Voices of Fiction - Time to write a book - Part Three

Welcome to Voices of Fiction.

We continue with our discussion of how long it takes to write a book.

Please welcome our guests.

Terry W. Ervin II is an English and Science teacher who enjoys writing. Gryphonwood Press published the first two novels in his First Civilization’s Legacy Series (FLANK HAWK and BLOOD SWORD) and he is busy writing the third novel in the fantasy series. In November 2012 Gryphonwood Press is slated to release Terry’s first short story collection, GENRE SHOTGUN. - Website, Blog

Vicki Batman likes to kick back with a diet Coke and write crazy things for her characters. She has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??" - Website, Blog, Amazon

Children’s Picture Book author, Clara Bowman-Jahn, of “Annie’s Special Day” is living the life of her dreams an hour at a time. - Website, Etreasures

Karenna Colcroft is the alter ego of a shy, sedate wife and mother. She has been writing since age five, and dove into erotic romance in 2006. Her first book was published in 2009, and since then she has had over thirty stories published. She lives in the northeastern US with her two children and her real-life romance hero husband. - Website, Facebook, Twitter

Nicole Zoltack loves to write whatever strikes her fancy. When she’s not writing about knights, talking unicorns, or zombies, she loves to spend time with her wonderful family. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they’re unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. Blog, Website, Amazon

Welcome Authors!

Question: How long does it take you to write a book?

Terry W. Ervin II: From the moment I begin jotting outline notes and typing the first chapter, until the moment I save the final version and it’s submitted, about 18 months. Often ideas have been floating about in my head and jotted down a year or so previous to the actual writing process, so technically it could be 30 listed as months.

Vicki Batman: A book takes me a whole year. I can do several stories in one year. I'm less frustrated.

Clara Bowman-Jahn: My book, "Annie's Special Day" took approximately two years to write from idea to finished product. My second picture book took about the same time and it looks like my third will take that same amount of time. But my second genre of memoir is coming along nicely and I work on that intermittently as well. Maybe if I sat my butt down in chair every day it would be done by now.

Karenna Colcroft: It depends whether I'm aiming for a novella or a novel. I've been known to finish the first draft of a novella in a week or less, and it takes me about 2-3 days to revise to publication standards. For a full-length novel, it takes me about 3-6 weeks for the first draft, depending on how well I've plotted it and how many blocks I run into, and about a week to revise.

Nicole Zoltack: That depends on the book. One story I’ve been tinkering with for over a decade! The shortest amount of time for me to write a rough draft has been a month (I’ve done that twice). Usually it takes me about six, though. 


Thank you all for joining us today.

Readers feel free to ask questions concerning this topic in the comments. Also feel free to send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com Subject: Voices of Fiction Question, and have them answered by the participating authors in later editions.

There’s also room for more authors to participate. Drop me an email, Subject: Voices of Fiction.

(Disclaimer - Bios and photos submitted by authors.)