Fast Food, Fast Writing

You know how one thing makes you think of something else? Well, doing research on the history of fast food got me to thinking about how much our habits can affect our writing, for good or for bad. (I'll let you know when the story comes out; subbing to Artisans in Miniature (AIM) Magazine. )

With thousands of new books coming out every year with the surge in Kindle and other eBook formats, the writer might be tempted to think: write fast, fast, faster, or I'll be left behind! But technology goes at warp speed, regardless of how adept we are at keeping up. In this case, faster does not always mean better.

While some writers can churn out a novel in six months, a year, 18 months, or even a lightning-paced three months or less, others feel more comfortable working at a slower pace. The best book often is not the one churned out at rocket speed, but slow doesn't mean working slower than a turtle, either.

There are times when tweaking will improve the story once the basics have been achieved, yet even then, there comes a time when you have to say, yes, it is as done as I can make it, and then move on.

Make it the best novel or story you can. Get feedback, make corrections and submit it. Leaving it sit in your computer is about as bad as that greasy fast food burger sitting in your stomach. (I'll have the fish instead.)

By getting that manuscript as good as you can and submitting it, you resist the urge to make even more corrections and the endless cycle of fixing, doubting and fearing it will never be good enough.

Once you get feedback, again good or bad, depending upon your view from other sources, you then know just where you stand and the next step to take. And that is a good thing, right?

* So what's your take: do you prefer fast food or slow-cooked - fast writing or slow?