But writing fiction, which involves months of solitary endeavour, was a new sort of commitment.
The French report involves months of investigation in Clichy-sous-Bois and Montfermeil, two Paris suburbs where rioting in 2005, largely involving Muslim youth, resulted in the declaration of a national state of emergency.
Membership is exclusive, and the application process involves months of hanging out with the Mendozas and the other 50-plus members at the park.
But "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is a TV show that involves months of preparation and many thousands of dollars, not to mention soaring music, clever editing and close-ups of crying beneficiaries.
Upon first thoughts, that sounds like a perfect death; enjoyable, fun and it doesn't involve months of anguish as you slowly waste away to a putrid, jaundiced shadow of yourself.
The ministry statement said its invesitation had involved "months of complicated measures and access to sources of the Israeli regime," and inflicted "heavy damage on Israel's information and security structures, " discovering "very important and sensitive" information about Mossad teams.
As cancer can be a fluctuating condition, with long cycles of treatment such as chemotherapy involving months of visits to hospital, it can be very difficult for cancer carers to plan ahead.
This was not so unusual in classic musicals from the period, strange though it seems today, when arranging a first date can involve months of electronic communication.
Managing a smile, he touches the barren skin with his fingers, wondering aloud if it will ever grow back after an exacting battle with throat cancer that involved months of radiation therapy.
Such statements are not a simple matter, often involving months of deliberation before they are released.
