How To Write a Novel in 30 Days

Can you write a book in a month? Absolutely (the first draft of one, anyway). Many writers achieve this feat every year, whether that’s as part of community challenges or flying solo.

It can be a brilliant (and exhilarating) way to knuckle down and get a story out of your head and onto the page.

But how do you actually make it happen? Here are our top tips for how to write a novel in 30 days.

Tips for Preparation

Here’s how to get yourself in the best position to write.

Commit to the Challenge: Pick a Date

Choose a suitable time for your challenge and mentally commit to it (maybe even tell your friends for accountability).

The only scheduling requirement is that it should feel right for you. You might decide to wait until you think you’ll have more free time, or you might have an idea that you need to get down on paper ASAP.

You could also make the decision based on when a community challenge is taking place, as that way you’ll get extra accountability and support. You can find a handy list of community challenges over here.

Pick a Planning Approach That Suits You (Even If That’s No Planning)

The amount of advanced planning you should do depends on you and your story.

If you’ve been writing for a while, then you likely already know what works best for you. But if you haven’t, it could take some trial and error, and that’s okay (it’s what writing is all about). Go with your gut this time and see what happens.

You might be a “planner”: someone who likes to have the story figured out before they begin. If that speaks to you, you could create a detailed outline and character profiles. That way, you’ll have a map to follow.

If you’ll be working on a story that needs lots of research or world-building, having that background info ready means you won’t have to spend precious writing time searching for necessary details.

Alternatively, you might be a “pantser”/“discovery writer”: someone who likes to discover the story and/or the world as they go (flying by the seat of their pants, in other words). Too much planning can feel constraining for people who like to write like this.

If this feels like you, you might just start off with a general idea of where you’re going and maybe some rough character and setting ideas (perhaps even less). The excitement of telling yourself the story as you go could be what you need to keep going all month.

Either approach works well. You might also sit somewhere in between.

Set Up a Progress Tracker to Stay Motivated and on Target

Whether you’re aiming for 50k or another goal, having some way to monitor your progress keeps you motivated and on track.

Scribbling your daily totals down in a notebook, document, or spreadsheet can work. But there are also custom tools that can calculate how much you need to write each day and display your progress with handy graphs.

Many novel writing apps, like Scrivener, Dabble, and Atticus, have these built in. Alternatively, you could use a specialized word count tracker like TrackBear, Pacemaker, or myWriteClub.

Tips for Writing

Here are some tips on how to manage the actual writing process during the month.

Keep Getting Those Words Down, Even When You’re Feeling Stuck

Now isn’t the time to sweat over the perfect first line; just jump in. You can hone your opening later.

And once you’ve started, don’t stop. There may be times when the words just don’t seem to want to flow, but each one you get down will bring you closer to your goal. Don’t give up.

It’s sensible to have a toolkit of techniques to reach for when you hit a sticky patch:

• Mini milestones. It’s much easier to tell yourself that you just have to make it to the next 100 words than the next thousand.

• Jump ahead. There’s no shame in skipping forward to a point where you have a better idea of what should happen or a scene you’re more excited about.

• A change of scenery. Switching up where you write can help to kick-start your brain.

• A walk. Giving your mind a chance to rest and process things lets ideas bubble up to the surface so you can return to writing feeling ready to go again.

Tame Your Inner Editor and Embrace the Messy First Draft

You need to politely ignore that voice that wants to nitpick (your “inner editor”). Trying to perfect your writing as you go could seriously eat into your time.

The goal of an initial draft is to give yourself raw material to work with, so what matters is getting the words on the page, even if they’re a bit rough. You can refine them once the month is over.

Here are a couple of techniques for wrangling your inner editor:

• If you know you want to change something when you revise, put a specific symbol or word next to it so you can find it later. You could also create a separate document where you can jot down brief notes about what you want to change.

• If you’re really struggling to silence your editor, you could try this fun trick: give them a name and draw a quick sketch of them (or briefly describe them). Shut this portrait away in a drawer until you’re ready to revise.

Plan for Highs and Lows: Be Flexible With Your Daily Targets

Working out your daily target (the number of words you need to write each day to achieve your goal) will give you something manageable to aim for each day.

If you’re wondering how many words you need a day to write a novel in a month, it’s around 1,667 for 50k (a short novel) and 2,667 for 80k (a more commercial length).

Be mindful that your energy and motivation will fluctuate. Some days, your daily target will be easy to hit, while on other days it might feel miles away.

On the days when you’re feeling inspired, don’t stop once you’ve hit your daily target. If you keep going, you can build yourself a buffer that will help on days where you’re finding it harder.

That being said, it’s helpful to stop when you have some idea of where you’re going next so it’s easier to pick the story up the following day. Consider leaving a handhold for your future self, even if it’s just stopping midsentence.

Maximize Your Time: Write Smarter, Not Longer

Time management is another key part of conquering this challenge.

Many people swear by finding a daily writing routine and sticking to it. Perhaps you could find some quiet time for writing in the morning or before bed.

Don’t ignore small gaps of time where you can get a few words in though. If you’re waiting for an appointment, you could jot down a quick scene.

One incredibly powerful timing technique is using writing sprints. This involves setting a timer (15 minutes is a popular duration) and seeing how much you can get done. It helps you focus, meaning you can get more words down in less time.

Could you do a daily sprint during your lunch break?

Tips for Staying Motivated

Trying to write a book in 30 days takes a lot of motivation, so here are some ways to keep it topped up.

Connect With Other Writers for Accountability and Encouragement

Having other people to rely on can make all the difference. They can cheer you on, listen while you vent, or join you for a sprint.

You could team up with existing writer friends and create a group chat. Alternatively, joining a community challenge gives you a ready-made support network. For instance, if you take part in our Novel November Challenge, you’ll be able to join our free cowriting sessions.

Have a look at writing groups on sites like Reddit and Discord. They may have their own challenges. For example, there are monthly leaderboards on TrackBear.

Reward Yourself to Build Momentum and Make Writing Fun 

Pick some small rewards you can use to tempt yourself along, whether it’s snacks, episodes of your favorite show, or even an old-school sticker chart.

Another fun way to do this is gamification: make achieving your next word count goal a quest, and award yourself XP. There are sites set up to help you do this, like the writing-specific 4thewords or more general habit trackers like Habitica and Finch.

Conclusion: Show Up, Write Often, and Trust Yourself 

When it comes to how to write a novel in a month, the answer is really quite simple: keep writing.

All you really need to make it is an idea and determination. But having the right tools, a supportive community, and some tempting rewards can be a huge help.

If you’d like to attempt the goal alongside other writers and receive advice from authors, editors, and coaches, sign up for our Novel November Challenge, taking place later this year.