Which takes longer? Earning a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do or completing a novel-length manuscript? For me, it was a tie at three and a half years. The real question is how long does it take to get published? I’m learning that it takes so much more work than I had ever thought, but I’m willing to go the distance. Over at The Big Thrill, a number of thriller writers have posted some terrific advice.