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
Natalie [genreneutralreader]
asked
Taylor Jenkins Reid:
Hi! Evelyn Hugo seems like a bit of a departure from your other books, both in setting and even tone. Do you see your writing style evolving? If so, what direction do you see yourself going? (I think it is inspiring to see authors stretch the boundaries of their niche!)
Jessica
asked
Taylor Jenkins Reid:
I read only one book by you and it was One True Loves and I was deeply troubled by the two characters dilemma that I was truly crying at how hard it was to follow the characters stories. Did you know who you were going to pick as her one true love? Or did you plan it that way? What was your story behind that book because it was really a heartbreaking romance but still you still had a good, soft ending.
Taylor Jenkins Reid
225,900 followers
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more


![Natalie [genreneutralreader]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1429327064i/17277003._UX100_CR0,0,100,100_.jpg)

