It’s possible to write a novel in 30 days, but I’m not going to pretend it’ll be easy. If you’ve got the discipline and determination to write your novel in a month and stick with it through thick and thin then by all means give this strategy a try.
But if it sounds like too much work, don’t worry: There’s no shame in taking longer than 30 days (or even several months) to write your first draft.
And remember that no matter how long it takes for you to finish writing your first draft, the most important thing is that by the end of it you feel proud of what you’ve accomplished!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Time Management is Crucial: Plan dedicated writing time around your day job schedule to ensure consistent progress on your novel. |
| 2. Set Achievable Goals: Break down your novel-writing process into manageable daily or weekly goals to stay on track. |
| 3. Embrace a Structured Approach: Develop a clear outline and structure for your novel before you start writing to maintain focus. |
| 4. Capture Ideas Efficiently: Use tools like notebooks or apps to capture creative ideas throughout the day, even while at work. |
| 5. Maximize Productivity Windows: Utilize your most productive times of day for writing, even if it means adjusting your routine. |
| 6. Prioritize Self-Care: Balancing a job and novel writing requires self-care; ensure you’re getting enough rest and relaxation. |
| 7. Stay Flexible: Adapt your writing plan as needed to accommodate unexpected work demands or personal commitments. |
| 8. Edit and Revise Strategically: Allocate time for editing and revising your draft after completing the initial writing phase. |
| 9. Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, whether completing chapters or hitting word count goals. |
| 10. Believe in Your Story: Trust your ability to write a novel alongside your day job, and stay motivated by your passion for storytelling. |
Don’t Plan Too Much
I know it’s tempting to plan and outline before you start writing, but I recommend against this.
When we try to plan too much ahead of time, we often get bogged down in the details and lose sight of our overall goals. It’s better to write an entire draft first and then edit and revise it later on.
Don’t worry about what other people will think when they read your novel. The only opinion that matters at this stage is yours!
Also, don’t worry about whether or not your story has a “happy ending.” There will be plenty of time for editing after the first draft is finished.
At this point, all you need is an idea (and hopefully some notes) for how your story will start and end everything else should go into the first draft without being planned out beforehand
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Use Your Imagination To Work Out Any Plot Problems You May Encounter Along The Way
Don’t worry about the plot. You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going with your novel before sitting down to write. That would be like trying to build a house without knowing the blueprint or buying materials and tools for it before starting construction it won’t happen!
Don’t worry about characters and setting at this point either. Just let them emerge through your writing process as they need to, and edit them later if necessary (and trust me they probably will be).
Just forget about words altogether for now; just put pen (or fingers) to paper (or keyboard) and start typing something… anything! I promise that whatever comes out is better than nothing.
This is called “pantsing,” which means writing by instinct rather than planning everything out beforehand and it’s often the best way for new-to-writing beginners like us to go!
Write It Like A Screenplay, Not A Novel
Write it like a screenplay, not a novel. Screenplays are short and punchy they follow linear storylines, they’re visual and action-driven, they’re about characters, they focus on conflict and dialogue, they take place in a setting (usually real or fictional), and they have structure.
Start with the end in mind. This adage is true for both screenplays and novels: you need to know what the final product will look like before you start writing because otherwise how do you know when to stop?
Make sure your story gets from beginning to end with as few side trips as possible by making an outline at the beginning of each scene (or chapter) where necessary.
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Don’t Spend Time Getting Into The Right Mood
Some writers can crank out a novel in a day or two. Some spend years working on the same project. But they all have one thing in common: They don’t worry about getting into the right mood before they start writing.
If you’re like me, you’ll have trouble writing anything if you’re not feeling right. You might be tired or hungry or just not in the mood for something so heavy as putting words on paper (or typing them).
But that’s okay! If you wait until you’re in the right frame of mind, then it will never happen you’ll never finish your first draft because there will always be some other reason why it’s not time yet.
And if there is pressure from loved ones who expect results sooner rather than later, then their expectations will keep you from starting at all!
Set A Minimum Word Count And Stick To It
You must set a minimum word count and stick to it. Don’t worry about how many words you write, or the quality of those words—just that you are writing for at least 30 minutes a day. It’s okay if it’s just garbage; garbage can be edited into gold later!
And don’t let yourself get distracted by other things this is your one chance at being productive during the day, so make sure to give yourself enough time to get some writing done before starting work on the next episode.
Permit Yourself To Write Rubbish. You Can Fix It Later
It’s okay to write rubbish.
You can fix it later, and no one will care if you don’t get it right the first time. You’re not an expert yet, so just let yourself make mistakes!
I know it’s scary to have other people read your work in progress this is why you need to keep a private journal or share only with trusted friends and family until you feel ready for more public scrutiny.
But don’t worry about making mistakes; worry about getting anything written down at all.
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Use Your Commute Or Lunch Hour To Write
Next, you need to set yourself up with a plan. The best way to do this is through the use of a daily word count goal. Think about how many words you’ll be able to write in one day and then divide that number by 30 (the number of days in your 30-day challenge).
The resulting quotient will be how many words per day your goal should be and it must fall within the range of between 1,500 and 2,500 words per day on average.
Now that we have our target word count established, let’s get started! If possible, try to schedule when you’re going to work on your novel during your commute or lunch hour so that it doesn’t interfere with anything else.
If that’s not possible for whatever reason perhaps because there just aren’t enough hours in the day then adjust accordingly: just make sure not too much time is spent away from home or at home by yourself where distractions can easily become overwhelming!
Once again though: don’t fret if this isn’t feasible either; sometimes life gets in the way but if any type of distraction occurs while writing something down then simply move on without dwelling too much on what happened earlier today.”
Sit Down Before You Go To Bed And Jot Down Anything That Comes Into Your Head
Sit down before you go to bed and jot down anything that comes into your head. The ideas will come from the most random places: what you see, the words people use, or even just something someone says on television.
Write it all down in a notebook or on a computer. This is how I came up with my novel when I was working full-time – by writing down everything that popped into my head during the day.
Then taking some of those ideas and expanding on them after work when I could focus more on writing than at work.
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Take Advantage Of Sleepy Time
If you’re like most people, you are more likely to have ideas when your brain is tired. You may not be able to remember things as well, but your mind is clearer and you are more focused on the task at hand. It’s a little counterintuitive, but it works!
If you keep a notebook with you everywhere and write down whatever comes into your head no matter how silly or random it may seem you’ll find yourself remembering things better later on because the idea was already written down somewhere in your memory bank.
Not only that: writing things down makes them real and concrete instead of something fleeting that might otherwise disappear forever!
To take advantage of sleepy time for novel writing:
Cut Down On Unnecessary Tasks
In the early stages of your novel, you can reduce distractions by cutting down on tasks that aren’t vital to your day job. Make a list of everything you do each day, then go through it and look for things that don’t need to be done every day or even at all.
Keep this list for a week (or more), and review it periodically during that period so that if anything new crops up in your life, you can add it to the list.
If an item doesn’t need to be done daily, move it over to another document where it will still be handy should the need arise but won’t interrupt your writing time any more than necessary.
Put Some Money Aside For A Rainy Day
There’s nothing worse than getting all excited about writing your novel and then realizing you have to go back to work for another nine months. To avoid this, keep some cash in the bank so that if things don’t work out, you won’t be left high and dry.
The best way to do this is by saving your income from side hustles (see step 4). If that seems like too big of an investment, try making small sacrifices:
Sell your car or other expensive items, rent out rooms in your house on Airbnb while you write full time instead of making money through Airbnb during weekends and nights (and thus losing them), etcetera, etcetera…
Don’t Be Afraid To Change Course If Necessary
Writing a novel is not an exact science. You will have to make lots of changes as you go along, but don’t worry about it that’s what the second draft is for!
If you find yourself writing and rewriting the same scene, or even chapter, over and over again, don’t be afraid to change course if necessary.
This might mean cutting some stuff out or moving things around so that your story flows better. Maybe you won’t get everything done in 30 days exactly as planned; that’s okay!
The important thing is getting it all written down so that you can see where there are holes in your plotline and how they can be fixed before sending it off into the world.
Don’t be afraid to throw out a bad idea either just because something didn’t work doesn’t mean it won’t work later on down the road with some tweaks here and there…and just maybe this idea will lead to another part of your book!
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Conclusion
You can write a novel while working your day job! It just takes a lot of hard work and dedication. The first step is to set up a schedule for yourself and stick to it.
Make sure you’re not wasting time on social media, playing video games, or surfing the web during the day you want it all for writing!
Next, find some quiet time in your home to write without distractions from roommates or family members (and if you have kids, schedule babysitters for this!).
Use tools like Freedom App which blocks access to distracting websites until you’ve completed your daily word count goal.
Finally, don’t beat yourself up if things don’t go as planned: I know from personal experience that sometimes life gets in the way so just keep pushing forward until you reach your goal!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that you might find helpful in your journey of writing a novel while managing your day job:
How to Write a Book While Working a Full-Time Job
Explore practical tips and strategies to balance your job and your writing aspirations effectively, ensuring progress on your novel without neglecting your responsibilities.
How to Write a Novel in 30 Days
Discover an accelerated approach to novel writing by diving into this 30-day challenge guide, complete with actionable steps to help you create a draft in a short time frame.
Writing a Novel While Working Full-Time: 9 to 5
Delve into the practicalities of balancing a demanding work schedule with your creative pursuits, gaining insights into crafting a novel even amidst a busy 9-to-5 routine.
FAQs
How do I manage my time effectively to write a novel while working a day job?
Balancing writing and a day job requires careful time management. Consider setting aside dedicated writing time during breaks, early mornings, or evenings. Planning and consistency are key.
Can I really write a novel in just 30 days?
While writing a complete novel in 30 days is ambitious, it’s certainly possible with proper planning and dedication. It might result in a rough draft, but it’s a great way to get your ideas down quickly.
What strategies can I use to overcome writer’s block?
To overcome writer’s block, try changing your environment, outlining your scenes, or even just writing freely without worrying about perfection. Experiment with different techniques to find what works for you.
How can I make my micro fiction impactful within a limited word count?
Focus on creating a strong emotional core and a clear narrative arc even in a short story. Use evocative language, vivid imagery, and meaningful dialogue to make every word count.
Is it possible to turn my writing into a full-time career?
Transitioning from a day job to a full-time writing career is achievable, but it requires dedication, persistence, and a strong business mindset. Building a portfolio, networking, and considering self-publishing are important steps.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.