How Long Does it Take to Write a Book?
One of the most asked questions from readers and writers alike is “How long does it take to write one of them there romance novels you continually publish?”
Okay, maybe not quite like that, but the general “how long does it take” question is a common one! My answer used to be: About 4-5 weeks to write a first draft. That was the standard for about ten years. (I drafted at least one of my Harlequin novels in 3 weeks.) Until the most recent draft I completed, which took me 3-4 months. Months!
When I say I was frustrated, that is an understatement.
In this blog, I’m going to cover the benefits of writing quickly as well as the upside of taking your time. I’m also going to explain why writing fast is important, and also why it doesn’t matter. We’re going to chat a bit about creating your own writing schedule and time commitment. I’m even going to show you how to fit writing into your schedule no matter what you have going on in your busy life.
Ready? Let’s get into it!
Make it stand out
“Whether you write fast or slow, you’re writing. And writing anything at any pace is better than writing nothing at all.” ~Jessica Lemmon
The Benefits of Writing Quickly 🐇
Writing quickly has a lot of benefits, especially if you’re a romance novelist. Romance readers are known for their voracious reading tendencies, burning through a book in a day or two and asking us harried authors, “When’s the next one out?” As an author, the demand for what you write is out there.
Here are few more reasons to type faster:
You can write for the trashcan. This method is sloppy, but effective. In her book Bird by Bird (affiliate link), Anne Lamott encourages writers to pen what she refers to as “the shitty first draft”. I have long been a fan of this method. Dumping your ideas from head to keyboard keeps your inner editor quiet and allows you to enjoy the process of creating without overthinking.
You remember what you wrote. Writing daily (daily refers to your set writing days each week) helps keep your characters top of mind. You remember details like what color their eyes are, and what they wore in the last scene. You understand them and their motivation with them because you check in with them often. My favored schedule is to open my manuscript the next morning and read what I wrote the day before. This gives me a chance to (lightly) edit what I wrote, and it’s a great warmup for writing fresh words.
It’s DONE. In about 4-6 weeks, you can stop waking up in the morning wondering what to write that day, or fretting over the writing you haven’t gotten around to. It’s also fun to answer “I just finished a book!” when friends and family ask how your novel is coming along.
Fast becomes the standard. Once you are used to writing quickly, it can become your new normal. For example, I know I can type about 1,500-2,000 words an hour when I know what the scene is about. That’s huge, because it means that I can be done with my work for the day in about 2 hours time. A good standard goal to aim for is 1,000 words an hour. Some days I’m much slower than this, and others faster. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t hit your target word count. Just set a timer and go for it!
The Benefits of Writing Slowly 🐢
Slowing down hasn’t been in my vocabulary until a recent bout of burnout nearly made me question my beloved writing career. I knew I would always write, but I had no love left for my craft. Tragic.
Which brings me to my first reason why slowing down is good:
Avoid burnout. Writing fast can be stressful, especially when given deadlines that are demanding (I’ve seen my fair share of 48 hour deadlines to edit a book—eek!) That said, you usually have more control with your first draft if you’re traditionally published. Taking your time writing allows you to enjoy other exotic parts of your life. (You know, like showering and eating three meals a day…)
A cleaner first draft. On the flip side of the shitty first draft, and while your manuscript may still need some overhauling, you likely have created a draft that is a little less shitty. Allowing time to write your manuscript also allows beautiful moments from your life to leak onto your pages. If you paused to go to the pool in the middle of the day with your kiddos, you might have a moment of inspiration for your characters relating to what you’re experiencing. Life gives you rich, abundant details when you’re living it.
Polish your prose, deepen your characters. As a new writer, you may find that slowing down helps you to choose the words you want to use rather than lean on “crutch” words (words authors lean on and repeat out of habit), as well as deepen your character’s motivation. As a seasoned writer, I do a lot of this in preparation for writing. I have a process where I fill out character descriptions as well as motivation worksheets. (Let me know if you’d like to see this exact process!) So really, this can be done either writing fast or slow, depending on your method.
Your Writing Schedule 🗓️
Writers write. As a new writer, you are building a habit. As a seasoned writer, your goal is not to break a good habit. Some of these suggestions will take trial and error—you have to learn what works best for you.
Are you an early bird or a night owl? Depending on your life, you have factors to contend with. Do you have a #dayjob? Are you caring for young children or elderly parents? You may have a chunk of time during your days off work, or while the kids are at school. If you’re freshest in the morning, get up a little earlier. If you’re an evening person, swap out an hour of mindless television for precious writing time.
Using either a wall calendar, your planner, or the monthly view on a digital calendar, map out your writing schedule. Mark out any days off first (birthdays, holidays, or Sundays). Next, mark out any day job or personal obligations (i.e., 8-5 Monday through Friday). Last, look at the gaps in your calendar and schedule in your writing hours in between.
Count those writing sessions. How many did you plan on? If you have 20 sessions during the month, and you plan on writing 2,000 words each session, you will have 40,000 words at the end of the month. Want to double it? Double your writing sessions for an 80,000-word manuscript.
It’s simple math. Figure out how many words you write in an hour (use a timer to help you), and then the number of days/hours you can dedicate. Allow flex time for brainstorming or staring off into space (it happens!).
Being Busy: How to Find the Time ⏰
Whether you write fast or slow, you’re writing. Writing anything at any pace is better than writing nothing at all. So, how do you open up your busy schedule to allow the time to write? Here are a few suggestions:
Prioritize your writing. We make time for what matters. Successful writers prioritize writing.
I mentioned earlier to grab an hour at the beginning or end of your day that you normally dedicate to doing something else. Get up an hour earlier, or give up an hour of television to steal away and write.
Hire a sitter for the kids (or the dogs). Who can help watch your little ones for an hour or two a few times a week? If this is an impossibility, talk to your other friends who are parents. How do they find an hour of alone time to go to the gym or out to dinner with a friend? Do they hide in the pantry at nap time for some privacy? You can also take a bath, lock the door, and type away in there.
Write in the car. Let’s say you’re out running errands. Extend those errands a bit by treating yourself to a coffee or a taco and setting up your automobile office. If you have dictation software, you can even write while driving or commuting.
Keep a notebook handy. Jot down scene ideas or lines that come to you throughout the day. No notebook? Record a voice memo or send yourself an email.
Write in 5-10 minute installments. Stealing a few minutes here and there throughout your day adds up. I scribbled a lot of Hard to Handle scenes on scrap sheets of paper at the day job I had at the time. When I came home from work I typed them into my manuscript.
Ask: How can I find the time? So many of us say we’re busy without actually looking for available space in our lives that is already there. Asking “how can I find the time?” Or “how can I make time?” will allow your brilliant brain to look for solutions instead of listing the reasons you can’t.
Support. A lot of us feel unsupported, but have you asked for support? If you have a significant other, a relative, or a friend, try simply reaching out. Be excited about your project and express that! “I am so excited to write my book. Would you mind stopping by to watch the baby for an hour while I write? I will feed you dinner in exchange!” Sometimes we assume we’re a burden on others when they would be happy to offer help. Always ask. You, and your dreams, are worthy of support.
Remember that not all of these ideas will work for you. The idea is to implement what does work for you. As you continue your writing practice, healthy habits will stick like glue and become routine.
Do you have any specific questions for me? I love to hear from writers, especially if you’re struggling with a particular conundrum. Let me know by sending me an email, and maybe I’ll write a blog about it!
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