How Long Is Writing Supposed to Take? – Electric Literature

In 2010, I was three years into writing my linked story collection when I took my first trip to Vermont to attend a writers' conference. My workshop was a group of seven that included our instructor, Ellen Lesser. With a couch and cushioned chairs set in an oval everyone talked around me and about my story. I remained "in the box" (that is, not allowed to speak) during my classmates' deliberations and discussions. My only additions were steady nods or pursed lips. Once I was allowed to speak, I thanked them, but bemoaned the fact that this particular piece in my collection was taking a long time. Ellen crossed her legs and met my eyes. She tucked a salt and pepper lock behind her ear and said in a kind and confident tone, "You're acting as if writing should be an efficient process, Jennifer. It's not."