Life Comes First. Stories Follow.
This isn’t just the order of my priorities; one truly creates the other.
I haven’t given an update on my writing in some time. Part of the reason is the pressure I’ve felt to rush my first book to publishing; updating would mean admitting I’m behind on an imagined deadline.
Writing this, I realized I didn’t remember when I first started this series, so I dug around a bit to find out. The earliest document I found outlining the themes and characters of the first book, along with a rough first chapter, was dated February 15th, 2021. As of this writing, it’s been three years, six months, and a week. While my writing has been consistent, the same can’t be said for the modern authorial demands—social media, Henry’s Cabin, and this blog.
Understanding the Writing Process: The Why Behind Feeling Rushed
As I mentioned, I began feeling an internal pressure to complete and publish my first book. Wondering what this was all about, I took a look inward and identified two culprits. First, I wanted to avoid falling into a trap where I hide in a cycle of revision, too scared to present my work to the world. I’ve seen this in others. Secondly, and definitely the stronger force, is an understanding that when I publish, I no longer have to wonder what may happen. It will be over. I want to rip the Band-Aid off. Or maybe I just long to cross the threshold and see what lies beyond.
Deciding that both of those reasons were rooted in fear and, therefore, useless, the need to rush subsided somewhat. But what really put me at ease were a couple of other things.
The Impact of a Writer’s Group on the Creative Process
The first was a conversation that took place at a writer’s meeting; I belong to a small group of authors. We have a secret handshake, and once a month, under the full moon, I meet them in our lair underneath the library. We review each other’s work. Each person in the group has their strengths and weaknesses. I believe we attract precisely the lessons we need at the time we need them, and what the members have to offer as what they need are profoundly complementary of one another. It’s as if a think tank extensively tested thousands of applicants and paired a handful in the perfect combination for mutual benefit. I’ve observed this phenomenon with such regularity in my life that the idea that spirits talk to spirits has moved from the belief category to the know category.
At our last meeting, two participants discussed their current work in progress. I perked up. Both are published authors, and both have my respect and admiration for their talent. And both, coincidentally enough, have been working on their novels for ten years. It’s amazing that I will invent the realities in my head. It was validation that my self-imposed timeline was fabricated in my mind only.
Navigating the Publishing Journey: An Author Interview Gives Some Insights
I felt some relief from the pressure. This led me to consider how other successful authors approach their timelines. Listening to an interview with Jack Carr, he explained that while the time frame for writing varies, he dedicates extensive late-night hours to ensure the best possible story. He emphasized that he doesn't rush to meet deadlines, valuing the quality of his work over simply hitting a word count or publication date.
Carr mentioned that, traditionally, authors like Tom Clancy would take about two to two and a half years to release a new book, but the industry has evolved. Today, there's more pressure to produce books annually, especially for series with recurring characters. Carr acknowledged this trend but expressed that meeting such expectations can be challenging, particularly for producing two books a year, which he described as very difficult.
How Long Should It Take to Write a Middle-Grade Novel?
Stephen King, writing daily with a goal of 2,000 words, finishes a novel in about three months—a pace that likely fuels the consistency of his themes.
John Grisham, a master of the legal thriller, generally takes about six months to a year to finish a novel. He writes a first draft quickly, usually in about three months, and then spends additional time revising and polishing the manuscript.
Haruki Murakami is another author who usually takes about a year to complete a novel. He’s known for his disciplined routine, often writing from four AM to midday every day until the novel is finished.
These are the standards I had been holding myself to, only partially conscious of it. I left out a few variables, however. I am not any of these people, and they are not me. They write in different genres, have their own personality types, and each has a unique creative process. While they adhere to their routines, I’ve come to recognize that my journey is uniquely my own. I am not a full-time author. I have a career that is my passion. Writing a middle-grade adventure fantasy series is actually inspired by and an extension of the work that I do. I’m also a father, and some of my kids are still quite young. All get my attention daily. Writing takes a backseat to these things, to which I gratefully give priority of my time and spiritual energy.
On the other end of the spectrum is J.R. Tolkien, taking twelve years to write Lord of the Rings. There’s a guy who had a day job while he wrote. I think because of this, he was able to take his time to create that world. It paid off. Donna Tartt is known for taking her time. She famously spent around ten years writing each of her novels, including The Secret History and The Goldfinch. Tartt’s meticulous attention to detail and the depth of her narratives contribute to these extended timelines.
Deciding on Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing
So where am I? Here’s the current inventory:
I have set out to create a three-book middle-grade adventure fantasy series. I set out to create chapters that make perfect bedtime stories, filled with fun, adventure, humor, and life lessons sprinkled in intended to spark meaningful conversations between parent and child.
The first book, at 39,000 words, is complete. You’re not missing anything, I have not revealed the title at this time. It’s been read by young and adult beta readers, and all gave high praise. I am currently interviewing artists for chapter headers and cover art. This is taking a while. In the meantime, I’m querying agents and, through that process, leaning farther and farther toward going the indie route, though a local boutique publisher is interested.
More soul searching. More to be revealed.
Books two and three are completed but have not made their way entirely through my review process. These are longer, with the second coming in at 50,000 words (the top end to be considered a middle-grade novel) and the third even longer. Oops. Well, I’m not going to short these guys after all they’ve been through to get to this part of the story (I’m speaking of my characters, not the readers.)
I decided to complete the series before publishing any section of it. I didn’t want to be restricted creatively or end up with a Star Wars-style sister-kissing moment I would try to retcon later.
Books two and three are not ready for beta readers yet. I’m committed to going through the same process I went through with the first book. Subjecting each chapter to the group of authors I mentioned for feedback. At a rate of a chapter per month, this will take just under a year.
In the meantime, after those I love and am responsible for are well taken care of, I’ll attempt to make myself known through social media, develop a newsletter following, and update this blog a little more frequently.
The Benefit of Taking Time with Your Writing Process
Getting a realistic understanding of various authors’ timelines helped to quell the feeling that I needed to rush somewhat. Yet, a deeper realization finally put my anxiety to rest.
Everything I write, the pure story, is a result, not a means. My creative journey in this middle-grade adventure fantasy format is the result of my life. If writing moves up too much on the list of priorities, it will impede the experience that created it in the first place.
When life comes first, meaningful stories naturally follow.