Must write 2 or 3 books per year

Lots of informed successful authors made comments on my last article about needing to have 10 published books to be making it as a writer. I agree with most of what was said about this being the case with authors starting their careers and writing for the midlist especially in genre fiction. I thought we could start another discussion on another item brought up by the agent in the interview.

He said that most publishers expect an author to put out 2 or 3 novels per year. I guess before one book a year was enough and I'm sure it still is for some of the most successful. I know many of my favorite authors make me wait over a year for the next installment in a series. What do you think? And how does that impact writers like me who work a day job and can't afford to write full time yet?

Comments: 8

Al Allaway Jul 19, 2007, 1:21pm EDT

I think J. K. Rowling would disagree with your opening statement. Many sucessful authors have only one or two books. Me I have seven and have a long way to go. If fact, my publisher refuses to read the next manuscript until 6 months have past since the release of the last book; so if it takes 6 more months to put the next one together, it's impossible for me to have published more than one book a year (Unless I have more than one publisher). Comment?

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Peter Joseph Swanson Jul 19, 2007, 2:29pm EDT

My small publishers that I'm with can't put out that many books of mine a year. The "pipeline" gets rather backed up. I have some books under contract that are pushed up a few years from now.

I don't think there is any one rule for any of this.

You just have to muddle through and plow your own row!

Chances are if you make it big it'll be after you die and your lousy relatives get it all.

Oh my.

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J. G. Weddle Jul 19, 2007, 4:05pm EDT

I too, as an author who must currently hold down a bill paying job, think that 2-3 novels a year would not be possible. I still goal to publish one a year, but as of yet, have not even accomplished that. I have the material, and I beleive I can do it, but lack the time to pull it all together at that rate.

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CyberGwen ! Jul 19, 2007, 7:05pm EDT

As a reader, I would question an author that churns them out that fast, but that is just my opinion. I admire all of the work that I see you all do and I realize that it takes time to come up with and craft your work.

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Julie R. Jul 20, 2007, 2:52am EDT

There are some authors I have heard about who take literally years to come out with one book! Whatever the case, I think it is absurd that a writer could possibly come out with more than one book a year.

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Christina A. Jul 20, 2007, 2:30pm EDT

I've written two books in the past year. I don't think I could do much more than that and still have quality in my work. I think it depends on the book and the subject. Still there's the publishing process and I, having not been published yet, have no idea how long that takes!

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Trish A. Jul 20, 2007, 6:41pm EDT

I think the pressure to write and publish 2 books a year is too much. I don't want to read books that are written in a hurry.

As a playwright I would be thrilled to write one full-length play a year (including revisions). Also there is the work to get the plays out into the world. That's almost a job in itself.

I wish you luck and hope you don't push the creativity out of you.

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arlene (no shame in my game) w. Jul 20, 2007, 10:56pm EDT

I think if you can write one good successful nove, then you are a writer. But that's just my opinion. I think publishing one would be quite an accomplishment.

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Must write 2 or 3 books per year

Comments: 8

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