A lot of people have been asking me how long it takes to write and self publish a short story on Amazon so I want to go into this topic in more detail.
First of all, let’s go over a few details…
The time it takes for you to write and publish a story depends on a variety of factors, including:
- Experience
- Typing speed
- Planning (story outlines)
- The length of your story
Length Of Your Short Story
So, let’s start off with the length of your story.
In general, I would say most people should be able to at least write 500 – 1,000 words in an hour.
I have personally met a lot of authors who can do that.
In fact a few month ago, I actually met someone who was writing 2,000 words an hour!
Now, here’s the best tip I have to writing more.
First, try not to burn yourself out (it’s super important).
It is better to write for 1 hour each day consistently than write for 7 hours straight one day and then take a week or two off.
Burning out can set you back a lot because it kills your creativity and you lose a lot of energy – in essence, you’re just “not in the mood” to write anymore.
That’s not good if you want to publish consistently.
Also, take breaks in your writing. I like to take a break every 20 – 30 minutes to refresh myself (and sometimes take a quick walk).
Finally, the best way to write more content is to use your downtime wisely.
We all have times during the day that are spent “doing nothing.”
Maybe you take the bus to work or the train. You can spend that time to write stories (on your phone) – or even bring your laptop.
Maybe you have some downtime when you’re taking the kids to school. Or when you’re waiting for them after a sports game or taking them to karate.
Use that time wisely and you’ll increase your output dramatically.
Typing speed
Typing speed isn’t something you’re normally concerned about as an author, but I’ll be the first to say that it makes a huge difference.
Personally, I can type between 70 and 90 words a minute depending on what type of content.
So how do I type that fast?
Well…it’s due to two factors.
First, I have a lot of experience typing. I was actually lucky that my elementary school taught a mandatory typing class in the 90s.
Looking back, it was one of the best classes that prepared me for the real world.
Don’t worry if you can’t type that fast yet. It comes with experience.
Like any skill you’ll get better at it the more you do it. And if you are writing consistently, you’ll be a typing pro in no time at all (no joke)!
Second, I use a keyboard that I really like. I use the HP Wireless Elite Keyboard V2.
I like it because the keypads are super light and you don’t have to press hard for it to work.
Use a keyboard that you’re comfortable with and you’ll notice a change in your typing speed over time.
Planning
Planning has a far bigger impact on your story writing than you think.
Take it from someone who is a pretty poor planner.
When I was in high school and college, I never used to plan my writing at all (in terms of using an outline).
And often I’d write 10+ page papers the night before they were due. And I’d write by the seat of my pants.
Not very fun if you ask me (and super stressful)!
Writing without an outline is like driving to a destination without directions. It can work, but it’ll take you longer.
When I write stories now, I jot down a very brief and barebones outline by pen and paper.
It’s pretty simple, but it can cut down my writing time by 20%+ or more.
I generally break up a story into 2 or 3 big parts or chapters.
Then for each chapter, I’ll have 3 – 4 events I want to happen (like the main characters meeting, having a moment, a physical connection, etc.)
After that, I just fill in the gaps with my words.
Final Thoughts On Writing Short Stories
Overall, writing a short story doesn’t have to be a tooth pulling process.
In general, I think this is a pretty good guideline on how long it takes to write a short erotic story:
Under 5,000 words: 3 – 5 hours
5,000 – 7,000 words: 4 – 7 hours
10,000+ words: 10+ hours (depending on length obviously).