I am amused and bemused by this story. Mostly because I was raised to meet deadlines. And, of course, I know how loose they are in publishing. I thought I’d respond to a couple comments, just because they’re worthy (and conversation starters all on their own).

@theodore — that is both funny and awesome. I think there will be more stories like yours.

@reacherfan — You’re right. On one hand, the creative process takes as long as the creative process takes. This wouldn’t be a problem if the author wrote the book, then sold it to the publisher. It becomes a problem when the publisher hands over an advance and plans schedules around the author delivering the book on schedule. Marketing plans are developed, sales materials are created, and schedules are set. If the author then slips on his or her deadline, the impact can get expensive. In the case of Dan Brown, I am sure his publisher will recoup whatever cash they’ve laid out over the past several years (this book was due a few years ago). In the case of other authors, it’s not so easy to get this money back. Remember, if there’s a hole in the schedule, then it must be filled, meaning more shuffling, new materials, other marketing.

While I know many, many authors who work hard and have disciplined themselves to meet deadlines, the fact is that for many others the process is different. Publishers have some culpability here as they’re the ones who are paying these advances without a guarantee of anything…including the fact that the book will meet the standards necessary to be worth the investment.

Fine with us. We picked it and were happy to do so. I have noticed a substantial uptick in manuscript submissions.

tps

I have written for publication and also for work as an expert witness, where there are court ordered deadlines that MUST be met. I don’t have that luxury of being 10 minutes late. But I also have a very specific set of facts to work with. I am not inventing plots or creating characters. Even so, it’s just so easy to get lost in your own words, especially when you’re writing long documents with diverse bits information that must be woven together to make a coherent whole for someone without experience in the field.

I do know this – a. I can’t force the words no matter how hard I try. b. If I make make myself self write when my mind isn’t on it, I just throw it away. c. It takes many drafts before I find I the flow I want. d. A good editor is work their weight in gold.

For many years I built and kept large perennial beds. There is not a garden book out there that doesn’t say the first rule of gardening is to be ruthless. I find being ruthless about my writing helps too. Hacking out all those sickly plants that the softer side wants to nurture is good experience for red-lining your own work.

As for Dan Brown, I’m fairly sure if his publisher wants to cancel his contract because he’s late, another publisher will pick him up in a heartbeat. I’d rather be late and offer a quality product, than on time and have something I’d like to take back and rewrite in print.