How Long Does It Take To Write A Book?

From Writerslife.org:

Many writers who are thinking about starting their first novel wonder how long it will take them to complete it. Of course, this question does not have one definitive answer and can depend on many different factors. However, understanding them will help writers gain a better insight into how long it might take them to complete a book. Let’s take a look at some of them:

How much time have you got?

Not many of us are in the privileged position to make novel writing our full-time job. However, before you begin it is worth considering how much time you can realistically dedicate to writing your novel. If you work full time you are likely to be doing the majority of your writing on the weekends. Think about setting yourself weekly goals. Remember getting up an hour earlier each morning and dedicating some of your downtime in the evening to novel writing can make all the difference.

This is something I am trying to do more of. I must admit I haven't worked on it much in days, but have skimmed over the copy stored on my computer. I've started writing something else as well and want to work on that one as well. 

How quickly can you write?

Be honest with yourself. Are you one of those writers who sits down to write and everything just pours out, or do you prefer to write slowly and deliberately and think about every, sentence, every word? All writers are different and have techniques that work best for them - there is no one correct way to do it. Saying that, it's good advice to get the first draft of your story down as quickly as possible. The faster you write your first draft the more likely you are to keep the momentum going, so try not to censor yourself too much.

I'd have to say I'm the kind who writes slowly and thinks about most sentences and words. I don't know if I'd use deliberately to describe how I do it. But I get it done when I can, as quickly as I can.

What kind of book are you writing?

The genre of your book will play a part when determining how long your novel will be. Typically readers expect fantasy novels, for example, to be longer than general fiction. There are no hard and fast rules about it but a guideline for some of the most common genres suggests:

YA fiction - 45k to 80k
Romance - 85k to 100k
Horror - 80k to 100k
Mysteries, thrillers and crime fiction 90k to 120k
Science fiction & fantasy 100k - 150k

This post is all about fiction. As you all have seen on my blog, I've been working on a memoir and have been a bit worried about the word count, but have been told not to do so. I'm trying hard not to. And I'm not even thinking about the word count on my new piece of writing just yet, since I haven't made as much progress on that one.

Don’t forget about the editing stage!

It’s important to remember that finishing your book is only the first stage. If you are hoping to get published or even to self-publish your book there is still plenty of work to be done. Let’s face it, first drafts are usually pretty bad so we need to go back and rework them to make them better. Then, of course, there is proof-reading, book cover design, approaching agents and publishers, writing letters, creating a marketing plan and so on. The editing stage can take just as long (or longer) than writing your book in the first place, so this is worth considering if you are hoping to sell your book once you have finished it.

Still working on the editing and when I do, it's hard not to keep wanting change or add something.

Asking how long it takes to write a book is akin to asking how long is a piece of string?! Every author has their own way of writing, their own roadblocks and hurdles to manoeuvre around and get over. Getting to the end of your novel is just as much about dedication and determination to persevere as it is finding the time to do it. If you truly believe in yourself and in your story, you’ll get there in the end!

Agreed.   Asking how long it took someone (after the fact), well that is something to which the can give a definitive answer. Or an estimated one--many, if not all, people likely have to estimate how long the process actually took them. I'm determined to finish my story, no matter long it takes. I just want to still be alive if and when it sees the light of day!

Quiz: What Easter Candy Are You?

I just wasn't brought up religiously--honestly. And this is the one of the candies I haven't eaten this year so far.

You Are Jelly Beans

For you, Easter is all about fun and sweet treats. None of that Jesus dying on a cross stuff!

What Easter Candy Are You?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

Not Been on a Deadline Yet

I borrowed this from Sandra's blog today:

I have yet to be on a deadline for writing, but I have been trying to set a writing goal for each day.  

Let’s Get Back To Our Writing Best

From Writerslife.org:

We can all get into a bit of a writing slump from time to time and find it difficult to stay motivated. Sometimes even writing at all can feel like a massive chore, and when you do the words just don’t seem to flow like they used to. You read back over what you have written and wonder what on earth you were thinking!

Getting back to making your writing awesome again means making a conscious effort to pull you out of that writing slump, to break the writer's block, and perhaps, most importantly, to believe in yourself once more. 

So how can we get back to that phase where everything we wrote seemed powerful and easy and effortless, where we looked forward to starting the writing day, itching to begin? 

Here are some helpful tips to try:

1. Stop criticising yourself

You need to be your biggest support, your biggest fan, your biggest believer. It is so easy for writers to wallow in wells of self-pity. But isn’t it time we started supporting ourselves? Treat yourself like you would a close friend, be your biggest cheerleader. It’s not about being arrogant, it’s about helping ourselves achieve our dreams, and feeling happier about it along the way. 

It's been said "we are our own worst critics," and I can that say I've been guilty of that at times. Thinking some of the art projects I did at work didn't look too good.  And right now, I feel my writing isn't long enough, because of how others have said editors need 90K words for "editing wiggle room." But I think the effort should count and that you should tell the story you intended to tell. I've done that last part, though when looking over it, I still find some things I want to add, delete or expand upon. I guess that's a natural part of writing.

2. Don’t be afraid of shocking people

The best writing is the most honest writing, it’s the rawest and most brutal. Often when we write it is easy to play down the experiences, to sugar coat everything because we are too scared of offending our readers, of putting people off. However, if you are honest with yourself about the way you want a scene to play out, or how that character would really feel in that moment, then you should write it that way. You readers will appreciate your story all the more for it. 

One thing I was apprehensive about when beginning my memoir was telling people how much bad stuff happened to me, how it seemed to outweigh the good stuff. This was one reason I chose not to use real names. I've been as honest as I can be with such details.

3. Be experimental

When it comes to writing some things just aren’t going to work. Why are we so afraid of that being the case? It’s brave and cool to try new things, you aren’t going to hurt anyone by doing so, and if they end up being pieces of writing you never use, or aren’t received well by your readers, that’s OK. Keep experimenting and one day you might just hit upon something that totally revolutionises the way you write. 

I've been saying in the last few posts on my blog that I want to try recalling dreams to see if they can work for me as a story. So far I haven't gotten round to this, but I am keeping it in mind. Even if I only remember a small portion of a dream, it still might work. 

4. Get inspired

Writing should always be catalysed out of inspiration. If you can remember this you’ll start to actively seek out experiences that are likely to inspire you and therefore motivate you to write even more. Tell yourself that you are an artist, you don’t need to write like a robot. Read, listen to music at top volume, go for long walks, sit quietly in a room for an hour, drink wine, read excellent books, make something with your hands, travel, marvel, laugh and cry - there are so many ways to get inspired - but don’t just sit there waiting for it to come to you.

Again, the dreams idea may prove inspirational. I'm not sure if traveling is in my future or budget, but just a drive somewhere new might be inspiring. I haven't had much inclination to get out for long periods of time. This seems to be from being confined for almost two months because of sickness and rain. Even after Daylight Saving Time began, I still find myself getting tired earlier. Maybe this will get better once summer hits and the weather is warmer.

Deciding to dedicate yourself to your writing and get back to writing your best is a wonderful feeling - even taking those first steps will feel positive and exciting. We all need a little motivation from time to time - just remember you have the tools to get there, you just need to help yourself.

How do you do this for yourself?

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National Library Week 2017

It's National Library Week. Here are the books I currently have out:

Unlucky 13--James Patterson
Easter Bunny Murder--Leslie Meier
Ash--Malinda Lo
Fuzzy Mud--Louis Sacahar (audiobook)
Let's Dance a Waltz--Natsumi Ando (Graphic novel/Manga)
The Cat Who Had 14 Tales--Lilian Jackson Braun
Turbo Twenty-Three--Janet Evanovich

From the link above:

Ways to Celebrate National Library Week

1. Visit your library.

Head to your public, school or academic library during National Library Week to see what's new and take part in the celebration.  Libraries across the country are participating. 

2. Show your support for libraries on social media.

Help spread the word about National Library Week by sharing these images on your blog or social media channel. Follow I Love Libraries on Facebook and Twitter and the hashtags #NationalLibraryWeek and #LibrariesTransform to join the celebration on social media.

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Just Because You Find Writing Hard It Doesn’t Mean You’re Not A Writer

• From Writerslife.org:
• 5 Tips For Authors On How To Deal With Rejection
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Ever meet one of those writers who truly believes that writing is their destiny? That they have always just known that they ‘have to write.’ The ones who claim to wake up in the middle of the night and simply must get out of bed and write until the crack of dawn because the words just simply pour out of them?

Perhaps I sound a little bitter. However, I do think that while it is wonderful for those writers who feel as though they have found their true calling through writing, for most of us it’s a struggle. Yes I admit it, I think writing is frustrating and it's tiring and it's difficult.

Writers are notoriously hard on themselves, and this is something that we should learn to change. We need to be our biggest supporters, our biggest fans. However, sometimes it is simply not as easy as that.

Many writers struggle to write, and just because you do doesn’t mean you are not a true writer, nor does it mean you’re not as talented and hard-working as other writers, or that you deserve a publishing deal any less.

It’s OK if writing isn’t your entire universe. If you love writing your book but you only do it on weekends and sometimes not even then because frankly you just want to have a lie in or have drinks with friends or watch tv all day and not care about anything else. 

Writers seem to think that unless you write full time, that you have a ‘proper’ book publishing deal and that you spend every living breathing minute of your life tap, tap tapping away on your computer that you shouldn’t call yourself a writer - and that people will mock you and laugh in your face, or patronise and belittle you, or think that you are supremely arrogant and pompous if you do.

Many writers feel as though they are imposters, even when they are successful they find it tough to believe that they have any authority on the subject and bestowing upon themselves the title of ‘writer’ seems big-headed and foolish.

Writing doesn’t have to be effortless, and being a writer certainly isn’t. Even the most famous and successful of writers have talked about their struggles, and their frustration and pain when writing hasn’t gone their way, or when they’ve tried to write but been unable to, or have thought their writing was dreadful, torn it all up and started again. 

If we believe that to be a writer you have to consistently produce work without having to think about it, that the words simply fall, perfectly formed and beautiful from your head to the page, then really how many people could actually call themselves one?

We should never let our writing fears hold us back, and accepting that writing is hard is just one of the things we should do to help us believe in ourselves more. 

If we can concentrate on writing a little bit every day, not worrying about the final product, accepting that writing is a learning process and there will always be more to learn and new ways to grow. If we can support one another, and, above all, keeping pushing through even when writing feels painful and boring and tedious we might just be writers after all!

Yes, I have felt that not writing everyday does not make me a true writer. But now that I have read this I believe that doing just a little whenever you can helps you become the writer you've wanted to be.  Last night, I found myself editing more of my memoir, in one of the chapters I'd edited recently. I still have more chapters to edit and print. The ones I found myself editing were among those I'd recently edited and printed.  Sometimes  I'll looked at the most recently printed copy to edit or I will look on the computer copy, since I am on the computer nearly all the time! I've made so many printouts I have to keep them separate as not be confused. What started out as 89 pages has since increased to 141 pages at present (This is including the title page and table of contents page). Also, I got a new computer last December and have the new Mac word processing program as a result, and that accounts for the increase as well as the details  I added and those on which I expanded. I copied my original manuscript from the PDF I had sent as an email attachment since the original email with the attachment is still in my "sent-email" folder. 

I'm not sure I want to say I'm finding writing hard. Rather I'm finding it a little hard to do as much as I think I should write each day. But now I think any little bit helps you to get better and be the writer you want to be. 

As I said in this post, I believe everyone the writer's life in their own way, doing what works best and when for each of them. It does not always have to be a scenario like this:

[Of course today, most of us are using a computer for our stories, but you get the idea:) ]

I keep thinking I want to try some writing in a notebook at night while in bed , but have found myself too tired to do so. I mostly read at night when I can't sleep. I've wanted to try jotting down some of my dreams, even just portions, to see where I can go from there. I just haven't been doing so. I guess I may have to push myself more to do so.  I do recall a portion of a dream I had recently that I have been wanting to make down, but I still haven't!  Often it's just hard to push oneself into to doing things like this.  But if you want to do it, you will. I want to try at some point to do any or all of these ideas.

9 Tips for Dealing with the Emotions When Writing a Memoir

From the Huffington Post:

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Writing a memoir is much like going through your trunk of family treasures and keepsakes. At times the memories may be fuzzy, just like the ink on the pages of that 70-year-old journal your great-grandmother kept. Sometimes the memories may be painful, much like the ring your father gave you before he passed away. And sometimes the memories may be glorious, like the wedding dress you have stored safely, in hopes that your daughter may one day wear the family heirloom.

Due to the emotions that emerge in memoir writing, it is often necessary that the writer understand how to navigate and conquer the writing process, in spite of the added element of being taken for a ride on an emotional roller coaster each time one sits down to write. There are strategies writers can use to help ease the pain, slow the emotional twists and turns, and take the raw emotions and coat them with a little extra love and understanding, so as not to startle our readers. 

As I work with memoir writers of all ages and backgrounds, we have collectively been creating a list of strategies which help us better cope with the emotional aspects of writing a memoir. I know the pain, and pleasure, first hand. In fact, when the hard parts of my own memoir became too much to write, I actually had to pack up and go to a little cabin in the woods to finish the chapters I had skipped. Being alone allowed me the space and time I needed to process the raw emotions and put them down in draft form. That little cabin held my pain, my rage, and soaked up my tears... ultimately allowing me 10 days later to emerge with a finished manuscript.

9 Tips for Dealing with the Emotions When Writing a Memoir

1. Many writers are concerned about the pain they will bring to others — especially when writing a memoir. I must say that this is a real issue we all face with this genre — whether it is pain caused unintentionally, by sarcasm, just by telling the truth, or an invasion of privacy. I sincerely believe most of us do not set out to hurt others, but if you are a writer, of any type, there is always going to be someone who is hurt or who doesn’t agree with you. My best advice is to write the truth, always, and know going in that if you can stand in your truth, and speak from a place of truth, this will bring you much comfort when the questions start pouring in from your readers.

2. The memoir genre is unique in that you need to be able to provide emotional distance for your readers. That distance, at times, is closeness, and at times needs to be far away. I think this “distance piece” is what attracts readers and pulls them in. Raw emotions usually emerge first, and sometimes we can leave them as is — and at other times we need to wrap them in love and understanding and softened tones, so that we don’t offend our audiences. The key is that you just have to write — and write a lot — many drafts, many entries, many rewrites — so that you can eventually find the right emotional distance and balance you desire in your story line.

3. Fuzzy memories and gaps in memories are real obstacles for many memoir writers. We may spend much time thinking about how to make our memories sharper — but there is really only one solution to getting the sharp memories back: We must write, consistently. A daily writing practice helps the memories resurface. And what if you happen to get super-stuck? Well, just skip that memory and continue writing the next part of your memoir. Most likely, later into the writing process, your mind will recall the details. And if not? Well, a great editor will help you patch up those gaps!

4. I believe it is imperative that memoir writers balance the negative and the positive memories — so that we can sustain our energy levels and complete the manuscript. At first, when writing my own memoir, I wasn’t adhering to this “rule” at all. It took a toll on my writing and my stamina. I quickly learned to balance the writing each day — some days were “negative” memory days, and they were always followed by “positive” memory days. 

5. All writers need a support system in place. This could be a family member or friend, writing coach, or a fellow writer who we can go to when the writing gets tough, or when we need a dose of encouragement. For memoir writers, especially, because we are often dealing with highly charged emotions, and then reliving them all over again in our writing, I think a support system is even more important. Having a solid support system in place is more valuable than you might realize. 

6. It’s okay to cry, scream, yell, weep, and hit your pillow! Holding in the emotions as the memories emerge in your writing may do more harm than good. So, let them go. It’s okay, I promise.

7. Take time off, especially when you are feeling very fragile or vulnerable. While writing my memoir, I kept a list of enjoyable things I had always wanted to do. And then, when I needed a break, I took time away and rewarded myself with a special treat. Writing is hard work — and you deserve time away so you can recharge.

8. Keeping a journal will be a beneficial tool for you as you process emotions, or capture memories as they filter back into your consciousness. Journaling is therapeutic on so many levels, and I used mine quite frequently while writing my memoir. My journal, at times, became my own personal counselor.

9. Whatever you do, don’t stop writing. Your memoir is important, and you will impact more people than you could ever imagine, once your book is done. And besides, you set out to write a memoir, and you will feel proud when your project is complete! 

The first was one that I was worried about the most when I began taking down notes for my memoir.  This I noted in several blog posts last year as I began this process. Premature anxiety over possible lawsuits or even just mere anger from people mentioned by name.  At first, I did not try to think of names, even fake ones, but got tired of having nameless people. So I looked at the intros to memoirs that have been published and saw that the author did in fact change names, so I have been doing the same. Some people's names I could not recall at all, so I left those nameless. Other people I didn't even try to come up with a fake name for, but it remains to be seen if I will (still working on the thing).

As far as crying and such goes, I have been crying less than I had before the Prozac. I was very prone to tears over a lot of things that I have recalled in my memoir, including some that seemed less tear-worthy than others. In Prozac Nation, the author recalled being deprived of her tears when her mother was mugged. I too, have often feel deprived of tears when I feel a need for them most. Only once can I recall ever crying since being on Prozac, over feeling discouraged about writing my memoir, thinking it was too similar to what had been written. I recently felt like crying, but the tears just didn't come.

I still am in want and need of a support group for writers that is near me. I've tried posting on Facebook about people who may be interested in starting such a group, but to no avail. I'd be glad to get just one person to read my work in progress.

I have pondered going to my storage unit to find the journals I was asked to keep the first time I went to behavioral health services and was on Paxil and other SSRIs (other than Prozac) to see what I had written then. This in order to expand on those and others details I've already mentioned from that era. Mostly I've been writing what I can recall now, and what I feel is necessary to what I am writing about.

Taking time off from writing my memoir is what I have seemed to be doing recently. It was last weekend that I did my latest revision. But I have been too tired the last few days to do any revising. This makes me feel as if I am neglecting my work entirely, but as the article says, take some time off. Which is was I appear to be doing right now.  Will be getting back soon.