How Long Does It Take To Write a Book? Key Aspects of Writing a Book

Flynn Hannan
Writers Republic
Published in
4 min readAug 2, 2022
how-long-does-it-take-to-write-a-book

As a writer one of your main goals is to write your own book. This is a breakthrough for many writers. One of the main queries most writers ask before writing a book is, how long does it take to write a book?

How long does it really take to write a book?

When it comes to writing a book, the timeline usually depends on the writer. There is no set time on how long it takes to write a book. The average time it takes to write a book is around a few months to a year. However, there have been some writers who have taken years to write a single book.

When it comes to writing a book for the very first time, it is important that you have a set strategy. Remember that writing a book is a very time consuming process, and while there is no set time limit, you should not waste time.

The sooner you finish your book, the sooner you will be able to publish your book. If you want to publish a book effectively, you will need a set strategy.

Here are some essential tips for writing a book for the very first time.

1. Have a set writing schedule

How many hours does it take to write a book? This all depends on you. Before you start writing your book, you should make sure that you set a schedule for writing sessions. Remember that it takes months or years in order to write a book. If you are just going to start the writing process without a set schedule for your sessions, you will most likely waste time in the long run.

Your writing schedule could be set in the morning, afternoon or in the evening. What’s important is that you could follow the schedule as faithfully as possible. You should also make sure that your writing sessions are not too long, or too short. If they are too long, you are more likely to get tired of the sessions. If they are too short, you may not get any work done. You should find a balance for your writing sessions.

2. Write down all the key details of your book

Aside from setting a set schedule for yourself, it is important that you write down all the details of your book. When you start writing your book, you will be fully occupied with the work. Take the time to do all the research you need to do. Make sure you list down all the sources that you will cite throughout your book. This will help you save time as you write your book.

3. Give yourself a set deadline

While you should not rush yourself to create a book, you should not waste time as well. Writing a book is very multi-faceted and time-consuming work, so you should be as efficient with your time as possible. A great way to do so, is to give yourself a deadline. For example, your deadline is five months from now. While you should not pressure yourself to finish your book within that time period, having a deadline will at least compel you to work harder, and avoid procrastination.

4. Choose a publishing option

Even though you have yet to finish writing your book, it is still important that you choose a publishing option beforehand. This will ensure that once you do finish the manuscript of your book, you will be able to have it published as soon as possible. The two best options are traditional publishing and self-publishing. If you choose traditional publishing, you will be able to work with established publishing houses. The only setback is that you will need to give up a percentage of your book’s royalties and rights. They are also notoriously difficult to get a deal with.

Should you choose to take the self-publishing route, you will be able to publish your work right away. Be reminded though that you will have to do a majority of the work, and pay for the publishing. Both options have their merits and setbacks. It is up to you to decide which route to take.

5. Editing is key

Once you finish the manuscript for your book, it is important that you have it edited multiple times. Remember that readers will always scrutinize every book that they read. You should make sure that every aspect of your book is perfect, and could not be scrutinized.

As soon as you finish your manuscript, you should take the time to double check every bit of your work. This includes the grammar, spelling, and the formatting. You should also have a professional editor look through your manuscript before you send it in for publishing.

Conclusion

If you are going to write a book for the very first time, you will need to be as prepared as possible. Remember that writing a book is a full-time commitment, and if you want to truly finish a book, you will need a set strategy. With these tips, you’ll be able to write your very first book in the most effective way possible.

Is Writers Republic a good self-publishing choice? These Writers Republic reviews will help you decide!

--

--

Flynn Hannan
Writers Republic

Bibliophile , Senior Indie Editor at Writers Republic