Wondering how long it takes to write a non-fiction book? I have been involved in the development of over two dozen books, including New York Times, Boston Globe, and BusinessWeek bestsellers. This presentation explains how the writing and publishing process typically unfolds. To learn more about writing non-fiction books, getting your ideas to stand out in the massive ideaplex, and reaching a global audience by building a sustainable idea platform, be sure to visit www.BreakingOutBook.com and watch for my forthcoming book, "Breaking Out: How to Build Influence in a World of Competing Ideas" (Harvard Business Review Press, May 2013).

1. How Long Does
It Actually Take
to Write a Book?
John Butman
Author of Breaking Out:
How to Build Influence in a World of Competing Ideas
www.insidetheideaplex.com

2. The short answer(s)…
About twice as long as you think
or
2 years, 2 weeks

3. The longer answer…
There are three main phases when you write a
book:
1) Developing the book proposal
2) Writing the manuscript
3) Publishing

4. Assumptions
1) You have an agent
2) You want to publish through traditional channels
3) You have already accumulated a treasure trove
of content
4) You’re developing a non-fiction book
Caveat: Each phase can repeat itself, extending the
timeline.

5. So, what happens during each phase?

6. Phase I. Proposal Development
End Goal:
The creation and sale of the book proposal
Total estimated time:
3 ½ months

7. Phase I. Proposal Development
Part I. Develop the idea and write the proposal
Estimated time: 3 months
This is when you decide…
• The main message. What is your book’s idea in one sentence?
• The content. Of all the material you’ve accumulated, what
research, stories, data, and examples will be in the book?
• The structure. How should your content and argument unfold, chapter by
chapter?
• The audience. Who is likely to read the book? Who do you want to impact?
• The need. Why does your book need to be written? What burning problem
does it address? And why are you the right person to write it?

8. Phase I. Proposal Development
Part I. Develop the idea and write the proposal
Estimated time: 3 months
A proposal contains the following sections:
• Overview. An engaging synopsis of your book.
• Chapter Summaries. Detailed descriptions of what each chapter will cover.
• About the Author. Short biography that details your authority on the subject
matter.
• Marketing. What will you do to support the book?
• Market Analysis. What books are also in the topic area? How will this be
different? Why is there a market need for your book?

9. Phase I. Proposal Development
Part I. Develop the idea and write the proposal
Estimated time: 3 months
Agent Review. Once you’ve written the proposal, your agent will read it
and suggest edits. You will then:
• Respond to the agent’s feedback
• Iterate with the agent until you have a polished proposal that’s ready
to go out to publishers.
If the proposal doesn’t meet your agent’s requirements, or is not what
she expected, you’ll have to repeat Part I of the proposal development
phase.

10. Phase I. Proposal Development
Part II. Selling the proposal
Estimated time: 2 weeks
Agent Sends Out The Proposal. The agent typically sends the proposal by
email to a number of publishers (as few as five and as many as twenty) all
at once.
The Editors Decide
• If publishers decide to "pass," they may or may not respond.
• If they're interested, they may respond the following day, and
usually within a week or two.

11. Phase II. Writing the manuscript
End Goal
A full-length manuscript that matches the publisher
specifications and expresses your idea
Time estimated by publisher:
Typically, 1 year
Actual time:
6 months to one lifetime

12. Phase II. Writing the manuscript
Estimated time: 1 year
This phase can vary dramatically in length, from several
months of solid writing to decades of fits and starts, and
anywhere in between.
The publisher’s deadline. The manuscript is usually due a
year or so from the signing of the contract.
• If you meet the deadline, all is well.
• If you don't: sometimes it matters, sometimes it doesn't. The
publisher may no longer be bound to publish your book, or to
publish it within the agreed-upon time frame.

13. Phase III. Publishing
End Goal:
The creation and sale of a well crafted print
book
Estimated time:
6 months to 1 year

14. Phase III. Publishing
Estimated time: 6 months to 1 year
During this time, the publisher is hard at work
producing the book. They are:
• Editing the manuscript
• Designing the jacket and interior layouts
• Typesetting the text
• Proofreading pages
• Printing and binding the physical book
• Distributing it to booksellers

15. Phase III. Publishing
Estimated time: 6 months to 1 year
Meanwhile, the publisher is also selling and
marketing the book
• The sales force is learning about the book and
visiting accounts to try to sell it.
• The marketing team is working to get attention
for the book in all of the various content venues.

16. Phase III. Publishing
Estimated time: 6 months to 1 year
BUT…
unless you are a superstar, you are the one who must put your
heart and soul into bringing the book to the world —
advocating for it, finding audiences for it, interpreting it, and
engaging people about it.
You must create an idea platform to support the
book beyond publication.

17. Now, let’s add it up…
Proposal Development 3 months
+
Sale 2 weeks
+
Manuscript Writing 1 year
+
Publishing 9 months (average)
Total 2 years, 2 weeks

18. Wait, wait! The Extras
But what about the accumulation phase before you
even start writing?
Or the time it takes to build an idea platform?

19. The creation of a single book could take you a
lifetime.

20. John Butman
Idea Platforms, Inc.,
is the principal of the content-development firm,
and the author of Breaking Out: How to Build Influence in a
World of Competing Ideas (Harvard Business Review Press, May 2013).
If you want to learn more, please visit
www.breakingoutbook.com,
or comment on Twitter: @JohnButman
or his blog: www.InsideTheIdeaplex.com