How long does it really take to write a book: honest numbers by genre
How long does it really take to write a book? The question everyone asks themselves
You sat down at your screen, a Sunday morning, coffee within reach, full of enthusiasm. You had finally decided: this year, you write your book. And then… nothing. Or almost. A few paragraphs scribbled here and there, a plan abandoned after three weeks, a dull guilt growing with each month passing without the word count really moving.
If you recognize yourself in these lines, know that you're not alone. The vast majority of aspiring authors don't suffer from a lack of ideas — they suffer from a nagging, often unspoken question: will I ever make it, or will this book stay in my head forever?
Before you get discouraged further, let's talk about the honest numbers. The ones they rarely tell you.
How long it takes to write a book by genre: real durations
Let's forget the legends. No, Jack Kerouac didn't really write On the Road in three weeks (he had worked on it for years before typing that famous scroll). And no, professional authors don't churn out a novel in a few months without effort. Here are realistic estimates, based on real author profiles:
The novel (50,000 to 100,000 words)
- Beginner author, limited availability (1h/day) : 18 to 36 months
- Beginner author, regular availability (2-3h/day) : 9 to 18 months
- Experienced full-time author : 3 to 9 months
The novel is the most ambitious and time-consuming format. This is no reason not to attempt it — it's a reason to organize yourself well from the start.
The essay or self-development book (40,000 to 70,000 words)
- Beginner author : 6 to 18 months
- Expert in your field, methodical : 3 to 8 months
The essay has the advantage of starting from expertise you already possess. But structuring your ideas clearly and engagingly for the reader — that's often where it gets stuck.
The children's book (500 to 10,000 words depending on target age)
- Picture book or beginning reader level : 1 to 4 months
- Children's or young adult novel : 6 to 15 months
Don't be fooled by the low word count: writing for children requires ruthless precision. Every sentence must matter.
The short story or novella (5,000 to 20,000 words)
- All profiles : 1 to 6 months
An excellent training ground if you want to start writing without launching into a marathon.
Why you're not making progress: it's not a talent problem
Now that you have these numbers in mind, let's look at the real question: why do so many aspiring authors never reach the finish line?
It's almost never a question of talent. The most common blockages are:
- Lack of structure : you start without knowing where you're going, and you get lost.
- Fear of others' judgment : you don't dare place imperfect words on the page.
- Lack of regularity : you write in fits and starts, then forget the thread of the story.
- Isolation : writing alone, without feedback or support, is exhausting over time.
What you're experiencing is not a sign that you're not made to write. It's a sign that you need a method and a companion on the journey. And that's exactly where everything changes.
To go deeper into the writing habits that truly make a difference, you can consult the Plumence blog, which is full of practical advice for authors building their project.
Plumence: the assistant that helps you move forward, without writing in your place
Plumence is a writing assistance tool designed specifically for book authors. And it's built on a fundamental principle: you're the author, it's your assistant.
Plumence doesn't write your book for you. It has neither the ambition nor the pretension to do so. What it does is help you break through moments when you're going in circles, structure your ideas when they become tangled, rephrase a paragraph that doesn't sound right, or find the thread of your story after a week away.
Concretely, here's what Plumence can bring to your daily writing:
Structure your project from the start
Whether you're writing a novel, an essay, or a children's book, Plumence helps you build a solid architecture: chapters, narrative arcs, argumentative outline. No more blank page facing a shapeless project — you know where you are and where you're going.
Overcome writing blocks
You've been stuck on a scene for three days? You don't know how to move your character forward? Plumence is there to help you explore possibilities, build on your ideas, and get the engine running again. Without ever deciding for you.
Rephrase without betraying your voice
You've written something that doesn't quite sound the way you want it to? Plumence can help you work on a formulation while staying true to your style and intention. You're always the one who validates.
Stick to your writing schedule
By keeping track of your project and helping you move forward step by step, Plumence becomes an ally for meeting your goals — even modest ones. A thousand words a week, regularly, and it eventually becomes a book.
You'll find other testimonials and concrete usage examples on the Plumence blog.
What it looks like in real life
Imagine: you have thirty minutes ahead of you tonight. Before, you might have opened your document, reread the last paragraph three times, and closed the computer saying "not tonight".
With Plumence, you arrive with a precise question — "I want to write the scene where my character discovers the letter, but I don't know how to approach it" — and you leave with a clear direction, one or two paths to explore, and the words starting to flow. You're the one who wrote. It just helped you get started.
It's not magic. It's method, available when you need it.
So, how long does it take to write your book?
The real answer is: less time than you think, if you go about it with the right organization. And longer than expected if you wait for motivation to be perfect — because that moment never really comes.
Your book has the right to be imperfect at first. It has the right to take time. It has the right to be difficult at times. What it doesn't have the right to do is stay forever in your head when you had all the cards to write it.
You deserve a companion on the journey who believes in your project as much as you do.
👉 Try Plumence free and start laying the first bricks of your book today. Not tomorrow. Today.