How Long Does It Take To Ghostwrite A Novel?

Writing a novel is a difficult and time-consuming process. It can take years to write a great book, especially if you’re working on your first novel. 

Some people will tell you that it’s possible to write a novel in just 6 months or less, but that’s not always realistic. How long does it take to ghostwrite a novel? If you want an answer to this question, read on!

Takeaways
Collaborating with a ghostwriter can save time and effort in writing a novel.
The timeline for ghostwriting a novel varies based on factors such as length and complexity.
Effective communication and a clear outline are crucial for a smooth collaboration with a ghostwriter.
Ghostwriters maintain strict confidentiality throughout the project.
Revisions and feedback are essential to ensure the final manuscript meets the author’s vision and expectations.

Take Familiarity With The Genre Into Account

You may be a prolific author, but if you don’t know the genre well, your chances of success are slim. 

You need to know your audience who they are, what they like, and why. In addition to knowing this about them, you should also know the market in which your novel will be competing for attention. 

Finally, consider the trends within that genre; these can help guide decisions about plot points and characters (not to mention whether or not it’s time for new technology).

While all of these factors can be learned by reading other books within a given genre, sometimes it helps when someone else has already done some of the heavy liftings for you by doing so themselves with another book in that same category. 

This will allow you to focus on writing rather than having to figure out what type of content is best suited for readers and publishers alike

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If You’re Writing A Series, It Doesn’t Take As Long To Write The Next Book

The first book is often the hardest because you’re introducing all of your characters and setting up your plot. The second book will be easier to write, not least because readers now know who these people are, how they relate to each other, and what they’re up against. 

By the time we get to Book 3 or 4 in a series we’ve created an entire world and if you have an established brand like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings then even more so! 

And once someone knows your characters well enough (or at least has read enough interviews with them), writing about them becomes much less difficult than it was at first because you already know them inside out.

How Long Does It Take To Ghostwrite A Novel? A 60,000 Word YA Novel Takes 3 Months

How long does it take to write a novel? That depends on the length of your novel. A 60,000-word YA novel takes about 3 months for me to complete, which is about 250 words per hour. 

But there are other factors involved: my writing schedule, whether or not I have other projects going on at the time (and what those projects are), and so on.

If you have an idea for a book that’s been brewing in your mind but you don’t know where to start, ghostwriting can help! You can leave all the hard parts up to us while still taking full credit when your book hits shelves.

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It’s Easier To Write Quickly When You Don’t Have To Do All The Work

You’ll find that there’s an element of speed in ghostwriting. This is because you’re not doing all the work yourself. When you have someone who knows what they’re doing helping you write a novel, it’s easier to get things done quickly and efficiently.

But remember that this process isn’t a single event; it’s a series of events and steps that need to be completed for your novel to be finished on time and at an appropriate quality level for publication or submission. 

It can help if you keep this in mind as you go through each step, so that when one step seems to be taking longer than expected (and believe us it will), don’t get frustrated and give up! Just keep working through it until the project is complete, one small piece at a time.

You Can Expect Each Ghostwriting Project To Be Different

Many factors can affect the time it takes to write a novel. Each book will have different requirements and deadlines, different authors and editors, and even different publishers. 

As you begin to take on more ghostwriting projects, you’ll start to get a feel for how long certain types of writing projects take (for example, how long does it take to write a children’s picture book vs. an adult thriller?). 

But even then, each project will be unique in some way maybe with an unusual topic or format or audience type that requires extra research time.

You may also find that your writing style changes depending on whether you’re working on someone else’s idea versus coming up with your concept from scratch. 

The longer you do this kind of work, the more comfortable you’ll become with different kinds of projects and what they entail which makes it easier to plan out how long it should take before getting started!

How Long Does It Take To Ghostwrite A Book? It Depends On The Author’s Availability

You’ve got your author on board, and they’re ready to work. But when do you expect to see the finished book? How long will it take them?

It depends on the author’s availability. If they have a full-time job or are busy with other projects, it could take longer than expected. If they’re available to meet regularly, however (and if their schedule allows for it), then you can expect the project to be completed relatively quickly.

How Long Does It Take To Ghostwrite A Novel? You’ll Want A Timeline And Deadlines For Yourself And Your Client

The first thing you need to do is set a deadline for yourself, and the second thing you need to do is give your client a deadline. You should have a timeline that shows how long each stage of the process takes, with deadlines for each step in between. 

You should also give your client a timeline showing how long it will take them to read through their draft and make any changes (and check back on this with them periodically if possible).

Once all of that has been set up and agreed upon by both parties involved, then it’s up to you as the ghostwriter to maintain regular contact with both your client and yourself so that everyone knows where they stand on things like revisions or edits.

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Don’t Be Afraid Of Self-Editing

It may seem like it’s easier to edit someone else’s work than your own, but that’s not always true. 

When we edit other writers’ work, we are free from our perspectives and can evaluate the story objectively sometimes more objectively than you would be able to do if you were looking at it through your own eyes.

On the other hand, when you are self-editing, you have all of your ideas about what is good or bad in a story running around in your head as well as any personal biases that could affect how thorough an editor you are. 

But there is nothing wrong with this; it just means that for some authors who have trouble editing themselves (and most do), ghostwriting may be the best option for them!

Paying For An Editor/ Proofreader Will Help You Write Faster!

If you’re not sure about the spelling, grammar, and punctuation, it’s a good idea to pay for an editor. The more concise your writing is, the faster you can write. An editor will also help make sure that your writing is clear (not just grammatically correct).

A good editor will also tell you if any sentence or paragraph can be shortened without losing anything important. This saves time because it means less editing later on.

So Will Staying Organized!

The easiest way to stay organized is to use a calendar. You can use a physical calendar that you check daily or an app on your smartphone or computer. 

It’s also important to keep track of the documents you write in one place so that it’s easy to find them again later when you’re working on revisions.

Another great way of staying organized is by using folders. The best thing about this method is that it allows you flexibility because there are many different ways in which they can be set up: 

Some people prefer using a physical folder while others prefer using cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive. Some authors even write their work directly into Microsoft Word!

Some Contractors Make Things More Difficult Than Others!

If you’re working with someone very organized, they’ll tell you what they need and when they need it. They’ll make sure that the manuscript is ready to go with plenty of time to spare. They’ll also give you plenty of space for revisions.

Some Contractors Are More Flexible Than Others

Some contractors are so busy with their projects that they don’t have time to do their best work for yours. If your contractor’s schedule is packed, you may be able to offer them more money in exchange for being flexible about deadlines and revisions

Some Contractors Are More Attentive Than Others

If your contractor wants this deal badly enough, he/she will pay attention! But if not… well then it might be worth finding someone else who will

Don’t Get Stuck In The Research Phase!

The one thing you don’t want to do is get stuck in one phase of the process.

Don’t be stuck in the research phase! Research is important, but it’s also easy to get bogged down by it. 

The best way to avoid getting stuck doing research forever is by making sure that you start with a solid outline or detailed notes so that you have a good idea of what needs to be included in each chapter and how much information you need for each section.

Don’t get stuck in editing! Editing can easily take up months of your time if you let it go on too long, but no matter how thorough an editor maybe there are always going to be parts of the book that don’t make sense (or even seem okay).

Until after they’ve been read through several times by different people who weren’t involved with writing them originally so keep this in mind when deciding how long works best for editing periods as well as proofreading sessions later on down the road before publishing day arrives! 

Don’t get stuck formatting either! Formatting can take hours depending on how much work goes into making sure everything looks perfect at all times throughout all areas where text appears within ebooks/kindle devices/etc., etc., etc…and sometimes even those ugly bugs show up right before release date 🙂

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If You’re Struggling With Motivation, Move On To Something Else For A While!

If you’re struggling to get motivated, perhaps it’s time to take a break. When you’re stuck on a project and feel like quitting, this is the best way to get yourself back on track. 

If you’re not getting paid much and need the money, then don’t feel guilty about taking a break if it means ensuring you’ll be able to continue with your work in the future. The most important thing is to not get frustrated with yourself or give up entirely. 

Don’t force yourself into sticking with something that isn’t working for you at that moment; instead, find something else that does work for you!

Don’t Push Yourself Past Your Limits Or Go Without Breaks!

You are going to need to take care of yourself to make it through the grueling process of writing a novel, so keep that in mind as you work! 

Make sure that you’re getting enough sleep, eating properly, and exercising regularly. Don’t forget about taking time off for fun activities as well; this is an important part of being productive.

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Conclusion

I hope this has been a helpful guide for you. Before we finish, I want to reiterate that your mileage may vary and it’s important to remember that every ghostwriting project is different! 

All writers have their strengths and weaknesses, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to writing speed. 

However, if you follow these tips and keep yourself organized throughout each project (and throughout your life!), then hopefully you’ll find the process much easier!

Further Reading

The Writers for Hire – How Long Does It Take to Write a Book with a Ghostwriter?: Gain insights into the timeline and process involved in collaborating with a ghostwriter to bring your book to life.

Ghostwriting Proficiency Blog – How Long Does It Take to Ghostwrite a Book?: Discover the factors affecting the duration of ghostwriting a book and how to ensure a successful partnership.

The Urban Writers Blog – How Long Does It Take to Ghostwrite Your Book?: Explore the time frame and considerations involved in the ghostwriting process for authors aspiring to publish their books.

FAQs

How long does it typically take to ghostwrite a novel?

The timeline for ghostwriting a novel can vary based on factors like the book’s length, complexity, and the writer’s experience. On average, it may take several months to a year to complete a full-length novel.

What factors affect the duration of the ghostwriting process?

Several factors can impact the time it takes to ghostwrite a book, including the scope of the project, the availability of information and research materials, the level of collaboration between the author and ghostwriter, and the writer’s workload.

How can I ensure a smooth collaboration with my ghostwriter?

To foster a successful partnership with your ghostwriter, clear communication, well-defined expectations, and regular updates are essential. Establishing a detailed outline or book proposal at the beginning can also streamline the writing process.

Will the ghostwriter maintain confidentiality throughout the project?

Yes, professional ghostwriters adhere to strict confidentiality agreements, ensuring that all information shared during the project remains private and confidential.

Can I request revisions during the ghostwriting process?

Absolutely. Revisions and feedback are common in the ghostwriting process to ensure that the final manuscript meets your vision and expectations. Maintaining open communication with the ghostwriter is key to achieving the desired outcome.