By now, most of you know I write for other people as my job—but what you might not know is that I’m chronically bored. That’s honestly how I became a ghostwriter: I have the perfect multitasking brain.
I know all the advice says it’s better to focus on one project at a time—and yes, there’s solid psychology behind that—but some of us just aren’t wired that way. When I try to silence the flood of other ideas in my head, I end up fighting my own brain instead of writing.
So, let me introduce you to something that changed everything for me: the Parking Lot.
Step One: Brain Dump Before You Write
Before you even start a session, let it all out. Do a quick brain dump of every idea swirling in your head—lines, plot points, random sparks. Sometimes that initial spill is all you need to finally focus. Once it’s out, look through the mess and grab anything relevant to today’s project. The rest? Save it for later.
Step Two: Create a “Parking Lot” for Distractions
Keep a space open in your writing zone:
- a notebook beside you,
- a second document,
- or even a few sticky notes on your desk.
The goal is to make it easy to capture distractions while you work. When an idea for another project pops up—don’t chase it. Just park it. Jot down a short note, a summary, or even a quote, then come back to your main task.
You might take a bit longer to finish, yes—but you won’t be fighting your brain the whole time. Instead of silencing your buzzing thoughts, you’re gently gathering them, saving them, and moving on.
Step Three: Balance Multiple Projects Intentionally
If you do plan to work on more than one project in a day, try this:
- Keep both files open. When your motivation dips in one, check if it’s rising for the other.
- Or, if your focus prefers structure, schedule your projects in blocks. Two hours on one, then a long break, then two hours on the next.
It really depends on your personal brand of chaos. Personally, I use both methods—my focus changes day by day, so I match my approach to my energy.
Final Thoughts
That’s how I manage multiple ghostwriting projects (and still take on new clients) without burning out.
This is the way that I coach my writers as well when they join Drafts Club!
This post was short, but maybe you just needed permission to stop fighting your scattered mind—and start working with it instead. Your chaos isn’t a flaw; it’s just a system that hasn’t found its rhythm yet.
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