I entered the fiction writing world at a particularly feverish stage of the indie publishing boom. Everyone was producing scads of books. Some could write a book a month. I just couldn't do it, though I did try. In the end, after a few cycles of burnout, I realised that I was just not a 2-3 books a year author. I doubt I'm even a one book a year writer.
I remember one indie author admonishing me: "If you don't get on this wave right now and produce like crazy, you're going to be left behind!"
She piled on the guilt further, saying that she was a busy professional with a highly demanding job (unlike me, she implied). What excuse do I have?
I think, in the end, I have to make peace with the fact that I am not a writing machine, even if I want to be. Some of us may be, but there's absolutely no shame to write slowly while honouring your health.
Great article....I have stepped out of the UK and basing myself now in Spain for 8 weeks to do some writing and have yet to get into a fixed rhythm ...but understand its about quality and using the time I have and when I am at my most creative which seems to be in the mornings.....also learning not to critique but to just flow into it and see the time as a gift.....
I entered the fiction writing world at a particularly feverish stage of the indie publishing boom. Everyone was producing scads of books. Some could write a book a month. I just couldn't do it, though I did try. In the end, after a few cycles of burnout, I realised that I was just not a 2-3 books a year author. I doubt I'm even a one book a year writer.
I remember one indie author admonishing me: "If you don't get on this wave right now and produce like crazy, you're going to be left behind!"
She piled on the guilt further, saying that she was a busy professional with a highly demanding job (unlike me, she implied). What excuse do I have?
I think, in the end, I have to make peace with the fact that I am not a writing machine, even if I want to be. Some of us may be, but there's absolutely no shame to write slowly while honouring your health.
Great article....I have stepped out of the UK and basing myself now in Spain for 8 weeks to do some writing and have yet to get into a fixed rhythm ...but understand its about quality and using the time I have and when I am at my most creative which seems to be in the mornings.....also learning not to critique but to just flow into it and see the time as a gift.....