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Proposals"},{"term":"Branding"},{"term":"Ebooks"},{"term":"Friendships"},{"term":"Giveaway"},{"term":"How I Do It"},{"term":"Interacting With Readers"},{"term":"Interviews"},{"term":"Rejection"},{"term":"Discouragement"},{"term":"Finding Ideas"},{"term":"First Drafts"},{"term":"Free books"},{"term":"Multi-Published"},{"term":"My Writing Journey"},{"term":"Negative Reviews"},{"term":"Publication Process"},{"term":"Traditional Publishing"},{"term":"Trailers"},{"term":"Waiting"},{"term":"Writing Output"},{"term":"Allegiant"},{"term":"Audio Books"},{"term":"Best Seller List"},{"term":"Blog Tours"},{"term":"Book Series"},{"term":"Book Titles"},{"term":"Books Into Movies"},{"term":"Bookstores"},{"term":"Courtship and Dating"},{"term":"Debut Authors"},{"term":"Failure"},{"term":"Genre Differences"},{"term":"Historical Romance"},{"term":"Historicals"},{"term":"Influencers"},{"term":"Insider Insights"},{"term":"JK Rowling"},{"term":"John and Abigail Adams"},{"term":"Launch 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Hedlund"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":""},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/jodyhedlund.blogspot.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8539581256374625880\/posts\/default\/-\/Publishing?alt=json-in-script\u0026max-results=3"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/jodyhedlund.blogspot.com\/search\/label\/Publishing"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8539581256374625880\/posts\/default\/-\/Publishing\/-\/Publishing?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=4\u0026max-results=3"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Jody Hedlund"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/12424307540530719614"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"63"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"3"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-3407177894003092147"},"published":{"$t":"2018-10-01T06:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-11-06T20:53:23.734-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Beginning Writers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Publication Process"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Publishing"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Answering a Few Questions About Publication"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lK_1-QVsu6g\/W7FQ1SjMUuI\/AAAAAAAAFP8\/r6hn5CHCQ3ojx7mb_ADMKJb95qae2y9lwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Publication.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"475\" data-original-width=\"419\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lK_1-QVsu6g\/W7FQ1SjMUuI\/AAAAAAAAFP8\/r6hn5CHCQ3ojx7mb_ADMKJb95qae2y9lwCLcBGAs\/s400\/Publication.JPG\" width=\"352\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBy Jody Hedlund\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003E, @JodyHedlund \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERecently I returned from a national writers’ conference. One of my favorite things to do there was talk with aspiring writers and answer any questions they had about publication and being an author. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EEven though I’m home now, I still love the opportunity to answer questions, most of which come via emails. While I don’t always have time to write back, sometimes I answer the questions here on my blog, especially when they’re the kind of questions other writers might have too.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERecently I got just such an email from Hannah, one full of lots of great questions. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHannah said: \u003Ci\u003EI am currently an English major who would love to have a career in writing novels. I would love it if you could share how you got started in the writing world and became successful. How long did it take before you first got published? How long does it generally take for you to write a novel? Do you work for someone who gives certain deadlines or are you self-employed and work at your own pace?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E1. How long did it take before you first got published?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt took me approximately 7 years (nonconsecutive) from when I first started writing seriously as an adult to when I got my first book contract. During those years, I read every writing how-to book I could find, and I wrote five practice novels that now collect dust in a closet and will never see the light of day. My sixth book became my debut novel. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe number of years and practice books it takes will vary from writer to writer. BUT what won’t vary is the NEED TO LEARN. \u003C\/b\u003EEvery writer has to take the time and do the hard work of learning the craft of writing by reading technique books, practicing, getting critiques, and honing their skills.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAll too often nowadays with the ease of self-publishing, I see too many writers skip the hard work of learning and practicing. Whether going the traditional or self-publishing route, a writer won’t find success without taking the time and work necessary to become skilled.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOnce a writer is consistently getting feedback (from critique partners or editors) that their work is starting to look ready for publication, my advice is to seek out agents and writing contests. I made my big break into traditional publication by finaling in a prestigious writing contest. After my final, I re-contacted the agent who already had my manuscript in her slush pile. She offered me representation a few days later. A few months after that I had a three book deal. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2. How long does it generally take for you to write a novel?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAfter writing close to 30 books and having about 25 of them published, my writing muscles are much stronger now than when I first started. I like to compare writing to running. When a person first decides to take up running, they lumber down the street and can hardly go a block without having to stop for a break. After years of practice and running consistently, they can often go many blocks without needing to stop. Maybe they’ve even worked up to running marathons.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWriting works the same way with lots of slow lumbering, often much fumbling, and eventually going longer with stronger output. I started by writing 500 words a day during my kids’ nap-times. It took me a year to complete one book. That was all I could manage as a busy (and exhausted!) mom. Now, after years of writing, I can complete the first draft of a novel in 8 to 10 weeks. My kids are teenagers and more independent, and I’m in a season where I can devote more time to my writing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E3. Do you work for someone who gives certain deadlines or are you self-employed and work at your own pace?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith my traditional publishers, I’m under contract to write a certain number of books in a specific time period. Generally for me, that means I turn in a book every 6 to 9 months. During contract negotiations, my publisher gives me deadlines for when I need to turn in the first draft and also with the various stages of editing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor my indie books, I don’t have any deadlines, although I do try to work carefully around my traditionally published books so that releases don’t conflict with each other. Even without strict deadlines for my self-pubbed books, I’ve still found it very helpful for my productivity to establish my own goals and publication schedules. I try very hard to stay on track with the schedule, especially so I can remain timely for the editors, cover designer, beta readers, etc. who are a part of my self-publishing process.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAll that to say, I approach my writing career in a business-like way. Not everyone does nor do they need to. It’s just what works for me and my personality. I like to establish yearly goals (sometimes even plotting out my writing and publishing schedule for a couple of years). Then I know what I can fit in and where.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EYour turn! How long have YOU been writing? What is YOUR writing process like and how long does it take YOU to complete a novel?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8539581256374625880\/posts\/default\/3407177894003092147"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8539581256374625880\/posts\/default\/3407177894003092147"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/jodyhedlund.blogspot.com\/2018\/10\/answering-few-questions-about.html","title":"Answering a Few Questions About Publication"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Jody Hedlund"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/12424307540530719614"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lK_1-QVsu6g\/W7FQ1SjMUuI\/AAAAAAAAFP8\/r6hn5CHCQ3ojx7mb_ADMKJb95qae2y9lwCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Publication.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-2218480300710153087"},"published":{"$t":"2015-05-26T06:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-05-26T06:00:02.092-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Beginning Writers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Publishing"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Key to Knowing if You're Ready for Publication"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-aWyUjeXckQE\/VWOlzlrDZeI\/AAAAAAAAEy8\/FvjwXRYtR7Y\/s1600\/The%2BKey%2Bto%2BKnowing%2BIf%2BYou%2527re%2BReady%2Bfor%2BPublication.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-aWyUjeXckQE\/VWOlzlrDZeI\/AAAAAAAAEy8\/FvjwXRYtR7Y\/s400\/The%2BKey%2Bto%2BKnowing%2BIf%2BYou%2527re%2BReady%2Bfor%2BPublication.jpg\" width=\"276\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBy Jody Hedlund,\u0026nbsp;@JodyHedlund \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMy oldest is graduating from high school. So I'm in the midst of planning a big graduation party for him. I'm not super creative when it comes to parties (apparently I use up all my creativity in my stories!). So our party will be pretty standard without a lot of bells and whistles--in the back yard with coolers of soda, tables of dessert and appetizers, etc.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HamOt1qiZyU\/VWOkES2ppJI\/AAAAAAAAEyw\/WttgMdd6Kic\/s1600\/HEDLUND%2BNo32.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HamOt1qiZyU\/VWOkES2ppJI\/AAAAAAAAEyw\/WttgMdd6Kic\/s320\/HEDLUND%2BNo32.jpg\" width=\"232\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMy graduating senior!\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EOne of the most asked questions I get about my son's graduation is, \"Are you sad to see him go?\" Since I try to be transparent, I usually respond, \"No, actually I'm ready and so is he.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've spent 18 years of my life preparing him for this point. I've poured out my heart, energy, time, resources, and many times even my tears into raising him. Was I perfect? Absolutely not. I made many mistakes.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELet's face it, parenting is confusing and hard and filled with uncertainties. We ask ourselves over and over as we set boundaries and make decisions, \"Am I doing the right thing?\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe wouldn't question ourselves so much if we didn't love our children deeply and have their best interests at heart. We teach, train, and discipline them with the hope that one day they'll be able to stand on their own two feet with all the values, skills, and character qualities that they'll need to take their place in the world.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENevertheless, no matter how hard we try to be good parents, our children are their own individuals with their own minds, dreams, and plans. They eventually have to take flight. And eventually we have to let them.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs writers, we face the challenge of letting go of our stories. We pour our hearts, energy, time, resources, and even tears into our books. We watch our stories take shape and grow. We're filled with uncertainties and ask ourselves continually if we're doing the right thing. We subject our stories to feedback and criticism with the hope that they will one day have what it takes to stand on their own.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EJust like parenting, there are some writers who can let go, maybe even too easily. And others of us perhaps cling too tightly to our stories. How do we learn to have a healthy balance of not seeking publication too soon but also not letting fear hold us back from taking the next step?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe key in writing, like parenting, is: Preparation.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've done all I\u0026nbsp; can to prepare my son to leave home. I've attempted to teach him to cook, do laundry, clean, manage his money, be responsible, have manners, etc. Notice I said, \u003Ci\u003Eattempted.\u003C\/i\u003E He's definitely not perfect (or even close to it!) in all areas. He has a lot of room for growth, and don't we all?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHowever, in spite of his short falls, he's a great kid, determined, and a hard worker. He's equipped to take the next step.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf we're struggling to know whether we're ready for publication, we need to ask ourselves:\u003Cb\u003E Have we spent enough time preparing? \u003C\/b\u003EMaybe we don't need 18 years, but certainly we can't expect to be ready overnight. Have we learned necessary writing skills and techniques? Have we practiced them over and over? Have we taken the time and energy to learn all we can about the industry?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMaybe we won't be perfect. Maybe we still have room to improve, after all we're all still growing. \u003Cb\u003EBut if we've attempted to do all we can to learn and grow, then we're likely ready to take the next step in our writing career.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMy encouragement for writers seeking publication is this: We shouldn't rush to publish too early before we're ready. It may lead to undue frustrations which can take away the joy of writing. But we also can't let fear hold us back. At some point, after we've put in the time and effort, we can wisely and cautiously begin the process of seeking publication.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith enough preparation, hopefully we'll be able to say with confidence, \"I'm ready and so is my book.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow do you think writers can tell if they're ready for publication? Are you rushing in to publication too soon? Or are you letting fear hold you back?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/jodyhedlund.blogspot.com\/feeds\/2218480300710153087\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/jodyhedlund.blogspot.com\/2015\/05\/the-key-to-knowing-if-youre-ready-for.html#comment-form","title":"25 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8539581256374625880\/posts\/default\/2218480300710153087"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8539581256374625880\/posts\/default\/2218480300710153087"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/jodyhedlund.blogspot.com\/2015\/05\/the-key-to-knowing-if-youre-ready-for.html","title":"The Key to Knowing if You're Ready for Publication"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Jody Hedlund"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/12424307540530719614"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-aWyUjeXckQE\/VWOlzlrDZeI\/AAAAAAAAEy8\/FvjwXRYtR7Y\/s72-c\/The%2BKey%2Bto%2BKnowing%2BIf%2BYou%2527re%2BReady%2Bfor%2BPublication.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"25"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-7058814169073757780"},"published":{"$t":"2014-04-08T06:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2014-04-08T06:00:00.316-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Publishing"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Self-Publishing"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"3 Areas That Suffer in Quantity-Driven Writing"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-FV-T89i6gIc\/U0FhgbL1ZSI\/AAAAAAAAEKg\/i0DJUXp706Q\/s1600\/MP900426568.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-FV-T89i6gIc\/U0FhgbL1ZSI\/AAAAAAAAEKg\/i0DJUXp706Q\/s1600\/MP900426568.jpg\" height=\"400\" width=\"271\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBy Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOnce upon a time, most writers could survive by writing just one book a year. But in the changing landscape of the publishing industry, with lower advances and sales, writing one book a year isn't financially feasible for many. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith the ease of e-publishing, more and more writers are able to publish their books. But unfortunately the reading population hasn't gained as many new readers at the same rate as the number of new authors. Thus, among the influx of writers, the publishing pie has been cut into smaller and smaller slivers so that the majority of writers are earning significantly less.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAs writers earn less, one of the solutions is to publish more with the hope of increasing earnings with each book out there\u003C\/b\u003E. Obviously an author has the potential to make more money with five published books versus one. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn addition to hoping to increase earnings, \u003Cb\u003Ewriters are moving toward quantity writing because having backlists has become one way to maximize marketing\u003C\/b\u003E. Many writers offer older books for a reduced price (or even for free) with the hope of gaining new loyal fans who buy current releases.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith so many authors and books available, it's all too easy for readers to finish our book and then find another author or book that catches their attention. \u003Cb\u003EConsistently having books to put into our readers' hands keeps our names fresh in their minds amidst the growing competition\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhatever the case, the trend over the past couple of years has moved toward quantity publishing and long tail marketing. Among indie authors I know, it's not uncommon to see them releasing a new book every few months.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile the nature of traditional publishing may not allow for authors to put out books quite so frequently, many are self-publishing alongside their traditional book deals to allow for more quantity.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIn this modern era of quantity-driven writing and publishing, however, there are a few pitfalls.\u003C\/b\u003E I've had to be careful not to fall into the pitfalls myself.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E1. Skimping on Research:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EResearch is an integral part of the writing process for most writers. Whether we write historicals, thrillers, suspense, or contemporary romance, we all have areas within our stories to research. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf we're striving to add some freshness to our story and move beyond the mundane of what most people already know, then we have to seek out new occupations, new locations, or new issues that go beyond the ordinary.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut of course, it takes time to investigate issues, interview experts, read research books, or even take trips to do more in-depth hands-on learning. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen pressed for time, research often suffers and consequently so does credibility, passion, and the thrill of unique and fresh material.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E2. Skimping on Depth:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe age old question still arises: quality versus quantity? And is it possible to write fast and prolifically and still have stories that are well-plotted with characters that have clear arcs and settings that are full of sensory details?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOf course, I don't think fast writing equates poor writing. Many writers who have been using their creative muscles for a while, have honed them, learned writing techniques, and are able to produce large amounts of beautiful prose in short amounts of time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut on the other hand, prolific writing doesn't always allow writers the time to reflect on issues within stories, to add more twists, to create more suspense, or to take characters deeper. In the rush to produce, writers may sacrifice the contemplation and mulling process that can take a story from good to great.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E3. Skimping on Editing: \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOften the first place writers cut corners on the road to publishing is with editing. Sometimes writers may not want to take the time to let the story have a resting period in order to gain objectivity. They may finish the writing and jump immediately into editing the book.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUsually our books need to be self-edited multiple times. One or two read-through's is never enough. But if we're in a rush, we may cut out some of the nit-picking or we may decide not to rewrite a troublesome spot.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOther writers may not want to pay the cost for a good content AND line edit. They may pay for one and neglect the other. Or they simply may be naive enough to think they can go it alone (or perhaps with the help of a critique partner or two).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMy Summary: \u003C\/b\u003EWhile there's nothing wrong with quantity writing, we all need a reminder now and then (including myself) not to sacrifice too much for the sake of getting our stories out there. In the end, quality still trumps quantity in building loyal and happy readers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EWhat about you? What are some of the pitfalls (or positives!) you've noticed about quantity-driven writing? \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/jodyhedlund.blogspot.com\/feeds\/7058814169073757780\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/jodyhedlund.blogspot.com\/2014\/04\/3-areas-that-suffer-in-quantity-driven.html#comment-form","title":"33 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8539581256374625880\/posts\/default\/7058814169073757780"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8539581256374625880\/posts\/default\/7058814169073757780"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/jodyhedlund.blogspot.com\/2014\/04\/3-areas-that-suffer-in-quantity-driven.html","title":"3 Areas That Suffer in Quantity-Driven Writing"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Jody Hedlund"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/12424307540530719614"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-FV-T89i6gIc\/U0FhgbL1ZSI\/AAAAAAAAEKg\/i0DJUXp706Q\/s72-c\/MP900426568.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"33"}}]}});