One Reason Why I Don’t Write and Release
I’ve mentioned a number of times that when I begin a new series I’ve already written practically every book in that series. You may have heard me say it directly to you in a private email exchange, or I may have mentioned it in passing on another blog. This is something I decided to do for the first Made in Yorkshire series.
When I began writing this particular series at the beginning of 2014, I made a conscious decision to complete every novel before I thought about releasing them to the general public. At this point, I didn’t know how many novels I would write. It was probably after the fifth novel I took the decision to end it at book seven.
This is probably quite an odd habit. I know for a fact most authors complete a book, release it, and then begin the process all over again. I write every book and release them one by one.
You may also wonder why I don’t release them faster than one per month. I’ll answer that now. That’s simply to give me more time to write my next books. At any one time, I may be five books ahead of an impending release date. I compromise that and it’ll catch up on me.
I released Made in Yorkshire books one and two (1964 and 1969) at the same time at the start of December. When I released these two books, I was already half way through the Made in Yorkshire series. I won’t say they were all edited and ready to go, but I’d completed the first drafts.
Anyway, I’ve given you enough context. Why don’t I write and release?
I thought about that this month. It happened when I discovered my editor had a serious health problem and she had to go in for surgery. Now as morbid as it sounds, she could have well died. Any form of surgery carries risks. She may have died. She may have had to spend a prolonged time in hospital. She may have experienced complications at a later date.
I don’t know.
And because I don’t know and I can’t plan for these unforeseen circumstances I feel better planning far in advance.
If my schedule is delayed for whatever reason and I’m writing and releasing, I may have to disappoint all my readers by apologising and saying I can’t get that book out on-time. That irritates people to no end. I know that because it would infuriate me. When I’m promised something I demand that promise is kept.
On the other hand, if I’m six months away from that book’s release date, I can adjust and bring someone else in on a temporary basis.
This is something I considered when I began to write. But these latest developments have really driven home why I did this in the first place.
Until next time…
James Farner
When I began writing this particular series at the beginning of 2014, I made a conscious decision to complete every novel before I thought about releasing them to the general public. At this point, I didn’t know how many novels I would write. It was probably after the fifth novel I took the decision to end it at book seven.
This is probably quite an odd habit. I know for a fact most authors complete a book, release it, and then begin the process all over again. I write every book and release them one by one.
You may also wonder why I don’t release them faster than one per month. I’ll answer that now. That’s simply to give me more time to write my next books. At any one time, I may be five books ahead of an impending release date. I compromise that and it’ll catch up on me.
I released Made in Yorkshire books one and two (1964 and 1969) at the same time at the start of December. When I released these two books, I was already half way through the Made in Yorkshire series. I won’t say they were all edited and ready to go, but I’d completed the first drafts.
Anyway, I’ve given you enough context. Why don’t I write and release?
I thought about that this month. It happened when I discovered my editor had a serious health problem and she had to go in for surgery. Now as morbid as it sounds, she could have well died. Any form of surgery carries risks. She may have died. She may have had to spend a prolonged time in hospital. She may have experienced complications at a later date.
I don’t know.
And because I don’t know and I can’t plan for these unforeseen circumstances I feel better planning far in advance.
If my schedule is delayed for whatever reason and I’m writing and releasing, I may have to disappoint all my readers by apologising and saying I can’t get that book out on-time. That irritates people to no end. I know that because it would infuriate me. When I’m promised something I demand that promise is kept.
On the other hand, if I’m six months away from that book’s release date, I can adjust and bring someone else in on a temporary basis.
This is something I considered when I began to write. But these latest developments have really driven home why I did this in the first place.
Until next time…
James Farner
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