Essential Tips for First-Time Writers: How to Write a Book in 30 Days and boost speed | by Laplaptoplap | Nov, 2025
Essential Tips for First-Time Writers: How to Write a Book in 30 Days and boost speed
If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book but felt completely overwhelmed, you’re in good company. Plenty of new writers aren’t sure where to start, how to organize their ideas, or whether finishing a whole manuscript is even possible. The encouraging truth? With a simple, realistic plan, you can write a book in just 30 days.
Below is a friendly guide to help you go from idea to finished first draft — without burnout or confusion.
1. Start by Exploring Your Story Idea
Every great book begins with a spark. Before you jump into chapter one, take a little time to play with your idea.
Freewrite: Dump everything in your head onto the page — plot twists, character vibes, random scenes. Don’t censor yourself.
Keep asking, “What happens next?” Follow this thread until you naturally reach an ending. It’s a quick way to test whether your story has enough depth for a full novel.
Wondering how long your book should be?
Genres have their usual word-count ranges, but consider them guidelines, not rules. For a first draft, focus on momentum. A practical goal for a debut writer is around 50,000 words.
2. Choose Your Genre and Ideal Reader
Your genre shapes everything — tone, pacing, themes, even the way you write. Knowing who your story is for helps you decide:
The reading level you’re aiming for
What kind of experience you want to deliver
How you’ll eventually market the book
A little clarity now makes the entire writing process smoother.
3. Can You Really Write a Book in 30 Days? Absolutely — If You Plan for It
Let’s keep this simple.
If you write for one hour a day at a pace of about 1,500 words per hour, that’s:
1,500 words per day
45,000 words in 30 days
But life isn’t perfect. Let’s build in some breathing room.
Add five buffer days for the inevitable: tired evenings, surprise errands, off days, etc.
That leaves 25 writing days.
To reach 50,000 words, you’ll need about:
That could look like one hour in the morning + 30 minutes in the evening. Easy enough to fit into a real schedule.
Anything extra you write? A bonus that nudges you ahead.
4. Prep With a Simple Story Worksheet
Before you draft, get clear on the basics:
Why are you writing this book?
What message, feeling, or experience do you want your reader to walk away with?
Who are your characters, and what do they want?
You don’t need a complicated outline. Even a basic worksheet helps you avoid getting stuck later.
5. Tips to Help You Actually Finish Your First Draft
Writing a full book is no small challenge, but these habits can make the process way more manageable.
Set a small goal for each session
It could be a specific scene or a word count like 1,000 words. Targets help you stay focused and stop procrastinating.
Try the Pomodoro Technique
Write for 20–25 minutes, then give yourself a 5–10-minute break. It keeps your mental energy fresh and your creativity flowing
Your only job in a first draft is to get the story onto the page. The real shaping happens during revision.
6. Putting It All Together
With a grounded idea, a loose outline, and a realistic writing schedule, finishing your book becomes not just possible — but surprisingly doable. Your first draft doesn’t need to be beautiful. It just needs to exist.
By now, you’ve built:
A clear story concept
A simple outline
A workable 30-day plan
You’re ready to write your book — one day, one scene, one word at a time.
