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Novel November

Write 50,000 words in 30 days
Novel November

The Goal:

Write a full, completed draft of a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. No editing, no second guessing, no hesitation. Just write!

Why?

  • build good writing habits
  • practise writing all parts of a novel
  • finally get your story down on paper

Brainstorming Prompt:

Describe 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses of a character. How might you show off their strengths? How might their weaknesses cause problems? 

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What's Novel November?

History:

Previously, 'National Novel Writing Month' (NaNoWriMo) was a world-wide writing challenge run by a non-profit organisation. The official website and forums shut down in March 2025, but the challenge lives on.

The Challenge:

  • 50,000 words
  • 30 days, starting November 1st
  • A full, completed draft of a new novel
  • No editing, no second guessing, no hesitation.

What's the 80 Hour Edit?

Premise:

If you wrote a novel this November, then you might want to spend some time editing in the new year.

Fix the major plotholes, rename the main character, and reduce the typos to a respectable number.

The Challenge:

  • 80 hours
  • 60 days, starting January 1st
  • Be focused. Be ruthless. Get it ready for the world.

What's the Mid-Year Novelette?

Premise:

November doesn't work for you? 50,000 words isn't the right target? Just want to write more?

The Mid-Year Novelette is a more flexible, less intense alternative to the main writing challenge. The default word target is set at 15K, but choose whatever works for you.

The Challenge:

  • 15,000 words (or whatever)
  • 31 days, starting July 1st

Get Started

Track

Track your progress each day.

Set Goals

Aim for 50,000 words in November, or create a custom goal.

Earn Awards

Celebrate the little wins with trophies along the way.

Socialise

When you're done writing for the day, come hang out in the forums 🤗

Featured Project: Levi: A Need

Sitemap

  • Forum

    A place to chat, share your progress, or ask for help from other writers.

  • Code of conduct

    Know the rules, follow the rules!

  • About

    The team and technology behind novel-november.com

  • FAQ

    Still have questions? Check here first.

  • Tools

    Widgets to support your writing journey.

  • Analytics

    Challenge outcomes: see how much we wrote and what badges we earned!