How long does it take you to write 2500 words?

Hans.Trondheim · 2026-03-19T10:35:52+0000

SouthernMaiden said:
Just curious for me, as a rough draft, probably like 2 hours. Cause imma slow stupid b.

Edit: I will say I spend way longer editing than actually *writing*. Like my rough drafts are ROUGH

Depending on my mood, I can steamroll 2500 words within 30 minutes, or give it out in a span of a whole day.

LeslieLevendale · 2026-03-19T10:43:39+0000

I completed my book in 4 years. It has 209,131 words in 34 chapters.
It's not just about drafting those 2,500 words. It's also about redrafting countless times. Then revisiting the text countless time. Not to mention editing it to industry standards. It's a lot of hard work. Having said that, I loved every moment of the journey.

Ashlock_ · 2026-03-19T12:09:01+0000

Between one hour and one month depending on the strain of madness afflicting me.
ETA:
To expand on what Leslie says above, which is correct: Did this 1,000 word chapter that I rough drafted in an hour (which is standard/ideal) take an hour? No, once it's publishable it did not. It might have taken a cumulative 3-4 hours across multiple revisions, not counting the time I spend waiting on beta reader feedback.

TinaMigarlo · 2026-03-19T19:51:03+0000

What amazed me was that writing is fairly easy, once you have the right thing to write about, and you got your character and got them doing their thing.

Its the proofing and editing and reading while still proofing and editing, then re-reading after a time and doing it all again.
that's what takes more time than the writing itself.
then just when you think its going to be a "last read, just to read"...
there's still that one typo.
its like its never done.

you still have to get something out the door, though.

LeslieLevendale · 2026-03-19T19:57:29+0000

TinaMigarlo said:
What amazed me was that writing is fairly easy, once you have the right thing to write about, and you got your character and got them doing their thing.

Its the proofing and editing and reading while still proofing and editing, then re-reading after a time and doing it all again.
that's what takes more time than the writing itself.
then just when you think its going to be a "last read, just to read"...
there's still that one typo.
its like its never done.

you still have to get something out the door, though.

Yes, one has to ear putting typing that "The End" :-)

FRWriter · 2026-03-19T20:14:00+0000

2-3 hours of writing, another 30-60 minutes of editing.
I always try to balance quantity and quality. My readers prefer 3 chapters to 1 chapter, which is marginally better than the others. At some point, you just need to release what you've got. Most readers care about the actual plot and not about technical writing abilities. Just make sure you are happy with the plot, there are no mistakes in your chapter, proofread it once, and then release the damn thing.

Of course, my opinion is only about webnovels and not classical writing....

LeslieLevendale · 2026-03-19T20:45:09+0000

FRWriter said:
2-3 hours of writing, another 30-60 minutes of editing.
I always try to balance quantity and quality. My readers prefer 3 chapters to 1 chapter, which is marginally better than the others. At some point, you just need to release what you've got. Most readers care about the actual plot and not about technical writing abilities. Just make sure you are happy with the plot, there are no mistakes in your chapter, proofread it once, and then release the damn thing.

Of course, my opinion is only about webnovels and not classical writing....

I don't envy you.

I admire your resilience.

I write literary fictions (sounds a bit earnest I know...) and I have all the time I need. No push, no expectations. I can wait for the inspiration to come. Fans will not breathe down my neck.

By the time I start publishing, I will have had all my chapters ready. I still publish them in a group of 2–3 but it's a strategy if you know what I mean.

Anyway, high five and happy writing
Leslie

Juia_Darkcrest · 2026-03-19T21:20:10+0000

Depends on how the ideas are flowing.

I can usually have a 2000-2500 word chapter ready for release in 4-6 hours. Sometimes, I have been able to put 10-12k words in a single day if the ideas are flowing, other times, I am sitting at 150 words and wondering where the hell I am going next for the next day or two.

AliceMoonvale · 2026-03-19T21:24:54+0000

It takes me about an hour for 1.5k words, including some of the editing.
So, I estimated around 2hrs for 2.5k if I skipped editing in between.

Honestly, if I didn't have nearly severe inattentive ADHD, I'd be doing so much more.

How long does it take you to write 2500 words?

How long does it take you to write 2500 words?

30 Minutes

1 Hour

2 Hours

3 Hours

4 Hours

5 Hours

Over 5 Hours ...

Hans.Trondheim

Low energy is king!

LeslieLevendale

Member

Ashlock_

New member

TinaMigarlo

Apparently my pronouns are now: "it". Thanks, guys

LeslieLevendale

Member

FRWriter

Well-known member

LeslieLevendale

Member

Juia_Darkcrest

Well-known member

AliceMoonvale

Staff-assisted member