Why can’t it be both quality AND quantity?
I am writing and publishing more books in 2021 than I ever have before.
In total, I’m publishing 6 books this year. Three have already come out – the fourth will be out before the end of August. Two more will be published before the end of November.
That’s a lot of books in one year. And I won’t deny that they’re not tomes. The Forgotten Fodder novels tend to be hovering around the 200-page mark. The Void Incursion novels are somewhat longer, but still under 300-pages.
Some might question if, to put out 6 novels in 1 year, am I sacrificing quality for quantity? No, I do not believe that I am.
How do I know? Honestly, I don’t. But I believe in the work that I am doing and that my writing is good. The plots and stories of these two sci-fi series, as well as their characters, are well-thought-out, fleshed out, and I’ve been told they hold the readers’ interest.
Also, I’m not just writing and tossing the work to the winds. I’m having everything professionally edited – because that’s too important to ignore.
Can one have both quality AND quantity? I believe that you can.
Why not both?
As a self-published author, I am my own marketing machine. One of the ways to show that you are a serious writer is to have several titles to your name.
With the planning that I applied to Forgotten Fodder, it was easy to see where each book was going. Thus, it was a faster process to write them. Truth be told, all four have been complete since around March. Now I am going back and editing them, one at a time – and recording the audiobooks.
This has expanded my catalog of offerings considerably. And while Forgotten Fodder is the first series I’ve planned/plotted – and each book is around 200-pages – the story, I think, might be one of the best I’ve told.
Am I sacrificing quality for quantity? No, because I care too much about the work to not give it my all.
Many of the greatest artists have had a few well-known, signature works. They set standards, open controversies, and make for beloved and timeless archetypes.
But that doesn’t mean that among those signature works, there wasn’t also a vast quantity of more. Writers, painters, sculptures, actors, singers, and the like sometimes do a vast body of work before, during, and after achieving greatness.
Even the greats didn’t hit a home run every time.
Quality is subjective
Many of the other works from the greats might be just as good as their known, signature works. They just might not have the same following.
For example – Andy Weir’s novel The Martian is amazing, and most people agree. Likewise, people are raving about his newest novel, Project Hail Mary. I just started it, so I’ll opine on that later.
His novel between these, Artemis, is not as well-liked. I read it and I loved it. But many feel its quality doesn’t hold up to Mr. Weir’s other novels.
Maybe it’s not as well-liked, but Artemis is still quality work. And let’s face it – quality is as subjective and in the eye of the beholder as beauty and perfection.
Pablo Picasso created some incredible, signature artwork. Many well-known paintings were created by him in cubism, surrealism, and his blue period, among others.
Did you know that Picasso created somewhere in the neighborhood of 50,000 works of art in his lifetime? In addition to paintings, that includes prints, ceramics, sculpture, and drawings. And while some were not as amazing as others – there was, nonetheless, quality with that quantity.
Quality or quantity? Why not both?
Quality and quantity going forward
My plans are complete for 2021. There are 2 more novels to be edited – one by me and my editor, the other is with my editor now and will be rechecked by me when she finishes it – and then published.
How am I going to approach 2022?
At present, I have only 2 books definitely planned for 2022. The fifth and final book of the Void Incursion series and the 3rd novel of my fantasy Source Chronicles series. I have plotted but need to write the former and need to complete my edits and send the latter to the editor.
But I know I won’t leave it at that. I’m a writer – this is what I do.
I have plotted 4 more novels covering a new investigation for Forgotten Fodder. I’ve also begun to plot a new sci-fi series called Savagespace. At present, the plan is 5 books in that series.
How many can I complete and publish for 2022? Arguably, I can put another 6 books out there. Add in books from Savagespace and that number could climb to 7 or 8 books – or more.
Ambitious? Maybe. Will the quality suffer in writing, editing, and publishing such a large quantity? I don’t believe that it will.
Am I writing the Great American novel? No. This is sci-fi and fantasy, and while much of these works are excellent, they are not along that line.
Am I writing engaging, interesting novels? Yes. I write stories I would want to read. Ergo, I believe in what I am putting out there. Also, I care that I produce quality work.
Why does quality and/or quantity matter?
Now comes the challenge as a self-published author. This matters, because for all the works that writers create with care and have professionally edited, there are twice as many half-assed and self-published. Edited just by the author – if at all – they’re full of typos in addition to plot holes and other problems.
I am not pointing fingers or belittling any other authors. In fact, just getting your work done is a worthwhile achievement. But quality means you care to take that extra time to make it better work. Putting out a quantity of crap is not worthwhile. Why would you want your name synonymous with that?
Would I like to see myself as a bestseller? Sure, absolutely. But that’s not my present goal. My present goal is to increase sales to the level where I can earn my living off of them.
It is my intention that the quality and quantity of the novels I produce will attract more readers. They’ll then buy more books – and hopefully, tell their friends to buy them as well. And with more titles available – there are more options to entice more readers.
That’s where I am coming from.
Must it be quality or quantity? I don’t believe so. Why can’t it be both?
Thank you for being part of my ongoing journey, for joining me, and for inspiring me and my craft.
This is the one-hundred and twenty-second article exploring the ongoing creative process. Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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