How much does it cost to write a book?

This is a common question, and of course, on the most basic level impossible to answer. It is difficult in part because we can’t easily answer how long it takes to write a book. If we knew how long, then we could assign an hourly fee and multiply that by the hours and voila we’d have the cost.

Some authors take years to write a book. And some have been known to write a book in just a few days. So, it basically depends on the writer, the research needed, and the type of book.

But, since I offer book publishing services, including writing and editing, it’s good for me to have some ballpark figures. I’ve taken a look at some of our projects and compared them to ghostwriting sites and job offerings online. My conclusion is that a book can be written for $20-75,000 (this is considered the mid-range cost). And that sounds about right to me. Yes, you can get a book written for less. And yes, it can cost more as well. It really depends on the ease of obtaining the content (interviews, documents, imagination), the process involved, the experience of the writer, and the responsiveness of the client.

The size of the book might range from 30,000-100,000 words, and might take between 4 and 8 months to complete. To edit that book might cost half the writing guesstimate: $10,000-30,000. An average novel runs 100,000 words / 400 pages. Business books tend to cost more because they have a different narrative flow and often include graphics, charts, and other inserted content, which can make the writing process move slower.

Some folks charge by the hour (range is $45-200 / hour) and some charge by the page ($8-12 / page). Every project is different, every writer is different, and you will benefit by working with someone compatible with you, your topic, and how you want to work.

So, if you are writing your own book and you write 4 pages a day (+/- 1,000 words), you might be able to finish your book in about 100 days. Writing is an intense, creative process and my writers find 1,000 words a day to be a very productive schedule.

Books are long lasting. They are of enormous value – to you, to your business, to those who buy them. Investing time and effort, and sometimes money, into their creation is a significant and valuable thing.