Timeframe forCompleting a Novel's Draft
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Thinkin' 'bout writin' a book but wonderin' how long it takes? Well, here's the lowdown on what actually matters when it boils down to writin' your novel and makin' that time count.
Check this out: 5 Quick Tips for Efficient Writing
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So, Why the Heck Does Time Matter?
Before we dive in, lemme ask - what's the real deal with the time it takes to write a book? Is it 'cause you wanna rush through it and snag a quick win, or are you curious about the average time frame to get a general idea?
We all got different lives and priorities, so somebody else's timeline ain't necessarily your own. You might have more time in a day than 'em, or less. You might need more assistance or take longer to tweak your story. But the real deal is finishin' a book you can be proud of.
What, Exactly, Counts as Writing a Book?
I'm a bit sceptical about those "here's how long it took to write these famous books!" lists when they don't clear up what they mean by "writing a book."
You can smash out a first draft in a few weeks, but to say you wrote a book in that time feels a tad misleadin'. What about outlinin'? And how long did the editin' post-draft take? I doubt that A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess became a done deal in just three weeks, right? His editor or publisher must've had some adjustments to make in the manuscript.
Give this a read to learn how long it took to write some renowned books, but bear in mind thatited's best taken with a pinch of salt.
Usually, you should set aside lots more time for editiin' and polishin' your novel than for writin' the first draft. Gettin' the words on the page can be a breeze compared to makin' sure they're just right and that the whole story works. That ain't even includin' the part of the process that happens in your noggin' (where all the story ideas percolate) and any research you might need to do.
Guess What, Time Flies Anyway
Suppose it took ya ten years to craft a masterpiece. Would you still do it, or would you just toss in the towel 'cause ya wanted faster results?
The fact is, time's gonna roll on by whether ya like it or not. There are plenty of great novels that took about five years to write, and if that sounds like a long stretch to ya, let me ask: Five years from now, wouldn't you rather have a finished novel in your hands than none at all? Ever pondered how long it takes to finish a book you never even started writing?
Quality Bowls Over Speed
Seasoned authors like Stephen King who work with pros can still crank out decent books every year, but that might not be your jam. I mean, it probably ain't, since you're here.
What ya should focus on is craftin' a fantastic story and then makin' sure ya write it exactly as intended. Ya think your readers are gonna be all like "wow, this book was written so fast, can't get enough!" if ya rush through the process? Or will they simply toss aside your book, unfinished, 'cause it wasn't up to snuff and the storyline fell flat?
Writin' a novel is gonna take as long as it needs to take. That's just life, my friend. Do right by your story, don't rush it.
Each Step of the Writing Process is Crucial
If ya ain't yet sure what all goes into writin' a novel from gorram start to finish, ya might not be aware of where all that time goes.
Writin' a book is more than just writin'. To find out what else it can be, check this post out about the stages of the writin' process. My personal process might not be ya exact cup of tea, but it's a good starting point and definitely sheds light on how ya spend all that time.
Write Efficiently, Not Fast
That said, there's still no need to procrastinate. Most debut authors don't have the luxury of dedicatin' all their time to writin' their novel, and then with lucrative publishin' deals come tight deadlines, which is where writin' efficiently comes in handy.
If ya wanna kill procrastination and just get to it, snag my Simple Writing Tasks list:
Strapped for time, huh?
Got responsibilities and mouths to feed? It's tough to carve out time for your writing dreams. But fear not! Grab a task from the Simple Writing Tasks list, and watch your book writin' progress :
You can unsubscribe anytime. For more deets, have a gander at our Privacy Policy.
Thanks a ton!
Your Simple Writing Tasks should be in your inbox shortly (my raven probably delivered 'em already). Don't keep your readers waitin'!
Another tip that'll save ya tons of time is exactly knowin' where ya stand. Don't just have a kick-ass outline that keeps ya on track, but also have a plan for each writin' session. That don't need to be a written plan, ya can just decide ahead of time what ya want to focus on and what ya aim to achieve in the time ya got. Knowin' what ya want to concentrate on for each round of edits helps, too.
Got ADHD? Check out my writin' tips for folks with attention deficit.
How Long Does it Take to Write a Blockbuster Novel?
Writing a Breakout Novel by Donald Maass was the first craft book I ever read. Essentially, a "breakout" novel is a novel that skyrockets its author to fame and recognition, whether it's their first or fourteenth published work. The book talks about what these kindsa novels have in common and how ya can achieve the same.
Maass, an experienced literary agent, says it takes 2 to 3 years to write a breakout novel. Sure, ya can write any novel faster, but if ya ain't happy settlin' for mediocre results and small success, ya might wanna put in the effort and really work on craftin' an unforgettable novel. I mean, why else be botherin'?
The Real Truth About "How Long Does it Take to Write a Book?"
Sorry, but I can't give ya a solid answer. It's gonna take as long as it's gonna take.
If ya ain't workin' with a pro editor, it's safe to say it's gonna take at least two years if ya start from scratch. It could take ya even longer than that, and that's totally normal and okay. Expect to spend weeks or months writin' the first draft and then spend several months editin' that manuscript, preferably more.
Takin' the time to create a thorough outline usually shortens the time it takes to write the first draft and often helps ya avoid some of the biggest issues that lengthen the editin' process. You gotta spend time to save time.
How Long Does it Take to PUBLISH a Novel?
Once ya finish writein' a novel - how long will it take to publish it? First off, nobody's guaranteed a publisher, so be prepared for a lotta work to land that big yes. It's likely ya'll have to keep tweakin' your manuscript between rejections.
Even if ya land a publishin' deal, don't expect to be on the shelves next month. Yan'll likely be spendin' time workin' with an editor to make even more changes to your novel, and of course, there's the whole proofreadin' process, too. Ya'll be poke at ya unfinished novel plenty of times before it's ready to publish. If ya expect that whole thing to take at least a year, ya'll at least be pleasantly surprised if it takes less.
Maybe self-publishin' is the right route for ya, but it don't mean ya can rush through the process. I mean, ya CAN, but don't expect great results from that approach. I've seen folks do that, and they're still complainin' about their 1-star results five years later.
Self-publishin' ain't the "easy way" to get published. Ya got responsibilities not just for writin' your book, but also for hiren' an editor, formatin' the book, designin' a pro-lookin' cover, uploadin' your book to the right platforms, and marketin' it... Ya'll be wearin' about a dozen hats without gettin' any of the prestige that traditionally published authors often get. Ya gotta know what ya're gettin' into if ya wanna self-publish, and the process ain't necessarily gonna be any quicker.
Plan Your Story on the Fast Track
I already told ya that writein' ain't a race, but I understand ya want to reach the finish line with fantastic results in the shortest timeframe possible.
Ya know what's slowin' writers down the most? Not knowin' what to write or where their story is goin'. Ya might think ya need more time, but what ya probably need is knowin' exactly how to use that time. Ya need an outline and an easy way to fill that outline with important plot events.
It used to take me ages to write my first drafts, and they still ended up way too short and required a heck of a lotta tweakin'. Then I learned how to outline a novel and got schooled on story structure and the kinds of problems ya should give ya main characters.
If ya're like me and ya don't have eight hours each day to dedicate to your writing, ya might just need my Genius Plotting System.
Ya'll get my fool-proof method for creatin' plot events for ya story AND my best outlinin' tools. Cause what's the point of havin' a great story idea if ya never finish writin' ya novel?
our website is a blog about tearin' up the pages in fiction, penned by a published author and creative writein' teacher. Ya can find more writein' tips and inspiration in the blog and ya can cop the best author tools at Writer Lifestyle on Etsy.
- The writing process is not a race, but knowing exactly how to use your time effectively can help you finish a book you can be proud of.
- Before diving into writing your novel, it's essential to understand what counts as writing a book, as this includes outlining, editing, and polishing your work.
- Efficient writing involves setting aside lots more time for editing and polishing your novel than for writing the first draft. Every step of the writing process, from crafting story ideas to research, is crucial to creating a high-quality novel.
- If you're strapped for time, small, manageable writing tasks can help you make progress on your book. The goal is not to write quickly but to write efficiently, with a clear plan and purpose for each writing session.
