The 3 Books in 1 Year Schedule

An Outline We'll Probably Abandon in a Week, but Then We'll Get Right Back On

Here's the flow of what 3B1Y could look like for you.

Month 1: Planning & Drafting (Wks 1–4)

Goal: Get the story down fast. 2,000 words/day (5 days a week).

• Week 1:

  • Finalize premise, characters, rough outline (if you use one).

  • Set up writing schedule & environment.

  • Target word count: 10k.

    
    

• Weeks 2–4:

  • Write daily, aim for ~10–12k words per week.

  • Don’t edit. Push forward.

  • End of Week 4: 45–50k words. (First draft almost done. Yeppers!)

Month 2: Finish Draft & Chill Period (Wks 5–8)

Goal: Complete the manuscript & get distance.

• Week 5:

  • Wrap up draft (~55–60k words).

  • Write “THE END” (important psychologically).

    
    

• Weeks 6–7:

  • Take a break from the book (2 weeks).

  • Focus on reading, brainstorming next project, or outlining Book 2.

    
    

• Week 8:

  • Re-read manuscript once straight through.

  • Take notes on plot holes, weak scenes, character issues.

    
    

Month 3: Big Revisions (Wks 9–12)

Goal: Transform raw draft into a strong story (Yes, it's possible!).

• Weeks 9–11:

  • Rewrite scenes for pacing & clarity.

  • Strengthen character arcs, dialogue, and description.

  • Cut excess (“Second draft = First draft – 10%”).

    
    

• Week 12:

  • Share with beta readers or critique partners (optional but ideal).

Month 4: Polishing & Prep (Wks 13–16)

Goal: Final polish and prepare for publishing.

• Weeks 13–14:

  • Line edits: tighten language, fix consistency, grammar, style.

  • Use editing software (I use AutoCrit and Grammarly).

    
    

• Weeks 15–16:

  • Proofread.

  • Format manuscript for e-book and/or print (Vellum, Atticus, or Reedsy).

  • Cover design finalized.

  • Prep for self-publishing launch.

📅 Yearly View (3 Books)

• Jan–Apr: Book 1

• May–Aug: Book 2

• Sep–Dec: Book 3

No doubt there will be A LOT of starting and stopping. Some of us may write a draft in the first thirty days and take a month to start or edit another project. Others will sail right through those four months writing, editing, rewriting, and proofreading the same manuscript. If we can get one or two books out next year, that would be a huge accomplishment, definitely back-patting worthy. Now get to writing right now!