How long does it take to write?

readertim109 · Post by **readertim109** » 19 Jan 2007, 13:39

How long does it take to write? How long does it take to write a book? How long does it take to write a page? How much do you write in an hour?

Does it vary? What makes writing take longer? What makes it go faster?

Does the product come out better when you write slow or fast?

thebrettness · Post by **thebrettness** » 19 Jan 2007, 16:09

varies- oh, how it varies. personally, i've spent anywhere from an hour to a year or more on a piece. the per page timing depends on your knowledge, your mood, your having outlined the idea in advance. usually i write per chapter, or per stanza for poems. some chapters will only be a few pages, sometimes a page or a page and a half- and i always try to write only one so i don't jump too far ahead and have issues with storyline or characters. if im tired, only a few paragraphs get done. ill let it sit for a day or two and then edit it, which could take several more days- i won't move on until i'm sure that it's as good as ill get this particular. i have the gist of each chapter in my head before i sit down, but i won't sit down until then. i've been mulling over one chapter for a month, with only a few lines of dialogue written. the environment alters your writing sometimes. some people can only write in certain conditions, every time. some need to move about, and no two places are ever the same. some just dont care. inspiration doesnt always come easy either. and most write a fight scene if they are happy- unless that's what it calls for. being clear headed and focused, or lack thereof, alters the timing. i could go on, but the time never stays the same. issues with family, if they have another job, friends, travel, fatigue. ive seen others write pieces in twenty minutes, others hours. days. some take years for a novel. i recently finished my first after working and touching up and then rewriting from scratch a short story- in about a year and a half. and that was to consider it "finished". no great piece is ever finished, just bearable for the author to present it. there should always be room for improvement. anyone who says perfection is usually a dingy liar filled with ignorance and pomp. but thats just me. there is no panacea for writers block, either. ive moved on to write complete pieces, sometimes several, before i go back. walking away is about the only way to make it move along- if you get too frustrated, it usually gets scrapped. being too involved with it is another. or still too involved with a piece from the past. with writing, the only thing that is ever the right answer, is what is put on paper. and the only answer to how long, is when its finished.

kaytie · Post by **kaytie** » 19 Jan 2007, 19:32

It definitely varies.

Here's a blog entry by author John Scalzi that he posted, coincidentally, today. I don't know how to make it that pretty, non http way, sorry.

http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/004789.html

And here's a quote:

1. Write every day;
2. Write long enough to get actual work done;
3. Stop writing when you're no longer doing useful work.

blackcee · Post by **blackcee** » 23 Jan 2007, 20:45

To me writting can take as long as you let it. for me it is important to have cemetary silence except some soft music to set my mood. turn off all phones and set your mind to what you set out to do. i think you can plan on the subject or chapter you chose to write about, but the acual events just come to you. i can run through a 10 page chapter in an hour because the mood and the scene is set right. everything comes to you then. so i think it all depends on you and what gets you going. when you start to just write things down to fill up the page and it really doesn't have any substance, you need to stop. go free your mind of whatever has crept in, and then come back to it. i believe the more time and freedom you have to write, the faster you do write.

Michael J. Kirt · Post by **Michael J. Kirt** » 23 Jan 2007, 23:21

Sometimes writing a poem can take me just a few minutes since there is a certain feeling I am trying to convey. All the poems in my first book "MY FUNERAL SONG" took only a matter of months to write.....it took way longer to arrange them in the order I felt best showed what I was going for. Writing stories is a different matter all together since telling a story is a lot more complicated, of course, I have written stories in just a few days, but with the book I am working on it has been months and I am nowhere close to finishing it.....So, I guess it all depends on the person, and what they are writing.

-Michael J. Kirt

NSUSA · Post by **NSUSA** » 08 Dec 2007, 05:51

Does anyone have a rough estimation of how many words/pages they write per hour on average?

AstonWest · Post by **AstonWest** » 08 Dec 2007, 23:44

NSUSA wrote:Does anyone have a rough estimation of how many words/pages they write per hour on average?

As Kaytie mentioned up-thread, it varies...

Today, for example, my entire day was shot except for the last hour here, when I cranked out just over 600 words.

The last few days have been a nightmare, with nothing to show for it. Mandatory OT at work sucks.

One weekend recently, I was able to crank out around 3000 words.

I shoot for a daily average of 500 words.

Syrcco44 · Post by **Syrcco44** » 29 Mar 2008, 10:44

How long does it take to write?
Depends on what you are writing, if you want to write it and if you know where you are going.

How long does it take to write a book?
This varies - a lot. There have been authors that have spent years just on one book, there are some who whip out a novel in a month or so. It depends on a lot of things...

How long does it take to write a page?
This also depends on the typing/writing speed of the person and what they are writing. (see first question)

How much do you write in an hour?
Depends - I can get a lot written if I have no distractions, my mind is flowing with inspiration and my characters are readily talking to me and what not. The process slows down when I hit a problem or I don't know what to write. If you are writing a novel's first draft don't worry about editing or getting control of you language or making sure it comes out right. The first draft can just be an experiment canvas - don't be afriad to make mistakes and write whatever's in your mind. Even if your character says something really cheesy or your writing embarrasses you, keep going. After all no one is going to see your first draft - unless you let them, of course - so go ahead and just write! It won't be so bad - sometimes it comes out the right way the first time. Believe me my first draft of my novel has some pretty cheesy parts that would embarrass me to shred, but it also has some amazing scenes that just came to me - so take heart.

Does it vary?
Yes. Most definitely.

What makes writing take longer?
Sometimes being under pressure can slow you down in uncanny ways. But other times it'll take me a while because I don't know where I'm going with whatever I'm writing, my inspiration has stopped or my characters have stopped talking to me, I'm tired, sick, or mentally weak, I'm overwhelmed - quite immobilizing, it kind of depends and varies (notice a trend here?).

What makes it go faster?
Anything opposite of above question. Also see the fourth question...

Does the product come out better when you write slow or fast?
Um, I think for me when I'm writing really fast that means my mind is racing and the inspiration and knowledge on that scene or my novel or whatever is flowing quite well. A quote that sums this up well (I don't know who said it, sorry): "It's when the words just won't stop that you it's meant for something more." But I'm not saying because of all this that slow writing produces no good product. Slowness can be good too - cautious and deliberate sentences - not rushed through and what not - that's good. I think it all depends here, of course - on what your writing, where you're going with it, etc.

Tracey Neal · Post by **Tracey Neal** » 16 Apr 2008, 09:22

It really depends, if its just writing for pleasure, then however long I wish.
If its writing for someone else then it depends on whats involved and the time frame allotted.

genkav · Post by **genkav** » 17 Apr 2008, 14:06

it takes me such a long time to write anything lol. it depends on what im working on.

RichardG · Post by **RichardG** » 10 Oct 2008, 14:01

It truly depends on what your are writing and for what you are writing. If it is something that has been tagged with a deadline obviously you have to finish it by that time but if it is for your satisfaction you are take your own time.