How Long Does It Take to Write a Book? Budgeting Your Time

Most people want to write a book—but they don’t start because they’re unsure how long it will take. That uncertainty becomes a mental block. The project feels too big, too time-consuming, too overwhelming. So, they put it off for “someday.”

If you're reading this, you’re likely wondering the same thing: How long does it take to write a book? And you want a real answer—not some vague generalization. As a writing coach, ghostwriter, and author who’s written multiple books and helped over 130 clients write theirs, I can tell you: there is a formula. But the timeline is never one-size-fits-all.

Writing a book is a strategic project. And like any project, the time it takes depends on four core factors: your word count goal, your writing routine, your urgency, and your skills. In this article, I’ll walk you through how each of these influences your timeline—and show you how to reverse-engineer your own schedule to finish your book faster than you think.

Why “How Long Does It Take to Write a Book?” Is the Wrong First Question

If you're serious about writing a book, the better question to ask isn't how long will it take—it's how committed am I to getting it done?

When people ask me how long it takes to write a book, they’re usually looking for permission. They want to know if the time investment is worth it. But that mindset won’t get you far. The truth is, you control the clock. And how fast—or how slow—you write depends on how clearly you define your goals, why you're writing, and how disciplined you're willing to be.

This is where Parkinson’s Law comes in:

“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”

If you give yourself two years to write a book, it’ll take two years. But if you commit to writing a 30,000-word client primer in 30 days, with the right system and support, you can absolutely get it done.

The other missing piece? Clarity on the type of book you want to write. A short lead magnet, a 60,000-word business book, and a 100,000-word memoir are entirely different projects. The clearer you are from the start, the easier it becomes to estimate your timeline—and stick to it.

As I tell my clients: you don’t write a book in a vacuum. You write it with a strategy. That strategy starts with defining what success looks like, and working backward from there.

Word Count Goals: The Foundation of Your Book Writing Timeline

Before you can figure out how long it will take to write your book, you need to know one thing: how long your book should be.

Not all books are created equal. A common mistake I see first-time authors make is starting to write without a clear word count goal. That’s like trying to run a marathon without knowing the distance. You’ll burn out halfway—or worse, never finish.

Here’s a quick breakdown I use with clients to clarify the target length based on the type of book they’re writing:

• Lead Magnet or Short Guide: 5,000–10,000 words

• Client Primer or Business Booklet: 10,000–30,000 words

• Thought Leadership / Authority Book: 30,000–60,000+ words

• Full-Length Nonfiction Book or Memoir: 60,000–100,000+ words

Pro Tip: If your book’s purpose is to grow your business, build authority, or generate leads, 30,000 to 45,000 words is often the sweet spot. (Here’s more on how to write a book to grow your business)

The Math Behind Writing Time

Let’s say your goal is a 30,000-word book. The next step is figuring out how many words per day or words per week you can realistically write.

Most of our clients at Trivium Writing write 800 to 1,200 words per session when following our hybrid coaching and ghostwriting method. At that pace, here’s what your writing time could look like:

Of course, consistency is everything. Writing 500 words per day may not sound like much—but over three months, that’s 45,000 words. Enough for a full book.

This is why I always say: writing a book isn’t a matter of talent—it’s a matter of arithmetic. Once you know your word count goal, you can build a timeline that works for your schedule, not against it.

Need help choosing the right book length or aligning it to your business goals? This article breaks it down further: How long should a book be?

The Real Math: How to Estimate Your Writing Time

Once you know your book’s ideal length, the next step is to work backward and calculate how much writing time you’ll need.

Think of this like budgeting. If you had to save $10,000 in three months, you wouldn’t just hope for the best. You’d divide the total by weeks or days and create a schedule. Writing a book works the same way.

Here’s the simple formula I give my clients:

Total Word Count ÷ Words per Week = Weeks to First Draft

Let’s look at a few real-world scenarios:

Example 1: The After-Hours Author

You can write 500 words per session, 4 times per week.
That’s 2,000 words per week.
For a 30,000-word book, you’ll need 15 weeks (about 3.5 months).

Example 2: The Accelerated Entrepreneur

You’re doing 1,000 words per day, 5 days a week.
That’s 5,000 words per week.
You’ll finish a 30,000-word book in just 6 weeks.

Example 3: The Weekend Warrior

You can only write on weekends—2 sessions of 1,200 words.
That’s 2,400 words per week.
Expect to finish a short book in 12–14 weeks.

As you can see, writing a book doesn’t require full-time hours. Even part-time effort adds up fast—as long as you stay consistent.

Want to go even faster? I’ve had clients write a 10,000-word lead magnet in just one week by dedicating two hours per day. Others have completed a 60,000-word thought leadership book in two months by building daily habits and using our hybrid coaching method.

If you’re not sure what pace is realistic for you, start with a simple goal:
500 words per session, three times a week. Once you’re consistent, you can increase your sessions or your word count.

And don’t forget: you’re not just budgeting time—you’re budgeting energy. That’s why the next step is understanding your ideal writing process.

What Kind of Writer Are You? Assessing Your Writing Process

Every writer has a different rhythm. Some can sit down and write for three hours straight. Others thrive in short bursts of focused energy. The key to writing your book faster is to understand your own writing process—not to mimic someone else’s.

Here are five questions I use to help my clients optimize their output:

1. When do you feel most mentally sharp? Morning, afternoon, or night?

2. How long does it take you to get “in the zone”?

3. Where are you most focused? A quiet room? A café?

4. How much mental energy do you have before or after work?

5. Do you write better with or without a plan?

These aren’t just productivity hacks—they determine how well your writing sessions will go and how much progress you can make without burning out.

And don’t forget your typing speed. If you type 50 words per minute (WPM), it takes you just 20 minutes to hit 1,000 words. That’s a full chapter draft in one short session. If your typing is slow or inconsistent, dictation tools like Otter or Google Docs Voice Typing can help you produce more content, faster.

Whether you’re writing for the first time or this is your fifth book, your process matters. The more intentional you are about how you write, the easier it becomes to stay on track.

Need help developing your process? Here’s a powerful framework I recommend: Easy Book Writing Method.

How Your Urgency Affects Your Writing Speed

Let’s be honest: most people don’t just want to write a book. They want to write a book fast—because there’s a goal attached to it. A speaking opportunity. A product launch. A milestone birthday. A rebrand.

This is where urgency becomes your greatest tool—or your greatest enemy.

Some of my clients come to me with intense deadlines:

• “I need to write a book in 30 days to launch a funnel.”

• “I want to hand my book to clients in three weeks.”

• “I have six months until a major conference.”

Here’s the truth: you can write a book faster than you think, but only if you match your urgency with discipline and support.

This is where Parkinson’s Law comes back into play:

“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”

Give yourself two years, and it will take two years. But give yourself 90 days and a systemized writing process? You’ll get it done.

At Trivium Writing, we’ve helped clients write:

• A 10,000-word lead magnet in one week

• A 30,000-word authority book in 30 days

• A 60,000-word nonfiction book in under 90 days

It’s not magic. It’s urgency, aligned with structure.

Whether you want to take your time or speed things up, what matters is that your schedule reflects your intention. Write with urgency when the timing matters. Write slowly when the stakes are personal.

The important part is: you decide.

Editing & Revision: Don’t Forget to Budget This Time

One of the biggest mistakes first-time authors make is only budgeting for the first draft—as if writing the book is the end of the process. It’s not. In fact, some of the most important work happens after the draft is complete.

Once you finish your manuscript, you’ll go through several rounds of refinement:

• A cool-off period (let the draft sit for a week or two)

• A self-editing pass (restructure, rewrite, tighten)

• A professional edit (for clarity, tone, grammar, and flow)

On average, authors spend 3 to 6 weeks on revision, depending on the book’s length and how clean the first draft is. Rushing this stage only leads to a weaker book—or one that fails to build your authority.

That’s why I always recommend working with professionals for this phase. At Trivium Writing, we offer editing services and revision packages designed specifically for business and thought leadership books. We don’t just fix grammar—we help elevate your ideas.

If you want to become a published author who’s proud of their work, don’t just budget time for writing. Budget time for making it great.

Writing Time Estimates from a Coach Who’s Helped 130+ Clients

If you’re still wondering how long it will take to write your book, here’s the most honest answer I can give you: it depends on you—but the good news is, you’re not starting from scratch.

Having worked with over 130 authors—CEOs, consultants, coaches, creatives—I’ve seen firsthand how different writing timelines play out depending on the person, the process, and the goals.

Here are some real-world examples:

Client A: The 10-Day Lead Magnet

• Goal: Create a short, high-value guide to generate leads

• Output: 10,000 words in 10 days (1,000 words per day)

• Approach: Daily 90-minute writing sessions + coaching support

• Result: Ready-to-launch lead magnet within 2 weeks

Client B: The 30-Day Authority Book

• Goal: Build credibility for keynote speaking and podcast appearances

• Output: 30,000-word book in 4 weeks

• Approach: Structured weekly plan, 5 sessions per week

• Result: Book written, revised, and ready for publishing within 60 days

Client C: The 90-Day Business Book

• Goal: Turn a coaching methodology into a book

• Output: 60,000 words in 3 months

• Approach: Hybrid ghostwriting and coaching model

• Result: A book that positioned the client as an industry leader

All of these timelines are possible—if you’re committed and structured.

Want to know how long it would take you to write your book? Book a free strategy call, and we’ll map it out together.

How to Stay on Track While Writing Your Book

The #1 reason books go unfinished? Lack of structure. It’s not that people aren’t motivated or talented—it’s that they don’t have a system to stay on track.

Here’s what I recommend to every client who wants to finish their book:

1. Set Weekly Word Count Goals

Don’t just aim to “write more.” Get specific.

• 2,500 words per week = 10,000 words per month

• 5,000 words per week = 20,000 words per month

The beauty of weekly goals is flexibility. Life happens. Some days you’ll write 200 words, others 1,500. It all averages out—if you stay consistent.

2. Track Your Progress

Use a spreadsheet, a word count tracker, or even a handwritten journal. The key is visibility. When you can see your progress, it’s easier to stay motivated and accountable.

3. Schedule Your Writing Sessions

Put them in your calendar. Treat them like meetings. And block off time when your energy is highest—whether that’s early mornings, quiet evenings, or weekend blocks.

Tools, Templates, and Shortcuts to Write Your Book Faster

You don’t have to do everything manually. With the right tools and shortcuts, you can shave weeks off your timeline—without sacrificing quality.

Here are my go-to recommendations:

Google Docs Book Template

Start with structure. This free book template gives you:

• Pre-formatted headers and chapters

• A clean layout for distraction-free writing

• A predictable structure you won’t have to “figure out” each time you sit down

Writing Software & AI Tools

• Scrivener (for organization-heavy books)

• Otter.ai or Google Docs Voice Typing (for dictation)

• Grammarly or Hemingway Editor (for early-stage editing)

• ChatGPT (for brainstorming, outlining, and rewriting sections)

Just remember: tools are only effective if you use them consistently. No app will write your book for you—but the right tool can absolutely help you write your book faster.

The Hybrid Method

Finally, if you want expert guidance while staying in the driver’s seat, our hybrid coaching + ghostwriting method is designed to speed up your writing without compromising your voice. It’s one of the main reasons our clients go from idea to first draft in as little as 30–60 days.

You Control the Clock — Not the Other Way Around

Writing a book isn’t about waiting for the “right time.” It’s about deciding when the time is right—and following a proven plan to get it done.

Whether your goal is to grow your business, build your authority, or leave a legacy, the time it takes to write your book is entirely in your hands. With clear word count goals, a writing routine that works for you, the right level of urgency, and a strong writing process, you can finish your book in months, not years.

And you don’t have to do it alone.

At Trivium Writing, we’ve helped over 130 authors write and publish books that elevate their brand, clarify their message, and position them as leaders in their space. If you’re ready to map out your own timeline—and finally finish the book you’ve been thinking about—let’s talk.