How long does it take to write a novel?

This is a tale of two novels.

One I started five years ago and is still a work in progress. It’s set in the 90s around the gay scene of Sydney’s Oxford Street. Eight drafts have been written, but after it failed to spark interest, I had it assessed. I found the State Library research I had done, browsing the gay street press of that decade, worked well in shaping the novel because the assessor told me I focussed too much on nostalgia and not enough the plot.

Of course, she was right. It’s something I often felt as I wrote, while not rethinking my outline. This past year I’ve reworked it and at the time of writing this blog, it’s tucked away until I review it for its next round of edits and rewrites.

The other novel has a tight deadline.

It will be my first self-published book and is part of a series, collaborating with other gay authors. All these works are paranormal MM Romance and will start being released in five months. I’ve never written a novel this fast.

Before Covid, I had a process which allowed me to submit a new novel each year. But each new novel would have been developed over three years as, at any one time, one project had just been started, another was midway in its evolution, and another was almost complete.

This would allow for lightbulb moments and clever lines said by friends to be noted for a manuscript which was in its rest period, waiting for me to work on it again. Because some of the best inspiration comes when you’ve put a project aside.

After Covid, I joined a writers’ group, completed a couple of courses on author stuff, taken my time with that 90s novel and completed a yet unpublished manuscript. But I’ve also discovered a new way of developing an outline and the character profiles, which results in a much more polished first draft.

Needless to say, it’s helped with this Romance story.

While they say the first draft is where you get your ideas down, the method I use now makes me more obsessive, reworking chapters until they are the best they can be before moving on.

I’m surprised how good this initial draft is shaping up as I’m enjoying the challenge. I continually read and edit as time will only allow for two drafts, and that last draft needs to be polished!

I’ve already replaced a character who was coming over too bitter, and realised a sex scene was needed as I’m using Gwen Hayes’ Romancing the Beat as a guide. Usually I fade to black, but in recent works I’ve learnt to embrace sex, concentrating on the character’s private journey. Adding this scene makes the stakes higher for our hero in the following chapters.

Two people told me writing to deadlines is a good skill.

If all goes to plan, I’ll put this work aside for a month before further revision, then send it to the editor. Plus, it will be a beta read as everyone in this collaboration is helping review each other’s work.

There’s nervous excitement for this, and ongoing passion for my other work in progress. And my promise to myself is to make sure both engage my readers.