Write and Revise Your Book in 60 Days
Two months for a more sustainable pace — outline, draft at 1,000 words per day, and complete a first revision so you have a polished working manuscript.
Free for 7 days. No credit card required.
No credit card required
Your Plan
Outline & Structure
Weeks 1-2
First Draft
Weeks 3-9
Revise & Edit
Weeks 10-12
The Plan
60 Days plan
21 tasks across 5 milestones — 7-10/week
Concept & Outline
Days 1-7- Define your book concept, audience, and unique angle
- Research competitive titles and identify your differentiation
- Create a detailed chapter outline with section breakdowns
- Write your book proposal or back-cover description
First Half Draft
Days 8-25- Write 1,000 words per day, 6 days per week
- Complete the first half of your manuscript (30,000 words)
- Review your outline weekly and adjust as the book evolves
- Keep a running list of things to fix in revision (do not fix now)
Second Half Draft
Days 26-42- Continue writing 1,000 words per day through the second half
- Push through the inevitable mid-book slump with your outline
- Complete your full first draft at 55,000-65,000 words
- Write the introduction last (now you know what the book is about)
- Take 3 days off from the manuscript
First Revision
Days 46-55- Read your entire manuscript in 2-3 sittings for structural issues
- Cut, rearrange, or expand chapters based on flow and pacing
- Fix major plot holes, gaps in argument, or structural weaknesses
- Rewrite your weakest chapter from scratch
Beta & Polish
Days 56-60- Send manuscript to 3 beta readers with specific feedback questions
- Polish your first 3 chapters (the ones agents and readers see first)
- Create a revision plan based on initial self-editing notes
- Decide on your publishing path (self-publish vs. query agents)
Obstacles
What gets in the way
Common challenges and how to overcome them
Challenge
Sitting down to write but staring at a blank page
Solution
The plan starts with a detailed outline before you write a single chapter. When you sit down to draft, you always know what comes next. Writer's block is usually a planning problem, not a writing problem.
Challenge
Running out of motivation after the first few chapters
Solution
The plan sets daily word count targets and weekly milestones with progress tracking. Motivation is unreliable — systems are not. The middle of the book is the hardest, and the plan accounts for that.
Challenge
Editing while writing and never making progress
Solution
The plan enforces a strict 'draft first, edit later' approach. Drafting and editing are separate phases — mixing them is the #1 reason books never get finished.
Challenge
Not knowing if your idea is good enough for a book
Solution
Early milestones include idea validation through market research, test reader feedback, and a structured outline that confirms you have enough material for a full book.
Challenge
Feeling overwhelmed by how long a book is
Solution
You do not write a book — you write one chapter at a time, one page at a time, one paragraph at a time. The plan breaks 60,000 words into bite-sized daily targets that feel achievable.
81%
Of people say they want to write a book someday
3%
Of aspiring authors actually finish a manuscript
500
Words per day is enough to finish a draft in 4-5 months
60K
Average word count for a non-fiction book
FAQ
Common questions
A typical first draft takes 3-6 months at a pace of 500-1,000 words per day. The complete process (outline, draft, revise, edit, publish) takes 6-12 months. Some authors finish drafts in 30 days during intensive sprints like NaNoWriMo.
It depends on genre. Novels run 70,000-100,000 words. Business and self-help books are 40,000-60,000 words. Memoirs are 60,000-80,000 words. The plan helps you set a realistic word count target for your genre.
Not all authors outline in detail, but having at least a high-level structure dramatically increases your chances of finishing. The plan includes a flexible outlining phase that works for both plotters and pantsers.
Both paths are valid. Self-publishing gives you control and speed. Traditional publishing offers editorial support, distribution, and credibility. The plan covers both paths in the longer timeframes.
Most published authors write 30-60 minutes per day, often early morning or late evening. The plan requires as little as 30 minutes daily. Consistency beats long sessions — 500 words per day adds up to a full draft in 4 months.
A word processor is all you need. Scrivener, Google Docs, and Notion are popular choices. The plan is tool-agnostic — what matters is your writing habit, not your software.
The middle is where most books die. The plan uses milestone celebrations, accountability check-ins, and a 'messy middle' strategy that keeps you writing even when the work feels hard.
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Ready to write a book in 60 days?
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Free for 7 days. No credit card required.