What's your Shortest time to write a novel?

Horizon_eyes · Feb 28, 2009

What is the shortest length of time you've ever written a book / novel?

I'm currently writing a 'new' manuscript for a sci-fi book. The storyline has been in my head for over a year, however. Anyway, now that I'm writing it, I can't believe how fast things are moving along.

I'm not rushing it in the least. The last manuscript i was writing was the opposite -- it's been a year in development, and still never finished it.

This one however, will have only taken a couple weeks when finished. I have a feeling the 'sequel' stories I have in mind will take about the same length of time. It's as if it's writing itself. Maybe it's just meant to be, and it will get published someday.

This is strange because I'm a stickler for detail, and a 'perfectionist' (which is what usually holds me back). This is unlike me. Maybe I've had a catharsis.

Domenic · Feb 28, 2009

A bone for my critics to chew on.

"The storyline has been in my head for over a year."

You said it. That's the key. I also start after thinking for about a year...during the first year I start making notes of what characters say. I build characters from people I know or meet...one character may be parts of 3-4- or more real people.
I write the last few pages first...keeps me on track. I know where I'm going.

Prozyan · Feb 28, 2009

My fastest for an 80k sized work of first draft quality is around the three weeks time frame.

For a submission ready work of that size, about 8 months.

Chumplet · Feb 28, 2009

Holy crap, Proyan.

I pitched a story in October, was asked to submit chapters but it wasn't written yet. Threw together three chapters based on writing exercises in my writers' group. A week later, I was contracted.

They asked when I could deliver the MS. I foolishly said six weeks for a 50K novel.

A family crisis intervened. I asked for an extra month and got it.

So... about three months, with minimal or no editing (didn't have time). I'm afraid to look at the final pdf. I only hope I didn't switch husbands halfway through the book, but apparently the editor found no problems.

Dave.C.Robinson · Feb 28, 2009

For me, shortest time for a completed draft was about 3 months - longest about 15 years.

KTC · Feb 28, 2009

I wrote 3 different novels in 3 different 48-hour periods. The one, I wrote in 40 hours and took 8 hours off within that 48-hour period. So the shortest time I took to write a novel was 40 hours. And it won a Best Adult Novel award. It is now sitting on my hard-drive rotting.

CarnalPIE · Feb 28, 2009

The quickest I ever wrote one was in about a month. It's one of my favorites, too. But most of them take a lot longer.

Domenic said:
A bone for my critics to chew on.

"The storyline has been in my head for over a year."

You said it. That's the key.

Yeah, for me as well. I've had stories percolate in my head for over a year or more and those are my best work, if I do say so myself.

Prozyan · Feb 28, 2009

KTC said:
The one, I wrote in 40 hours and took 8 hours off within that 48-hour period.

That, sir, is impressive.

scarletpeaches · Feb 28, 2009

What's not impressive is the fact he's letting it rot!

Why, Kevin - WHY?

Sage · Feb 28, 2009

20 days. It was a NaNo novel.

thethinker42 · Feb 28, 2009

I wrote the first draft of Playing With Fire in 5 days. (I'd spent a week or two tinkering with the outline, but the draft itself took 5 days).

If it's happening quickly, let it happen. When the story wants to be told THAT badly, you've probably got something...ride it, bro. LOL

Horserider · Feb 28, 2009

Well I've only finished one novel and it took me two months. From the beginning of November (which ironically enough, I did not realize was NaNoWriMo) to the end of December. To write a 98,000 word novel.

nitaworm · Feb 28, 2009

Well I only finished one novel also, and it took me exactly two months to write 360 pages and 82,000 words.

I think that was extremely fast for me considering I have a full-time job, am a mom of four, and teach part-time one day a week at the University. Whew... I wrote for 2 hours a day during the week, and up to eight hours on the weekend.

I don't know if the next one will be done as fast, but who knows...it may. I also refuse to let mine rot, I plan to print out each draft manuscript, and put in my self-created library, and query all of the works until I die

willietheshakes · Feb 28, 2009

I've done the Three Day Novel thing a couple of times, so 72 hours...

Aschenbach · Feb 28, 2009

KTC said:
I wrote 3 different novels in 3 different 48-hour periods. The one, I wrote in 40 hours and took 8 hours off within that 48-hour period.

Yowza. Were you on crank??

(Only kidding. Don't really mean to imply you're a drug user

)

6 months is my record. Pretty pedestrian.

Shady Lane · Feb 28, 2009

six days for a first draft. I've done that twice.

KTC · Feb 28, 2009

Aschenbach said:
Yowza. Were you on crank??

(Only kidding. Don't really mean to imply you're a drug user )

6 months is my record. Pretty pedestrian.

No worries. HERE'S WHAT I DO EVERY JULY. I have so far participated without the use of drugs. I'm much faster than crank. Crank gets tired just watching me in action.

Shadow_Ferret · Feb 28, 2009

2 years.

maestrowork · Feb 28, 2009

The question isn't how fast can you write... it's how good is it?

There's no prize in speed writing.

Ray, who takes his time...

dancingandflying · Feb 28, 2009

A month. I was doing a NaNo novel.

d&f.

KTC · Feb 28, 2009

maestrowork said:
The question isn't how fast can you write... it's how good is it?

There's no prize in speed writing.

Ray, who takes his time...

I think that's a great way to say, "No. My follow-up to The Pacific Between is not finished yet."

RunawayScribe · Feb 28, 2009

Um...a year and a half.

I'm jealous of you all.

Ugawa · Feb 28, 2009

Two weeks. But that was a short 30K thing that never saw the light of day.

Charlie Horse · Feb 28, 2009

Wow, I had no idea novel writing was a race.

I won't even bother calculating how fast (or slow) I've finished a novel. It just doesn't seem relevant.

Hollan · Feb 28, 2009

Charlie Horse said:
Wow, I had no idea novel writing was a race.

I won't even bother calculating how fast (or slow) I've finished a novel. It just doesn't seem relevant.

Yeah, I agree. I write at whatever pace I have time for/ the story demands.

I did finish a 1st draft (60k YA novel) in one month. However, it took me two years to get it into submission worthy shape!

What's your Shortest time to write a novel?

Are you one, Herbert?

This hat is getting too hot

... with the High Command

Stand in the Place Where You Live

... instead I sleep.

Are you one, Herbert?

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Abnormal Romance Author

Ever onward

AW Addict

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

Moral Marjorie

my name is hannah

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Court Jester

Fear the Death Ray

Is it tea time yet?

Stand in the Place Where You Live

It is what it is.

It's a catastrophic success!

Speaking in metaphors

Stage name = Chainsaw Sally