Also, being a professor might have helped him find the right names and tales, but the research task would have been immense - especially as he did it on his own, and with no internet sites or online encyclopedias to help him. Just his own persistence.Finally, the task of writing LOTR (and getting it to a publisher) was interrupted by two little things called a World War and the post-war depression of the late 40s and early 50s.
So many things were rationed, like meat, bread, milk, paper, ink etc. Under the circumstances, I think it's a miracle that LOTR got to a publisher at all!Comparing Tolkien's 16 years of LOTR to Stephanie Meyer's 3 months of writing "Twilight" is hardly fair. To start with, "Twilight" is derivative - it's derived from fan-fiction - so it's hardly original. Secondly, the characters are one-dimensional, the plot is non-existent .... I'm sure you all know the criticisms. So why is it so successful? Two words: pre-pubescent girls.
Personally, it took me about 18 months to write Stephen's adventures: about 6 months to write draft 0, 1-2 months to learn about outlines (and do them), and another 10 months in writing and editing the rest of the story. It's pretty much finished now and ready for a beta.
Thank you, Cage and Rkcapps, for your critiques!