My Definition of Slow Writing

I had an interesting time putting this post together. Normally, when I write a post like this I do a little research to help me find others who share a similar opinion. But when I looked for slow writing on several search engines, I didn’t find much. I found some for English teachers who want to incorporate slow writing into their K-12 classrooms. I found some old articles from 2015-1018. Otherwise, nada.

That’s not surprising. Since the indie author revolution began more than a decade ago, there have been so many posts about how to write quickly to get those books published as fast as you can. In fact, when I searched for slow writing, I found more than a few posts with headlines such as “Slow Writer? Here’s How to Fix It!”

I came up with my own definition of slow writing. Here it is:

Slow writing means taking your time. It means thinking things through. It means not rushing to finish just to get it done. It means letting creativity take its course, allowing yourself to daydream, and taking joy in the writing process.

Of course, there are times when we need to write faster. If publishers tell us they need our work by a certain date, then we adhere to that date. I’ve written for publication where I knew the due date and had my work in on time. Usually, these were nonfiction pieces, like posts or articles.

I’m talking about the writing we do first for ourselves. Normally, writing a novel falls under that category. So does essay writing, short story writing, really any writing you do that isn’t under a deadline.

Some People Are Naturally Fast Writers

Whenever I mention a topic like slow writing, some people take offense. But I write quickly! What’s wrong with that?

Absolutely nothing. Whatever your process is, more power to you. Fast writers will find a lot of support since there are many posts on the subject. Though my math skills are limited, I can see the monetary value in having more books published. The more books you have out, the more readers can buy from you.

If you write a genre like romance or mystery where readers have specific expectations about how the story should unfold, it might be easier to produce more books in a shorter period of time. Such writers know what readers expect, and they know how to create a story that conforms to that, so they are more likely to work at a brisk pace.

Why Is Slow Writing Good For You?

If you’re naturally a fast writer, I’m not sure that slowing down will be particularly helpful. If you’re a slower writer like me but you push yourself because you read one too many posts about fast writing, slowing down may help you tap into your natural rhythm.

Slow writing allows you to take the time you need to tell your best story. Slow writing also gives you time to put your story away so you can look at it with fresh eyes. Slow writing helps you connect with the story you want to tell on a deeper level. The better you understand your story, the better you can share it with others. A book written in six weeks is great as far as time commitment but not so great if no one wants to read it.

I love writing fiction above all else. It’s my escape, my dream world, my time with invisible friends. Writing fiction is playtime for me. It’s not something I want to rush through. The book is done when it’s done. Sometimes that’s six months. Sometimes that’s a year. Her Dear & Loving Husband took two years. I had never written a story with two timelines before, and I had to figure out how to make it work. I had the help of a beta reader, which also took time.

I like to dig deeper into my stories. I love discovering the theme. I love foreshadowing, and leaving a trail of breadcrumbs throughout the book requires rewriting to make sure the clues are there. I wrote a bit about foreshadowing here.

I love using poetic devices such as allusion, alliteration, metaphor, simile, euphony, symbolism—you know, everything you learned in English class. The way the sentences flow is important to me too. It takes time to craft the language, and I don’t even get to the crafting stage until the third draft.

Everything that I love about writing fiction takes time. While I don’t produce books as quickly as some writers, when I do finish I have something I’m proud to have my name on. When I look at my favorite authors, they don’t produce several books a year. They produce a book every two or three years, or it might take them even longer.

If you’re a fast writer, that’s wonderful. If you’re a slow writer, you may feel like you’re floating alone in a sea of writers who produce five books a year. You’re not alone. There are many of us out here.