Ashley
asked
Taylor Jenkins Reid:
This may have been asked before, but how long (on average) would you say it takes you to write your books? I'm an (aspiring) writer and I feel sometimes like I may never finish this book! Have you ever experienced that? P.S. I ask this because I have loved ALL of your books and you are one of the only people I consider an auto-buy author! I wish I was half as creative as you! :)
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Hi Ashley,
I tend to work in spurts -- I write a first draft very quickly, maybe two months. I'm fortunate in that I've been able to dedicate weeks of time to my books without having to do anything else. But when I had to write on nights and weekends, it took much longer. My first book was very short and I barely got it done in under a year. (I was frantically writing at midnight on New Year's Eve 2009 to try to finish that book so I could finally say it was done.)
My advice is to create structured time so that you can look ahead and say, "In [x] many months it will be done." If you write/edit a certain number of words per week, how long until you're at your final word count? (i.e. probably somewhere between 85-95k)
That way, you get rid of that feeling that it will never be done. It can take years if that's what you need. Some great writers take over a decade.
Just don't give up if you love it!
xo,
t
I tend to work in spurts -- I write a first draft very quickly, maybe two months. I'm fortunate in that I've been able to dedicate weeks of time to my books without having to do anything else. But when I had to write on nights and weekends, it took much longer. My first book was very short and I barely got it done in under a year. (I was frantically writing at midnight on New Year's Eve 2009 to try to finish that book so I could finally say it was done.)
My advice is to create structured time so that you can look ahead and say, "In [x] many months it will be done." If you write/edit a certain number of words per week, how long until you're at your final word count? (i.e. probably somewhere between 85-95k)
That way, you get rid of that feeling that it will never be done. It can take years if that's what you need. Some great writers take over a decade.
Just don't give up if you love it!
xo,
t
More Answered Questions
Ashley
asked
Taylor Jenkins Reid:
So I am kicking myself for not picking up your books years ago! I started with Maybe in Another Life, recently finished One True Loves, and am about the finish Forever, Interrupted. You're writing is incredibly relatable! I am anxious to pick up The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as I have heard soo many good reviews. I was wondering if you are in the process of working on anything new?
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