How to Publish a Devotional Book
The short answer
A devotional is a book of structured daily readings: Scripture, reflection and application. Choose your length first (30, 90 or 365 days), keep one consistent entry template, settle your Bible translation early because it sets your permissions, then edit, design and print.
Updated October 2026 · By Harmony Publishing
What is a devotional book?
A devotional is a book of structured spiritual readings, usually one per day. Each reading typically includes Scripture, a personal reflection and a practical application (Chapter.pub).
The main formats: 30, 90 and 365 days
Devotionals come in a handful of common lengths (InkfluenceAI):
- 21 days: habit-building.
- 30 days: one month.
- 40 days: Lenten or transformational journeys.
- 90 days: one quarter.
- 365 days: a full year.
Shorter devotionals of 21 to 40 days work well as first books or as a free gift to new readers.
The anatomy of a single daily entry
Readers expect a consistent template that is treated identically every day (Liberscript, The Ready Writer):
- A day or date header.
- The quoted Scripture.
- Your reflection.
- A prayer or application.
How long should a devotional be?
A 365-day devotional is a major project, at 120,000 to 180,000 words according to InkfluenceAI. Most first-time authors start with 30 or 40 days before committing to a full year.
Printing and format decisions
Decide early whether each entry will include journaling space, because write-in space adds pages and affects the binding you choose. If readers will write in the book, pick a binding that opens flat; our guide to Bible study guides explains the options. The classic book size is 6 x 9 inches (PublishingXpress); see our trim sizes guide for the others.
Scripture permissions before you print
Scripture permissions are decided at formatting time, because the translation you quote affects your copyright page and the number of verses you may use (Liberscript). Public-domain translations need no permission; most modern translations allow a limited quantity and require a notice.
Read our guide to Scripture permissions and Bible translation copyright before you lock your manuscript.
Publishing a faith book with Harmony
Harmony Publishing is a self-publishing company, and authors keep 100% of their royalties and rights. For a devotional we edit the manuscript, including Scripture-citation checks, where we check your Bible verse references in the manuscript for accuracy and correct attribution. We also design the cover and interior, supply the ISBN, print and distribute. See the Christian publishing hub for the full list, and the packages page for what each package includes and its price.
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Frequently asked questions
How many days should my devotional be?
Common lengths are 21, 30, 40, 90 and 365 days. Most first-time authors start with 30 or 40 days before committing to a full year.
How long is a 365-day devotional?
InkfluenceAI puts a full-year devotional at 120,000 to 180,000 words, which is why many authors begin with a shorter one.
Do I need permission for the Bible verses I quote?
It depends on the translation. Public-domain translations need no permission, while most modern translations allow a limited quantity and require a copyright notice. Settle your translation before formatting.