Illustrator: how to paint consecutive strokes without deselecting each new path?

Using the pen tool:

How do I paint consecutive strokes (i.e. without worrying if they connect or not), without having to deselect each new stroke before being able to make a new?

I’m using a Wacom tablet to paint with. Right now, every time when I paint a stroke, then release the pen and directly paint a new stroke, I seem to end up deleting the previous stroke.

Is there a workaround or a solution, if I want to simply ‘paint’, and afterwards join those anchors that I wish to stay connected?