Writing slowly

/ Tracy Abell

Sometimes it’s easy getting caught up in envy for other writers’ processes, especially the Stephen King-esque writers who hammer out manuscripts at an astonishing rate.  

Last night I found out (again) why I’m not that kind of writer.  I was feeling frustrated and anxious about the scene I was writing (or as [info]idaho_laurie so aptly put it, I felt twitchy) until I went back a few pages to where the writing felt good and then, with a running start, read to what I’d just written. 

It took a couple reads but then the problem was suddenly so obvious.  And the fix was very easy.

Now, if I’d caved into those demon voices that ridicule me for producing just hundreds of words per day, that taunt me because I’m nearing forty-five and still haven’t sold a book, that admonish me to get the lead out and produce something marketable, well, I’d either have curled up in the fetal position or started pounding the keyboard in a panicked attempt to write pages and pages just to prove I was a real writer writing a real book in a take that, demon voices! kind of way.

I’m so glad I didn’t.  I know from past experiences that it’s so much harder for me to rescue a book from tangents and mis-placed emphasis than it is to write at a slow but solid pace.

I need to remember that this fall when I participate in JoNoWriMo+1.5; a couple hundred solid words per day, every day, is a perfectly fine way to draft a book.

 

40 thoughts on “Writing slowly”

  5. Did you read the thread on Verla’s about writing speeds? I thought there were a lot of good points, and a couple of us noted that those of us who do write really fast also tend to do everything else quite fast (just our natures, I think)…and all that really matters is the wonderful books we produce, regardless how long it takes 😉 I’m nearing 40 and still haven’t sold a book (nor do I even have an agent, sigh)…so I understand those voices!

    Like

    • Yes, I skimmed that thread and I think you’re right about some people having the speedy gene. I’m a fast reader but a relatively slow writer. Ah well, all I’m shooting for is producing a good book (and not a land-speed record). HA.
      Sorry those voices are nagging at you, too. I do believe your agent will appear very soon, Robin. And then you can listen to the voices on all the other issues…..

      Like

  6. Did you read the thread on Verla’s about writing speeds? I thought there were a lot of good points, and a couple of us noted that those of us who do write really fast also tend to do everything else quite fast (just our natures, I think)…and all that really matters is the wonderful books we produce, regardless how long it takes 😉 I’m nearing 40 and still haven’t sold a book (nor do I even have an agent, sigh)…so I understand those voices!

    Like

    • That’s a great image. I can just hear them cackling as they travel back and forth, rubbing their dry hands together. Smirking. Congratulating themselves on a particularly painful jab.
      Oh, look! They tripped and fell. Wonder how that trip-wire got there? Wow, they’re sure having a lot of trouble disentangling themselves from the pile o’ demons on the ground. Should we help them up?
      Nah.
      I can’t feel too sorry for you being older than me when you look so damned good and young, Laurie.

      Like

    • It is one of those “rewind lessons,” isn’t it? The tough ones always are.
      And I know it’s especially hard for you now because of The Great Flood taking your time and energy. But soon you’ll be back floating on your sea of creativity, bobbing in the waves, putting down those words.

      Like

  12. Yes, I skimmed that thread and I think you’re right about some people having the speedy gene. I’m a fast reader but a relatively slow writer. Ah well, all I’m shooting for is producing a good book (and not a land-speed record). HA.
    Sorry those voices are nagging at you, too. I do believe your agent will appear very soon, Robin. And then you can listen to the voices on all the other issues…..

    Like

  13. Yes, I skimmed that thread and I think you’re right about some people having the speedy gene. I’m a fast reader but a relatively slow writer. Ah well, all I’m shooting for is producing a good book (and not a land-speed record). HA.

    Sorry those voices are nagging at you, too. I do believe your agent will appear very soon, Robin. And then you can listen to the voices on all the other issues…..

    Like

  14. That’s a great image. I can just hear them cackling as they travel back and forth, rubbing their dry hands together. Smirking. Congratulating themselves on a particularly painful jab.
    Oh, look! They tripped and fell. Wonder how that trip-wire got there? Wow, they’re sure having a lot of trouble disentangling themselves from the pile o’ demons on the ground. Should we help them up?
    Nah.
    I can’t feel too sorry for you being older than me when you look so damned good and young, Laurie.

    Like

  15. That’s a great image. I can just hear them cackling as they travel back and forth, rubbing their dry hands together. Smirking. Congratulating themselves on a particularly painful jab.

    Oh, look! They tripped and fell. Wonder how that trip-wire got there? Wow, they’re sure having a lot of trouble disentangling themselves from the pile o’ demons on the ground. Should we help them up?

    Nah.

    I can’t feel too sorry for you being older than me when you look so damned good and young, Laurie.

    Like

  16. It is one of those “rewind lessons,” isn’t it? The tough ones always are.
    And I know it’s especially hard for you now because of The Great Flood taking your time and energy. But soon you’ll be back floating on your sea of creativity, bobbing in the waves, putting down those words.

    Like

  17. It is one of those “rewind lessons,” isn’t it? The tough ones always are.

    And I know it’s especially hard for you now because of The Great Flood taking your time and energy. But soon you’ll be back floating on your sea of creativity, bobbing in the waves, putting down those words.

    Like

  19. Sometimes I feel like *everyone* writes faster than me. I come out with fairly solid first drafts but it’s definitely a slow process.
    I’ve always been a late bloomer. 🙂 I guess I just take my own sweet time in general but it’s definitely freaky to see what other people are accomplishing at younger ages and seemingly in the blink of the eye. The other day at Verla’s when people were citing their manuscript writing times I couldn’t get over how speedy most of them were.
    So I’m with you on the slow and steady pace, Tracy. In the end we’ll get there just the same, right?

    Like

    • Slow and steady is the only way I can do this, I think.
      If you come out with solid first drafts, you’re WAY ahead. In my experience, it’s way harder and more time-consuming trying to salvage a mess.

      Like

  20. Sometimes I feel like *everyone* writes faster than me. I come out with fairly solid first drafts but it’s definitely a slow process.
    I’ve always been a late bloomer. 🙂 I guess I just take my own sweet time in general but it’s definitely freaky to see what other people are accomplishing at younger ages and seemingly in the blink of the eye. The other day at Verla’s when people were citing their manuscript writing times I couldn’t get over how speedy most of them were.
    So I’m with you on the slow and steady pace, Tracy. In the end we’ll get there just the same, right?

    Like

  21. Sometimes I feel like *everyone* writes faster than me. I come out with fairly solid first drafts but it’s definitely a slow process.

    I’ve always been a late bloomer. 🙂 I guess I just take my own sweet time in general but it’s definitely freaky to see what other people are accomplishing at younger ages and seemingly in the blink of the eye. The other day at Verla’s when people were citing their manuscript writing times I couldn’t get over how speedy most of them were.

    So I’m with you on the slow and steady pace, Tracy. In the end we’ll get there just the same, right?

    Like

  22. It’s that kind of thing that makes me just skim briefly at the Blue Boards these days. I’ve decided not to read anything anywhere that makes me feel depressed, old, unworthy or slow.
    By the way, I’m NOT OLD. I won’t even call myself middle-aged. Not in my mind. Not chronologically. I’m a Boomer and we are Forever Young. Anyone who disagrees gets a twack with my psychedelic rocking chair. :p
    Tortoises rule! My first drafts are polished and pretty close to submission-ready.

    Like

    • I think you’re onto something, Barb, about avoiding stuff that makes you feel less than you. I’m trying to do the same.
      And it’s not that I feel old, I really don’t, but when I start thinking about the publishing world and how long stuff takes even after a contract, then I start feeling a bit low. Which is a waste of energy, I know. So I chase those thoughts away (or let William Faulkner do it) and get on with my writing life.
      And good for you writing polished first drafts!!

      Like

  23. It’s that kind of thing that makes me just skim briefly at the Blue Boards these days. I’ve decided not to read anything anywhere that makes me feel depressed, old, unworthy or slow.
    By the way, I’m NOT OLD. I won’t even call myself middle-aged. Not in my mind. Not chronologically. I’m a Boomer and we are Forever Young. Anyone who disagrees gets a twack with my psychedelic rocking chair. :p
    Tortoises rule! My first drafts are polished and pretty close to submission-ready.

    Like

  24. It’s that kind of thing that makes me just skim briefly at the Blue Boards these days. I’ve decided not to read anything anywhere that makes me feel depressed, old, unworthy or slow.

    By the way, I’m NOT OLD. I won’t even call myself middle-aged. Not in my mind. Not chronologically. I’m a Boomer and we are Forever Young. Anyone who disagrees gets a twack with my psychedelic rocking chair. :p

    Tortoises rule! My first drafts are polished and pretty close to submission-ready.

    Like

  28. Slow and steady is the only way I can do this, I think.
    If you come out with solid first drafts, you’re WAY ahead. In my experience, it’s way harder and more time-consuming trying to salvage a mess.

    Like

  29. Slow and steady is the only way I can do this, I think.

    If you come out with solid first drafts, you’re WAY ahead. In my experience, it’s way harder and more time-consuming trying to salvage a mess.

    Like

  30. I think you’re onto something, Barb, about avoiding stuff that makes you feel less than you. I’m trying to do the same.
    And it’s not that I feel old, I really don’t, but when I start thinking about the publishing world and how long stuff takes even after a contract, then I start feeling a bit low. Which is a waste of energy, I know. So I chase those thoughts away (or let William Faulkner do it) and get on with my writing life.
    And good for you writing polished first drafts!!

    Like

  31. I think you’re onto something, Barb, about avoiding stuff that makes you feel less than you. I’m trying to do the same.

    And it’s not that I feel old, I really don’t, but when I start thinking about the publishing world and how long stuff takes even after a contract, then I start feeling a bit low. Which is a waste of energy, I know. So I chase those thoughts away (or let William Faulkner do it) and get on with my writing life.

    And good for you writing polished first drafts!!

    Like

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