How does one get to the GM level

I love chess! If I could spend all day playing chess I would do so happily. My question is, do people become great chess players over night, or do you generally agree, that most just get better over time, and with a lot of practice?

Both, if the person has great potential.  People with an aptitude for chess learn it in leaps and bounds, while others never get it.  On the other hand, there is so much strategy and theory to learn that it takes at least two years to get past the basics.

But chess is rarely learned over night, even Bobby Fischer took a year or so before he "got good".  To me, the last prodigy was Sammy Reshevsky.

And I also believe practice as well as reading about theory come hand in hand to improve.  You need both to improve.

I think people become great players overnight. All you have to do is never give up dreaming. Walking through rainbows with a few ponies also helps. 

 What would you recommend reading, if I may ask?

Steroids

I'd recommend some motivational stuff, like "Break Your Barriers" or something. (There just has to be a book with that title. If not, try watching Rocky IV)

I recommend Susan Polgar's "Chess Tactics For Champions", Capablanca's "Chess Fundamentals" and Znosko-Borowski's "How Not To Play Chess" to start with and later Nimzovich's "My System" and Kmoch's "Pawn Power" followed by Euwe's volumes, Alekhine's collections, and Fischer's "My 60 Most Memorable Games".  Only when one is thoroughly comfortable with tactics, basic endings, and positional play should one go on to endgame compilations and opening theory books. 

 So best guess you are an out of work comedian?

Well you started off the jokes with this thread...

My! there are some friendly comments here! :-) Like any sport in life, you need to be fit (fatigue plays a big role), have a proper diet, be dedicated, PATIENT and learn all you can! It will take time (yeah, look who is talking)

 So, true.  Mikhail Botvinnik, father of the so called "Soviet School of Chess" proved after he studied Alekhine's comeback win over Max Euwe.

You can become a GM by scoring 65% against IMs

It must be mentioned that aside from time, a big amount of money has to be spent too. Chess books, chess coaching and tournament fees require your pockets to have some money surplus. In fact, for that level you also have to cosider travel expenses for internatinal tournaments. You can't get to GM level without spending some $1000s. Of course there are tournament prizes that compensate for that but you can't expect to get the big prizes all the time.

Sounds like a plan ...

Nah, sorry, I was just on my troll mode.

I thought it should be obvious no one becomes a great player overnight, that's all. It takes years and years of hard work starting from very young ages and a great deal of talent

In this day and age, I think you need a time machine and a set of instructions for your parents when they cut your umbilical cord. 

(might be a great idea to invest in Baby Morphy and Baby Alekhine children's videos)

There are two types of GMs: who reached the level after years of hard work and those (overnight guys) who got Rybka brain implants.

 10 years still look very optimistic to me :)

Some people start playing chess at the age of 8 and reach 2000 rating at the age of 10, whilst others who start at the age of 8 might never reach 2000 rating, even after 20 years!

Some people are just plain naturally talented. Practice does help, but to become a GM, you need natural talent as well.