This is a question that has been asked around the internet hundreds of times. The general consensus, after much Googling, is that it really depends on you. However, there is also a general consensus that a complete book manuscript usually takes around 75,000 words to articulate. That is around three and a half pages of prose per day for ten days. So, you might have a lot of material to work with, especially if you are writing from scratch. Then again, if you are simply gathering information, you might be better off with less words. Here is a more in-depth analysis of how much should you write:
The Format
If you are writing for publications, then you will need a certain word count in order to fit the format. For now, we will use 8.5×11″ sheets as an example. If your book is in hardback, then you will most likely need at least 40,000 words to articulate it. If it is in paperback, then you will need 30,000 words. You will also need to check with your publisher as some of them may have specific guidelines regarding the number of words you should use. As the writer, you should always have the final say on what counts as a word and how you want your book to be formatted. So, be generous and make sure you have enough.
Planning
Just because you have a lot of words doesn’t mean that you can just throw them on a page and call it a day. You will need to plan out your content and establish a timeline for when you are going to be posting new content. If you are following a weekly schedule, then you will need to have at least two weeks of content ahead before you begin posting. If you have a series of posts, then you should have three to four weeks of content ahead of you. When you are establishing a schedule like this, you should put how much you are going to write in each section and how much you are going to need to write in total. You should also factor in some leeways so that you do not end up over or under writing.
When you are writing all of this content, you might feel like you are running out of time. So, you might want to consider rushing it a bit. After all, you never get a second chance at a first impression. And the more you write, the better your chances of getting it right.
The Research
Depending on how engaged you are in the topic, you might want to do some research. For example, if you are writing about pop culture, then you might want to consult with people who are in the know regarding the topic. If you are simply writing about your hobbies, then you might not need to put in as much effort. However, whenever you are doing any kind of writing, whether it is for publications or not, you should always do your research. This includes looking at both the good and bad reviews regarding the topic, finding out what worked and what did not, and ultimately using that to your advantage. You never know when something you have read might come in handy. And doing some research can also help you avoid common mistakes.
The Artwork
The cover of your book is of paramount importance. If you want your book to stand out, then you should invest in a nice cover. For now, we will use The Martian as an example. The Martian author Andy Weir invested heavily in a fancy leather binding and gold tooling on the cover. These add a touch of luxury to the already high-quality cover. As a graphic designer, whenever you are creating a cover, you should keep the following in mind:
- The cover should be thick enough so that the text hidden behind it is not visible
- The cover should be lustrous and rich in color
- The cover should not have any defects, such as stains or tears
- The corners and edges should be smooth and free of any excess material
- The front and back of the book should be the same
- The font used should be easy to read and not too fancy
The Content
So, you have established a format, a planning phase, and a budget. Now, you need to figure out what you are going to write about. This is the part where you choose your topic and write your first draft. Regardless of how much you have written so far, you should always have something new to say. And whatever you have written, even if it is a one page outline, it is still considered to be something new. After all, it is the first draft. You are always free to go back and edit it, add more content, or even remove some content that you did not intend to use. Even if you have established a word count for the entire book, you might find that you have written more than you planned and you need to go back and shorten it. So, be careful when establishing word count guidelines, especially if you are writing non-fiction.
As a general rule of thumb, you should try to write something new for every chapter. This will make it easier to keep your content fresh and interesting. Even if a chapter is about a hobby you have, you should still put in some new content regarding that topic. This will make it easier for the reader to stay interested in the matter and eventually reach the end of the book.
How Long Does it Take To Write An E-Book?
When it comes to e-books, there are a lot of variables that can affect how long it takes to write one. So, let us look at some of the most important ones. First, how fast can you type? If you are using a computer, then you can probably type at least 50 words per minute. That is pretty fast. However, if you are writing by hand, then you will need to painstakingly type out each word one by one. So, if you are wondering how long it takes to write an e-book, then you should multiply the number of words by the number of minutes it takes you to type them. For example, if you are writing a 300-word e-book, then it will take you around five minutes. Well, that is not very long. Especially if you consider that you have spent over an hour just planning this e-book and now you are ready to write the first draft.
What is also important and should not be overlooked is the size of your screen. The smaller the screen, the more words you will need to scroll to see everything. So, if you are using a computer, then it is essential that you have a large screen. For now, let us use the example of a 13″ laptop screen. If your screen is smaller than 13″, then you will be tempted to pinch out the text to fit on the screen. However, this really is bad practice because you will lose a lot of the content when you do this. So, instead, you should invest in a large screen with a high pixel count so that the content is sharp and does not look pixelated. This is especially important if you are writing about an obscure topic. Sometimes, this can also be an issue of perspective. If you are viewing the screen from too far away, then things might look a little blurred. This will make you appear less intelligent than you actually are.
As you can see, there are many variables that can affect how long it takes to write an e-book. The key is to understand what you are dealing with and know how much effort it is going to require. Even if you are writing about a hobby you love, you should still do some research and figure out what is new and what is outdated regarding that topic. If you are writing for publications, then you will need to consider a lot of variables, such as format, word count, and art direction. There are a lot of variables, so it is important that you are aware of all of them. When you are finally ready to write your e-book, then you should establish a schedule for when you are going to be posting new content and stick to it. While you are writing, it is also important to get some feedback from others regarding your content. This could be from a trusted friend, family member, or even a complete stranger. This is called critical feedback and it is important that you listen to it. And last but not least, never stop learning. This is especially important if you are a professional writer who always wants to be improving their craft. Even when you think you have finished your e-book, you should still find ways of improving it. If you did your research correctly, then you will have noticed there are always ways to make your e-book better. So, even when you think you have finished, there is always something you can do to make it the best it can be.