I just read a great blog post by literary agent Janet Reid on how good writing takes time and really wanted to share it.
She speaks about how some of the best writers took years and years to write their famous works. Some of her examples, like T.S. Elliot, surprised me. Others did not – it should take a large chunk of time to write an extremely long and arduous piece. Did you know that Tolkien took twelve years to write the Lord of the Rings trilogy? I used to think that was a long time, but when you factor in that he created an entire world and developed several full languages… it’s not so hard to believe.
In my neck of the woods, YA fiction, I believe that it takes John Green about two years or more to write a book.
The fact that good writing takes a long time is a interesting point-of-view, as other esteemed novelists, such as Stephen King, insist that to be a good author you must write something like 2,000 words a day.
I’m okay floating in the good-writing-takes-time boat – at the beginning of April, it will be two years I have been working on my novel! Eep! I’m looking forward to finally having something to show for all of my hard work and the hundreds and hundreds of hours. Something to show the people who said, “Well, you don’t have to write.” Maybe I don’t get paid for this job, but it is a job. And yes, I do have to do it!
Being a traditionally published author has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. What’s yours?
March 26th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Mrs. Prince Harry!
No seriouslly, published author that travels the world and lives one of those enviable lives some people get to live.
I agree, it does take time. My first like 3 goes are pure rubbish.
May 24th, 2012 at 11:26 am
I just caught this comment now. Even if it doesn’t happen, you’ll always be Mrs. Harry to me. (Mostly because it sounds mean.)