A 20 Minute-Per-Day Guide To Writing A Book In 10 Days

I know what you’re thinking: it’s impossible to write a book in 10 days with only 20 minutes of work every day. You’re right. It is impossible. 

But what if I told you that I did it anyway? With the help of some friends who helped keep me accountable, yes: with their help and my own determination, I wrote my first book in just over two weeks. And then another one! And now here we are. So, let’s get started!

Key Takeaways
1. Consistency is Key: Dedicate 20 minutes daily to writing, ensuring steady progress towards completing your book in 10 days.
2. Focused Writing Sessions: Make the most of each 20-minute session by eliminating distractions and focusing solely on writing.
3. Set Achievable Goals: Break down your book’s content into manageable chunks for each day to prevent overwhelm.
4. Quick Brainstorming: Spend a portion of your writing time brainstorming ideas to keep your creative flow steady.
5. Revision and Polishing: Allocate time for reviewing and polishing your work after the initial writing phase to refine your book.
6. Embrace Imperfection: Understand that your initial draft won’t be perfect, but the key is to get your ideas down on paper.
7. Celebrate Progress: Celebrate your achievements after each 20-minute writing session to maintain motivation and enthusiasm.
8. Stay Organized: Keep track of your daily progress and adjust your writing plan as needed to meet your 10-day goal.
9. Build a Writing Routine: Establishing a consistent routine can make it easier to commit to daily writing sessions.
10. Enjoy the Process: Embrace the challenge of writing a book in a short timeframe and remember to enjoy the creative journey.

Set A Schedule

Setting a schedule is the single most important thing you can do to finish your book. This is because, if you don’t have a set schedule, every opportunity will be used as an excuse to not write and “come back tomorrow.”

The best way to set your schedule is by using the Pomodoro Technique (also known as time management). The Pomodoro technique has several steps:

• Pick one task that’s manageable for 25 minutes and then focus on it until the timer rings.
• After every four pomodoros (25-minute chunks), take a 5-minute break where you can check emails or read articles related to your topic/project.
• Take a 15-30 minute break after completing 4-6 pomodoros of work depending on how much energy you have left at the end of each session!

Building a solid foundation for your writing journey is essential. Learn more about How to Write a Book, Part 3: Don’t Give Up and discover valuable insights that can help you stay motivated and persistent throughout the process.

Declare It To Others

It’s important to share your goal with others. This will help you achieve it because of the accountability factor and the support, motivation, and inspiration you will receive from those around you.

You can tell friends about it via social media if you like, but I prefer to talk person-to-person with people who are close to me and whom I respect and trust. 

If they don’t know what a book is yet, then let them know it is a manuscript that contains written content meant for publishing! 

It doesn’t matter if they write books themselves or not they just need some understanding of what writing a book entails so they can understand your intentions better and give good advice (because we all love getting good advice!).

Use A Daily Planner (Or Bullet Journal, Or Microsoft Onenote)

I’m going to assume that you already have a daily planner. If not, get one. I love the Leuchtturm1917 planners because they are durable and have an uncoated paper that allows me to write on both sides of the page with ease. 

The only reason I use the Leuchtturm1917 is that it is what my local bookstore carries but there are plenty of other good options out there, too!

If you don’t have a daily planner yet or if your current one isn’t working for you, I suggest trying something different but whatever it is, keep track of everything! You need some way of keeping track of progress and this will help prevent writer’s block by allowing flexibility in your schedule while still giving structure to your day.

I find that bullet journaling works well for me because there are so many different ways to use them as far as organization goes and there are also tons of resources online which can help guide you through creating one if this sounds overwhelming at first glance (see below).

Writing a book is all about efficiency and smart strategies. Discover how the article How I Knocked Down Book Writing from 48 Hours to 3 provides valuable techniques to streamline your writing process and achieve your goals faster.

Set Vague, Unambitious Goals

You can’t achieve what you don’t set out to achieve. That’s why it’s important to set goals that are ambitious, but not too ambitious. It’s also important to set goals that are easy, but not too easy. Finally, it’s important to set goals that are vague and unambitious for maximum laziness.

To help you do all of these things in a way that is most likely to keep you from ever writing your book or making a change or doing anything at all ever again without feeling guilty about it, here is an example of how I would write my goal statements: “I want this thing.” “I am going to do this thing.”

If we look at my initial list of steps above (start writing now), one might notice an obvious contradiction between them: if I’m supposed to start writing now, then why is there nothing about actually starting? 

Well… duh! Because if I started right away then this article would be done before anyone had even read it and then there wouldn’t be any reason for anyone else besides me (and maybe the author) to keep reading after the first paragraph!

Start Small

The first step is to start small. Any writer knows that it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of your ideas and get swept away by the vision of what you want your book to be like, but don’t let yourself do this! Instead, focus on writing something that people will read now.

Your goal is not just writing a good book—it’s getting one written so that others can enjoy it too. The best way to achieve this goal is by starting small with a single chapter or section of your book and working from there.

This will help keep things manageable for you as a writer and make sure that your work gets done so others can read it too!

Let Your Brain Do The Heavy Lifting

In the beginning, you don’t have to worry about writing perfect sentences or even paragraphs. Your job is to just write down your ideas, which will allow your brain to work on them while you focus on something else. 

A good way to keep yourself focused is by setting a timer for 20 minutes and limiting yourself to that period. Once this period expires, take a break from writing and then come back to it later when inspiration strikes again!

Crafting a book that resonates with readers is an art. Explore the techniques discussed in How to Write a Book Everyone Will Read and Love to create a compelling narrative that captures hearts and minds.

Don’t Write Too Much In A Single Day

I’ve read stories of writers who have written an entire novel in a single day and it was good. They were able to achieve this because they understood their character, and their structure and pacing were tight.

This is not you right now. You don’t know what you’re doing (yet), so if your story takes the form of a novel, it’s going to be hard to tell where one day ends and another begins; when you’re writing too much for any given day, your reader will feel it too: it will feel like a slog instead of being enjoyable or interesting.

Write as much as feels comfortable for one day if that means 30 minutes from start to finish or six hours spread across several sessions, decide what works best for your schedule before starting each session so that there’s no pressure on yourself later down the line when things get tough mentally or emotionally (which can happen).

Write When You Wake Up, Or Before Bed

You’ll be more productive if you set aside time to write when you are fresh. If you’re writing at night, make sure it doesn’t interfere with your ability to sleep. If you wake up early, grab a cup of coffee and get going on your book!

Writing before bed can help you unwind from the day. Getting into a routine where you write for 20 minutes before bed can be helpful for those who struggle with insomnia or anxiety because it allows them to release their thoughts in a healthy way instead of getting caught up in them all night long and not sleeping at all.

Also, many writers find that waking up early gives them an energy boost throughout the day; being able to jump right into writing gives them an advantage over others who have yet to start their day!

Use A Writing App That Won’t Waste Your Time

When you’re working on your book, it is important to use a writing app that won’t waste your time. If you are distracted by sending emails and browsing Facebook every few minutes, then you will not be able to write as fast or as efficiently as possible. Ideally, the app should help you focus on creating content instead of distracting yourself with other tasks.

If you are writing in Word or Google Docs (or any other word processor), then that’s great! But there’s another option: using an online writing platform like Ulysses or Final Draft. 

These apps will help keep track of all your documents in one place so they’re easy to access and reference later on down the road when re-reading chapters for revisions or edits before publishing them online

Time is precious when it comes to writing. Uncover the secret to boosting your writing speed in the article The Secret to Writing a Book 6x Faster Than You Think and learn how to make the most out of your writing sessions.

It’s Possible To Write A Book In 10 Days With Only 20 Minutes Of Work Every Day

You’ll need a place where you can write without distractions or interruptions. The location you choose should be quiet, and it shouldn’t have any competing priorities for your attention.

When choosing this writing space, consider the following:

Your home office is probably not an ideal location if there’s a lot of background noise that will distract you, such as children running around or other family members watching TV in the next room (or even in the same room).

If your job requires that you work from home one day per week, try not to do your book writing on those days if possible; otherwise, it’s too easy to lose track of time and end up working longer hours than expected and then burn out before reaching the end by Saturday night!

If possible, find somewhere outside where there’s some peace but still offers some company in case people come by unexpectedly (e.g., neighbors walking their dogs).

Achieving your publishing goals can be a reality with the right strategies. Dive into the details provided in How to Publish a Book in the Next Three Months to gain insights into expediting your publishing timeline and getting your book out into the world sooner.

Conclusion

Writing a book is a big undertaking. It can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to get stuck in the weeds of your anxiety about writing the “perfect” book. But if you follow the steps above, you will have written your book in 10 days!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources that can provide further insights and tips on writing a book:

How to Write a Book in 10 Days Short Description: Learn a unique approach to completing your book in just 10 days through efficient writing techniques and time management strategies.

How to Write a Book: The Complete Guide Short Description: Explore a comprehensive guide covering all aspects of writing a book, from idea generation to publishing, with practical tips and advice.

How to Write a Book Short Description: Delve into this guide that offers step-by-step guidance on planning, drafting, and polishing your book, ensuring a smooth writing journey.

FAQs

How can I write a book in a short timeframe?

Writing a book in a short timeframe requires efficient planning, focused writing sessions, and effective time management. Consider strategies like outlining your content, setting daily word goals, and minimizing distractions.

What are some essential steps to start writing a book?

To start writing a book, begin with a clear concept and outline. Define your target audience, create a detailed plot or structure, and establish a writing schedule to maintain consistency.

How can I overcome writer’s block during the writing process?

Writer’s block can be frustrating, but there are ways to overcome it. Try changing your writing environment, free-writing to generate ideas, or taking a break and returning with a fresh perspective.

What tips can help me stay motivated while writing a book?

Staying motivated involves setting achievable goals, rewarding yourself for milestones, seeking inspiration from other authors, and reminding yourself of the impact your book can have.

How do I edit and revise my book effectively?

Effective editing involves multiple rounds of review. Start by addressing big-picture issues like plot and character development, then move on to sentence-level revisions for clarity and style. Consider seeking feedback from beta readers or professionals.