For those of you who want to get that book written that has been meandering around in your head, there is no better time to start than today.
The average novel is between 75,000 and 100,000 words. Typical non-fiction books range from 60,000 – 75,000 words. For argument’s sake, let’s say you want to write a 75,000 word book. Using typical industry font, 75,000 words usually ends up being around 300 pages.
The Math Behind Writing a Book
So, you need 300 pages, give or take a dozen. If you give yourself one day off a week, by writing just one page a day, within a year you will have a complete manuscript. Each page holds approximately 250 words. 250 words a day, six days a week, is all you will need to do. That is really not overwhelming if you think about it. It takes the average person 15 - 20 minutes to write 250 well-thought out words. Of course that figure varies depending on if you prefer to handwrite your book first or if you are typing it and how good your typing skills are. Stephen King writes ten pages a day, every day. I think you can handle one page!
The Routine of Writing a Book
A major factor when writing a book is to have a routine. Whether you write on a notepad before you crawl out of bed or type out your page once the rest of your family is asleep does not matter in the scheme of getting the project done. What is important is that you create some sort of routine around your writing. By doing your page at the same time every day and in the same location, you will be surprised at how fast your brain gets trained to get into the writing mode. Just like showering or taking the dog for a walk, the routine of writing will be second nature before long.
Routines of Famous Writers
Writers have some interesting habits they use to get into the writing groove:
- Ernest Hemingway got up early to write every morning before the Cuban heat got too bad.
- Vladomir Nabokov wrote all of his words on index cards.
- Truman Capote wrote his first drafts in longhand while lying down.
- Philip Roth wrote while pacing the room. He claims he walked half a mile for every page he wrote.
- Gertrude Stein wrote in the driver's seat of her car. While it was parked, of course.
- J. K. Rowling likes to write in cafes.
- Simone de Beauvoir has a hard time getting going in the morning and couldn't start working without a few cups of tea.
No matter what routine you decide to instigate, whether it is writing at the same time every day or going through specific motions to get into the writing mood, establish whatever habits work best for you.
Lack of Time
The main reason people cite for not attacking the goal of writing a book is a lack of time. But people who really want to write a book don’t let this stop them. Twenty minutes a day is all you need.
Before they are established, most writers manage to find time to pound out chapters while holding down full-time jobs:
- Wallace Stevens was the VP of an insurance company.
- Robert Frost was a chicken farmer.
- Robin Cook was a doctor.
- William Faulkner worked at the post office and also as the night watchman at a power plant.
- T.S. Eliot was a school teacher.
- Michael Blake was the dishwasher in a Chinese restaurant.
- Scott Turow was the Assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago.
- Danielle Steele was a copywriter for an ad agency.
- Stephen King was a labourer at an industrial laundry and then a high school English teacher.
- James Patterson worked in advertising.
- Patricia Cornwell worked as a technical writer and a computer analyst at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia.
- Mary Higgins Clark spent years writing four-minute radio scripts.
- Theodor Seuss Geisel (better known to many as Dr. Seuss) created advertising campaigns for Standard Oil for more than 15 years.
- J. K. Rowling taught English.
- Louis L'Amour was a professional boxer.
- Clive Cussler was the creative director of for two major advertising agencies.
If all of these people can write a book while managing a busy life, so can you!
You Can Do It!
Remember, 20 minutes a day is all it takes to have a finished book at this time next year. As a bonus, by writing a book, you give yourself the gift of imagination and creativity.
It’s not easy to write a book, but if you are committed, have a plan, and persevere, in time you will have a complete manuscript!
Sources:
- A Writer's Book of Days by Judith Reeves
- Heart and Craft: Bestselling Romance Writers Share Their Secrets by Valerie Parv
- Illuminating Fiction: A Collection of Author Interviews with Today's Best Writers of Fiction by Sherry Ellis
- Page Fright: Foibles and Fetishes of Famous Writers by Harry Bruce
- Ernest Hemingway: A Writer's Life by Catherine Reef
Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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