Quantity or Quality
I'm not a fast writer. Careful, yes. Fast, no. I've written five books. Some people might count the sections I wrote for a Harcourt Distance Learning Course as books but I don't.
There are authors who can write two or three books in a year. I can write one. One. An editor I'd worked with once before requested me for a book, one specialized book in a series done by the publishing house. I warned her, as a reminder, that I'm not a fast writer. Her response has stayed with me. "That's why I want you. You're careful and you're thorough. We have a name for those other writers. We call them hacks." Well, I don't know that every writer who can crank out book after book is a hack but I do think that at some point it has to catch up with someone who is a hack, to use the editor's word.
I may never get rich, but I can take pride in what I do. I can write each book to the best of my ability, informing readers and, hopefully, they receive some enjoyment along the way.
I know that I won't sacrifice quality for quantity no matter how much I need a paycheck. My name is on the book and it's just not worth it. Not to me. My good name, my reputation, is far more important to me than that. Those things are not for sale.
Why do we write? To entertain? To educate? To provide diversion? It depends upon the genre, of course, and how much of ourselves we've invested in the work. For me, it's an all or nothing deal. Nothing less than my best will do.
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Eric Nichols says:
Half the time I write fast..
Half the time I write fast.. Half the time I write slow. I guess that makes me a half-fast writer! :)
Eric
Darlene Arden says:
Fast and Slow
ROTFLOL Thanks for a much-needed laugh. I think we can all write faster when we really are into the flow of something and have something to say. It's writing so fast that a lot of it is giving inaccurate information that bugs me. I don't ever want to be like that.
Belle Yang says:
Hooray for slow and deliberate, Darlene
I'm in my 11th year on this current project. And I don't want to turn it in to the publisher next year as I am enjoying the work. I don't want it to end. It's like sucking on the marrow of a very delicious piece of bone.
BTW, your photo with you and your smiling pets just kill me--I find myself smiling back with my tongue hanging out. Every time I see a dog on the street, I'll veer over to that dog and insist on running my hand over its fur. I always ask permission of the owner first.
Darlene Arden says:
A Kindred Spirit!
It's nice to know that someone else likes to take their time. Your work is exquisite. Obviously a lot of time and love goes into each of your projects.
Ahhh, another dog lover. That wonderful collection of four-legged kids are all "graduates" of the MSPCA's Shelter. Each was adopted by an employee of either the shelter or Angell Memorial Animal Hospital. Most were Pitbulls. I wanted to make a point with that picture: there are wonderful dogs in shelters just waiting for a new "leash" on life. I hope to encourage more people to adopt dogs whether at a shelter or through breed rescue. I had a blast with those dogs who were competing to see who could give me the most kisses. LOL The little Pug thought he could fly, and that's another story. ROTFLOL
Warmly,
Darlene
Eric Nichols says:
If frogs can fly, why can't
If frogs can fly, why can't a pug?
We recently rescued a "cat" from our local "petitentiary." Actually, I think it's part raccoon and part Tasmanian Devil. After a few weeks "Oberon" sprouted this beaver-like appendage where a somewhat normal-looking cat tail previously was attached....looks sort of like a bottle brush with stripes. He can leap from the floor and snatch a sandwich out of my hands while I'm STANDING UP! And he's only about half grown (assuming this really is a cat, and not some alien life form). Gives a new meaning to the word "animal."
Eric
Darlene Arden says:
A Cat, Huh?
Okay, Pugs usually do a pretty good imitation of a pot roast which is why I was a little surprised by this little imp who kept trying to get airborne. ;-)
Do you have a picture of said cat? Was any particular breed combo mentioned? Do you think he's a candidate for Letterman's Stupid Pet Tricks? BTW, that segment was, to my knowledge, created by another Red Room member, Merrill Markoe.
Thanks for adopting a shelter cat! Or whatever he is..... ;-)
Eric Nichols says:
Said cat
May be found here. :)
http://ericnichols.net/myactors/Oberon.jpg
Eric
Darlene Arden says:
Lovely Cat!
What an handsome fellow! Thanks for sharing the link.
Shara Smock says:
slowly writing about garbage
I don't know how people find time to blog, read them, or respond to them. As you can guess, I rarely even enter them, and was unsure of my password to get here, but it's worked.
I could crank out the words when I worked on newspapers. My first book was done part-time over four years, living in IL and traveling to FL to interview and interact with zookeepers for Living with Big Cats. The next two books were far quicker.
As far as speed goes, the magic word is deadline. Funny how we get inspired right before that date. Right now I'm working on Let's Talk Dirty About Garbage. My co-author and I have interviewed at least 100 trash collectors and recyclers nationwide. They certainly have some funny stories.
I'm also writing some short pieces for contest entries.
Thanks for asking me over here again, Darlene. You know I love your work! Mya says hi to Aimee.
Shara
http://www.sharasmock.com
Darlene Arden says:
Wonderful to see you, Shara!
Thanks for stopping by. I love your books and can't wait for the new one! Love the title. LOL
Newspaper deadlines taught me to write fast and tight but when I'm writing a book I really like to take my time and craft it as well as I can. I do my best with magazine deadlines although those are tighter. Of course, I've always thought that the operative part of the word "deadline" was dead. LOL
There are wonderful people here in Red Room. I hope you'll surf over often. I don't know why you don't have your own Author Page here!