Why does it take so long to write a fiction book?

I have mentioned this earlier, that I tend to post content on my blog which is typically “Reader” oriented. Many of these posts are actually answers to the questions asked by social media friends and acquaintances. One of the queries which I received recently was – “Why does it take such a long time to write a fiction book?”

I found the question intriguing and inspiring. Intriguing because, there is no single answer for it and inspiring because of the level of reader awareness. Here are some of the rationalities for this extended book writing journey.

Research – Especially when the story or the theme is set in the past or into the future. Some of the examples are Historical, Sci-fi / Futuristic, Legal, Medical etc. These themes demand intense research which includes language, dress code, landscape, tools, and ills affecting that era.

Developmental / Structural Tweaking – At the very outset, a writer addresses two essential components of fiction writing – Character Development and Plot. When this writer discovers that the character/s sound unreal, lack legitimacy and do not fit into the desired settings, it translates into a major overhaul which results in delay.

On the other hand, plot irregularity is one of the major reasons for the delay. Plot “Holes” are rampant and these need to be fixed. If the plot is not plausible it will not allow the writer to move forward. Any loose threads after resolution will result in reader dissatisfaction.

Professional or Newbie – Professional writers generally take a long time to finish writing a book. Sponsorship, publisher backing and overall healthy financial state allow these authors to write their story amidst genuine settings. They travel to distant and distinct places, sketch characters which complement the local landscape and narrate backdrops which actually exist and explored through their eyes. Every aspect of writing is literally allowed to age, just like fine wine. All this takes time. New writers or those who write for fun either fail to finish or wind up their work quickly as they do not have the time, resources or writing technique to ponder on the intricacies of fiction writing.

Procrastination – This could be intentional or natural. While the former arises due to lethargy or disinterest the latter occurs because of factors such as prior commitments, illness, personal and financial issues etc.

There is another, more important reason, called “Muse”. Lack of inspiration can be dangerous. It stops a writer from advancing with his/her work. In my earlier blog, I’d cited the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. The story goes like this – Mnemosyne spent nine nights with Zeus, and on each of these nights he fathered a child. The nine children were born in the same birth and were known as the nine muses, the goddesses of artistic inspiration. Credit – https://study.com/academy/

Nonetheless muse need not always be a woman. It is just a myth. Had it been a reality we wouldn’t have heard of women authors. Muse is anything that spurs creativity. It could be nature, a monument and even an animal. One of the muses which no one really talks about is adversity or extreme emotional upheaval … whether pain or happiness.

Interestingly, my muse has always been these disruptive events. I tend to write better, stronger and quicker. Does it mean that without these adversities I cannot write? Of course I can, but whenever these episodes of uninvited and uncalled for incidences occur I am on a roll, my fingers move freely and there is this enviable rhythm to my writing. I strongly believe that sorrow and success are two essential ingredients of writer’s life, at least for me. I look forward to their visits with equal fervor.