For most writers, drafting a novel is much like climbing a mountain. Both require strategy and sustained effort to reach your goal. With two months remaining in the year (I can’t believe I’m saying that), it’s tempting to slow down your writing momentum or abandon your effort altogether. November is the perfect time to assess where you are in your current writing project, make adjustments to your routine, or experiment with a new story idea. While the month is well underway, it’s never too late to challenge yourself to meet your writing goals.
Once upon a time, there was a not-for-profit organization that ran National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) to challenge writers to accelerate their writing practice to meet a target goal of 50,000 words, or roughly 1,667 words per day. That’s a tough hill to climb even for the most seasoned writer. But it can be done and can lead to publishing success. Plenty of books started out as NaNoWriMo drafts, such as Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus (one of my favorites) and Marissa Meyer’s Cinder.
NaNoWriMo no longer exists, but other programs have popped up with similar intentions. Which one you choose depends on your writing needs and goals. Here are a few to consider:
NaNo 2.0 – This is a newer organized effort to replicate the original NaNoWriMo challenge and keep its spirit alive. Community-focused and volunteer-driven, this challenge offers more flexibility in the way writers can participate. Rather than meeting in one singular online space or platform, participants can choose to meet anywhere such as Facebook, Zoom, or even in person.
Novel November – Presented by ProWriting Aid, Novel November is free to join and offers a variety of workshops, community events and writing sprints. So you can continue to learn about writing a novel and engage with a community while pushing toward your goals.
Reedsy Novel Sprint – Much like the original NaNoWriMo, Reedsy adds a competitive element to their sprints, offering cash prizes and opportunities to meet literary agents. The only caveat is that you have to publish the words in Reedsy’s program.
Novel 90 – Presented by AutoCrit, a writing platform, this challenge has the same goal of completing 50,000 words, but participants have the option to complete it over 90 days rather than the 30 days in November. Because it’s less intense, the program is designed to help writers achieve better consistency with their writing over the long-term.
If none of these programs fit your writing goals or schedule, you can always create your own challenge, either operating on your own or with a group of fellow writers. You may also find formal local NaNoWriMo groups in your town or region that you can join. Do a Google search to see if there’s one in your area.
Whichever program you choose, remember that this is an opportunity to revamp your efforts. Start by assessing where you are in your current project. Are you satisfied with how much progress you’ve made so far? Set a goal for yourself, whether that’s aiming for the 50,000 words in the 30-day window, or only 500 words per day. Then figure out how to achieve that goal and how to fit in writing time.
Remember that the draft you write in November is just that – a draft. It’s in no shape to present to editors or literary agents. My advice is to set the draft aside for several weeks. Perhaps wait until after the holidays before looking at it again. By then, you can review it with fresh eyes and see what needs to be revised.
Even though November has already begun, it’s never too late to recommit to your writing goals. Participating in the November Writing Challenge can jumpstart your practice and keep the momentum going through the end of the year.
