How Fast Should You Write Your Book? From Speed Demons to Marathon Writers
2.5 days or 17 years – how long should it really take to write a book? The answer might surprise you.
In this article:
- The Speed Demons (Under 1 Month)
- The Quick But Thoughtful Approach (1-6 Months)
- The Marathon Writers (10+ Years)
- A Modern Author’s Perspective
- What This Means for You
“There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.” – Ernest Hemingway
The question of writing speed often haunts both new and experienced authors. While some writers pride themselves on rapid drafting, others take a more methodical approach. The truth is, there’s no “right” speed – and the history of literature proves this perfectly.
The Speed Demons ⚡️
“Write drunk, edit sober.” – Peter De Vries
Some authors have produced lasting masterpieces in shockingly short timeframes:
- “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne – 2.5 DAYS This heartbreaking Holocaust novel was written in one burst of creative inspiration, proving that sometimes the most powerful stories come quickly.
- “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson – 3 DAYS Fun fact: Stevenson wrote the entire first draft in just three days, though he later rewrote it when his wife criticized the first version.
- “The Gambler” by Dostoevsky – 26 DAYS Written under the pressure of gambling debts, this novel ironically became a classic study of addiction.
- “The Martian” by Andy Weir – A FEW MONTHS Initially self-published online, this contemporary science fiction novel demonstrates how modern authors can also produce compelling work quickly, ultimately becoming a bestseller and Hollywood film.
The Quick But Thoughtful Approach 🔥
“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” – Jack London
- “A Christmas Carol” by Dickens – 6 WEEKS Written to pay bills, this quick project ended up revolutionizing how we celebrate Christmas.
- “I, Robot” by Asimov – 2 MONTHS This collection of interconnected stories laid the groundwork for how we think about artificial intelligence.
- “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen – 10 MONTHS Austen’s careful crafting of this first draft (originally titled “First Impressions”) created one of literature’s most beloved romantic comedies.
The Marathon Writers 🐢
“The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.” – Mary Heaton Vorse
- “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger – 10 YEARS Salinger carried his manuscript through World War II, from Paris to Nazi concentration camps. Originally written as short stories, the war and his unfamiliarity with novel-writing shaped its lengthy creation.
- “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell – 10 YEARS Mitchell went through nine drafts of a thousand pages each – and originally had no intention of publishing! She started writing while recovering from an ankle injury, proving inspiration can strike at any time.
- “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo – 12 YEARS Hugo began planning in the 1830s but didn’t start writing until 1845. The result? A masterpiece of 1,900 pages in French that changed literature forever.
- “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien – 17 YEARS As a full-time academic, Tolkien wrote in his spare time, taking breaks that added up to about five years. He restarted in 1944, sending chapters to his son Christopher during his Royal Air Force service.
- “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt – 10 YEARS Part of Tartt’s distinctive writing approach, this novel took a decade to complete and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize, demonstrating that slow, meticulous writing can yield extraordinary results.
- “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin – ONGOING FOR DECADES Martin’s epic fantasy series showcases the extreme end of marathon writing, with fans eagerly awaiting the completion of “The Winds of Winter” for over a decade.
A Modern Author’s Perspective 🌟
“Sometimes you need to write other stories first to find the right way to tell the one that’s been waiting.”
Let me share my own experiences with different writing timelines:
My urban fantasy novel “The Devil Pulls the Strings” required five years of meticulous research before I wrote a single word. The result? A 41-award-winning bestseller that was worth every moment of preparation.
The journey to write “Bella Brown’s Ten-Moon Mysteries,” the seventh book in my Bella Brown picture book series for children ages four to eight, reveals how complex the creative process can be.
For over five years, I immersed myself in moon lore – researching its ten most popular colors, uncovering fascinating facts, and exploring myths and cultural beliefs from around the world.
The deeper I dived into the research, the more enchanting mysteries I discovered. Each new finding led to another connection, another story, another perspective.
The story lived in my mind through all of this, waiting for the right moment, the right approach to share these wonders with young readers.
It wasn’t until after writing six books in the series that I finally stumbled upon the best way to show the story versus telling, avoiding the common pitfall of being too preachy to young readers.
Sometimes you need to write other stories first to find the right way to tell the one that’s been waiting.
While some stories need years to mature, others appear in an instant.
Yet sometimes inspiration strikes like lightning.
While reviewing photos of Pip the Domovoi’s stuffed animal prototype, I noticed something unexpected: an accidental purple splotch on the back of his blue hair. That single detail sparked an immediate question: “Why does Pip have purple in his hair?”
From that moment of curiosity, “Bella Brown–Pip’s Perfect Purple Present,” the sixth book in the series, flowed effortlessly onto the page in just two days. A simple manufacturing quirk had unlocked an entire story.
These contrasting experiences show how the same author can take both the marathon and sprint approach, depending on what each unique story needs to find its perfect form.
What This Means for You 💭
“Don’t get it right, get it written.” – James Thurber
- Quality Isn’t Tied to Speed Some rapid-written books are masterpieces, while some slow-crafted works are too. The speed of writing doesn’t determine the quality of the final product.
- Life Circumstances Matter Whether you’re a full-time writer or squeezing in writing between other commitments will naturally affect your pace.
- Different Books Need Different Approaches A contemporary romance might flow quickly, while a complex fantasy world might need more time for development.
- Your Natural Pace Is Valid Some writers, like Alistair MacLeod (who took 13 years to write “No Great Mischief”), craft one perfect sentence at a time. Others write in fast drafts and revise extensively. Both approaches can work.
Instead of asking “How fast should I write?” try asking:
- What pace feels natural to me?
- What does my current life allow?
- What does this particular project need?
- Am I letting perfectionism slow me unnecessarily?
“You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” – Jodi Picoult
Remember: The only “right” speed is the one that helps you complete your book while maintaining the quality you desire.
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Share Your Story ✍️
Every writer’s journey is unique. How long did it take you to write your last book? What factors influenced your writing pace? Share your experience in the comments below – your story might help another writer find their own perfect pace.
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[Feel free to share this with other writers who might be questioning their writing pace. Every journey is unique. 📚✍️]
J.W. Zarek is a Wall Street Journal bestselling co-author of “Writer’s Success Secrets” and “The Happiness Code.” His latest works include the Golden Book Award Finalist “Bella Brown’s Messier Than Messy Room” and the 41-award winning novel “The Devil Pulls the Strings.”
