Prolific

Prolific is a strong word. It’s also one that used to make me squirm a bit when used to describe me as a writer. It always felt so … above me. But I’ve been thinking about it lately, and I guess I should own it.

For me, prolific is kind of interchangeable with obsessive. I didn’t mean to have so much to show, I literally can’t help it. I have to write. And when one set of characters stop talking, I move on to a different universe, or even a different story in the same universe, as is the case with the Sevina Gate novella series. I didn’t consciously decide that was my process. It just became my process over the years. I always have multiple projects in varying states of progress. It’s hard for me to understand how some writers only have one.

Now, I’m not knocking anyone if he or she only has one writing project. Please don’t think I’m talking badly about those people, especially young and new writers. I’m not. I have much respect for anyone who’s making a go of writing. It’s not an easy venture, and it’s often a lonely road–although the internet is making that last part less true for many.

I have twenty-plus years of writing behind me, and though I’ve only been seriously publishing and promoting for about six of them, the key here is that I never stopped writing. Not after my very first publishing experience fell through. Not when I thought I’d never be published again and that I was simply doing it for the passion. Not when I finally finished Cadillac Payback (my second-ever finished novel) and thought the story was done. I just didn’t always “sit still” within one project until it was finished. The result was several stories coming full circle in a convenient timeline.

So when I say I’ve published seven novels in like six years, I didn’t write all those books in those same six years. Some of them have taken more than a decade to finish. That’s why prolific doesn’t always feel quite right. Then again, I look at those seven titles on my shelf, the seven unpublished novellas waiting in line, and sequel WIPs in both the Crows and Fae-Cursed series, and it’s hard to argue with prolific.

This post isn’t really for the sake of writing advice. I’m aware this is just my process. Everyone’s is different. I thought it might be an interesting bit to share. Maybe it will give someone hope, because there were a lot of years in the past when I never thought or believed I’d make it as a writer. I may not be super famous or an A-list best seller, but I do think I’ve “made it.” And I’m going to keep making it. So if you’re doubting yourself, stay the course. Some day, you’ll look behind you and see how far you’ve come. I did.