Writing tip 24 - take whatever time you need, or have

While not everyone will agree with this, I am increasingly convinced that it is important to take all the time that is needed to write a book. Depending on the project, the time needed might be six months or it might be several years. Occasionally it might be decades.

At the Book Length Project Group yesterday Author, Ian Reid, talked about the value of writing slowly. He mentioned that he tends to edit as he proceeds, and that he is constantly reviewing the structure and the texture of the writing.

We have a slow food movement, with slow cooking arguably producing a more enjoyable and ultimately satisfying experience all round. I want to add my voice to the slow reading and writing movement.

My slow-cooked marmalade

To this end, Ian recommended a book called Reading like a Writer: A Guide For People Who Love Books, And For Those Who Want To Write Them by Francine Prose. I haven't read it yet, but it is on the list.

I think there is something important in this idea of taking time and care to consider different ideas and words.  If we want to enjoy a meal we might eat mindfully, savouring each mouthful and enjoying the context of our meal, the company and the setting. If we want to enjoy reading and writing, perhaps we could approach it in a similar way. When writing a book we might work carefully on a small section at a time, and finish that before moving on. Better to choose carefully than try to include every possible idea.

I wonder, is there a link between the way writing is changing, and the speed and superficiality that seems to be overwhelming modern societies? I don't know, but it is worth considering.

A tangential, but possibly linked phenomenon, was discussed in a recent episode of Radio National's All in the Mind. The program focussed on the increase in narcissism, and I have included a link here. It's well-worth listening to this program which also comments on the way in which point of view in novels has changed over time.

There is something about the phenomenon of focussing attention on the individual rather than the community that seems to encourage superficial, rather than more meaningful relationships. How does this relate to writing? The best books, I believe, are those which invite a deep engagement with the reader. For writers this means taking care to communicate as well as we can, and it means valuing the quality of the reading/writing experience over volume. It takes time.

Writing prompt

Try this as an experiment:

Allow an entire day to work intermittently on a single scene. Take time to let the mind wander around the scene. Write slowly and savour the process.