How Long Does It Take to Write a Book Right Now?

Writing a book used to mean staring at a blank page in a typewriter, then it meant a blank Word document, and now it doesn't have to mean any of that. Thanks to the groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), you can plug all your thoughts and experiences into a chat box, and AI will generate an outline, a draft, and essentially an entire book for you.

Instead of dedicating a huge chunk of time to planning and getting started, AI tools and other online resources can help you jumpstart your publishing journey so you spend more time editing your book and making sure it’s the perfect reflection of your journey and knowledge. New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Picoult, said it best,

"You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page."

Buckle up and get ready to see just how quickly and efficiently you can achieve your writing dreams!

Writing in the 21st Century

Writing now looks entirely different than it did even a few years ago. Thanks to new tools and online resources, even those who are not tech-savvy or have zero writing experience can publish a book. We’re not saying it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3, but here are a few ways self-publishers are leveraging AI to transform their writing throughout their publishing process:

1. Brainstorming and Idea Generation: AI tools for writing can help you create book outlines, generate plot ideas, build character traits, and identify storylines based on prompts provided by you, the author. 

2. Drafting: During the drafting phase, AI-powered writing assistants can help you refine sentences, improve grammar, and enhance the overall style. This support turns rough concepts into coherent and polished book drafts.

3. Editing: AI-driven editing tools streamline the revision process by catching errors, suggesting improvements, and ensuring consistency throughout your manuscript, significantly reducing the time spent on manual edits and saving you money by not having to pay an editor.

While not everyone is a fan of embracing AI, writers looking to reduce the average time it takes to write a book are going to have a headstart because they accelerated their creative process by embracing these new and exciting changes!

The Average Time to Write a Book

The average time to write a book can vary widely, typically ranging from six months to several years, depending on various factors. Here at Publishing.com, we see it done CONSISTENTLY, where our students publish a book in as little as a week. It sounds impossible to most, but the truth is…

There was an Information Gap

Historically, information on how to self-publish wasn't readily available to those with big ideas and creative minds. This meant lots of writers turned to traditional publishing methods, which often extended this timeline due to the lengthy submission, review, and revision processes, adding months or even years before a book reaches the shelves.

Gatekeeping

With little information on how to get started, traditional publishing seemed like the only viable option, leaving potential writers with huge roadblocks, such as footing the bill between $5,000 to $10,000 upfront. This was the case for a long time because so many had no idea self-publishing was an option.

There’s a Better Option

Now, with self-publishing information at our fingertips, getting started doesn't have to feel so daunting.

AI

By automating tedious tasks like proofreading and formatting, you can speed up your writing process and focus on adding personal anecdotes and writing about things you genuinely care about.

Guidance

Luckily, a wealth of information is now available on self-publishing; writers no longer need to spend the equivalent of a downpayment on a new car or face lengthy delays to get their books out into the world. Today, you can access a range of tools and support that make self-publishing more accessible and efficient, allowing you to bring your book to market without breaking the bank or waiting years.

Publish Today

You've already waited long enough to get started. The world wants to hear what you have to say; they just don't know it yet, and they never will if you don’t take action. We encourage you to take a moment to watch our free training on self-publishing—it may be all you need to get the ball rolling!

Testing the Book Writing Timeline

Now that you know how quickly you can publish a book, it’s time to try the process yourself. Even if you don’t have a book topic in mind, AI tools can help you explore book topics and build outlines to help you get started.

Book Writing Process Length: Step-by-Step

From idea generation to publishing, how quickly you can write and publish your book depends on how much time you dedicate to reaching your goal. If you struggle with sticking to your deadline, try setting mini milestones so you stay on track.

In the step-by-step guide below, we’ll walk you through a shortened version of your publishing process with bonus AI book writing prompts to help you get started.

Idea Generation

The idea generation step in your process should take about 20 minutes. If you get stuck, you can turn to an AI tool to help you generate a few book topic ideas. An example prompt for an AI tool would be:

“I want to write a non-fiction book. Give me ten popular ideas.”

First Draft Writing

Once you’ve identified your book topic, it’s time to start writing your first draft. Using an AI tool to build a book outline can help ignite your creativity. We’ve picked travel for this exercise, so you'll want to generate an outline first. If there’s a location you frequent, choose that, but you can also ask for title ideas.

This is where the amount of time it takes to write your book will vary most. Starting with an outline and dedicating time to complete chapters will help you stay on track to reach your goal. An AI tool can help you generate a book outline and even write chapters for you. An example prompt for this book would be:

‍

“Write an outline for a 5,000-word book on Hawaiian Travel Destinations.”

Afterward, you should have a title and an outline complete with chapters and bullet points to help you get started. Now it’s draft time, and all that’s left to say is…

“Write the book.”

Revisions

Woah, I know that was fast, but now it's essential to add in the parts that are uniquely you. Go paragraph by paragraph and include personal experiences and tips. This is the most important part of the process!

Edits

Finally, you take what you’ve written and copy and paste it into your preferred AI tool. We recommend doing one chapter at a time. After that, you take one last look at your work and transfer it to a document. You can give ChatGPT the following prompt:

“Correct grammar mistakes” or “Correct grammar mistakes, improve clarity, and enhance engagement.”

Quick Note: Grammarly is also a great tool for checking grammar. While the free version does correct basic errors, you may need to purchase the full version to get more insight.

Speeding Up the Writing Process

Speaking of staying accountable, that could mean you put up sticky notes everywhere, tell a friend, or, in the case of many of our students, they want something more. 

AIA’s Game-Changing Approach

Join our Founders, Rasmus and Christian Mikkelsen, as they walk you through their proven business model for making money online by self-publishing books across thousands of profitable niches. They'll teach you how to build passive income on Amazon by utilizing AI, even without tech or writing experience.

The AIA Advantage

When you sign up, you receive instant access to videos, live Q&A calls, ghostwriter recommendations, and a resource library including perfected AI prompts; you have everything you need to take your publishing business into your own hands. Lastly, let’s not forget all the support you need to succeed without making any creative decisions for you like a traditional publishing house would. 

How AIA Works

Within our course, you’ll learn how to integrate AI into the publishing process, which will help you create high-quality content that people actually want to read in a fraction of the time it would take to go through a traditional publishing house. You’ll also gain a strong understanding of our stand-out strategies for outsourcing certain steps of the writing, editing, and formatting process to create win-win scenarios with other creative professionals. 

Success Stories

See how so many Publishing.com students were able to make it past the finish line.

Writing a Book: Duration Myths Debunked

When it comes to writing a book, there are plenty of myths to go around, each one making the process seem all the more daunting than it actually is.

Common Myths

• “You must dedicate years to crafting your masterpiece” ‍

While some books do take longer, the timeline can vary widely depending on your approach, resources, and goals.

• “The editing process will always drag on for months or even years”

This definitely used to be accurate, but in the world of AI, the sentiment is downright outdated.

• “Writing a book requires full-time commitment”

Many successful authors have proven that writing alongside a full-time job or other responsibilities is entirely possible.

A Writers Goals

Here are a few examples of goals a writer might want to think about before writing, but if you're stuck on what goals to set, you might just have to use your new AI skills.

Example Goal 1: Write an Outline Before Lunch

Maybe you’re ambitious and like to have short-term goals that help you maintain momentum, like drafting an outline for your book before lunch. This approach keeps the process dynamic and helps break the project into manageable chunks, making it easier to stay on track and move quickly. 

Quick Tip: If you use AI, this part will take only a few seconds to generate!

Example Goal 2: Create a Writing Schedule

Establishing a realistic writing schedule is vital to staying on track. Whether you aim to write for a few hours each day or complete a chapter per week, a clear timeline ensures consistent progress and prevents procrastination, making the entire process more digestible.

Example Goal 3: Write a Book for Personal Fulfillment

Some writers are motivated by the desire to share their personal stories or ideas with the world. For them, the process is often more leisurely, allowing time for reflection and revision without the pressure of a strict deadline.

Can You Write A Book In 3 Months?

With a clear outline, a disciplined writing schedule, and the help of AI tools to streamline tasks, many writers have completed their manuscripts within shorter timeframes than this. The key is setting realistic expectations, staying focused, and using all the available resources to maintain momentum.

Now that you know the truth about how long it takes to publish a book in today's world, don't let the time commitment scare you. The process is entirely what you make it. We can’t wait for you to be the next success story!