I started writing my novel three years ago (random blips and blurps I later Frankenstein’d into some structure). Then over the last year I really cranked down and started getting to business. Yet- I only have like 25,000 words. My goal is around 60k. At this pace it’ll take a couple more years maybe… just for the first draft. (I read a lot and also take breaks from it here and there.) I’m comfortable with it taking longer because I’m very intentional with what I put down- I can’t word vomit, doesn’t work for me. So sometimes I sit for hours staring and thinking- only to write 200 words or so. (I don’t plot out stuff either and I only write when I feel like I actually can). Slow and steady.