Long Run or Short Run

Long Run or Short Run I read a Facebook post this week where people were bragging about the largest daily word count theyd ever written. Some were slinging numbers like 10,000, 13,000, even 16,500. Most admitted that wasnt a sustainable number to maintain, yet they interpreted numbers like that as the means to writing a book in two weeks or less. And many of them are then publishing those books. In this day and time, with the crazy array of self-publishing tools available to writers, we can sense a pressure to publish a book a month. Yes, Im not exaggerating. Out of curiosity, Ive read them. I can see the rush in the sentences, read the overzealousness in the syntax, miss the depth of plot. No, you cannot write deep and publish in a month. But there is a market for some of this type of work. Some readers like light reading. Some authors are making five figures from slinging out a large number of books. And therein lies the crossroad. Downstream, when you are more gifted, wiser, and more astute, are you wanting those books forever on Amazon? Are you wanting to publish your quick writing for the public? Or do you prefer to write fast and hold onto it in an effort to write it deeper? Or consider those pieces practice to learn from for your next, more intense work? We are under such acute influence to write now, write fast, and write a lot. Funny, but as I was writing this, I noticed Seth Godins latest blog post. He echoed what I said, only better. https://seths.blog/ First, fast and correct All three would be great. First†¦ you invent, design, develop and bring to life things that haven’t been done before. Fast†¦ you get the work done quickly and efficiently. Correct†¦ and it’s right the first time, without preventable errors. Being first takes guts. Being fast takes training. And being correct takes care. All three at once is rare. Two would be great. And just one (any one) is required if you want to be a professional. Alas, too often, in our confusion about priorities and our fear of shipping, we end up doing none and settling for average instead. Amen, Mr. Godin. Amen indeed.