In my case, the long gaps between my books have got quite a lot to do with lack of confidence. A lot of the time when I'm not writing I start thinking I can't do it.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
When I write a book, I write very cleanly from page one to the last page. I hardly ever write out of sequence.
I'm sure you're aware, with the time it takes to put these books together, everything can suddenly start coming out at once even though I wrote anything between one and five years ago.
I find writing extremely difficult. I usually have to drag myself to my desk, mainly because I doubt myself. And it's getting harder because I want to improve with every book.
At a certain point in the writing of any book, you become absolutely certain that it's terrible and is only getting more terrible with every word you write. This is normal. You just have to keep going, push your way through, and have faith that, through practice and experience and determination, you will get to the end.
I often feel like not writing! Sometimes I overcome it by just sitting there until writing happens. Sometimes I don't write, because books often need periods of percolation.
Actually when we stopped New Order I was busier than ever. The only gaps have been while we've been writing.
When I sit down I write very fast... if I haven't finished a book in two or three months then I think it's not going well.
Once I've written something it does tend to run away from me. I don't seem to have any part of it - it's no longer my piece of writing.
With two books a year, I don't have time for writer's block.
Every book is like starting over again. I've written books every way possible - from using tight outlines to writing from the seat of my pants. Both ways work.