I get that question sometimes and am always at a loss for a succinct answer. I’ve written a lot of books of all types in all sizes and they all take different lengths of time to complete. It also depends on what else is going on in my life during the time I’m working on a book.
It took me five years to write the Ojai history book back in the early 80s. That includes the research period, writing, self-editing…And I wrote that book on a typewriter. When I decided to revise and reprint it, we had to type the original into the computer.
I just finished all but the fine-tuning of a 90,000-word book for a publisher this week. This book took me two months to write.
People ask me how I’ve had time to write 45 books over the past 40 years. What they don’t seem to realize is that writing is all I do. I don’t come home from work and write for a few hours or write when I feel the inspiration. My work is my writing and my writing is my work and has been for all of these years.
But there was a time when I had a real job outside the home. I wrote a book in 8 months while working full-time. How? I got up every morning at 4 and wrote for two hours before work. I also wrote on weekends.
How long does it take you to complete a writing assignment? Are you working on a book? How much time do you spend every day or week? How’s it going for you?
What I find amusing and a little sad is that most authors spend months or years writing their books. When they finish, they are so eager to see it in print that they rush blindly into publishing without shifting gears. Now they’re in a big hurry to get the book published and most of them make some costly mistakes.
If you’re writing a book—fiction or nonfiction—I suggest that you write a book proposal early on. You may or may not end up sending it to a publisher. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you—the author—develop a business plan. As the CEO of your book, it is your responsibility to prepare yourself to make a smooth transition from the creativity of writing your book to the business of publishing it.
Publishing is not an extension of your writing. It takes a very different mindset and skills. The best way to prepare for the transition from writer to successful published author is to:
- Study the publishing industry—read books such as Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author by Patricia Fry (Allworth Press)
- Write a book proposal. This book gives you detailed instructions for doing so.
And take it easy. Don’t rush into something you know little about. The first item that appears during an Internet search for publishers is not necessarily the best option for you and for your project. You’ll likely experience greater success if you follow this timeline:
- Go ahead and write your book.
- At the same time, study the publishing industry.
- Write a book proposal in order to learn if your book is truly a good idea, how it will fit into the market place, what you have and what you need in order to represent your book in the market place, and how you will promote it.
- Once the book is completed, hire a good book editor.
- Begin your pursuit for a publisher or a publishing option. Take it slow. Do your homework, and you’ll surely make better decisions.