How to write a book in three months 😱

Earlier this year, I did something that was both awesome and kinda bonkers: 

Together with a client (as their writing partner), I wrote a book in three months. 

Like, an entire book. In three months.

With all edits incorporated, it was more like four and a half months… but the initial manuscript was pretty much wrapped in three months. 

If you have ever written a book, or even contemplated writing a book, you probably know these results are not typical. 

And it’s not something I would want to do all that often, nor is it something I would necessarily recommend. 

Nonetheless, putting a tight deadline around a project can have its perks. Among them: you get the project done. 

I know how laborious writing can be. Book projects can stretch out over many months, even years, if you let them.

So, if you want to write a book — and Get. It. Done. — here are a few tips from my experience. 

How to Write A Book — Fast 💨

1. Be crystal clear on the promise of your book from the get go. 

By the time I joined the project, my author (the illustrious Ben Mudge, whom I adore), and publisher had already mapped out the details of the project. 

They knew the concept, the title, the audience, and exactly what the book was about and what people would get out of it. 

This might seem like the easy part but it’s actually some pretty heavy lifting.

Take the time to nail down your concept before you start writing or pitching your work. If you are crystal clear on this stuff, everything else will be easier.

(BTW even though I joined the project at the writing stage rather than the conceptual stage, I do help authors at this beginning stage as well. Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions on what that looks like.)

2. Have a tight outline.

What, exactly, will each chapter include? 

As with point #1, get your outline down pat before you start writing and everything will go quicker and easier. 

(And, as with point #1, this is something I can help with too. I often help authors develop initial outlines as well as proposals, so don’t hesitate to inquire if that’s something you need.)

3. Work with a well-suited writing partner or collaborator.

Writing a book is hard. And it’s that much more difficult if writing is not your #1 strong suit, if you are busy and juggling the demands of running a business and other lifey pursuits, and/or if you have extra stuff to navigate (like, in Ben’s case, dyslexia — which he is totally open about.)

This is why I love my work, because I help people get their ideas out into the world through the magic of collaboration and support. 

A good writing partner can help you get all your thoughts, ideas, and stories onto the page, in a way that still sounds and feels like you, regardless of whatever obstacles stand in your way. 

However, fit is critical. You have to be a good fit for each other. If the person doesn’t see you or get your vision, they’re not going to be able to translate it to the page. 

And, you have to like working together. Co-writing (including what you might call ghostwriting) is intimate work. Your writing partner will get to know the inner workings of your mind, your stories, and the finer points of your perspective on things. There needs to be mutual trust and appreciation or it won’t work. 

(This goes both ways, of course. In this case, Ben was amazing to work with, he was thoroughly committed to this project, and he was very open and candid and held nothing back. This is another reason why I love my work: relationships are everything to me.)

If you don’t have a writing partner, at the very least I encourage you to link up with a fellow author or join a writing group for accountability, feedback, and support.

4. Know your deadlines, and keep a workback schedule

One of the first things I did for this book project was to create a spreadsheet with key writing milestones, along with dates and responsibilities. 

To do this, work backwards from your final deadline and figure out what you will need to have written and when. I highly recommend doing this for both your first drafts, and any rounds of edits you will need. 

(For example, will you be seeking external feedback? Will you do one or two rounds of editing yourself? Will you engage a copy editor? etc.) 

Keep track of all of this in your workback schedule and continue to refer back to it so you know if you’re on track, or not.

5. Establish an air-tight routine

The second thing I did, after creating a workback schedule?

I carved out time in my calendar for book stuff, including interviews and discussions with my author, writing time, and editing time. 

I’m not the most rigid person when it comes to scheduling things, but when you’re on a tight timeline like this, you can’t afford to be overly flexible. You need to know when you’re working, when you’ll get stuff done.

Plan this time in advance, put it in your calendar, and make it non-negotiable.

6. Practice extreme focus, and seek out your flow

The pace of this project meant I was typically writing a chapter a week, plus interviewing and collaborating with my client, plus editing and incorporating notes and revisions into previous chapters. 

That’s a lot of words. 

That meant I needed to backburner a lot of other stuff. I had to accept I couldn’t do everything (some things, like keeping up with emails, simply had to take a backseat.) And when I was writing, I had to write. I had to crank it out; no chance for my mind to wander or let distraction take hold. 

To do this, I used some methods that help me shift into flow state. 

I worked in coffee shops where I could hunker down for a good period of time. I put my computer and phone on Do Not Disturb. Closed all other tabs or apps. Put on noise-canceling headphones. Listened to the playlist(s) that I find conducive to flow. And got to work. 

Sometimes my brain falls easily into a flow state when writing, and sometimes it does not. I much, much prefer it when it complies. But either way, I stuck it out as much as I could, just putting words on the page. 

(To be fair, I have a lot of practice with focus. It’s been a skill I’ve practiced both through my work, and through managing PTSD, depression and anxiety. When distraction tugs at my brain, I simply bring my thoughts back to the present moment. Sometimes I need to do this again and again and again.)

My approach doesn’t work for everybody, and I get that. But if you want to write a book in a few months, there’s no avoiding the words-on-a-page thing. Unless, of course, you hire someone like me to help you.

My advice is to figure out what environmental cues work best for you and use them as much as possible. Notice when flow appears, and try to set things up so it’s invited back. 

Keep in mind: routine and ritual are no substitute for doing the work. Don’t mythologize them. At the end of the day, there’s no magic to it. It’s just you, making it happen. 

Nonetheless, establishing a solid routine and process can help a lot. Even if you don’t want to write a book in a ridiculously short period of time, a routine can help you practice writing, publishing, and spending time on any other creative endeavor. 

For more help with this, check out the latest Coaching with Cam episode of the Storytelling with Heart Podcast: How to Create a Writing Routine.

This episode expands on my previous newsletter on this same topic, offering some more detail (and a whole new tip) I didn’t yet cover. 

Meantime, I am now booking new projects for 2025! If you want to elevate your thought leadership, or create a transformational book / certification / course / something to make your mark on the world… add yourself to my wait list, and we can chat, totally commitment-free. 

Or, just reply to this email and let me know what you’re working on, planning on, or dreaming about.