Novel this way; Go for it!
How long does it take to write a novel?
When I was a teen, my favourite novel was Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan which the young Frenchwoman supposedly wrote in a three week sitting. However, I’m sure that legend is somewhat misleading. Though Sagan may have got the initial splurge down on paper in three weeks, it probably took many months of overhaul to bring to publishable standard.
Everyone writes differently. Everyone has their own approach. Some may write 2,000 words a day but may only be able to use about 200 of them come editing stage. Others might get 100 down, but they’ll be good, solid words you can bring forward. The former write from the outside in, the latter move slowly from the inside out.
‘Outsiders’ write manically, getting the story and the words on page. They’ll get a surplus of words on paper relatively quickly and will then spend the next six months to a year editing, rewriting, crafting, pruning and shaping. ‘Insiders’ tend to be methodical planners. They have a very clear idea of where they are going with their novel before they sit to write a single word and then they revise every sentence as they go. This method is quite painstaking, however the writer will not have much of an editing stage as they are, essentially, editing as they go. Therefore, it is hard to say how long it takes to write a novel. That very much depends on your approach.
The Six-Month Challenge
Having said that, I recently read about a ‘six-month’ challenge and I think it is a good regime for beginners. The idea is that you give yourself six months to write 80,000 words. You need to commit to writing 500 words every day. This figure is roughly a page of text, double spaced in 12 point Times New Roman font. Give yourself 45 minutes (at least) per day to deliver. Do not allow internet/phone/family/any distractions to interfere with this time. You may say that you are too busy but we can all find 45 minutes if we try. Get up 45 minutes early, skip your daily soap opera, cut down on your web-surfing etc… You’ll find the time if you want to. By the end of six months, you should have 80,000 words to spend the next six months polishing and editing. I am seriously thinking of doing the ‘six-month challenge’, to work on an idea I’ve had for a novel for a while.
I’m thinking of starting on October 1st. Would any of you be interested in joining me in this exercise. The team spirit would carry us all forward and would keep us focused.
Honk if you’re in!
suehealy 
September 25th, 2011 at 12:30
Good post, Sue. Earlier this year I took part in ‘Write Your Novel In 90 Days’ which concentrated the mind. Six months is good for people who can’t write full time.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:38
Thanks Steve, I’m rather selfishly trying to get a ‘support group’ of fellow six-monthers together. Fingers crossed some will rise to the challenge!
September 25th, 2011 at 12:40
I would offer to join you but I have to finish my current WIP by the end of the year. I just hope I can! Best of luck.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:41
Thanks for the thought and good luck with your WIP!
September 25th, 2011 at 12:44
I really want to do this, but University calls 😦 But that said I may be able to fit 45 minutes aside for a side project, but Im writing so many different forms of media with so many ideas, from a film script to a radio script to 4000 word short story OR 4000 words of the beginning of a longer piece aha.
I might try to do this toward my 4000 word project.
All of the above are for University, how I would love to be able to just sit down and write one thing and invest all my time in it aha.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:49
Hey Dan,
Super! Come on, what have you got to lose? I’ve also got a full time job, a part time job, a screenplay collaboration, a completed novel to edit and a creative writing workshop going on… so, I’ll just have to get up 45 minutes earlier. If I can do it, you can.
At least give it a try for a couple of weeks?
September 25th, 2011 at 12:45
[…] Write a Novel in 6 months How long does it take to write a novel? When I was a teen, my favourite novel was Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan which the young Frenchwoman supposedly wrote in a three week sitting. Howev… Source: suehealy.wordpress.com […]
September 25th, 2011 at 12:53
What a great idea, Sue. I am into serious final polishing so won’t be able to join you this time, but I wish everyone well. And, by the way, I am one of those insiders you mention. Also going back the next day and rereading, polishing the previous day’s pages helps me get back into the story. I guess I’m vain but I really like reading my own words. It gives me joy and that’s why we write, isn’t it?
September 25th, 2011 at 13:58
Dear Elaine, I’m an outsider and once I’ve written something, I can’t bear to look at it again for weeks. My housemate, also a writer, writes just as you do and spends hours pouring over her work. For every ten stories I write, she writes one. Her one, however, is usually stellar and she has no problem selling it/publishing it. From my ten, seven will probably never fly – but three will go somewhere. I guess we all just write to suit our own needs, wants and personalities and we all get to the same place in end so it doesn’t matter how we do it, so long as its done. Pity you’re not joining us, but thanks for cheering from the sidelines. Wishing you well with your polishing!
September 25th, 2011 at 13:09
Love your blog, Sue. I’d really like to join you but need to get through the busyness of my last semester at university first – plus I’ll be on tour with a show when 1 October ticks over, making it tricky. So I’m going to shoot for 1 November to start my challenge, and will trail a month behind you!
September 25th, 2011 at 13:59
Hi Sunday! Thanks for the comment. Let’s put you down for a November start then, shall we ; )
September 25th, 2011 at 15:33
Oh, man, the last thing I need is to give myself another challenge, buuut….
They’re so tempting! I’m the type of writer who thrives on things like outside structures and deadlines. I usually bite off more than I can chew and don’t actually reach those goals, but they allow me to actually still get a lot more done than I would have in the first place.
So at the moment, count me in with you, Sue! I’ve got A Round of Words in 80 Days coming up on October 3rd, 750 words keeping me busy daily, and National Novel Writing Month starts in November, which will intersect with these Six Months (oh, and I might be trying The Weekend Novelist soon, too), but what’s one more?
It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But sparing 45 minutes a day on another possible novel sounds like a challenge I want to go ahead and try.
I’ll just have to start keeping a checklist of all my different projects soon! Ha! So, five days to think of another possible plot! And the team spirit of doing something like this with other people makes a world of difference, too. I’m excited!
September 25th, 2011 at 22:51
Excellent Ellis, you won’t regret it!
September 25th, 2011 at 16:58
Honk, I’m in. I’ll begin straight after NaNoWriMo.
September 25th, 2011 at 22:50
Super, James! Thanks for honking!
September 25th, 2011 at 23:34
I am so in! I’ve been trying to kick-start a novel, but know I need to be consistent instead of a once a week writing spree. Thanks for the inspiration! Let’s keep each other on track!
September 25th, 2011 at 23:45
Yay! Welcome on board Andraya!
September 26th, 2011 at 00:05
Hi Sue, this is a very interesting project. Am currently proof-reading/editing a manuscript I’ve submitted for a competition, have a 3/4-finished novel I need to finish before I can work on another one, and have a 3-week overseas trip in December. Taking on this project might be the quickest way to shoot myself in the foot…
Next time, though… 😉
September 26th, 2011 at 00:35
Hi Maria, I’ll hold you to it next time : )
September 26th, 2011 at 09:12
Oh my – what a temptress you are. I have the bones of my new story & it would be a perfect project for your challenge.
But… I have to finish the final revision of the WIP. It’s the crucial, polishing stage & already I’m allowing the new story too much head space.
That said, I like the idea of attempting to get the new story down in some form or another in six months. So maybe later…
September 26th, 2011 at 17:49
Go on…
September 26th, 2011 at 14:15
[…] Sue Healy’s 6-Month Challenge: The other day, the wonderful Sue Healy posted about another fun challenge on her blog: write a novel of 80,0000 words in 6 months (approximately 500 words a day). She suggests (and I’m taking her up on it) to dedicate about 45 minutes each day specifically for this task, without distractions or anything else pulling away from the writing. The idea is that if you take six months to pump out the words, you have six months to polish and clean and edit, and will have a novel ready within a year. Sue’s starting her 6-Month Challenge on October 1st, and I’ll be there with her. How about you? […]
September 26th, 2011 at 18:42
I’m in. If I don’t start sometime, I will probably never write anything. It’s about time to make things happen. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement!
September 26th, 2011 at 18:50
Great Amy, we’ll encourage and support each other – all the way over the finishing line : )
September 26th, 2011 at 20:46
Count me in!!! ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ;]
September 26th, 2011 at 22:36
Whoohoo! welcome aboard!
September 26th, 2011 at 23:22
I was going to write a litany of reasons why I could not do this. And then I remembered something…that is how I went into a 14 year non-writing funk. There are obstacles everywhere, so HONK, I am in.
September 26th, 2011 at 23:24
Honk right backatcha Rob! Welcome aboard. Super!
September 27th, 2011 at 01:40
Even though I’m probably going to get shouted at for adding another WIP to the list, this sounds interesting enough a concept to compliment the other “book in…” challenges (and I’m another NaNoer as well). If I keep writing novels, sooner or later I’m bound to hit upon something which doesn’t make agents recoil in horror…
September 27th, 2011 at 07:49
Marvellous! And yes, the more you write the greater your chances are that you”ll produce gold some day. Welcome aboard!
September 27th, 2011 at 22:44
I’m in!
September 27th, 2011 at 23:57
I am glad!
October 2nd, 2011 at 02:21
Off to a running start … 945 words and counting.
I’ll sync up however the group decides. I tend to write a little during the week and a lot on weekends.
October 2nd, 2011 at 13:23
Well done, Gillian. I’m matching you in the word count. Go go go! : )
September 29th, 2011 at 15:13
I’m in. How are we checking in with each other?
September 29th, 2011 at 20:13
Marvellous Kori!
I have to admit, when I suggested this challenge, I wasn’t thinking any further than a couple of writers who might want to send each other encouraging comments when flagging… but I’ve had such a great response, I feel the challenge deserves a little more shape and attention.
As I mentioned yesterday, I’m actually not going to be around on Oct. 1st so I’m not sure that I’ll be able to blog on the launch of 6-month Novel until Monday. So… ummm… let’s see, what about if I post my word count on Monday 3rd and it should be 1500 and you should aim to hit the same total on Oct. 3rd. And lets have a 6-month Novel virtual meeting on Monday re how to structure. In the meantime, all suggestions are welcome.
Sue.
September 30th, 2011 at 00:32
[…] https://suehealy.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/write-a-novel-in-6months/ […]
September 30th, 2011 at 00:35
Thanks, Sue. I reposted this challenge on my blog:korimiller.wordpress.com (Kori Miller Writes).
September 30th, 2011 at 23:51
Thanks Kori!!
September 30th, 2011 at 00:39
Excellent post and idea. Though I’m planning to participate in NaNoWriMo come November, I know that once that challenge is done I will lose an excuse to write. Without motivation the words don’t come often.
So count me in, I love a good writing challenge. Besides I’m sure I can squeeze in an extra 45 minutes of writing during the month of November and can give me something else to work on if/when I get stuck on a scene of my other project.
September 30th, 2011 at 00:57
i will take the challenge, starting today but I have to admit, I’m going to cheat a little – I’m going to use my system 3by3, so unfortunately I won’t be starting the novel for about two weeks. I have to complete the first part of the plan.
September 30th, 2011 at 23:52
No probs. That kind of ‘cheating’ doesn’t count. So, yay! for coming on board
September 30th, 2011 at 14:05
[…] for me in that month, not to mention it being one more step closer to November. Tomorrow starts Sue Healy’s Novel-in-Six-Months project, and I have not been able to dedicate the time I wanted to in planning just which novel […]
September 30th, 2011 at 22:25
Hi Sue, great idea this, but I won’t “honk” at this stage as I have my eye on Nano yet again. I would like to see how those of you have decided to give this a go get on. If I may, I;d like to tag on a bit later, if that’s okay. (depending on how bad I do with Nano, again.) Best of luck with it. Jim.
October 1st, 2011 at 17:21
[…] not…you should!). About a week ago, Sue put out that she was going to challenge herself to write a novel in 6 months. She threw out the call for others who might light to join her, and many people, myself included, […]
October 2nd, 2011 at 13:44
[…] to write in this blog today, I was also struggling with the words I had written yesterday for the 6 Month Challenge. I wasn’t pleased with how I had started. It begins with an approach to the setting, and the […]
October 3rd, 2011 at 13:51
[…] –Novel in 6 Months: I’ve been writing my 45 minutes delicately so far, giving me 2880 words so far! It’s off to a great start, though I’m starting to wonder if this this how I want to start the book. I will not go back and rewrite it, though, tempting as it may be. 77,120 words to go! […]
October 3rd, 2011 at 13:51
[…] –Novel in 6 Months: I’ve been writing my 45 minutes delicately so far, giving me 2880 words so far! It’s off to a great start, though I’m starting to wonder if this this how I want to start the book. I will not go back and rewrite it, though, tempting as it may be. 77,120 words to go! […]
October 5th, 2011 at 02:00
I only just saw this post, but I want to catch up. I think my problem is, I have to just stop making excuses, cut out some tv and apply bum to chair in front of the computer. 500 words a day makes it seem more palatable.
October 5th, 2011 at 07:48
Well, come onboard!
November 7th, 2011 at 11:08
I have found that I write “Inside Out”. I don’t like to write write write and then have to edit edit edit. I think if I ever got to this stage I would be driven crazy and eventually lose momentum.
I feel that plotting out my story makes it easier to incorporate twists and turns without veering off track from the plot.