I am currently reading: In The Dark by Chris Patchell. So far, really good.
Do you ever wonder how long it takes authors to write a book? Since I am not a writer, I really have/had no idea. My local library hosted Susan Wittig Albert several years ago and I attended her talk. She was asked how long it takes to write one of her China Bayles series books. She said she writes a specific number of pages a day, certain hours of the day, and has breaks at certain times. Hmm just like a job. haha on me. I don't know what I thought authors do...stay up all night, stop what they are doing at any hour and write? Have you ever see the movie Funny Farm with Chevy Chase? He is an aspiring author who quits his job and moves to the country to write. Hilarious.
Came across this list of "10 Novels Written in About a Month". Which ones have you read?
"National Novel Writing Month is upon us. For those beginning hopeful novels—tirelessly typing through scenes of dialogue and character descriptions, finding a rhythm, losing it, hitting a snag in the plotline—it can seem overwhelming to pen something substantial in just thirty days. But it’s not impossible. Here are ten authors who wrote some of their most important work in around a month."
This story was first published on The Reading Room.
A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess
Burgess admits writing his best known novel in about three weeks and doing so only for the money. The novel went on to be adapted by Stanley Kubrick, whose classic film did not meet Burgess’ approval.
I think we read some of this in high school or watched the movie. Not a favorite of mine, but a cult classic.
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The Gambler, by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Dostoevsky wrote The Gambler in conjunction with his masterpiece Crime and Punishment. At the time, he was in debt as a result of his gambling addiction and decided to quickly write this semi-autobiographical novella in order to alleviate financial woes.
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On The Road, by Jack Kerouac
Kerouac spent seven years on the road, travelling across America and taking notes the whole time. Perhaps as a result of such preparation Kerouac was able to sit down and pen the entire novel in less than a month. Interestingly, Kerouac typed the entire manuscript on one long, taped-together piece of teletype paper that was reportedly 120 feet long.
Hmm never read this but I think I went to a reading of some of his stuff a long long time ago.
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As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner
Faulkner wrote this formally inventive masterpiece in less than six weeks while working the night shift at a power plant. Perhaps even more amazingly, he claims he didn’t change a single word.
I read this also in school.
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Casino Royale, by Ian Fleming
Fleming’s first Bond novel took about two months to write. This wasn’t an anomaly but became his template. He shaved off a fortnight, with each of the following Bond novels taking about six weeks apiece.
One of my favorite movies
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A Study in Scarlet, by Arthur Conan Doyle
The first novel to feature legendary fictional detective Sherlock Holmes took Arthur Conan Doyle just three weeks to write. If anything proves what can be accomplished in less than a month, it’s this.
Another I have seen on t.v. but not read. Really good.
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The Confidential Agent, by Graham Greene
Like Dostoevsky, Greene was working on what would become his career defining masterpiece, The Power and the Glory, when he decided to write another novel in order to make some money. The Confidential Agent, one of Greene’s best loved “Entertainments” was written in just six weeks.
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I, the Jury, by Mickey Spillane
Spillane wrote his Mike Hammer novel in nine days. Not bad considering the book went on to sell 7 million copies in just three years.
Ok. Mickey Spillane was before I was born BUT they made some great movie adaptations of his books. Saw several of them on one the classic t.v. channels. I really enjoyed them.
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A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Like Arthur Conan Doyle, Dickens was able to write a book that would become a beloved classic, imagined and reimagined in countless adaptations, in a remarkably short amount of time. A Christmas Carol took just six weeks and came to define the spirit of the season.
I have seen several of these movie adaptations. I have liked them all. I have never read the book.
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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, by John Boyne
Boyne was so fervently engrossed in the story he was writing that he couldn’t stop. After two and a half days a contemporary classic was born. Perhaps it goes without saying, but eating and sleeping and other daily needs took a backseat to finishing the novel.
You are probably familiar with some of these. Are you surprised?
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