An interview with Anne Lamott, author of both fiction and non-fiction including "Imperfect Birds," appeared in the June 8 issue of the Chicago Tribune.  In it she said, “With a novel, it’s a very, very solid year getting an unbelievably bad first draft together.” (Anne Lamott Interview). She validated something writers know but major publishers refuse to acknowledge – it takes longer than seven months to write a book.

I know several writers who committed to publishing contracts that required new books every seven to nine months. Lamott joins Lawrence Block and several others who agree that is an unrealistic goal.

There are several factors every writer, agent, and publisher should consider when setting submission deadlines.

• First, the writer has a life. Whether that includes children, aging parents, or a spouse, the writer has obligations other than to a publisher.  It is from that life that the writer draws inspiration. Cut it off and the writer loses touch with her world. Loss of that connection will affect the end product.
  
• Second, if the writer does nothing but write, the writer is not out promoting existing work. As talented as we all are, we cannot defy the laws of physics and be in two places at one time.
  
• Third, good stories are worth waiting for. One only has to look to the Harry Potter series to see that readers are willing to wait for something they want. If the story and the storytelling are good enough, readers will still be there when the next title comes out.
  
• Finally, like most readers, I enjoy the work of more than one author. I do not enjoy a steady diet of only one writer's work. If I have chocolate cake after every meal, I quickly lose interest in chocolate cake. Publishers run the risk of alienating readers and reducing sales if they don’t give the fans time to read the current title and build anticipation for the next.
  

So three cheers for Anne Lamott and other A-list authors who have the courage to speak out about how long it takes to create a good book.  As a writer, I want to be proud of my product, taking time to hone and improve it. As a reader, I’m happy to wait for something that is really worth my time and my money.