Writers vs...
Readers, and 'others'...
Y'all can read a LOT faster than we can write, which is a given. A lot of folks will read a 90,000 word novel in 3-6 hours.
However, writers work at different 'speeds' if you will. I am happy to get 4-6000 words a week when I can write (not on pain meds), or doing a convention (another week/con). I know other folks that will do that in a day! They can pump out a novel a month.
I can't do that, because it would be garbage, and I'm not going to even try. I have to do research...and I want to put out as good a novel as I can...sigh
And it's worse when you write in more than one genre or series. I have to go back and reread the previous books to 'reset' the characters in my head, so that takes a week or so. At let's say an average of 6000 words/week, assuming 90,000 word novel, that's 15 weeks or 4 months.
Then I send it out to my alpha readers, get feedback, fix the errors they catch, so another 3 weeks. Lather, rinse, repeat for the beta readers. And then it goes to the editor (roughly 2 weeks to a month).
I'm also sending the rough to my cover artists, so they are working on a cover while all this is going on. So (doing math), 6 months IF everything comes together. As an Indie author, the next thing is putting it up on Amazon, which usually takes about a week. If I were trad pub, that novel would probably not be released for a year, AFTER I did all the work and submitted a finished product.
I know I haven't put out a full novel in over a year, but I've been dealing with physical issues, sorry.
The other thing that interrupts is when you get invited to submit for an anthology- Those are mostly 8000 words, so I can usually knock them out in a little over a week, if I push it. Another interrupter is reading other people's work as either an alpha, beta, or rough editor. Those can eat a few days, too. And Ghod forbid we take a vacation...LOL
The other problem is writing in more than one genre, I 'try' to alternate genres with my releases. I'm stuck on the next Bell Chronicles right now, but the Rimworld novel is going great guns. Of course you readers 'want' to get 'your' series book...yesterday...
Soooo, yes I'm whining here. But I also want y'all to 'understand' that I'm not blowing y'all off, it's just that I'm slow. :-)
Oh yeah, and I was asked why I put up snippets (by someone that WILL NOT read snippets). I do that because YOU are my customers. And I value your feedback and comments, I do listen, and I do make changes based on your comments.
Thank you for your time this morning. And yes, I'm writing today (and try to every day).
As a reader, I'm happy to wait for another Bell or Rimworld novel. And 'Thank you' for letting us know when things will be delayed. The worst thing for this reader is not knowing what is going on with my favorite writers. Everyone could use a prayer now and then. 🙏
I'm also glad that you're self-pubbing because you're not limited by the tradpub-controlled pace that targets bookstores. I haven't bought a book from a brick and mortar bookstore in over 10 years. Unless it's a museum, or national park, gift shop. Publishing at that pace is leaving money on the table, IMHO, which is why Larry Correia is probably working with the two hybrid publishers now.
Writing. I enjoy writing, wordsmithing. I wrote professionally in the Navy. That wasn't much fun at all. The smallest typo that went out via Orestes or official correspondence was viewed by the CO as a career ender. It was no such thing, but the Captain's wrath would make the sky fall on you. Being a good writer in the Navy was both a blessing and a curse. As a civilian, I wrote reams of daily reports when I was a road-building/asphalt inspector. Waxing eloquent delighted my boss. Only had one opportunity to get published when a friend, Michael Z. Williamson, published a military SF anthology and charitably let me co-author a short story with him. Mein Gott, that was hard work. Terrifying work. I have the highest regard for writers, the good, the bad and the ugly. It takes great discipline, moxie, stamina and bravery to put it all out there in full view and to await a response that either crushes your ego or inflates it beyond its true worth. I guess it helps if a writer has brains, is a good storyteller and can get his thoughts transmitted to a paper book via the keyboard. Hat's off to all of you writers. You are made of stern stuff. Do you ever get stage fright writing as a civilian?