The Art of Slow Writing by Louise DeSalvo

If you're like me (and I think a lot of people are), you've sometimes felt discouraged when you see writers cranking out a new book every year while you seem to write, change your mind, go back, start over, cross out, decide your book idea will never work, and finally (worst case scenario), abandon it forever, or throw it in the circular file.

That's why it is so refreshing, so wonderfully reassuring, to read this book.  The author, Louise DeSalvo, makes a solid case for slowing down in her new book The Art of Slow Writing. 

Here's a quotation from the Amazon page for her book.  "In a series of conversational observations and meditations on the writing process, The Art of Slow Writing examines the benefits of writing slowly. DeSalvo advises her readers to explore their creative processes on deeper levels by getting to know themselves and their stories more fully over a longer period of time."

This makes a lot of sense to me. As she expands on her theme, every bit of advice is like a nugget of gold to someone like me who was trying to write too too too fast, especially on a longer project like a novel. She illustrates her advice by sharing stories about many well-known writers, iconic writers, writers who have made lasting contributions to English literature.

While reading this book, I have applied her advice to the hours I spend upon my new novel. I was pleased to learn that when I slowed down, my work flowed more smoothly. Ideas flourished. I accomplished more than when I was setting a goal of a million words a day.  If I sound like a true believer, well, maybe I am.  I just want other writers to share in what I have found to be of great benefit in my writing.