KILLER EYES, and have started planning a new book, the YA I mentioned. I've even written the first two pages. But while doing so, I felt guilty for not putting the time into KILLER EYES. For my first two novels, I finished the one before I started the other. Well, for the most part. I finished KILLER OF KILLERS, and found an agent for it before I started writing THE VASE. Of course, every so often, I did reread KOK, and as I've chronicled, made changes every time.

Still, there was a point where I left KOK alone and concentrated on THE VASE completely, until I completed the first draft. Then I would volley between the two, giving a full reread on one, and then the other. Once both were "done" I started planning the sequel to KOK. It's still my sentimental favorite. Maybe because, as a first novel, a lot of "me" is in there. I read somewhere, I forget once again who, but it was someone who knew about writing and writers. This person said that an author's debut novel will contain a MC who is based on themselves. I think it's true that a lot of Trent Smith's personality traits are indeed based on my own.

For example, Trent Smith is a loner. I like to be a loner, although with a wife and two sons, I'm not so much a loner anymore. Trent Smith hates cigarettes and drugs, especially recreational drugs. In fact, he despises them, and so do I. Trent Smith is roughly the same size person as I am, too. He's quiet and opinionated, but keeps his opinions to himself, until drawn from him by circumstances.

So, aside from the fact that I've never killed anyone, I'm a lot like Trent Smith, or vice versa.

In THE VASE, there is no one like me. But that was the point of the article I read. It's the debut novel that contains the like character. So now that I'm on my fourth book, it's no longer happening.

Just hope that working on multiple projects doesn't affect the quality of the material.