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How Long Does It Take?

Susan Gourley stumped me with her question about self-publishing when she asked: Just how long does it take to write and publish a book?

So I sat down and figured it out. The Devil To Pay is kind of a cheat since the story was pre-existing and I was planning on subbing it to an anthology. But I decided to track the rest of my time to give you some idea on how long it took to accomplish every step.

For the next book, I imagine formatting and cover art will be faster, but writing the story will take longer.

If you're interested in how long it takes to take a novella from idea to publication, stop by and say hello to Susan and tell me what your timetables are like.

***

Another scorcher yesterday. 113 degrees! I let the chicks free-range, but the roosters and older hens remain penned up so nobody gets into any generational squabbles. Fortunately, Greg installed a water mister that keeps their pen cool. It's actually quite pleasant in there.

***

Another win! Smashwords has been awful about letting The Devil To Pay go on to the premium catalog so Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Sony can pick it up. But it finally went through and now I feel I can relax.

A big thank you to Cate Masters who figured out where my formatting problem was. You're the best, Cate!

And here it is at Barnes & Noble. I'm so proud. :grin:

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Comments

broken biro said…
Surely the question is unanswerable? Different people work at different speeds - some people might pull out all the stops and be done in a couple of months, others (*coughs*) might do 60,000 words very quickly and then grind into a really low gear in the later stages when all the tricky bits need sorting out...

All I can say, is good on you for getting your out there - looks great! 8-)
August 4, 2011 at 8:50 AM
Anonymous said…
Glad to hear you got your formatting worked out!

Off to Susan's...
August 4, 2011 at 9:26 AM
Angela Brown said…
That's the stuff I'm talking about. One author helping another. Way to go Cate! And congrats, Maria, on getting your story more widely available.

Going to check things out at Susans's blog.
August 4, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Cate Masters said…
Glad it helped, Maria! (I wasn't sure it would, lol) Congrats on making the premium catalog too!
August 4, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Jackie said…
Glad you have fixed up something to give the chickens a break Maria, too bad you cannot use a personal spritzer while doing outside chores.
Congratulations on the premium catalog add and getting The Devil To Pay on B&N also!
August 4, 2011 at 12:09 PM
G.M. said…
With that heat the chicken will deliver boiled eegs. Wonderful covers for your books. You matestered the skills to creat e-books. When you stop writing, you can start your own e-publishing company.
August 4, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Barbara Ann Wright said…
Woo hoo for you! I toast you with virtual champagne!
August 4, 2011 at 3:37 PM
Anonymous said…
Tell those chickens to make room for me! I really need to get AC.
August 4, 2011 at 3:49 PM
Michelle Fayard said…
And to think it took me a couple of years just to research and write my historical YA, The Underground Gift. Maria, you’re an inspiration!
August 4, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Maria Zannini said…
Brokenbiro: Well, it's more of a rhetorical question. Like, how long is string?

Raelyn: It was such a minor thing too. It drove me crazy.

Angela: That's the great thing about the writing community. We help each other.

Cate: I'm going to test it with a couple of new parameters next time to see if it was the template centering that got it skewed. Thanks again!
August 4, 2011 at 5:08 PM
Maria Zannini said…
Jackie: I come in by 9am. By 10, it's 100 degrees. Too hot to work outside.

Giora: I thought about doing covers once, but I don't know that I want to start a second career.

Barbara: Clink! Thanks, hon.

Diane: You're in NY, aren't you. I thought you guys had cooled off.

Michelle: True Believers took several years to complete and rewrite. Every book is different.
August 4, 2011 at 5:12 PM
j. littlejohn said…
great cover art on your book, maria
August 4, 2011 at 7:36 PM
James Garcia Jr said…
Hi, Maria. Joining us in Monterey would have been cooler, but I understand that someone's got to take care of those precious ones in that terrible heat. Our summer has really been mild, so if I forget and start whining about it between now and October, I give you permission to remind me to "zip it"!
Take care and much success with that book!!!

-Jimmy
August 4, 2011 at 10:26 PM
Maria Zannini said…
j. littlejohn: Thank you. I'm rather pleased with how it turned out.

Jimmy: Yes. No whining from you. LOL. I am too jealous of your weather right now. Enjoy.
August 5, 2011 at 8:47 AM
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