*looks at my life over the last four years and laughs/cries*

Buckle in, kiddos. Let me tell you a story about how past me was unreasonably optimistic. https://twitter.com/kate_rakestraw/status/1309243632982073350

I'd have used different terms but I'm trying to be kinder to myself about the choices I made that led to a whole lotta stress and more work than I should have committed to.

(I'm writing this thread on a break from the second round of edits on the 7th book written in 4 years.)

I work a full-time 40 hour a week day job. Have been there from before I sold my first trilogy. Up until 2018 it was four days a week and a half-day every other Friday. Now it's just Mon-Thurs.

My partner has been out of work since 2015. We have four cats, no children.

I wrote Behind the Throne in about 3 months and then spend several years revising, querying, etc. (that makes the book total 8 but that 1st book is always the outlier right?)

Everything since has been written in about the same 3 month time with FAR less time for revisions/edits.

The schedule for the Indranan War trilogy was tight. First book was done, edits were sort of easy. Second book was a time crunch, but then I had a year for the third.

Except...

The thing you always have to remember is that if you've contracted a book a year - you're not spending that year JUST writing the new book.

You're editing the previous book.
You're doing copy edits.
You're doing pass pages.
You're doing promo/interviews/signings.

And you're probably trying to write outlines and opening chapters for the NEXT project.

Imagine doing all that and then being the person who thinks they can add another book a year into that?

Now I don't regret for a moment agreeing to the #NeoG because it's awesome. But with hindsight I'd have asked for more time.

Always ask for more time. Take whatever you THINK the timeline is going to be and double it.

Because this isn't ever about just the time spent writing books. It's:

* evacuating your house because of natural disasters
* death of loved ones
* your kid having trouble in school, or drugs, or running away
* your marriage collapsing
* pandemics
* fascism
* losing your job

Or even more mundane it's:

* groceries
* laundry
* house cleaning
* pet care
* time with family and friends
* vacations
* TIME TO READ

If you get picked up by a publisher who wants six books ASAP, my friend, you & your agent should have a hard conversation about what ASAP actually means FOR YOU.

Don't lie to yourself about how much time it will take. Be realistic because that acronym does not mean immediately.

It means as soon as possible. And what is possible for you is very very specific to your circumstances. Circumstances that can and will change.

Suffering is not required for art. Be aware of the time you need and don't apologize for doing what you can to get that time.