Someone recently asked me, “What’s the deadline for your book?”

In case you don’t know I’m working on my second novel Rules of the Game.

I sort of giggled to myself.

I understood the question but to explain it at that exact moment was too much.

I write when I’m inspired.

I write when my character(s) speaks to me and the voice is so loud that it pours from me.  I write when I have something to say.

I have so much respect for writers who are able to write 1500 words no matter what. But I know me and I know that wouldn’t work. The reason why I can be so passionate about writing is because I am able to do so on my own terms. Its the difference between coloring inside the lines…and not. And if you know me, you know I’m not a color inside the lines type of girl. Which I also realize is the beauty of owning a publishing company and releasing my own books.

Before I began writing professionally, I wondered why some of my favorite writers seemingly released books often and others not so much.

Now as a professional writer myself, I understand that there are many factors that go into how long it takes to complete a manuscript. While I’d like to write everyday, sometimes my schedule doesn’t allow it because of the day to day of running a company. But even if I had nothing else to do, I doubt I’d be able to sit to my computer everyday and then 30 days later turn out a novel.

I write because I’m inspired and because it doesn’t feel like a job. I write because its my passion.

Secondly, it takes a lot of work to develop characters and plots, and not re-hash the same storyline you read in {insert your favorite author’s} book. And, I want it to flow authentically and not forced.

So I’m halfway through Rules of the Game. I don’t know when I’ll finish and I’m okay with that. There’s no deadline. I’m just taking it day by day…

Do you write better when you have a deadline? Are you concerned about how long it will take you to finish your manuscript? Share your thoughts and comments below.

Stefanie Newell is a freelance writer based in Chicago and author of the novel The Buzz: When celebrity gossip goes wrong… She is also the CEO of Write One Publications, Inc., a publishing company.

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Stefanie Newell

Writer at Write One Publications, Inc.

Stefanie Newell is an Atlanta-based writer and author of The Buzz: When celebrity gossip goes wrong….You can check out her musings on all things entertainment at TheMusicHotSpot.com and her The Life Of A Writer series on YouTube. http://youtube.com/TheLifeOfAWriter

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