How to Write a First Draft in Six Weeks (Free Planner)

When I started writing Pendomus in 2010, it was in part thanks to learning about NaNoWriMo. On October 10th, 2010, the idea for my first novel dropped into my head, and the timing was fortuitous since NaNoWriMo was around the corner and I had no idea. But boy, did it keep my attention focused on getting that dang story written once I learned about it.

I liked the NaNoWriMo-style month. The habit building, the word count stacking, all of it. But over the years, I realized I was a bit too rigid about the rules (hello neurospicy brain, I see you!) and I eventually wanted a version that was easier on me since writing wasn’t a fly-by-night thing, but a repeatable process to do over and over throughout the years.

So I stretched it to six weeks: about 10,000 words a week, adding up to a 60,000-word first draft. Here’s why it works better for me, how the math breaks down, and a free planner so you can try it yourself if you’re looking for a NaNoWriMo alternative this year.

Why six weeks instead of 30 days?

A 50,000-word month works out to about 1,667 words every single day. I can easily write 2,000 words, five days a week. But 1,667 words every day for 30 days leaves no wiggle room. Sick kids, holidays (hello, Thanksgiving), and whatever else life throws at you all land inside that month.

There’s another reason, and it’s that neurospicy brain I was talking about. I’m AuDHD, and when I take on a set of rules, I want to follow them. When the rules are too strict, I have a hard time bending them, even when bending them is exactly what I should do. Maybe you feel the same?

Six weeks gives you the same habit and the same stacking words, with room to breathe. Rest days are part of the plan.

How many words a day do you need to write a 60,000-word novel?

Here’s the math, so it feels doable:

• 60,000 words in six weeks is about 10,000 words a week.
• Writing five days a week is 2,000 words a day.
• Writing seven days a week is about 1,430 words a day.

Pick the rhythm that fits your life. A novel writing schedule you can keep beats a perfect one you abandon in week two.

What’s inside the free planner

I turned the six-week sprint into a printable planner. It has four parts:

1. Sprint Setup. Your book, your dates, your writing days, where you’ll write, and why this book matters to you.
2. Weekly pages. Choose your writing days and what you’ll write before the week starts.
3. A daily word log. Add up your running total as you go. Progress counts more than perfection.
4. A weekly close. Write down a win and what got in the way, then adjust.

There’s a finish-line page at the end, too. Print a fresh copy for every book you’re sprinting out.

What about the messy middle?

The hardest stretch of any sprint, for me, is the messy middle. It shows up in the middle of the six weeks, and it shows up in the middle of a single writing day when the words aren’t flowing the way I want. Don’t get me started on the middle of the actual book itself. Whooo.

That’s why every week of the planner ends with a spot for what got in the way and what you’ll adjust. A bad day isn’t a verdict on you. Pick up the next day and keep your running total honest.

If the middle is where your drafts stall, I go much deeper in the recorded masterclass Mastering the Messy Middle. It covers why your story feels stuck, five ways to catch up on your word count without the stress, and the 10-minute sprint trick I lean on for low-energy days. It’s pay what feels aligned, with a suggested price of $27, and everyone gets the same content at every price. It’s also included in the Library Pass.

Write it with an author friend

Do you know an author who keeps saying they’ll start a draft “someday”? Send them the planner link below. It’s easier to start when someone else is starting too, and you can compare notes when you both hit the middle.

Your planner link arrives by email, so use an address you check. You’ll also get a few short emails over the next several weeks with tips for your sprint, and you can unsubscribe any time. If you’re not on my email list yet, you’ll see a box to tick to join it.

Get the free six-week sprint planner →

Keep reading

• How Many Books Should an Indie Author Publish a Year?
• NaNoWriMo Is Gone: Your Best Options for November 2026

Want the full plan?

Rapid Release Roadmap walks you through the six-week sprint and a pace of about four books a year. If you’d like everything I teach, the Library Pass opens all 23 masterclasses for a one-time $97.

Frequently asked questions

How many words a day do I need to write a novel in six weeks?
For a 60,000-word draft, it’s about 2,000 words a day if you write five days a week, or about 1,430 a day if you write seven.

Is 60,000 words enough for a novel?
Many genre novels land between 60,000 and 80,000 words, so it’s a workable first-draft target. Check typical lengths for your genre before you set your number.

What if I miss a day?
A missed day doesn’t undo the sprint. Skip the guilt, write the next day, and use the weekly close to adjust your plan if you need to.

Is the planner really free?
Yes. Your planner link arrives by email, along with a few short sprint tips over the next several weeks. You can unsubscribe any time.