The Writer's Guild Forum A Step by Step Guide to Writin..

2. Create an Outline/Synopsis/Pitch

3. Finish First Draft

4. Get Feedback 

5. Edit Manuscript 

6. Get Additional Feedback / Edit Manuscript Some More 

7. Find an Editor / Agent 

8. Finalize any Changes (Title, etc.) 

9. Publish (Advance of a few thousand dollars + 10% royalties after publisher makes back advance in sales)

Word Length for Novels, Etc. 

10,000~ words (The average length of a short story)

40,000~ words (The average length of a novella)

45,000~ words (The average length of a middle school novel)

75,000~ words (The average length of a YA novel)

90,000~ words (The average length of a novel)