Of all the questions that arise when you're learning how to write a book for the first time, the most pressing of all might be: just how long does it take to write a book? After all, you wouldn’t embark on a road trip without knowing how many hours you’d be in the car. It’s only natural to want to have a timeline in mind for this journey, too!
To that end, we’ve created this post all about how long it takes to write a book, including typical figures and factors to consider when adjusting your expectations. And for those who want to speed things up, we have actionable tips to help you shorten your writing time and get that manuscript done!Now, since time is of the essence, let’s begin.
How long does it take to write a book?
Based on data from a 2021 survey Reedsy conducted, it takes most authors six months to a year to write a book. A writer's timeline depends on the genre of the novel, the word count of the story, the amount of research you do, and the time you spend editing the completed draft.
Of course, every author is different, and there are famously wild outliers from the range above. Jack Kerouac wrote On the Road in just three weeks, whereas The Catcher in the Rye took J.D. Salinger 10 years to finish! (Though to be fair, he was pretty busy fighting in World War II at the time.) Even a single author may have totally different timelines for different books — for example, Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in six weeks, while David Copperfield took him over a year.
All this is to say that there is no wrong amount of time to write a book. If you manage to write all day, every day, maybe it takes less than a month! Or if you’re meticulously constructing a thousand-page historical fiction novel, it might take an entire decade. But if you’re writing a typical novel (50,000 words or more) on a typical schedule (a few hours of writing per week), you’ll likely fall somewhere in that 6-to-12-month range.
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How long does it take to write a children’s book?
We’ll include the caveat here that writing a children’s book does take less time than writing a full-length novel. Though one can’t underestimate the degree of care and effort that goes into writing for kids, the fact of the matter is, their books are shorter and therefore less time-consuming to create.
Here’s how long it takes to write children’s books, on average:
- Picture books (500-1,000 words) — 1-2 weeks
- Early reader books (1,000-2,500 words) — up to a month
- Chapter books (10,000-15,000 words) — 1-3 months
- Middle-grade novels (25,000+ words) — 3-6 months
Keep in mind that with a kids’ book, you’ll probably spend more time thinking about the story than actually writing it. This is especially true for picture books and early reader books, which need strong concepts behind them in order to sell! While there may only be 500 words in a picture book, every single word needs to count — so don’t assume it will be easy just because the writing time is relatively short.
How much should you write per day?
The other burning question when it comes to writing timelines is: how much should you actually be writing every day? While we can’t give a universal decree, we’d suggest that beginners aim for 3-4 writing sessions per week, at around 500 words per session.
How did we conjure up with these session and word count goals? Well, based on our collective experience and testimony from other writers, 500 words/session seems to be the perfect balance of substantial and manageable: enough to make progress without getting too overwhelmed.
Indeed, many writers advocate not just 500 words per session, but 500 words every single day. While you might work up to this eventually — and if you’ve had lots of writing practice, you may already be there! — we still recommend starting off fairly easy with 3-4 sessions a week. Once you’ve got this schedule down pat, you can move onto more frequent sessions and higher word count goals. In the meantime, we have some calculations to help you along.
Here’s how long it takes to write a book based on our daily writing guidelines:
- 50,000-word book — 5-8 months
- 75,000-word book — 8-12 months
- 100,000-word book — 1-1.5 years
- 125,000-word book or more — 1.5+ years
PS. Curious about average word counts in your genre? Check out this post!
How many pages is 500 words?
In a standard word processor, 500 words = 1 single-spaced page or 2 double-spaced pages. However, in a book, it’s about 1.25-1.5 pages.
So if you’d prefer to think in terms of pages rather than words, try to write about 5-10 book pages per week. Most people stick to word count-based goals for convenience’s sake — otherwise you’ll have to translate your word processor pages into “book pages” every time. But if you think tangibly tracking your pages will help, you can always write on the Reedsy Book Editor, which automatically formats your book as you go.
Should you do NaNoWriMo?
If you’re hoping to get a first draft done ASAP, you might consider participating in NaNoWriMo — an annual event during which writers attempt to complete a 50,000-word novel in a month. NaNoWriMo can be a great incentive to write quickly, and the NaNo community is an amazing source of advice and support. If you can handle the intensity, then by all means, go for it!
However, note that NaNoWriMo is designed to help you write more, not better. Many NaNoWriMo winners — especially first-timers — find themselves doing extensive rewrites and edits in the months that follow, because the first draft is usually a hot mess.
This may not matter to you if your first priority is getting words down on the page. But if you want to minimize the editing time (and editing costs!) on your book, you should probably skip NaNo for the time being.
Tips to cut your writing time in half
Speaking of minimizing, we certainly wouldn’t leave you without a repertoire of time-saving tips! If you follow all our advice, it’s definitely possible to write your book in just three to six months — essentially cutting the average writing time in half.
That said, it takes some serious discipline to get a book done that fast. Don’t set goals that you aren’t prepared to meet, lest you end up more discouraged than ever. But if a few months of sacrifice sounds like a worthy tradeoff for a finished manuscript, read on!
1. Work from an outline
As most experienced writers will know, the work always goes a lot faster when you outline first. For some, outlining will be second nature, while for others it’s like pulling teeth — especially if you’re a “pantser” who prefers to improvise as you go. But regardless of your natural inclination, if you want to cut down on writing time, outlining is the only way forward.
Now, your outline doesn’t have to be intensely detailed, nor is it impervious to change! You just need a framework so you don’t either a) write too much irrelevant content that later gets cut, or b) find yourself stuck on what should come next. Both these scenarios are massive time-wasters that can set you back weeks if you’re not careful.
So pantsers: suck it up and make an outline. It can be a standard chapter-by-chapter synopsis outline, a “mind map,” or a character-based plan. Whatever helps you stay organized, do it! An organized outline is absolutely paramount to reducing how long it takes to write a book.
2. Set deadlines and track your progress
Experienced writers will also know that having the outline isn’t enough. You'll still need a concrete plan for filling it out — that’s where deadlines and progress tracking come in.
You already know that your word count goals should be around 500 words per writing session, but how does this translate into chapter deadlines? Well, most chapters are 2,000 to 5,000 words long, so it should take you about 1-3 weeks per chapter when you’re first starting out.
What you should really do is determine how long each of your chapters will be, and give yourself appropriate deadlines for each. For example, a short chapter can be completed in a week, whereas a meatier chapter with more important details may be closer to 2-3 weeks. Be honest about how much time it should take — don’t set a lazy three-week deadline for a 2,000-word chapter!
And how do you make sure you’re meeting the deadlines you set? Progress tracking! There are some great writing apps, like Ink On and Word Keeper, to help you keep track of your word count goals, time your sessions, and maintain summaries and stats for all projects. You can also create a simple spreadsheet and keep track of your session times and WC milestones in there; again, whatever helps you stay organized!
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3. Find an accountability partner
Other than progress tracking, having a writing partner is probably the best thing you can do for your productivity. Indeed, those who have trouble staying accountable may find that another person is just the motivation they need.
That doesn’t mean it has to be someone you know IRL. Though it’s great to work together in person, you can always find a writing buddy (or several) through online writing communities and forums, which include people from all over the world. This may even be better than working with someone you know, because you’ll be more objective with each other: about goals, deadlines, and even feedback if you decide to swap manuscripts.
The key thing with a writing partner is to stay in constant contact. That way, if one of you falls off the writing wagon, the other one can provide a pep talk — and maybe some gentle guilt-tripping — to get them back on right away.
4. Never go more than two days without writing
Remember when we mentioned “long breaks” as one factor affecting your writing timeline? Well, it might sound obvious, but if you want to finish your book faster, don’t take breaks. Or at least, don’t take breaks for more than a day or two.
This is because, if you’re aiming to write a book in three to six months, you simply can’t afford it. Not only will you lose precious writing time, you’ll also lose the “flow” that you obtain after writing for several days in a row. Even a 24-hour break can wreak havoc on your creative sensibilities, so try to write at least a little bit every day! Remember: 100 words of “flow maintenance” is still better than nothing.
5. Get used to the “pressure cooker”
The truth is, if you’re trying to write a book in under six months, it’s going to get intense. Most writers have day jobs, many have families, and of course there’s the constant juggling of hobbies and social obligations. Cram in writing on top of that, and you might feel like your head is literally going to explode.
But don’t give up before you’ve even started! The first few weeks are the most painful, and after that — well, things don’t get easier, per se, but you grow accustomed to the pressure cooker. Believe it or not, it’s actually better to be busy; when you don’t have very much free time, you tend to build extremely efficient habits.
Still not sure you can do it? Well, perhaps this next section will inspire you…
How long did it take these famous authors to write their books?
We mentioned Kerouac, Salinger, and Dickens earlier, but here’s some more trivia about famous authors and how long it took to write their novels!
👦🏻 John Boyne took 3 days to write The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
🔥 Ray Bradbury took 2.5 weeks to write Fahrenheit 451
🔎 Arthur Conan Doyle took 3 weeks to write A Study in Scarlet
🧛 Stephenie Meyer took 3 months to write Twilight
🤴Antoine de Saint-Exupéry took 6 months to write The Little Prince
💔 Emily Brontë took 9 months to write Wuthering Heights
👒 Jane Austen took 10 months to write Pride and Prejudice
🌪️ L. Frank Baum took 1 year to write The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
🧟 Mary Shelley took 1 year to write Frankenstein
👻 Toni Morrison took 1.5 years to write Beloved
🍾 F. Scott Fitzgerald took 2.5 years to write The Great Gatsby
👩 Gillian Flynn took 3 years to write Gone Girl
⚔️ George R.R. Martin took 5 years to write A Game of Thrones
⚡J.K. Rowling took 6 years to write Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
🌬️ Margaret Mitchell took 10 years to write Gone With The Wind
💍 J.R.R. Tolkien took 16 years to write The Lord of the Rings
We’ll end with this: how long it takes to write a book is almost entirely dependent on you. If you want to finish it as soon as possible, the best thing you can do is start today! So get off the Internet, and get cracking on that manuscript.
Another way to speed up your writing time? Find a piece of writing software that lets you stay organized, leaving you free to do the important stuff: write!
FAQs
How Long Does It Take To Write a Book? Find Out Here? ›
The average time to write a book for most authors is 180 days, or 6 months, more or less. Usually, it takes authors anywhere from 4-8 months to complete a book.
How long does it take to write a book and get it published? ›Traditional publishing can take a long time, depending on the size of the specific publisher you sign with and how long their publishing process takes. On average, it takes anywhere from nine months to two years between the day you sign your contract and the day your book actually gets released.
How long does it take to write a 400 page book? ›Writing 400 pages will take about 83.3 hours for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 166.7 hours for handwriting.
How long does it take to self-publish a book? ›I'm often asked how long it takes to write and self-publish a book. As a guide, six months is a reasonable timeframe from the start of the writing process to having printed books in your hands. Or, if you want to be ambitious, you could aim for five or even four months.
How long does it take to write a 200 page book? ›How long does it take to write a 200 page book? A 200 page book is around 60,000 words, so you can expect it to be double the time as a 100 page book. Expect 4 to 8 months at your pace of 1500 words per week.
Does publishing a book cost money? ›The average cost to publish a book falls within the $200-$2500 range and includes publishing costs such as cover design, editing, formatting, and book printing. However, it's important to note that the publishing type you choose will also factor into the overall cost to publish a book.
Can I just write a book and get it published? ›Technically, yes. But you need more than just the ability to write and the money or time to do all the other stuff that comes alongside it.
How hard is it to get a book published? ›Within the book publishing industry, it is agreed that the odds of an author getting their work published stands between 1% and 2%. Despite this low number, more than 95% of manuscripts received by publishers and agents are below the level the standard required.
How long should my first book be? ›If you're writing your first novel, the general rule of thumb for novel writing is a word count in the 80,000 to 100,000 range. While anything over 40,000 words can fall into the novel category, 50,000 is considered the minimum novel length.
How much money does an author make? ›Self-published authors can earn up to 70% royalties from their books, while most traditionally published authors make 5-18% royalties which they only receive after 'earning out'. That means the books sales have “paid back” their advances and the publishers then start giving them a cut of book sales.
Should I copyright my book before publishing? ›
When writing the copyright page for our book, most of us assume that registering a book copyright is a given. The surprising news is that getting a book copyright is not required when publishing a book, as current law already protects our written work.
How much money is required to self-publish a book? ›It costs authors between $500 and $4,800 to publish a book. The cost of publishing depends on the services you require (editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing), the genre, and the word count of your manuscript.
How many pages should be in a book? ›Here are the brass tacks: Non-fiction books are best between 100 to 250 pages (20,000-60,000 words). They should rarely be more than 250 or 300 pages (of course there are always exceptions depending on your target audience) Memoirs can be longer, between 240-520 pages (60,000-130,000 words)
How many words a day did Stephen King write? ›Stephen King: 2,000 Words
In his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, King speaks on his writing speed. He would set a daily goal of about 2,000 words. This would add up to about 180,000 words in three months of writing.
1. J.K. Rowling. British author Joanne Rowling, also known as J.K. Rowling, is the richest author in the world with a net worth of $1 billion. Rowling is the author of the hit children's fantasy series "Harry Potter." The seven-volume series sold over 600 million copies and has been translated into 84 languages.
How long did it take J.K. Rowling to write the first Harry Potter? ›J.K Rowling took six years to write Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first book in the Harry Potter series. It was published on 26 June, 1997 and the bestselling fantasy novel series is marking its 20th anniversary in 2017.
Who pays for a book to be published? ›The publisher essentially buys the right to publish your book and pays you royalties from the sales. If you want to publish a book traditionally, most writers need to find an agent.
Is it expensive to copyright a book? ›...
Fees.
| Registration of a claim in an original work of authorship | |
|---|---|
| Standard Application | $65 |
| Paper Filing (Forms PA, SR, TX, VA, SE) | $125 |
A first-time author with a traditional publishing deal might expect an advance of $1,000-$10,000 and 5-18% royalties once they “earn out” their advance. Self-published authors do not receive advances, but their royalties can reach up to 70% for ebook editions.
Can you publish a book and not sell it? ›Some authors may not be totally convinced to publish their book through a traditional stream to get their work out there. You don't have to traditionally publish a book in order to sell it. Although it can be a difficult undertaking, self-publishing is possible.
Can a first time author get published? ›
Method #1: Partner with an Agent. Traditionally, budding authors that want to publish a book first need to partner with a literary agent. Once an agent is convinced of your book's quality, that person then takes it to publishers on your behalf. This is still a regular practice, especially with big publishing houses.
How can I copyright my book for free? ›If you do not want to pay the fee to register a book copyright, and do not need the legal peace of mind that comes with officially registering a copyright, then you can copyright your book for free by simply writing it yourself.
What genre of books sell the most? ›When all things are considered, the most popular book genre depends on the format and situation. The bestselling book genre is romance and the most profitable fiction book genre. Religious & inspirational books are the most popular non-fiction genre, whilst thrillers are the most popular audiobooks.
What genres are publishers looking for? ›- Research Bestselling Publishing Genres. Some self-publishers may believe it's not possible to publish a bestseller without the help of a large, traditional publishing company. ...
- Romance. ...
- Sci-fi and Fantasy. ...
- Mystery, Thriller, and Crime Novels.
Conclusion: Self-Publishing is probably the right answer (97+% of the time) Like almost all things in life, when you take out the weird fringe exceptions, it becomes pretty clear and easy to understand. 97% of authors should clearly self-publish. 1% of authors should traditionally publish.
How much does it cost to sell a book on Amazon? ›What are the fees for selling books on Amazon? Amazon's selling plans give you a choice to pay per sale (individual selling plan) or a flat monthly fee (professional selling plan). For books, the referral fee is 15% plus a $1.80 closing fee. Collectible books are a flat 15%.
How many pages is a good first book? ›Number of pages in a book for a first-time author
For a first release, 200 pages are enough. One can also look at authors like Chetan Bhagat, who continue to release books well below the 300-page mark even today.
She calls it the rule of 50: If you're 50 years old or younger, give a book about 50 pages and if it doesn't hook you, give it up,” she explains. “If you're over 50, subtract your age from 100 and give a book that many pages before deciding whether or not to give it up.”
Do authors get paid monthly? ›Authors don't get a salary, and once an author has written a book it can be traditionally published - or the author can self-publish.
Do all authors get paid? ›As with everything else in publishing, the answer is: It depends. A lot of readers have the idea that every author is wealthy, but that is far from the truth. Yes, Stephen King probably has more money than he'll ever need, but he is an outlier. The majority of authors don't even make a living wage with their books.
Do self-published authors make money? ›
Self-published authors can make between 40% – 60% royalties on a the retail price of a single book while traditionally published authors usually make between 10%-12% royalties.
What to avoid when publishing a book? ›- The Self Publishing Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Business. Bad Book Titles. Crappy Book Cover Designs. Overpricing. Lack of Real Editing. Reckless Spending. Chasing Trends. Your Description Sucks. No Proof of Concept. Bad Timing. ...
- Success in Self-Publishing.
- Failing to research the self-publishing process.
- Rushing the editing process.
- Creating your own book cover.
- Writing a lackluster blurb.
- Not establishing a brand identity.
- Less visibility: One of the biggest advantages afforded to traditional publishers is a higher author platform for their writers. ...
- Higher costs: Traditional publishing services pay for editing, design, printing, and marketing costs for print books.
Do I need a publisher for my book? If you've written a book, you can choose to self-publish or get it published by a traditional publishing house. Because you have these two options, you don't necessarily need a publisher for your book.
Is it hard to self-publish a successful book? ›It depends on your goals. Self-publishing can be a great way to get your book out into the world, but it can also require a significant investment of time and money. If you are looking to make a profit, self-publishing may not be the best option.
How do I submit my book to a publisher? ›- Prepare the manuscript. Finish the manuscript. ...
- Research agents and publishers. Check acknowledgements pages. ...
- Network within your genre.
- Create a preliminary list of publishers and agents. ...
- Create a short list.
- Send query letters.
- Submit your manuscript.
- Establish a consistent writing space. ...
- Hone in on your book idea. ...
- Outline your story. ...
- Do your research. ...
- Start writing and stick to a routine. ...
- Finish your first draft. ...
- Revise and edit. ...
- Write your second draft.
“I usually get up fairly early, I got up at 4:30 this morning, but I usually get up between 6 and 6:30. I always have a pad on my bedside, in case I want to write straight away. I also have a habit at night of leaving a sentence unfinished, so I can pick up on it the next morning.
How many hours a day do writers write? ›Erica Vetsch: The true answer is—it depends. If I'm on a deadline of some kind, I can write from 4-6 hours a day. Mostly, I write from 2-4 hours on weekday afternoons. I do lots of other writing tasks like editing, marketing, blogging, etc, but for writing on the manuscript, I average about 3 hours per weekday.
How long does it take to become a good writer? ›
It takes 3 years of professional experience to become a writer. That is the time it takes to learn specific writer skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 6 to 8 years years to become a writer.
What is the most sold writing of all time? ›- #1 – Don Quixote (500 million copies sold) ...
- #2 – A Tale of Two Cities (200 million copies sold) ...
- #3 – The Lord of the Rings (150 million copies sold) ...
- #4 – The Little Prince (142 million copies sold) ...
- #5 – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (107 million copies sold)
1. J.K. Rowling. British author J.K. Rowling is best known for the Harry Potter series — the series has sold more than 500 million copies, cementing Rowling's place in the billionaires club.
Who is the only author to become a billionaire? ›According to Forbes, Rowling has grossed over $1 billion (£627 million) for her novels and from related earnings. Comments below may relate to previous holders of this record.
How many publishers rejected her manuscript? ›Her manuscript was rejected by 12 different publishing houses before she finally found a publisher. But even with the incredibly successful "Harry Potter" franchise under her belt, one of Rowling's newer manuscripts was also recently denied.
How many times was Harry Potter rejected? ›It's so hard to imagine that one of the most popular books ever written was rejected 12 times!
What time does J.K. Rowling wake up? ›The Harry Potter author didn't get to where she is today by waking up at 4am and mastering morning routines, sh did it by putting in the work and showing up every day to write. The wonderful thing about writing is that there is always a blank page waiting.
What are the odds of writing a book and getting it published? ›Within the book publishing industry, it is agreed that the odds of an author getting their work published stands between 1% and 2%. Despite this low number, more than 95% of manuscripts received by publishers and agents are below the level the standard required.
How hard is it to write a book and get it published? ›It is quite difficult to become a published author.
While it is easy to write, it isn't so easy to become a published author. According to editors and publishers, the odds of being published are only about 1 to 2% as they only accept one or two manuscripts for every hundred they receive.
On 11 January 2007 the author stepped out of Edinburgh's Balmoral hotel having completed the last novel in the Harry Potter series — the culmination of 17 years of writing. But that wasn't all J.K. Rowling wrote while she was there…
How long did it take JK Rowling to get published? ›
So in essence, it took her seven years from first getting the idea to getting the book publishing, and that was with an agent. So it's wise to remember that publishing isn't always a quick and speedy process.
How much will my first book make? ›How much can authors expect to earn from their books? A first-time author with a traditional publishing deal might expect an advance of $1,000-$10,000 and 5-18% royalties once they “earn out” their advance. Self-published authors do not receive advances, but their royalties can reach up to 70% for ebook editions.
Should I copyright my book before sending it to a publisher? ›When writing the copyright page for our book, most of us assume that registering a book copyright is a given. The surprising news is that getting a book copyright is not required when publishing a book, as current law already protects our written work.
How much do publishers pay new authors? ›They also vary across publishers (if you're on the traditional route) as well as stores (if you're self-publishing to them directly). Generally, the standard royalty rates for authors is under 10% for traditional publishing and up to 70% with self-publishing.
How do first-time authors get published? ›Traditionally, budding authors that want to publish a book first need to partner with a literary agent. Once an agent is convinced of your book's quality, that person then takes it to publishers on your behalf. This is still a regular practice, especially with big publishing houses.
What do publishers look for in a book? ›Publishers want authors who use words well, who understand such basics as spelling, punctuation and grammar, and whose prose is easy to read. Publishers want authors who will be able to write additional publishable books or stories or features for them.
How many times was Harry Potter rejected by publishers? ›The novel was rejected by 12 different publishing houses before Bloomsbury accepted it. It goes on: "A copy was submitted to Bloomsbury Publishing and was a significant step in convincing them to offer J.K. Rowling her first contract."
How do you become a famous author? ›- Write every single day. This may sound obvious, but it doesn't make it any less essential. ...
- Join a writers' group. ...
- Find a mentor. ...
- Read constantly. ...
- Build an online presence.
The story was rejected by major publishing houses in the U.K. Rowling's agent, Christopher Little, previously told Huff Post “Various reasons were given including the story being too long, the fact that a story set in a children's boarding school might feel too 'exclusive' to many readers, etc.”
When did J.K. Rowling get rejected by publishers? ›J.K Rowling's Harry Potter synopsis was rejected in 1995 when it was send for the first time to a publisher.