by Alissa Lukara
With all the emphasis in our world on writing books fast, writers — myself included — can feel bad, guilty if they can’t or don’t complete a book in three months, one year or five years. As if writers don’t already have enough to feel challenged about in writing or publishing a book in this market that is changing with lightning speed.
Then, consider those writers and experts who have taken the courses that tell them they can write a book in a weekend or two weeks or two months. Maybe they caught the wave and did ride the high of writing fast. Maybe they even completed part or all of a rough draft.
“Rough” is the operative word here (and yes, most writers’ first drafts are rough).
Then, boom. Stalemate. The writer is on one side of the room. That rough draft on the other. And it sits there staring the writer down for months, years, even, because that individual does not know how to rewrite and complete the book.
They may not recognize that a rough draft downloaded in a few weeks or months for many writers, if not most, will take a year or two or more to expand, rewrite, finish.
Even Nanowrimo, the write a novel in the month of November non-profit, does not expect you to have a polished masterpiece by November 30. You participate in the spirit of fun, of letting go and seeing what you can do when you write with discipline and abandon. Then, you can take the draft and rework or toss it.
In The Writing Life, Annie Dillard says, “It takes years to write a book—between two and ten years. Less is so rare as to be statistically insignificant. . . . Out of a human population on earth of four and a half billion, perhaps twenty people can write a serious book in a year.”
She herself an exquisite writer and accomplished author averages one book every three years.
And yes, there are those exceptions. Great writing, meaningful writing can happen in a short time.
Arthur Miller wrote Death of a Salesman in six weeks. Interestingly, I could not find how long his other plays took to write.
The first Harry Potter book took J. K. Rowling more than six years to write. She completed the series in 17.
Jonathan Franzen’s novel, Freedom, took 9 years to write.
Isabel Allende writes approximately one book per year – working 8 to 14 hours a day. But research for a book can add years to her process.
Sue Monk Kidd wrote The Secret Life of Bees in 3 years.
Kathryn Stockett wrote The Help in 5 years (and had 60 rejections over 3 ½ years).
The mega-bestseller mass market author, Danielle Steele, works on several books a year, up to five at one time. She might be researching one, outlining writing and revising others. Even she says, one book takes her about 2½ years to complete.
I researched and wrote my first nonfiction book for a major publisher, in 8 weeks, working 16 hours a day, 6 days a week. But the book already had a carefully planned structure and book proposal, and a tight deadline because of time-sensitive subject matter, Then, I had to recover from physical and creative burn out for 3 months before I could start writing anything new.
My memoir took 5 years of writing, mostly part time, over a span of 8 years. Today, I am 5 years into writing a novel, again writing it part-time, and after taking 2 years off to promote the memoir. Throughout that time, I also worked as a professional writer, editor and writing coach, president of a nonprofit website, speaker and facilitate online and in person writing workshops.
Do I wish writing the book was going faster? Yep. I cannot lie. But I also am not down on myself that it is not (at least most days) and know I will persist.
What about you? What book are you called to write that no one else could write? What book would be meaningful to one other human being? Or, what book would entertain a reader? Or, what book would heal you? Write the book no one else can write but you. Write it whether the process takes you two weeks or 10 years.
I would love to hear what you think. How long have you been working on your book? Do you have a disciplined writing practice or do you wait for the muse? How do you persist? Do you have an incomplete manuscript you are avoiding? How long have your favorite authors books taken to write? Please leave your comments below.
Are you ready to write your book — no matter how long it takes? Alissa Lukara, the author of the memoir, Riding Grace: A Triumph of the Soul, supports writers to write and complete their books in her online writing workshop, Writing Books that Transform Lives. Find out about the next session that begins June 4th. Early registration ends Thursday, May 31. Meanwhile, find out how writing can change your life by registering here for the free eCourse, Complete Your Book — Transform Your Life: 7 Key Steps on the Writer’s Journey. Registering for it automatically subscribes you to Transformational Writers updates.
Thanks again Alissa for staying with this topic. I need to hear it and I would bet that a lot of others do as well. We are more and more living in a nanosecond world. While this has many advantages, it also puts many writers in danger of imploding on their own thought processes. They don’t really take the time to think straight about what they want to say. The result is often a mish-mash of gobble-de-**** writing which tells a fractured story better left untold and a book better left unwritten.
Jonah
Exactly. I have a writer colleague and friend who says, “Make it worth the trees.” But even with e-books, the deep well of satisfaction and sense of completion comes from writing the best book you can — including having the willingness to rewrite several times and get feedback from a critique group and/or editor — before you self-publish or send it out to agents and publishers.
“The first Harry Potter book took J. K. Rowling more than six years to write. She completed the series in 17.” Wow…that’s encouraging! Especially as it’s going on 4 years since I completed my first mystical book which I am expanding into a trilogy, hopefully within less time than her 17 years, like within the next 2 to 3 years. But it is a journey of the soul, and so I will let it unfold in the fullness of time. It won’t be rushed. It is exactly where it is meant to be in this moment of time.
Thank you again, Alissa for sharing all of this with us, encouraging us to be true to ourselves in both our content and our natural timeframe.
You’re welcome Selina. Your wisdom and creativity shine through. I like calling it a “natural timeframe” and yes, I agree, writing the mystical as you are is a journey of the soul both for you and your readers. I honor your process and look forward to reading the results in your trilogy.
Writing is about the process not the end result? What goes into each word, each page, each revision, each metaphor and each day between those creative and not so creative moments, speaks volumes because you were present with the moment to moment love of the process? That moment when you let your Presence speak? Those words that the soul of people want to (need to) hear? The process is about connecting? Not just with the audience that may be calling forth your wisdom but with you?
What a concept!!!
Thanks Alissa.
You said it, Jo Anna. And you’re most welcome. Thanks for commenting, for addressing this and adding to it so eloquently.
I feel writing a book should take as long as you feel comfortable with your writing and your message it sends. Just writing for the sake of publishing has no value according to me, but who knows? I have been writing my memoir for 3 years now with writing workshops. Only recently have I started to feel comfortable with sharing my memories. I believe people can do what they feel comfortable with, but they shouldn’t expect their books to be a success.
Those are such good points, Anneros. In memoir writing, you not only write, but also prepare to share your memories and personal stories with a larger audience (often starting in writing workshops and groups). I’m glad you’re doing this in your own timing. And yes, there are so many more reasons to write a book, a memoir, than success. To my mind, every day we sit down to write, every sharing with a friend, all of these are successes. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom.
I have found that my story deepens, my writing deepens, my craft deepens, and my theme expands…and it all ties together better if I take my time. Of course the first draft can be penned quickly. As you said, it is then the rewrites, restructures, and refining that take the time to bring a book to a polished finish. (even then, I look back at some of my novels and have to hold myself back from wanting to further rewrite and refine!)
I think the slower rhythm of the body and the heart is better than the quick tempo of the mind when it comes to writing a good novel.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom (and wit) on this topic, Alissa!
Thanks so much for the wisdom of your experience in writing novels, Jodine. I love that — the slower rhythm of the body and the heart. My writer self breathes a deep sigh of relief and release at that. I’m so glad you’re writing and sharing the beauty of your words and heart and soul – all embodied – in the world.
Dear Allisa,
I’ve been warming up into writing my book for about a year while I travelled last year I took lots of journal notes and now I’m actually focussing on getting down to it at last! Wow, I so appreciate your article as I am realising that it is going to take me much longer than I thought…. as I like to polish my work as I go, writing and rewriting it until each word flows into the next, taking away anything superfluous. Then I look at my word count and I’m lucky if I’ve written 500 words in a sitting.
I’ve also got two different book ideas happening so I really liked the way that you said the Danielle Steel works on multiple projects at once. My goal is to get my first draft done in 3 months which I think will take most of my time to do! Organising my work is another big area for me too,
Looking forward to your feedback,
Sarah
Sarah, Thanks for your comments about your journey with writing your book…including the recognition that it’s a longer journey than you expected. I’m so glad you are honoring each piece of it and taking that time to savor and polish. You and your readers will gain so much through the process. And yes, working on two projects can be a great weave back and forth. I look forward to sharing more as it unfolds. Happy writing, Alissa
Thank-you very much. This was very helpful. I thought i didn’t have enough discipline or skill to write a book, but the fact that it takes even the masters so long to write one out makes me a lot more confident that i’m going about this project the right way.
I’m planning to write three books. At least that’s what the ideas in my head expand out to.
-mCanzi
Thanks for commenting, Michael, and for persisting with your writing. I wish you much joy in writing your three books — however long they take, and yes, I, too, always find encouragement in knowing how long it takes some of my favorite writers to write a book. Happy writing, Alissa