How long does it take to finish writing a novel?

Question

Maybe its just me, but I always spend AGES finishing one. I write, if I'm in the mood, just about as fast as I read books - and that's about 20 pages per hour, the paperback ones, small print and small format of paper. Still, it takes me generally 3 years to finish a short story that would be about 100 pages, and 5 years to finish a manuscript that would be about 400 pages.
I put my heart and soul into those stories, and after I've finally finished them, despite my desire to share my fiction with the world, I decide its not good enough and needs too much correcting, and it ends up in the bin. (the short story still needs reviewing of the last part)
Many of my manuscripts have ended up in the bin like that, and while I once had a good thriller and suspense, and a couple of movie scripts to my name, I'm now left over with my most recent projects; 2 fantasy stories and a horror short story, which is finished.
I hear most writers need at most a year. What is wrong with me?

Answer 1

It takes me about a year and a half to finish one.
I think there is nothing wrong with you. There is nothing wrong with being a perfectionist. But don't throw you stories in to the bin. If it is needed to be fixed then fix it. And when you write don't worry about the perfection. That what the editors are for. Deciding whether your stories are good enough is the agents and publishers' jobs. So sit back and relax. Put your ideas down the paper (or screen), that's all. Good luck!

Answer 2

Well i'm 2/3rds into my novel (a thriller/horror/fantasy) which is quite an involved detailed plot- so far i've been writing it for 8 or 9 months, but I aim to complete it by August so I'm in talks with literary agents right now which gives me a deadline.If I didn't have that deadline I would probably still be sat here messing about on the p.c come August and be no further on! I try to have a structured week of work & play that also incorporates time for my girlfriend and our teenager. I used to be really lazy when it came to writing and just did it when I felt like it, but now I try to write every other day even if I only write 1 page..it's slowly coming together. I have a file full of previous works ranging from hundreds of short stories either in their complete form or just notes for ideas, and four or five novels - all just over half complete. The author Kelley Armstrong told me to just put them aside for now and don't throw them away, come back to them even if it's years later when you have fresh eyes & ideas. Work on one thing at a time though- it's too distracting to write shorts & full lengths at once and weakens your novel!! I think you need to get a schedule together if you are serious about writing,you seem to rush through it (20 pages an hour is way to fast) you need to allow yourself time to think clearly and time to read each page back to yourself as it's completed. Don't give up though-it's a very rewarding hobby/career.

Answer 3

I got a book accepted by a publisher once, took me 5 years to write it. I decided to withdraw it as I thought the plot was too simple when I read through the proof-reading copy they gave me back.
I have completed 6 novels, a book of poems, 4 plays and a book of short stories. All of these I have scrapped. I am working on "Feather's Story" which is a sci-fi thriller set in a police state in the far future. I will scrap it when I am finished writing it. 7 months work so far, another 2 months or so I will finish it and I will scrap it a week or so later.

So you are not alone in your problem. I think that the speed you work at is nothing to do with the quality. I spent 2 weeks writing a play which stands as my best work and the only thing I have ever made I am happy with. It's the only text of mine I have not scrapped and I hope it will one day be performed on stage. But it contains swearing and nudity so I can't publish it in case I have kids one day.

I don't think there is anything wrong with you.

Answer 4

Nothing is wrong with you. If you're not a professional writer (that is someone who gets paid to write) I think the three years is a reasonable time to write a book. All the corrections, etc... are typical for all writers. Don't worry about it. But you might want to try to submit them to agents or publishers to at least get informative rejection slips that tell you what's wrong with them and what's right with them. If you get form rejection slips then there's a LOT wrong with it.

You're correct, professional writers usually take one year to write a novel.

You also might want to review how to tell a story. While I think you're probably doing fine, that might help you if you're making first-time writer mistakes over and over without knowing.. Check out tutorials on http://www.storyentertainment.com and other sites.

I also recommend three books, in this order:

1) Story by Robert McKee
2) Screenplay by Syd Field (never mind that it's about screenwriting -- storytelling is identical)
3) On Writing by Stephen King

Answer 5

You really are having a problem, aren't you.

The answer is that it takes you as long as it takes you, and I wouldn't give a f*** about how long it takes anyone else.

Incidentally, re the previous answerer - if he/she is afraid of letting a piece of work containing swearing and nudity into the public domain because his/her putative kids might see it some day, then s/he hasn't the cojones to be writing anything professionally. Life is full of swearing and nudity and it's not all that difficult to just steer your kids away from it. I read 'Naked Lunch' aged 13, and it didn't make me want to take heroin or sleep with men.

Sorry, that wasn't your question. It sounds like you need to submit your work to someone like an editor or a publisher, or if you already are doing that, then do it more often, because you're supposed to think that it's not good enough, even when it's been published.

Answer 6

If you spend 3 years on something, why throw it in the bin? Putting your work out for others to review is part of the writing process. Get your work out of the bin, and don't be afraid to ask others for help in revising and editing. Unless you enjoy toiling over something just to throw it away....

Try joining an online critique forum like http://critters.org or http://fmwriters.com - There are many people there who enjoy helping others.

Let go of your fear and step out.

Answer 7

Sometimes years. My favorite author Stephen King has started books and set them aside a few years more than once. Namely The Dark Tower series.

Answer 8

Maybe you're just trying to hard. I believe that in writing there really is no such thing as perfection. Sometimes what you think may not be good enough really is rather excellent. So don't you be the judge of your final work, let others, your readers, be that. Write as you read, for enjoyment.

Answer 9

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I ALWAYS END UP, WITHOUT A DOUBT, STARTING SOMETHING THINKING 'ooh its going to be great' TO FIND I COME TO A STANDSTILL AND FORGET ABOUT IT, SO BASICALLY WRITING ISNT REALLY MY THING, (maybe i shouldnt be answering this question :o) )BUT IF I AM DOING SOME SORT OF WRITING PROJECT THEN GENERALLY I TRY TO DO A BIT EACH DAY, EVEN IF IT IS JUST AN HOUR OR SO, I FIND ITS JUST NICE TO SEE MY WORK DEVELOPING AS I ADD TO IT. DO YOU FIND THAT? ANYHOW, YOURE FAR BETTER AND FAR QUICKER AT WRITING AND FINISHING YOUR STORIES THAN ME, AND JUST REMEMBER THE STORY OF THE HARE AND THE TURTLE, 'slow and steady wins the race'!!! ;)

Answer 10

If you're having issues, try National Novel Writing Month in November. There's tips and tricks, not to mention suggestions and support. Thirty days to write 50,000 words.

Nothing is wrong with you, honey.