How to Write a Novel in 6 Weeks - and live to tell the tale

I've been writing books for fourteen years now and whenever I'm asked how long it takes to write a novel, I always reply, 'around nine months'. Usually followed by some naff quip about the length of time it takes to make a baby.

So, when I was asked this year by a publisher if I could write a book for them and oh yes, please could I write it in six weeks, you can imagine the expletive deleteds that popped into my head.

But part of me was intrigued. The same perverse part of me that's always wondered what it must be like to hang glide over the Niagra Falls.

So, I decided to accept the challenge aaaaaand ... I did it!

I wrote an entire 80,000 word novel in six weeks. 

And I didn't have a breakdown in the process.

And my family didn't disown me on the grounds of neglect.

And I actually enjoyed it!

So, if you're a novelist who has always told yourself that it takes months / years to write a book...

Or a self-publishing author who needs to up your output...

Or you're thinking of doing NaNoWriMo this year...

Or you just have a perverse sense of humour like me...

... here are my tips for writing a novel in six weeks without totally losing the plot.


1. Know where you're going before you start

If you're going to write crazy fast you need to know where you're going - and with who. So sketch out a rough outline of the plot and characters before you begin. These can obviously change as you get further into the story but to get off to a flying start, you need to be headed in the right direction - and be very clear on what that direction should be.

2. Divvy up your word count

Divide your total word count into weekly word counts. Then divide your weekly word counts into daily word counts. 2,600 words in a day (allowing for weekends off) sounds infinitely more achievable than 80,000 words in six weeks. Stick to this schedule and you should avoid a one-way ticket to Loony Town.

3. Allow yourself to get 'messy'

I would give this advice to any writer, regardless of deadline, but it is ultra important when you only have six weeks. You don't have the time to be overly-critical, so give your inner mean-ass editor some time off and JUST WRITE.

4. Write fast

Er, yeah, seems obvious, I know, but what I mean is, don't pause for hours to ponder exactly the right word. If it doesn't come straight away, use a holding word - or if you can't think of a holding word just write 'xxxxx' and come back to it later. You have to stay in the flow and the flow can't be slow.

5. Start a new writing day by editing the previous day's work

This helps you get back into the flow of the story and frees you up to write messily - when you know you'll be coming back to make improvements the next day.

6. Get physical

It's vital for your health and sanity to make sure you're still getting plenty of fresh air and exercise during your writing marathon. I found regular walks, runs and yoga workouts to be life savers. Especially if you do hit a block with your writing. Getting outside really helps to clear any creative cobwebs. If for whatever reason, you can't get outside, then get up and dance like a loony around your living room for ten minutes. Sometimes blocked ideas literally need to be shaken free. (Don't overdo the physical exercise though - view it as something to invigorate you, not exhaust you.)

7. Have at least one day off a week

And make this day off away from your computer. Away from your house if at all possible. Fear and pressure can make us want to chain ourselves to our laptops till the darn thing's finished but this is actually massively counter-productive. Getting away from your work in progress and having some F.U.N. can work wonders for stimulating your writing flow.

8. Eat healthily and drink lemon water by the gallon

The fact is, you are embarking upon a writing marathon. You need to make sure your brain and those poor keyboard-bashing fingers are getting the proper fuel. Eat fresh food. And by that I mean, fresh fruit and veg - not freshly delivered pizza. And drink loads of water - with lemon juice for some added zing and vit C. I know writers are supposed to be tortured alcoholics, slumped over their typewriters, necking Jack Daniels and chaining Marlborough Reds, but if you've only got six weeks to write a book, you haven't got time for hangovers. Or deleting your way through the sozzled, sorry prose of the night before.

9. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep

To write quickly and well, you need to be at your sharpest and to be at your sharpest, you need to stock up on your supply of sleep. And good quality sleep now we come to mention it. So try to avoid having a final surf of the net when you get into bed and falling down a late night Facebook / twitter hole. Unwind by having a warm bath or watching a good movie. Switch off fully from your work in progress until the next day's writing. Give your work a chance to percolate and give yourself a chance to rest and recharge.

10. Have fun with it

The notion of having fun when up against a crazy writing deadline might seem totally insane but you'd be amazed at how much you can get done when you take the pressure off yourself and decide to just enjoy the experience. This was the biggest revelation to me - how much I enjoyed writing my novel in six weeks. 

It was one of the most focused and creative experiences of my life and I felt totally immersed in the world of the book, without any of the usual pain in the butt niggles of writer's block and indecision and self doubt - I just didn't have the time for them!

If you've written a book to a crazy deadline and have any tips you'd like to share, please feel free to add them in the comments below.

And please feel free to share this post with your writing friends.

To anyone inspired by this post to give it a go - good luck! And do let me know how you get on...