How Infrequent Publishing Creates Literary Legends
Slowing down to speed up
Every ten years, Donna Tartt publishes a book; so far, her personal canon consists of three: The Secret History, The Little Friend, and The Goldfinch. I finished The Goldfinch last month and it is a masterpiece, like the others.
Most people have heard of Donna Tartt, even though she has only published three books.
Her fourth is overdue by four years if she keeps to her publishing schedule. Yet, I am drawn to the fact that she is so successful but publishes so rarely. She has clearly shown that quality always outperforms quantity.
There is a lesson in there for all of us. If you are trying to crank out as many newsletters as you can, maybe sometimes it is better to take a step back and think, “No, I am slowing up and concentrating on the quality rather than the quantity.”
You can still stick to a publishing schedule, but if it is better for your lifestyle for this to be once a fortnight rather than three times a week, that is better. Growth is still growth even if it is slower, and Donna Tartt shows us that quality writing will always outshine quantity.
Don’t set yourself impossible targets and enjoy what you do. This seems to be a theme of this week, as I spoke about a similar thing in The Book Chronicles.
What do you think? Do you think publishing daily is important or are you aiming for quality rather than quantity? Tell me in the comments.
Until next Sunday: Find the time, find the words, find the way.
Sam 😊
Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. - Dumbledore
Once a week seems enough, or even fortnightly. I guess it depends on your audience too.