How Many Pages Is a Novel?
January 5, 2026
How Long Should a Chapter Be?
January 7, 2026How Many Pages Is a Novel?
January 5, 2026How Long Should a Chapter Be?
January 7, 2026
How Long Does It Take to Write a Book?
If you have ever wondered how long it takes to write a book, you are not alone. Many beginners think that it takes years, but the fact is, it depends on your goals, writing habits and type of book that you are writing. On average, most first time writers take anywhere from 3 months to 1 year to write a book. Some take 30-60 days, while others take several years to finish. The important thing isn’t how fast you are, but how consistent you are. If you write a little each day, you will be able to write a whole book in less time than you believe, even as a beginner.
The time taken to complete also depends a lot on the type of book you are writing, like a short non-fiction book can take a few weeks, whereas a full-length novel can take several months or more.
While planning to write a book, many people wonder how many pages they should write as well. To know that in detail, see in our article, How Many Pages Is a Novel?
What does it mean by that?
Writing a book isn’t all about typing words. It includes,
- Planning your idea
- Writing the first draft
- Editing and improving
- Finalising the manuscript
Each of these stages takes time and skipping any one of these stages typically results in a weaker book. For beginners, the part of the writing process is most often the longest process. That’s because you are learning a little as you go. Think of it this way, writing a book is like building a house. You don’t just start piling up bricks at random, you plan first and then build, likewise, writing a book is the same, you plan, write, fix and refine.
For most beginners, drafting takes the most time and planning and editing usually takes a few weeks each depending on your pace. So when writers ask how long it takes to write a book, what they are really asking is the complete process of writers a book, not just the writing part.
How to write a book (Beginner Friendly Timeline)
If you are wondering how to write a book, here is a simple timeline you can follow, i.e. a step by step guide,
Step 1: Choose Your Idea (1-7 days)
Pick a topic you love and ask yourself,
- Who is this book for?
- What problem does it solve?
Start with a small idea and if you have a clear concept, this will save time in the future.
Step 2: Develop a Simple Outline (1-3 days)
Divide your book into chapters or parts, such as beginning, middle and end or simple chapters for non-fictions. This helps you to avoid getting stuck in the middle of your journey. Outlining your book will save a lot of time later. To understand how, take a look at our guide, How to Outline a Novel Step-by-Step.
Step 3: Write a First Draft (1-6 months)
This is the longest step in your writing journey. Set a daily word goal,
500 words/day - ~2-4 months
1000 words/day - ~1-2 months
For reference, most beginning books are between 40,000 - 70,000 words, which is why your daily word count is so important. Until you finish your first draft, don’t aim to make your writing perfect, just aim to write your story. Keep writing, do not worry about grammar and even writing the way you speak is totally okay.
Step 4: Edit and Improve (2-8 weeks)
Now focus on fixing everything (your grammar, clarity, flow). Editing is a time consuming process but this is where your story really starts taking shape and becomes readable.
Step 5: Final Touches (1-2 weeks)
This is the final step in your journey where you proofread your story, format your book and prepare for the publishing stage. Here is a rough time estimate based on your daily writing habits,
- Fast track: 1-3 months
- Average beginner: 3-9 months
- Slow pace: 6-12+ months
Your timeline can differ depending on factors such as how much time you spend writing each day, how much experience you have, how much research you need to do and how clear your outline is. The best way to write a book is step by step, don’t rush, just stick to it.
Examples/Mini Tips
Example 1: The Daily Writer
Ravi writes 500 words every day after work. His book comes around 50,000 words which he finishes in roughly 100 days (3-4 months).
Even a little progress each day adds up quickly.
Example 2: The Weekend Writer
Anita only writes on the weekends producing about 2,000 words per week. For a 50,000-word book it takes her approximately 6 months to complete.
It’s OK to go slower, just don’t stop.
Example 3: The Sprint Writer
Arjun allocate the time of focusing and writes 2,000-3,000 words per day. He manages to create a 50,000 word draft in about 3-4 weeks. This approach is best if you are able to be consistent and not get burned out.
Quick Mini Tips
Write at the same time everyday, whatever time works best for you
Don’t edit when writing, editing is a different process
Use simple language to get to your first draft completion
Keep track of how many words you are writing everyday, something like 500 words is a good goal for a day.
Simple tools such as a notebook, Google Docs or writing apps to make sure you are consistent
If you are starting out your first book, you may also find these useful, How to get a book idea that excites you and How to Begin Writing a Book for Beginners.
Common Mistakes Made By Beginners
- Waiting for “perfect ideas”, you don’t need perfect one, just good enough to start
- Editing while you write slows you down— write first, edit later
- Writing without an outline, you will likely get stuck halfway
- Setting unrealistic goals, such as writing 5,000 words a day, can result in fast burnout
- Comparing yourself with others, all writers go at their own pace.
- Over thinking each sentence rather than finishing the draft, done is better than perfect
- Many writers take longer than expected not because they don’t know how to do it, but because of inconsistency or because they are trying to get it right 100% too soon
Focus on your own progress.
FAQ
Final Thoughts
How Long Does It Take to Write a Book? There’s no hard and fast answer, but on average, most beginners do their first draft in about 3 to 9 months with consistency. The good news is you don’t have to be fast, you just need to be committed to the process.
Start small. Write daily. Stay patient.
Your book will not be written overnight, but it will get written if you do not give up. The only way to get to the end of a book is to keep going, one page at a time.
