Writing a book is one of the most creative forms of self-expression. It's also one of the best ways to tell a story and provides an experience that visual media simply can't replicate.
It’s probably one of those things that we all want to do at some point but rarely get to. Also, for better or worse, many people are spending time at home due to the pandemic and self-publishing has seen an increase in interest.
So, how long does it take to write a book? Here’s what you should keep in mind and hopefully motivate you to start writing, or keep working on your book.
How long does it take to write a book from start to finish?
The amount of time it takes to write a book could range anywhere from 2-3 months to over a year! But the real answer really is that it depends.
Since there are so many factors at play, it’s hard to give a definitive answer to this question.
The book-writing timeline is often dictated by:
- How much time you can set aside for writing.
- How many words you’re actually able to write during each session.
- How much research is required for your story.
- How many edits and revisions your draft needs at the end.
Also, here's another useful guide if you're wondering how many chapters your book should be.
What’s the average book length?
The average length of a book is 400 pages. That’s around 100,000 words. This is according to a study which looked at 2,500 books in the New York Times bestseller list.
Most novels have between 70,000 and 110,000 words. A single novel can be longer, but once the length is above110,000 words, publishers may look at cutting it back.
That’s unless it is a particular kind of book genre, such as fantasy, historical or sci-fi which tend to be longer as a lot of world-building is involved. Such books are usually considered 'epics'.
How much can you write per day?
It’s makes sense to have some idea of how much you can expect to write every day so you can plan around your other commitments.
Stephen King has claimed to write 2000 words a day but most new writers end up writing around the 500 – 1000 words a day mark.
Here’s how long it will take you to write a book if you aimed to write 500 words a day:
- 40,000 – 60,000 words: 500 words/day = 80 to 120 days
- 60,000 – 100,000 words: 500 words/day = 120 to 200 days
- 100,000 – 120,000 words: 500 words/day = 200 to 240 days
This means if you are really committed, you can write your ‘epic’ novel in under a year!
Writing aside, nuances associated with finishing touches(working with a publisher, designing the cover, figuring out the cost of self-publishing, etc.)will also take some time. But if you’ve reached that stage, you’ll be on the final stretch to self-publishing!
So, someone who is able to write fairly quickly on a topic they already fully understand could finish the project with relative ease. This is especially true if they edit and polish each chapter as they go.
An author who is attempting to build a fantasy world and write an expansive story in it will likely need to spend far more time.
How to be more efficient and speed up your writing
If you’re looking for ways to optimise your writing so you can get more done in the least amount of time possible, follow those tips:
- Work somewhere comfortable and eliminate distractions.
- Use distraction free book-writing apps (or at least close every app but Word).
- Work from an outline so you know exactly what you’re going to be writing about.
- Be strict with recording your progress and tracking your time.
- Be ready and become comfortable with staying ‘no’ to other activities.
- Organise your research and notes with a system that works for you.
- Don’t take too many days off writing between sessions.
It really boils down to consistency and staying focused. If you can fit in a writing session every day with the odd day off, then you’ll be on your way to success.
How long did famous authors take to write their books?
It’s not uncommon for professional authors to spend a large amount of time on a single book.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald took nearly 3 years to write The Great Gatsby.
- J.K. Rowling also famously took nearly 6 years to finish Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
- J.R.R Tolkien took 16 years the finish the epic Lord Of The Rings.
- Ray Bradbury took 2.5 weeks to write Fahrenheit 451.
- Stephenie Meyer took 3 months to write Twilight.
- George R.R. Martin took 5 years to write A Game of Thrones (we’re still waiting for Winds of Winter).
If you need a bit of a motivation, Stephen King claims that you should spend no more than three months on the initial draft of your book.
The key takeaway here is that the sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll hold your book in your hands. So, get started today and get in touch with us when it comes to the design of your book cover!
