Readers, and ‘others’…
Y’all can read a LOT faster than we can write, which is a given. A lot of folks will read a 90,000 word novel in 3-6 hours.
However, writers work at different ‘speeds’ if you will. I am happy to get 4-6000 words a week when I can write (not on pain meds), or doing a convention (another week/con). I know other folks that will do that in a day! They can pump out a novel a month.
I can’t do that, because it would be garbage, and I’m not going to even try. I have to do research…and I want to put out as good a novel as I can…sigh
And it’s worse when you write in more than one genre or series. I have to go back and reread the previous books to ‘reset’ the characters in my head, so that takes a week or so. At let’s say an average of 6000 words/week, assuming 90,000 word novel, that’s 15 weeks or 4 months.
Then I send it out to my alpha readers, get feedback, fix the errors they catch, so another 3 weeks. Lather, rinse, repeat for the beta readers. And then it goes to the editor (roughly 2 weeks to a month).
I’m also sending the rough to my cover artists, so they are working on a cover while all this is going on. So (doing math), 6 months IF everything comes together. As an Indie author, the next thing is putting it up on Amazon, which usually takes about a week. If I were trad pub, that novel would probably not be released for a year, AFTER I did all the work and submitted a finished product.
I know I haven’t put out a full novel in over a year, but I’ve been dealing with physical issues, sorry.
The other thing that interrupts is when you get invited to submit for an anthology- Those are mostly 8000 words, so I can usually knock them out in a little over a week, if I push it. Another interrupter is reading other people’s work as either an alpha, beta, or rough editor. Those can eat a few days, too. And Ghod forbid we take a vacation…LOL
The other problem is writing in more than one genre, I ‘try’ to alternate genres with my releases. I’m stuck on the next Bell Chronicles right now, but the Rimworld novel is going great guns. Of course you readers ‘want’ to get ‘your’ series book…yesterday…
Soooo, yes I’m whining here. But I also want y’all to ‘understand’ that I’m not blowing y’all off, it’s just that I’m slow. 🙂
Oh yeah, and I was asked why I put up snippets (by someone that WILL NOT read snippets). I do that because YOU are my customers. And I value your feedback and comments, I do listen, and I do make changes based on your comments.
Thank you for your time this morning. And yes, I’m writing today (and try to every day).
It sounds like your style of writing requires a LOT of preparation before you put pen to paper. The research to get the correct terminology alone I imagine is overwhelming at times. And maybe some days, your heart isn’t in writing at the moment but you do it anyway.
Thanks !
Brother, there’s no need to apologize. Your faithful readers (yes you have some) are just grateful for your work!
The Rimworld series is a favorite of mine, but the Grayman series runs a close 2d. Ripping good yarns such as these are worth waiting for.
Don’t get discouraged! We’ll wait.
All the Best,
Old Bill in TN
OK, coffee break is over. Back to work, slave!
Honestly, when you look at your catalogue, you are doing quite well. Especially switching between genres as you do, plus the anthologies, plus snippets all in between the cons. I could not do this.
When other authors go from one series to another odd things can sometimes happen. In one I read, a main character’s name changed from Maurice to Morris after several books with no explanation.
So write at your own pace and don’t worry about us. We’ll still be here.
Hey!! First of all, you are a human, not a machine, not a slave, and second of all you ARE allowed a life outside of the one you think up and put down on paper…or computer screen, or however ya do your composing.
Thirdly, please don’t stop the snippets as my reaction is always “cool, he is working on another book for…! Yay!!”
Fourth, one of my most favorite authors of all time, Diana Gabaldon, has been working on her Outlander series since the late 1980’s, her first book has 851 pages in it, and is 2.5 inches thick and was published in 1991. She does A LOT of research, and writes in snippets and then ties them all together. She has an overarching arc that she knows what general direction she is going in, but “sometimes the characters do take control” as she says. All I know is that I enjoy the end product.
As I enjoy your “brain drippings.”
Yup, sometimes the one or two year long wait between books seems long, but that allows me time to discover other authors, like Larry, or Cedar, or some of the others you “advertise” for.
And, if push comes to shove, I can always go and re-read the series from the beginning and not only refresh my memory, but inevitably, I learn something new to me that I missed the prior times through the story.
So, bottom line, it’s all good. Do what ya can when ya can.
I will be here, ready with my pennies to hand over, whenever you are ready to take them.
I agree with the previous commentors, You are not a slave, You are a craftsman and turnout your results when you consider them a proper reflection of your abilities. Good on you, keep up the good work.
/joke/All that being said…when’s the next one coming out???/~joke/
Stay well and enjoy your life.
All- Thank you for the kind words! I do get frustrated at times with my slowness…
Ray/Carlton- Phhhbbbtttt…
Go,Go,smile, all products are appreciated and we understand.
You talked about the process with me here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7r2JNGyOD9sI423StlCSWT?si=0bggr4aYTTWbcKMffj-htg
Thank you for putting any of it to paper (well electrons in my case I’m primarily a kindle user). It takes what it takes and yes consuming is far faster than even the fastest of producers so we readers will ALWAYS be sitting in anticipation. Please whack us un the muzzles with a rolled up newspaper if we get to annoying (although I suspect we readers are more cat than dog in our nature 🙂 ).
Jim, I’ve enjoyed everything you have put down on paper. I own most if not all of your work and each new story/novella/novel is a treat. Good work takes as long as it takes, especially when the muse doesn’t want to cooperate. Take your time, do your thing, and don’t forget to take time for yourself too.