Anyway, I like to be very up-front with readers about what is going on. Waiting for novels can get frustrating because of how long the process takes, and because . . . well, it’s an artistic endeavor that relies on the creative output of (usually) a single person. We artists can be flakey.
Or, put more appropriately, the artistic and creative process can be erratic. I don’t think George R. R. Martin is flakey, for instance. An artist has to know their process, and work within its bounds. It takes him years to write a book; that’s just how it goes. That’s pretty good, considering the genius of his prose. If he wants quality, he has to have the freedom to work as he needs to. Writing books is not like building widgets. Forcing it doesn’t work.
Coaxing it, however, can be effective. For me, taking a break to do something different—like the Alcatraz books—has proven essential. I don’t think it slows down my other books; in fact, it speeds them up, as it keeps my creative process working. Other writers call me prolific. That’s only because my diversions (Like Warbreaker or Alcatraz ) have so far been successful as publishable projects, where taking four months off to go golfing wouldn’t be. But, that’s a tangent.
Anyway, I don’t think forcing the process can work. However, I think being open about what is happening with readers—giving them transparency and a concrete view on what I’m doing—can be very helpful. When I take a diversion, you’ll know what I’m doing, and the progress bars (hopefully) will show you exactly what I’m doing and when.
For now, A Memory of Light 2 (we’ll see what it ends up being named; I’ve chosen what I like for the title, but the final decision isn’t mine) stands at having about two hundred thousand words written. There is about 100k left to go. (A little over that.) My goal is to have that done by January 1st, to put us in the same place next year as we were this year for having a book ready by the fall.
The caveat for all of this, however, is what I mentioned above. It can’t be forced, only coaxed. I won’t release a WoT book just to be releasing a WoT book. This is the end of the greatest epic fantasy series of my generation. It needs to be treated very carefully. If I have to take more time on it, I will—regardless of the screaming from publisher or readers. But I don’t anticipate that happening. It looks good so far.
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