How Long Will It Take To Write My Book?

Once you decide to write a book, the first step is to find and choose a ghostwriter to work with, usually by asking for referrals or by searching LinkedIn.
• Allow at least a few weeks

Once you’ve picked your ghostwriter, you need to plan, create, and and write the book.
• Planning and interviewing: 10 or 12 weeks
• Writing the book: 6 or 8 weeks
• Revisions: 4 or 6 weeks

That’s a total of about 6 months, depending on your availability and your ghostwriter’s schedule. Your total engagement with your writer in that time is probably around 20–30 hours.

When the manuscript is done, you have three main avenues:

Traditional publishing: Research a publishing house that deals with your subject and a proposal and a sample chapter or the full manuscript.
• Allow a long time (and know that you'll have little chance of success)

Self-publishing: This is the quickest way to get your book out. Have it edited, proofread, and formatted, then press the button and you’re go.
• Allow a couple of months

Hybrid publishing: This is the option most of my clients take, when they pay a hybrid publisher to carry out the tasks associated with a traditional publisher: editing, proofreading, laying out the text, designing a cover, collecting testimonials, publication, marketing and promotion.
• Allow up to 6 months

With a fair wind, you can write and publish your business book within 8 to 12 months.

Much quicker than that isn’t realistic, unless you’re willing to put in a lot of your time (and pay rush fees).

Much longer than that suggests that someone’s dragging their feet along the way. (And if you're working with professionals, that person is probably you.)