Novel How long does it take for you to write a novel?

Forever and a half. God knows that's how long it feels

With any luck I'll be done with it within the year, though I can probably do it faster if I applied myself fully.

 

Hi,

It varies. I wrote Pawn in less than two months including revisions and editing, and I think its good. Maverick took years and years, and some of my others are still in the process eighteen years on.

But Michael Moorcock went through a phase where he was writin a book every few days, the Champion Eternal series, and I have most of the thirty or so and enjoy them.

Cheers, Greg.

 

Well it took Tolkien 18 years to write Lord of the Rings and Terry Pratchett writes 2 books a year (on average) so it really depends.

 

Theorically I can write 30,000 words per month -- or more -- so I could finish a first draft in three months, and since I edit as I go, I might only take another month or two to revise everything and finish the polishing.

That's theory, of course.

 

It varies. George R. R. Martin can take almost 3-6 years for his Song of Ice and Fire books. Other authors who write YA books or Romance pump out two novels a year sometimes. I have to believe it takes most authors three-four months writing and however long it takes to revise. I think the ultimate skill that pro authors have is an ability to know when a book is at its best. They also capitalize on the time they have. Thus, they write quicker.
For amatuers, myself have pumped out two complete drafts, three months each. But the revising has been hell.

 

Last year, I composed a 60-page story in Microsoft Word in 31 hours. I was doing it for an extensive school project, and as such had to record the hours spent.

While I think I did incredibly well considering the time, I didn't take planning into account, and made the plot up as I went along. If I had planned adequately, tweaked pacing and improved character development and involvement, it would have probably taken several months. Of course, this is just from my point of view.