Writing a Book Before the Year Ends? How to Make Meaningful Progress in the Next 90 Days

Can you believe we're already in October?

If you're anything like many writers, you might have started the year with big plans for your book. Maybe you pictured yourself finishing your manuscript by now, or perhaps you hoped you'd at least have a few more chapters written. But life happens. Work gets busy, family needs your attention, and sometimes the words just don't come as easily as you'd hoped.

If your book has been sitting on the back burner, I want to encourage you not to give up on it just yet. You still have time to make meaningful progress before the year ends. And no, that doesn't necessarily mean writing an entire book in three months!

Maybe you'll finally finish that chapter you've been struggling with. Maybe you'll get your ideas organized into a clear outline. Or maybe you'll simply get back into the habit of writing regularly. Whatever progress looks like for you, the next 90 days are an opportunity to give your book the attention it deserves.

Here are seven ways to get started.

1. Decide What You Want to Accomplish

Before you start filling your calendar with writing sessions, take a step back and look at where you are right now.

Have you just started collecting ideas? Do you have an outline but haven't gotten very far with the actual writing? Are you halfway through your first draft? Or have you finished your manuscript and know it needs some work?

There's no right or wrong place to be. Knowing where you are simply helps you figure out what to focus on next.

For example, if you're still working through your ideas, your goal might be to create a chapter-by-chapter outline. If you've already started drafting, you might aim to finish three more chapters. And if your manuscript is complete, perhaps the next few months are a good time to start revising. The important thing is to choose a goal that makes sense for your book and your life.

Instead of telling yourself, "I need to work on my book more," try setting a specific goal, such as:

• Write 500 words three times a week.

• Finish the outline for the remaining chapters by the end of October.

• Complete the first draft of two chapters each month.

• Revise the first five chapters before the end of the year.

A clear goal gives you something to work toward and makes it easier to recognize your progress along the way.

Your next step: Take a few minutes to write down what you'd realistically like to accomplish before the year ends. Don't worry about how you'll get there just yet. Start by deciding what matters most to you.

2. Break Your Goal Into Smaller Steps

Writing a book is a big project. When you think about everything you need to do before you can call it finished, it's easy to feel overwhelmed before you even begin. That's why I recommend breaking your goal into smaller, more manageable steps.

Let's say you want to finish the first draft of your nonfiction book. Rather than focusing on the entire manuscript, think about what you need to accomplish one chapter at a time. Which chapters still need to be written? Which ones require more research? Are there sections where you're not quite sure what you want to say yet? Once you have a better idea of what's ahead, you can start setting smaller milestones.

For instance, you might aim to draft one section each week or complete a chapter every two weeks. Your timeline will depend on the length of your chapters, the amount of research involved, and how much time you have available. And remember, not every chapter will take the same amount of time. Some will practically write themselves, while others might require a little more patience.

That's perfectly normal.

The goal isn't to create a rigid schedule that you have to follow perfectly. It's to give yourself a clear direction so you're not sitting down to write and wondering what to do next.

Your next step: Break your main goal into monthly milestones, then decide what you can do each week to move closer to them. Even small steps count. They add up faster than you might think.

3. Find a Writing Routine That Works for You

Let's be honest. Finding time to write isn't always easy.

Between work, family, household responsibilities, and everything else that fills our days, it can feel like there's never quite enough time to sit down and focus on your book. It's tempting to wait until things slow down or until you have a completely free afternoon. But if you're waiting for the perfect time to write, you might be waiting a while. Instead, try finding small pockets of time you can set aside consistently.

Maybe you can write for 30 minutes before everyone else wakes up. Maybe you can squeeze in a session during your lunch break or spend an hour working on your manuscript after dinner. You don't need to spend hours writing every day to make progress.

Here are a few things that might help:

• Put writing on your calendar. Choose specific days and times, even if you can only manage a couple of sessions each week.

• Start with a manageable goal. If you've been struggling to write consistently, try 20 minutes at a time rather than committing to two-hour sessions.

• Know what you'll work on before you sit down. Having a specific task in mind makes it easier to get started.

• Give yourself some flexibility. If your schedule changes, adjust your writing sessions instead of giving up on the week entirely.

One thing I want to emphasize is that your writing routine doesn't have to look like anyone else's. You might be able to write every morning, while someone else can only manage a few evenings a week. Both approaches can work. The best routine is the one that fits your life well enough for you to keep coming back to your manuscript.

4. Stop Trying to Get Every Sentence Right the First Time

Have you ever sat down to write, only to spend most of your time rewriting the same paragraph? You change a sentence, decide you don't like it, change it back, and then wonder whether the entire section needs to be rewritten. Before you know it, your writing session is over, and you've barely moved forward.

If this sounds familiar, you might be spending too much time editing while you're still drafting.

I understand the temptation. You want your writing to be clear, engaging, and easy to follow. You want your ideas to come across exactly as you intend them to. But trying to get everything right the first time can make the writing process much harder than it needs to be. When you're drafting, give yourself permission to focus on getting your ideas onto the page. You can come back later to improve the wording, reorganize paragraphs, and smooth out awkward sentences.

If you get stuck because you're missing a detail or can't quite find the right example, leave yourself a note and keep going.

For example, you could write:

[ADD MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MOUNTAIN RANGE]

Or:

[CHECK THIS FACT DURING REVISION]

That way, you won't lose your train of thought trying to solve every little problem as it comes up. Your first draft doesn't have to be beautiful. It needs to give you something to work with. And that's an important distinction.

Try this: During your next writing session, focus on completing one section without stopping to polish every sentence. You might be surprised by how much more you accomplish.

5. Give Yourself a Little Grace When Things Get Difficult

Even with the best intentions, there will be days when writing feels like the last thing you want to do.

Maybe you're tired. Maybe you're struggling with a particularly challenging chapter. Or maybe you've looked at your manuscript so many times that you can't tell whether anything you're writing makes sense anymore. It happens.

Writing a book takes time, patience, and a lot of mental energy. You don't have to feel inspired every time you sit down to write, and you certainly don't have to get everything right on the first try. When things get difficult, try changing your approach.

If you're experiencing writer's block, start smaller. Instead of trying to write an entire chapter, answer one question about your topic. Explain one concept or jot down a few ideas you want to explore. Sometimes getting started is the hardest part.

If you're struggling with perfectionism, let yourself write a rough draft. You can refine your ideas later. Right now, focus on figuring out what you want to say.

If you can't seem to find enough time, aim for shorter sessions. Twenty focused minutes are better than spending another week waiting for the perfect afternoon to appear.

If research is slowing you down, make a list of what you still need to find out. Some questions need to be answered before you can continue. Others can wait until you revise the manuscript. Learning to tell the difference can save you a surprising amount of time.

And if you're feeling discouraged, take a moment to remember why you wanted to write this book in the first place. Who are you hoping to help? What do you want readers to learn? Why does this story, experience, or subject matter to you? Sometimes reconnecting with your purpose is exactly the reminder you need.

Most importantly, don't let one unproductive day convince you that you've failed. You can always start again tomorrow.

6. Make a Simple Plan for the Next 90 Days

Now that you've thought about your goals, your schedule, and the things that might get in your way, it's time to put it all together. A 90-day plan doesn't have to be complicated. You just need a general idea of what you want to focus on during the next three months.

Here's one way to approach it:

Days 1–30: Get Organized and Build Momentum

• Use the first month to figure out where you are and establish a routine.

• Decide on your primary writing goal.

• Review your outline or create one if you haven't already.

• Break your goal into smaller milestones.

• Schedule regular writing sessions.

• Start working toward your first milestone.

If you're still organizing your ideas, that's where you can focus your energy. If you're already drafting, use this month to establish a writing rhythm and make steady progress. You don't need to have everything figured out before you begin. You just need a place to start.

Days 31–60: Keep Writing

• Once you've established your routine, focus on following through.

• Stick to your writing schedule as consistently as possible.

• Work through your planned chapters or sections.

• Keep track of what you've accomplished.

• Adjust your goals when necessary.

• Resist the urge to polish every paragraph before moving on.

This is where consistency really matters. You might not feel like you're making huge strides every day, but those regular writing sessions can add up to meaningful progress. And if something takes longer than expected? Adjust your plan and keep going.

Days 61–90: Look at How Far You've Come

As you approach the end of your 90 days, take some time to review your progress.

• What have you accomplished?

• Which goals did you meet?

• What still needs attention?

Depending on where you started, you might have a completed first draft, several new chapters, a more organized outline, or a much clearer idea of what your book needs. All of those are worthwhile accomplishments.

Use what you've learned to decide what comes next. You might continue drafting, begin revising, ask a trusted reader for feedback, or start looking into professional editing.

And remember, the purpose of this plan isn't to force yourself to finish an entire book in three months. Every manuscript is different, and some books require considerably more time than others.

The goal is to end the year feeling more confident about your progress and knowing what your next step will be.

7. Remember That You Don't Have to Figure Everything Out Alone

Finishing your manuscript is a wonderful milestone, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're ready to publish.

Once your ideas are on the page, you may find that some sections need more explanation, your chapters don't flow quite as well as you'd hoped, or certain ideas need to be reorganized. You might even discover that a section you were particularly proud of isn't working the way you intended. That doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. It's simply part of the writing process.

As the author, you're often so familiar with your subject that you know exactly what you mean, even when a reader might need a little more context. Having someone else look at your work can help you recognize those gaps and find ways to strengthen your writing. Self-editing is a great place to start (be sure to check out my blog post about common self-editing mistakes nonfiction authors make and snag your free copy of my self-editing workbook!). Reading your manuscript with fresh eyes, checking for consistency, and looking for places where your explanations could be clearer can all help you prepare for the next stage.

But you don't have to do everything on your own.

A professional editor can help you see your manuscript from a reader's perspective and determine what it needs to communicate your ideas effectively. Depending on where you are in the process, that might mean evaluating the overall structure, improving the flow of your writing, clarifying sentences, or checking grammar and punctuation.

My goal as an editor isn't to rewrite your book or make it sound like someone else's. It's to help your ideas shine while preserving your unique voice. And you don't need to have a perfect manuscript before reaching out for help. In fact, knowing what kind of support you need can make the next stage of your writing journey much less overwhelming.

If you're unsure whether your manuscript is ready for an editor, that's something we can talk through, too.

Your Book Doesn't Have to Be Finished by January

As the year winds down, it's easy to focus on everything you haven't accomplished yet. But I'd encourage you to take a different approach.

Instead of worrying about how far behind you might be, think about what you can do with the time you have left. You might not finish your entire manuscript in the next 90 days. That's okay. You can still finish a chapter, organize your ideas, establish a writing routine, or finally work through a section you've been avoiding.

Every bit of progress brings you closer to the book you want to write.

So choose one goal, make a plan, and give yourself permission to take it one step at a time. You don't have to do everything at once, and you don't have to do it perfectly. You just have to keep going.

Ready to take the next step with your nonfiction manuscript?

Whether you're still working through your first draft or have a completed manuscript ready for review, I'd love to help you figure out what comes next. Explore my editing services to learn how I can help you strengthen your manuscript, clarify your ideas, and prepare your book for its next stage.