Do you need time to ‘refill’ after completing a writing project?
The long list for the annual Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize) is out, and one of the novels on the list is Anne Tyler’s A Spool of Blue Thread.
Tyler, a prolific writer, is the author of twenty novels.
I read an interesting interview with her in The Guardian, in which she spoke about the down time she needs to have between novels in order to allow a new story line and cast of characters sink in.
Here’s how Tyler explained her post-novel creative process:
The “refilling” between books takes nearly a year. “I always said if you asked a woman who’s just given birth, ‘When are you going to have your next baby?’ she’d say, ‘Whaaat?’”
Loved the comparison. But I was also surprised that an author who has published as much as Tyler regularly takes down-time after a novel… and a full year at that. Even more impressive that she’s managed to publish such a large number of novels.
And what about you, writers? Do you jump into your next project after completing the first? Or do you, too, like to enjoy a ‘refilling’ period post-novel?
I definitely need a “refilling” period after finishing a project 😀
Hi, Tori. Well, it seems that you’re in very good company! I like this idea of ‘refilling’ after completion of a project…
I imagine that with a novel it’s completely necessary to ‘regroup’ or at least work on completely unrelated projects. Also after writing a novel one must revise, submit, engage, promote.
At the moment I am writing more and more short stories and I actually don’t like to tune out after completing a piece. Then there are revisions to do on other pieces, submissions to make and update which use different energies. I think it’s healthy to view the whole process as a job!
Like you, Catherine, I generally don’t have a ‘refilling’ period. However, I also find short stories a very interesting way to wind down between novels. Sometimes it’s refreshing to have a smaller slice of time, a limited number of characters, etc. It’s nice to switch between the two. Glad to hear you’re still dedicated to short stories, since I’m enjoying them so much as a reader… : )
I need a little time – but definitely not a whole year! I need a little time to sort of let my former characters go and allow my new ones to move into my head and make themselves comfortable.
I’m not a good short story writer, which is too bad, because I think it would make for good downtime writing as the writing is what I miss most after completing a project, especially as the completion stage normally entails daily writing frenzies. The first few days It’s hard to let go of that pace cold turkey
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