Maybe the question should be, “Is this blog series done yet? Ha Ha! No. Not yet. There’s so much information I want to share. Check out PART 1 or PART 2 of this series if you’re just joining now.
The question I’ve been asking all week, “How long did it take you to write your most recent book(s)?” My official answer to that question is this:
I wrote Love, Lies, & Clones in 8 or 9 months, but I was also working on two other novels in that time that will come out in 2017 (“Blood & Holy Water” and “Superhero Wives”). I get tired of one project and need something else to take my mind off of it, so I can come back with a fresh eye.
But how long should it take me? What if I want to keep my “fans” happy?
I’ve been overhearing that the best way to have people notice your novels is to write another…and another. Keep giving them new material to read. In this article HERE, it says many authors publish four books a year. Wow…but ouch!
I ask, what QUALITY were those books? I’m sure many authors are completely capable of producing four fantastic, well-written novels per year, but I am not. And that’s okay.
I say it’s a balancing act. Keep getting fresh material out in the world, however long it takes you, so that you don’t sacrifice quality. A fan will be happier waiting for a well written novel than reading the next hacked-together installment quickly. But that’s just my opinion–one I need to keep telling myself as I (slowly) plug away finishing my works-in-progress.
Now, if you’re looking to have writing be the method in which you earn your living, then four novels a year is probably a necessity. I imagine, the more you write, the easier they get.
Okay, here’s the fun part. Some authors speak out on how long it took to write their novel(s).
Today’s Spotlight: ROMANCE / WOMEN’S FICTION / ANTHOLOGIES Authors
Note: You can CLICK any book cover below to learn more. You may find your next novel to read!
QUESTION: How long did it take you to write your most recent book(s)?
Kyla Stone: I’ve had the idea bouncing around in my head for over a decade. From outlining/plotting, through the rough draft, revisions, final, editing, etc. took six months.
Marissa Marchan: With this novel, My Runaway Bride, it took me a little over three months. But it actually took longer to edit the book than it did to write it. Even after I got it back from the editor, I still went through a round of self-edits until I finally satisfied. All in all, it took me eight months before I entered it to Kindle Scout.
Laura Greenwood: My most recent published is What Lies Beneath the Mask, which I started in late January and published on the 1st December. It took me about 2 1/2 months to write the first draft, around my day job and other commitments. However, the last novel I wrote, Siren’s Storm, took just under a month (I had a slow start to NaNo!) So that’s pretty much the benchmark now!
Ruth White: The time actually spent writing was about six months. Planning it in my head and researching took a few years.
L. Virally: It took me several years, and I don’t even know the exact count. I had to stop and start many times due to some difficult life events.
Jenny O’Brien: Englishwoman in Paris, which was released three weeks ago took four months from the germ of the idea to publication.
What are your thoughts on multi-part blog series, like this one, and spotlighting Q&A with indie authors?
Other Spectacular Novels to Check Out!
Joynell Schultz, Author 
I also think a part of it is how much time to do you dedicate to writing? If you’re still holding down that full-time job, four a year seems impossible. Writing full-time? Tough, but maybe doable.
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The full time job comment is so true! Life is definitely a balancing act. Especially when you throw in a family, housework, friends, etc.
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I agree! Quality should definitely come before quantity. If readers really love your writing, they can and will wait for a long time, even a year, for another book to come out. But if you write a book quickly that’s boring or of lesser quality, and they don’t like it, then they may not care about your later books, however fast they’re written. Keep at it! 🙂
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I just wish it was all fine so I could start something new. Thanks for the positive words!!!
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Reblogged this on Lori's Lane and commented:
So, yesterday I wrote about how I’m the odd-one-out with my women’s fiction genre in my cross-promo group.
https://loreezlane.wordpress.com/2016/12/29/odd-one-out/
However, my book is featured with several other talented authors in a somewhat similar genre on Joynell Schultz’s blog. Check it out, with more discussion about how long it takes to write a novel.
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My first novel is in its final editing stage. I can’t even begin to calculate how long it has taken. The first draft for the second in the series was written over the course of two NaNoWriMos.
“I get tired of working on one project and need something else…” Me too. I always have a some short stories on the back burner.
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My problem is I hate having half-finished thing around. Right now I have two and it’s driving me nuts! It’s such a balancing act. Oh, and as a rule, NEVER calculate the number of hours you have in the novel–it’ll make you want to cry. 🙂
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So different. I actually like having unfinished stories and novels. Makes me feel as if I have a creative smorgasbord. I get to work on things according to my mood.
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A candid and informative post. I was particularly interested in that you tend to work on 2 or 3 projects at the same time. I tend to do that as well but I find it sometimes difficult to switch from one protagonist’s view point to another. Do you ever have that problem?
Kudos and Bravo to you for your success! Wishing you loads of luck for all your 2017 projects. 🙂
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Yes, it’s terribly difficult to switch from one protagonist to another. The worst is my most recent novel I’m working on, “The Secret Lives of Superhero Wives.” The novel has three alternating POV’s (three superhero wives) and it’s so hard to not have their personalities all blend together. I’m going to fix this one up in March/April and will focus on one characters story line at a time. I don’t tend to write multiple novels in one day–or even one week. I switch off on a monthly basis or so–keeps it fresh.
Thanks for the good wishes and for reading. 😉
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