Friday, May 30, 2014

How many books should a writer write in one year?

A few days back I read a writer’s interview. She said that her plan was to write four books each year and self-publish them. I was quite shocked. I felt that four books in one year is a bit too much. It takes most of us so much time to write just one book, what with life, work, social commitments and other things interrupting our writing.

The writer not just spoke about her ambition of writing four books in one year, she was actually doing it: writing one book, editing another, revising a third and outlining the fourth. My eyes nearly popped out when I read her interview. I am wondering whether I should ask her how does she do it? Maybe she has a time-turner that gives her extra hours in a day or perhaps her muse is extra generous with her. Or maybe she writes in her sleep too.

Maybe I am wrong, but I feel that when writers write so many books in one year, the quality of the writing is compromised. Good stories take time to develop and take shape. The writing improves over several drafts and revisions.

I have read that some writers take years to write each single book. Well, to each, his own. I also read that when one signs up with an agent, agents expect a writer to write one book each year.

What are your views regarding writers writing several books every year? Do you think the quality of writing suffers when writers write many books in a year? What is your personal take on this? Have you written several books in one year? What is your writing pace?


Friday, May 23, 2014

How do you go about plotting?

I reached Bangalore a few hours back. I was in Mumbai for a week for my cousin’s wedding. The wedding was great fun, I met loads of relatives, enjoyed myself with my cousins, laughed and ate a lot (two things I always do). One thing that sapped me of my energy was the Mumbai heat. The less said about the Mumbai heat the better.

Now, it’s back to work and writing. I need to get back into my writing groove after a two week break. Trust me when I say that writing is the last thing on my mind. My head is full of the big fat Indian wedding celebrations. I am wondering how do I get back into the plotting mode (which I had left midway).

I am plotting a MG book as well as writing a few important scenes. I need some plotting tips and guidelines so that I can outline the major scenes and turning points in the story fast. Once I am done with that, I am sure the story will flow faster. Can any of my blog buddies help me with plotting tips? I want to get back into the writing mode quickly.

Are there any plotting guidelines I can use? How do you all go about plotting? Is there a writing book that comes to your rescue? Any plotting tips for me?

How have you all been? Anyone has any great news to share with me?


Wednesday, May 7, 2014

IWSG Post – When the WIP gets sidelined

The year has eaten up four months. It’s time for another Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) post. IWSG is a support group for writers which posts on the first Wednesday of every month. We encourage and support each other through our posts as well as talk of our insecurities, fears, anxieties and doubts. IWSG was started by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. You can check out the IWSG website.

This month my main fear and insecurity is that my writing is going to get interrupted big time. There are so many things lined up for this month: family functions, travelling, editing two novellas (that my editor would like to carry in a serialized form for the newspaper) that my current WIP will not get my undivided attention. I have also heard of two short story competitions which I hope to participate in.

I had planned to finish the first draft of my WIP this month. Looks like I will have to postpone the deadline to end of next month. This is causing me loads of anxiety and irritation. I am seeing the world through grumpy eyes.

How do you all handle it when life and other things push your WIP far, far away from you? How do you handle postponed deadlines?

P.S. My next post will be on 23rd May. I am exhausted after the A-Z Challenge and loads of writing awaits me. I will still be lurking around blogosphere and spying on you all and commenting. Till then happy writing.