How Long Does It Take You To Write a Book?

When readers ask me this question, I hear two queries behind it -- How long does it take YOU (meaning me, the author) to write a book?  AND How long might it take ME (the reader asking, a prospective writer) to write a book?  Or put another way, if I decided to write a book, what kind of time am I looking at?

Short answer in any scenario...A Lot.

To answer for myself, I have to factor in:

• I do not (yet!) write full-time; I have a full-time day job;
• I try to balance time between producing new fiction, keeping in touch with my readers, and doing technical tasks needed as an semi-Independent, publishing author;
• I like the occasional vacation; and
• Life happens.

If I work steadily, two hours daily, and keep my focus on a project, the process takes about 6-8 months. Here's how this works. Let us assume that I already have the idea. Explore this blog a little, and you'll be able to see where the ideas come from. And you must know that I am a Plotter, not a Pantser. Many writers are able to begin with a minimum of plot, but I need a firm outline in place. Finally, my favorite book length is from 50,000 - 70,000 words (200-280 pages). Here's what I do, in roughly this order.

• Create Character Sketches (gotta know the people!)
• 1st Level Research (figure out setting, history, jobs, whatever I don't know)
• Plot/Outline (How I love a good story!)
• Write 1st draft [1 month] * (straight through, no editing, no backtracking, words on the page)
• 2nd Level Research
• Add Research and Expand to 2nd Draft * (now I'm creating/editing/proofing)
• Research/Replot/Fix what's not working
• Take a break (need time away from the story to let the subconscious take over)
• Rewrite/Reread Beginning-to-End/Make Notes *
• Take a break
• Read through/Integrate with notes *
• Critique Reading/Contests (First Readers chime in)
• Rewrite from Critque Feedback *
• Read Through and Finish *

Every time you see an asterisk, that's writing/editing time. The rest is research, plotting, gluing the story together. Now the book is ready for pitching to an agent or publisher or for Indie publishing. And that, Dear Reader, is how long it takes...for me.

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