Guide
How to write a book, from idea to finished draft
Short answer
To write a book, shape your idea into a one-line premise, pick a target length (Writer's Digest suggests 80,000 to 89,999 words for most adult novels), outline the main turning points, set a daily word goal and write the first draft without stopping to polish. Then revise, get feedback and edit.
What are the steps to write a book?
- Shape the idea into a one-line premise. Stuck? Try the plot generator.
- Choose a target length for your genre with the novel length checker.
- Outline the turning points. The beat sheet calculator shows where each one falls for your word count.
- Plan your chapters with the chapter length calculator.
- Set a daily goal and a finish date with the words per day calculator.
- Write the first draft all the way through, without stopping to polish.
- Revise the structure, then the scenes, then the sentences.
- Get feedback and edit, then publish or submit.
How do you turn an idea into a book?
An idea becomes a book when it has a person, a goal and a problem. Write one sentence: who wants what, and what stands in the way. For nonfiction, write the reader's problem and the change your book promises. If you cannot say it in a sentence, the book is not ready to outline yet. Keep that sentence where you can see it while you write.
How many words should your book be?
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| Adult fiction | 80,000 to 89,999 |
| Science fiction and fantasy | 100,000 to 115,000 |
| Young adult | 55,000 to 79,999 |
| Middle grade | 20,000 to 55,000 |
| Memoir | 80,000 to 89,999 |
These are what agents and editors expect; self-published books can stray further, but readers of a genre notice a book that is far too short or too long. See every category, with sources, in the novel length checker.
Should you outline before you write?
A short outline saves rewrites. At the least, know the opening situation, the event that starts the story, the midpoint, the lowest point and the ending. Classic story structure puts those turning points at roughly fixed places in the book, which the beat sheet calculator works out for your target length. Leave room to change the outline as you discover the story.
How long does it take to write a book?
Time to an 80,000-word first draft at different daily paces:
| Words a day | Writing days | Months at 5 days a week |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | 320 | about 15 |
| 500 | 160 | about 7 |
| 1,000 | 80 | about 4 |
| 2,000 | 40 | about 2 |
Revision and editing usually add as much time again. Put in your own goal, deadline and writing days with the words per day calculator.
How do you finish the first draft?
- Write at the same time each day, even for twenty minutes. A writing sprint timer helps.
- Do not edit as you go. Leave a note like [fix later] and keep moving.
- Track words, not hours. A visible count keeps you honest.
- Skip the scene you are stuck on and write the next one you can see.
How do you revise and edit a book?
Let the draft rest for a few weeks, then read it in one or two sittings. Fix the big things first: structure, pacing, a character who does not change, chapters that repeat. Only then work on scenes and sentences. Give the revised draft to a few honest readers, then to an editor. When it is ready, our guide on how to publish a book takes it from there. If you would rather have a professional write it with you, our ghostwriting service works from your ideas and interviews.
Rather have a pro handle this? Our studio can: ghostwriting.
Questions authors ask
How long does it take to write a book?
At 500 words a day, five days a week, an 80,000-word first draft takes about 7 months; at 1,000 words a day, about 4. Revision and editing often take as long as the draft. Most first books take a year or more from idea to finished manuscript.
How do I begin to write a book?
Write a one-sentence premise: who wants what, and what stands in the way. Then sketch the main turning points and write the first scene, even if it changes later. Starting is easier when you know roughly where the book ends.
How do you write a good book?
Read widely in the genre you write, know what your main character wants and what it costs them, cut anything that does not move the story or the argument forward, and revise more than once. Feedback from honest readers and an editor matters more than a perfect first draft.
Should I outline my book or just start writing?
Either works. Outliners plan the turning points first and write faster drafts; discovery writers find the story as they go and revise more. Many writers do a little of both: a loose outline of the big beats, with room to change.
How many words should my book be?
It depends on the genre. Writer's Digest gives 80,000 to 89,999 words as the safe range for most adult novels, longer for science fiction and fantasy and shorter for young adult and middle grade. The novel length checker compares your count with each range.
Can someone help me write my book?
Yes. A writing coach or developmental editor helps you shape and finish your own draft, and a ghostwriter writes the book for you from your ideas and interviews, in your voice, with your name on it.
Sources
Every number in this guide comes from our spec data, last verified against the official help pages below. Retailers change their terms, so check the source before you rely on a figure.