Last novel was just over two months, because I had a fixed deadline to hit (and barely made it). Current novel is one I started in 2010, and it's been festering on my hard drive most of the time since, with an occasional rewrite here and there. Should be done next month with any luck.
I have been working on a current project for about a year. Everytime it seems I have found the end another twist has to pop up. I have gone through it 14 times and know it will be chopped up if and when I contact a professional editor. Your doing great hanging in there so long 33percent!
I wrote (most of) Apoc in about thirty days, and (all of) LAFS in forty, but that's just first drafts. I'm at about six months with LAFS all total - it's been a lot of downtime thanks to being ill and otherwise busy. Still, I'm on v4. What I learned is that I'm actually really good at getting material out fast when I have the ability/opportunity to focus, but the editing is a lot more work. Which I guess I already knew, it's just that having mostly written short stories before, everything's on a shorter/smaller scale.
I finished my second draft with 196k word count, decided it was too long for a first book so I took the first act beginning and end from my second draft and just extended it the middle for my first book. Technically once I have it finished I'll have basically two books written. I didn't plan it that way but from a seller's stand point should be around or less than 100k words which is my goal and finished it towards the end of the year. I don't write full time, just a hour there and there, but I have to be in a mood to write. Which is why it's taking me so long to finish. I have college, and working on my house which is consumes my time. I just got push through and finish it. Reading all the posts, glad I'm that I am in the same boat with alot of people here. Trying to juggle life and writing at the same is hard thing to juggle. Seems several years or depends on how long your story is.
I get it. I have my day job, my second job and a family. Throw in a couple of hobbies and it can take a long time to finish. Going back at it for another edit this evening. I read up on removing abstracts thanks to another member here. He shared an article with me, and boy did I need to read it. Good luck talk to you later.
I don't believe there is any set time to write a book, as long as it gets finished. The important thing is for you to be pleased with it when it is finished. I have books self published and have edited to the bitter end, but eventually I have to stop myself or I would eternally be changing something.
The novella my WIP started out as poured out of me in a about a month and a half in 1983. I started revising and expanding it in 2013. I'm still at it.
Depends on how big your book really is; it sounds straight forward because it is. Been writing mine for about 4-5 years now, universe building is hard but developing a story around the elements you create proves difficult when you try to write it around the foundation of the "Hero's Journey" ( you can see this structure in almost every story, watch this if you're interested- ). This is totally subjective it all depends on the genre and the topic you wish to convey. Good things take time and effort, if you're worried about how long it will take to write your masterpiece I would either develop short stories or do something that's more worth your time.
My third took four years, but that was a non-fiction anthology of autobiographies and a lot of that time was spent herding 11 cats to contribute their stories. The fourth, fictional sequel to The Eagle and the Dragon, is at 70,000 words (planned @250k, same as E&D) and about eight months in. But I already know most of the characters, and I am a lot more confident about finishing it. I can't let it hang on for 20 years like E&D or I will be 90 when I finally publish it!
I’ve been working on mine for the past 4 years on and off. It’s roughly 91,000 words. I’m at the stage where I need a professional editor to go over it, then I’m ready for self publishing!
If you are going to go that route, I would not self pubb. Cause you are going to spend a pretty penny and you will want the chance to earn it back from using an Editor. Unless you have an amazing marketing campaign and a massive reader base. Or just happen to not really care about parting with $600-2000 to pay for the service of a pro-editor.
I appreciate the sentiment. I found a professional editor I know personally who is giving me a massive discount. Since it’s been so long (over 3 years since I started writing) the last thing I want to do is wait another year or two to get the publishing ball rolling, if ever.
This Xmas it will be 3 years since I started mine. I’m in the 2nd pass at editing and tidying it up. Wrote 160,000 plus words and it’s now down below 122,000. 3 years is an age BUT it’s been done in gaps in real life, 20-30 minute chunks here and there so it’s no surprise it’s taken so long!
Book 1 - 2.5 years Book 2 - 18 months Book 3 - remains to be seen! Toddlerhood and childbirth getting in the way of speedier progress!
For my first original novel: the first draft took eight weeks. Then I took a break while I wrote a different novel-length work. the second draft took six weeks. Another break, another novel length work. The third draft took eight weeks. then it was ready to query. I've slowed down a bit. I now take twelve weeks to write the first draft.
