How Long Does It Take to Write a Book?

Quick Answer

Writing a book takes 6–12 months for most authors working consistently. This includes drafting, revising, and editing. Experienced authors with a clear outline can finish faster; debut authors often take longer.

Timeline by Book Type

• Novel (fiction, 70k–90k words): 6–12 months
• Non-fiction (50k–70k words): 9–18 months (research adds time)
• Memoir: 12–24 months
• Self-help / business book (40k–60k words): 6–12 months
• Children’s picture book (500–1,000 words): 1–6 months to write, but revision and illustration add much more

The Writing Phase Breakdown

• Planning and outlining: 2–4 weeks
• First draft: 3–6 months (writing 500–1,000 words per day)
• Revision (second and third drafts): 2–4 months
• Beta readers and feedback: 1–2 months
• Final editing and polish: 1–2 months

Daily Word Count Benchmarks

The speed of your first draft depends on daily output:

• 250 words/day (1 page) → 80,000-word novel in ~10.5 months
• 500 words/day → ~5.5 months
• 1,000 words/day → ~2.5 months
• 2,000 words/day (full-time pace) → ~1.5 months

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenges writers to produce 50,000 words in 30 days — about 1,667 words per day.

Factors That Affect Writing Time

Writing experience — first books take longer because you’re learning the craft simultaneously. Subsequent books are often faster.

Research required — historical fiction and non-fiction books need extensive research that can double the timeline.

Available time — full-time writers can draft in 2–3 months. Writers with day jobs, writing evenings and weekends, take 6–12+ months.

Outline vs. discovery writing — plotters who outline extensively tend to write faster first drafts with less revision. “Pantsers” (discovery writers) may write faster initially but spend more time revising.

Perfectionism — editing as you go significantly slows the drafting phase. Most writing advice says: get the draft done first, edit later.

Famous Timelines

• Stephen King: typically writes a first draft in 3 months
• J.K. Rowling: took 6 years for the first Harry Potter book
• George R.R. Martin: 5–6 years per book in later volumes

Tips to Finish Your Book

• Set a daily word count goal and stick to it
• Write at the same time every day to build a habit
• Don’t edit while drafting — finish the first draft before revising
• Use an outline to avoid getting stuck mid-story
• Find accountability — writing groups, deadlines, or a writing partner