The first Wednesday of each month is the perfect opportunity to share my insecurities on the #IWSG therapy couch, get encouragement and support about such insecurities, and to read how other writers are faring.
I missed May's IWSG post, but for a totally legit reason... it was Release Day for my third book, and second in my planned trilogy, Chasing Shadows. Can I hear a WOOT?
With each book, I grow in confidence and learn something. Conversely, with each one, I realize how much more I could be doing. First on the list, write faster.
I wish I could pump out a book every few months like some authors. After all, they say the best marketing for your previous books is a new book. I believe it. Sales for Chasing Memories, book 1, have gone up since Chasing Shadows came out.
** Oh, and I've sold five times as many copies of Chasing Shadows in the first month of release (actually just shy) than Chasing Memories. **
The bad news... I published my three books in September 2010, May 2013, and May 2014 respectively. Not fast enough, although I'm getting faster.
No matter how hard I try, I have a process that doesn't lend itself to speed. First, I think on a book several months (scribbling notes and general ideas). Then, I write it. This part does go quickly. Both CS and CM were written during NaNo.
After writing it, I have to walk away for at least a month. In the case of CS and CM, I didn't look at it again until January. Then, I edited it a few times before I sent it to my rocking editor (Love you, Jo!). We do two good edits. Oh, and let's not forget beta readers.
My goal is to publish Chasing Forgiveness, a companion novella, and Chasing Destiny, final book, before the end of the year. Neither is written. *sigh*
What's an author to do to increase speed without sacrificing quality*?
* Therein lies the rub. I fear speed will result in decreased quality, at least for the way I process things.
4 comments:
I think if you sacrifice quality, you will nullify any benefits you may have gained by speed.
One solid book a year is a good pace!
My goal is one release every six months, but not a full novel each time necessarily. Maybe one novel, and one novella or companion story or something. I think that is doable, for me.
Either way I don't think you should have any insecurities about publishing, your pace seems great and you obviously have a good hold on your process and what works for you, which is a huge step. :)
Woot! ^_^
We have to do what works for us. I'm only able to write as fast as I do because I have no life. There are people with lives who can draft 3x what I can in a month and it drives me crazy. But I don't think people forget about authors they like. In the traditional publishing world, people are waiting a year for the next book anyway.
Focusing on what I should/could be doing is one of my favourite ways to procrastinate. Very easy to wallow in that feeling.
mood
Moody Writing
It's not about how fast someone can write, actually; it's about forcing oneself to sit down every day and write. If you manage to do that, you'll be cranking out work faster than I can edit it :)
Getting it on paper is #1.
WRITE ON!
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