How to Write an Entire Novel in One Month

Tips and Tricks on Writing a Book Draft in 30 Days

Aug 18, 2009

Writing a novel in 30 days may seem like an enormous undertaking, but with the right tips and tricks the goal is not as lofty as it may seem.

Completing a polished final draft of a novel will not happen in just one month, but that should not discourage writers, a full, well-written rough draft can easily be pumped out in about 30 days. There are, of course a few pre-writing requirements for this system to work.

Planning for Writing a Book in 30 Days

There are a couple of things to take into consideration before attempting a 30 day novel writing frenzy. Every good book starts with an idea. Be sure to have a solid idea before writing. There are many different systems for book planning. Some writers have an idea and a basic direction and that is enough to get the creative juices flowing, the story shapes itself along the way. Other writers prefer to create an outline for the story and to merely flush it out as they go.

Authors can be successful using either system, it just depends on the needs of the specific writer. Writers should test out the systems to see which works best or create a custom system to suit his or her individual writing needs. Once the idea has been formed, novelists are well on their way to novel writing success.

Another suggestion is to decide on a word count prior to attempting to write a novel in one month. Having a word count goal will prove immensely helpful during the writing process as writers can calculate where they have to be each week or even daily. If they are not meeting their word goals, they know when to step up the pace to complete the novel on time. The word goal will help force writers to stay on track.

Writing a Novel in One Month

The planning is the hard part and writers that come into the process with an idea already sketched out will be much more successful than those who fly blind or decide to plan during their one month time frame.

The most important thing is to stay on track, skipping a day means writing twice as much the next day. If writers are able to stay on track there is no reason to not finish the novel in 30 days. One important thing to remember is to just write. Do not go back and re-read or edit the manuscript during the process, it will interrupt the flow of ideas and slow down the process. The goal is to get the ideas on paper. Revision can and will come afterwards.

Churning out a novel in one month does not figure in time for revision and editing, that is to be done after the first draft is complete. Often writers who complete a novel in one month, let the novel sit for a few weeks before diving back in to revise. Writers will, of course, experience rough patches and road blocks which is understandable. There are many tools to aid writers experiencing difficulties.

The Internet has unlimited resources for writers experiencing difficulties. A simple web search will turn up thousands of sites to aid struggling writers in their process. Do not be afraid to utilize the Internet.

There are also many support forums for writers undertaking the 30 day challenge. These can be very helpful, especially for first timers. There are many writers attempting the same feat and the forums provide both guidance and camaraderie. Be sure to check out things like NaNoWriMo or JulNoWriMo if this prospect sounds helpful.

Many writers have beaten the 30 day challenge, it is gruelling at times and difficult to stay on track, but the rewards of beating such a complicated task are numerous. Writing a book in one month can be done by any writer with the drive to succeed and the ability to stay focused.

The copyright of the article How to Write an Entire Novel in One Month in Writing Novels is owned by Jessica Gleason. Permission to republish How to Write an Entire Novel in One Month in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.