How Long Does it Take to Write a Short Story?


We recently ran a poll on our Twitter account asking authors how long it takes them to write a short story. Below are the results:

It looks like most people take less than 4 weeks to write a short story. For a lot of people it takes less than 1 week. That makes perfect sense since a short story is normally less than 6,000 words, so it really only takes 1 burst of momentum to get a first draft done!

What about you? How long does it take you to generally write a short story? Let us know in the comments below!


5 responses to “How Long Does it Take to Write a Short Story?”

  1. It depends. Should me times a few weeks, sometimes a couple days. Depends on how easy it comes. I read somewhere it takes Joe Hill a few months, at least at that time of reading.

    WCM

  2. Usually three days to do ‘Dirty Draft’ (hand-written to typed up) – First draft. After that, counting the times you put it away to mature and come back to it with fresh eyes, I’d say a month to six weeks. Towards the end of the process I’ll be working on three or four at a time. It’s important for your writing to keep churning out good ideas – it’s also GREAT fun (something you don’t want to miss out on). Happy writing, Dudes.

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