A short story is anything under 10,000 words long but typically 1,000 to 7,500 words in length.
The average person types 40 words per minute, meaning it would take them 25 minutes to write a short story.
However, most people are not professional writers and will likely spend more time on their story.
The average new writer can write 500-1000 words a day comfortably so, using these figures - according to our Book Writing Calculator, the shortest short story could be completed in a day or two. While the longest, 7500-10,000 words, could take four days to a week.
Of course, how long it will actually take to write a short story also depends on the following:
- writer’s experience
- skill level
- planning,
- and preparation
If you’re a pantser (someone who doesn’t plan their story before they write), you can still get an idea of how long it might take you to write a short story by looking at how much you typically write in an hour or day.
If you’re a planster (someone who plans their story before they write), you can use our Book Writing Calculator in combination with our story writing planner to get a better idea of how long it might take you to write your story.
It’s important to remember that everyone writes at different speeds and there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to how long it takes to write a short story. The most important thing is that you finish writing it!
Should You Plan Your Short Story To Write It Quicker?
Planning will not necessarily speed up your short story writing efforts and in some cases it could actually make the process take longer.
Many short story writers have found success in using the zero drafting method, which is where you write the story without any planning or preparation.
With zero drafting, you simply start writing and see where the story takes you. This can be a fun and exciting way to write, but it’s not for everyone.
