Write Your Novel in 60 Days
Two months gives you time to outline properly and draft at a sustainable 1,000-words-per-day pace. Ideal for writers who want speed without burnout.
Free for 7 days. No credit card required.
No credit card required
Your Plan
Concept & Outline
Weeks 1–3
First Draft
Weeks 4–14
Revise & Polish
Weeks 15–18
The Plan
60 Days plan
20 tasks across 5 milestones — 12–15/week
Concept Development
Days 1–7- Develop your premise and one-line pitch
- Create detailed character profiles and backstories
- Research setting, time period, or genre conventions
- Outline the three-act structure with scene beats
- Set up your writing environment and daily schedule
Draft Act 1
Days 8–20- Write the opening chapters establishing character and world
- Build tension toward the inciting incident
- Complete Act 1 — protagonist enters the central conflict (~20,000 words)
- Review pacing and adjust outline for Act 2
Draft Act 2
Days 21–42- Write rising complications and developing relationships
- Hit the midpoint — stakes escalate dramatically
- Navigate the 'dark night of the soul' and deepening conflict
- Complete Act 2 — reach ~55,000 words total
Draft Act 3
Days 43–52- Write the climax and final confrontation
- Resolve all major plot threads and character arcs
- Draft the ending — complete manuscript (~75,000 words)
Quick Revision Pass
Days 53–60- Read the full manuscript and take structural notes
- Fix the 3 biggest plot holes or consistency issues
- Polish the opening chapter and final chapter
- Create a revision plan for the deeper edit ahead
Obstacles
What gets in the way
Common challenges and how to overcome them
Challenge
Getting stuck in the 'messy middle' around Act 2
Solution
The plan includes an outlining phase with scene-level beats so you always know what comes next. Even pantsers benefit from a loose roadmap to push through the middle.
Challenge
Perfectionism — editing every sentence instead of drafting
Solution
First-draft milestones focus on word count, not quality. The plan enforces a 'draft first, revise later' workflow so your inner editor doesn't kill your momentum.
Challenge
Running out of steam after the initial excitement fades
Solution
Weekly word count targets and milestone celebrations keep you accountable. The plan builds in rest days and recovery weeks to prevent burnout.
Challenge
Not knowing if your story idea is strong enough
Solution
Early milestones include premise testing, character development, and plot structure — so you validate your concept before committing 80,000 words to it.
Challenge
Finding consistent writing time with a busy schedule
Solution
The plan scales to your available hours. Even 30 minutes a day at 500 words produces a full draft in under 6 months. The key is consistency, not marathon sessions.
81%
of people want to write a book — fewer than 5% ever do
67 days
Average time to write a first draft with daily habit
50K
words — NaNoWriMo's one-month novel target
3–5x
Revision rounds needed for a polished manuscript
FAQ
Common questions
Most debut novels run 70,000–90,000 words. Genre matters: romance is often 60,000–80,000, fantasy can be 90,000–120,000. The plan adapts to your target word count.
Both approaches work. The plan includes a flexible outlining phase — detailed plotters can create scene-by-scene beats, while discovery writers can sketch a loose three-act structure and key turning points.
500–1,000 words per day is sustainable for most writers. At 500 words/day (about 30 minutes), you'll finish a first draft in 5–6 months. At 1,500 words/day, you can draft in 2–3 months.
No. Google Docs or Word works fine. Scrivener helps organize longer projects, but it's not required. The plan focuses on writing habits, not tool mastery.
Let it rest for 2–4 weeks, then revise. Longer timeframe plans include revision rounds, beta reader feedback, and querying literary agents or self-publishing steps.
Absolutely. Your first novel is about learning the craft through doing. The plan guides you through structure, character development, and pacing — everything you need to produce a complete manuscript.
The plan breaks the novel into milestone chunks so you're always working toward the next achievable goal, not staring at a 80,000-word mountain. Weekly check-ins and word count tracking keep momentum alive.
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Ready to write a novel in 60 days?
Describe your goal. AI builds your personalized plan with milestones and daily tasks.
Free for 7 days. No credit card required.