National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, is a month long writing competition in which participants have 30 days during the month of November to complete a 50,000 word novel. NaNoWriMo is the perfect excuse to get that novel you’ve had simmering in the back of your head written.

NaNoWriMo was founded by Chris Baty and the very first NaNoWriMo took place in July 1999 with 21 participants. It was moved to November the following year, according to the official website, “to take advantage of th miserable weather.” During this second year, the event had grown to include 140 participants. The third year saw 5000 members, and the event continued to grow from there.

During NaNoWriMo, quantity is much more important than quality. The only goal is to get 50,000 words down. You can always go back and edit your work later (National Novel Editing Month, or NaNoEdMo, which isn’t technically affiliated with NaNoWriMo is in March, but you can edit your novel earlier if you want, or never acknowledge your finished novel again!). The purpose of NaNo is simply to get your novel down without editing yourself as you write. The time limited nature, as well as the NaNo community, helps writers to stop procrastinating and just get something that may otherwise never get written typed down.

The only rules are that you have to start a new novel (you can’t continue working on a previous work), all of your writing must be done during the month of November (no starting before 12am November 1st, and your word count must be verified by midnight November 30th local time), it must be a novel (no nonfiction), and you must write your own novel (no splitting the writing workload with a co-writer).

Once you have written at least 50,000 words and verified your word count on the website, you are entitled to a variety of winner’s goodies, including a printable winner’s certificate and web icons to use on your websites.

There is also a special NaNo website for young writers which allows teachers to use NaNoWriMo as a classroom project. The Young Writer’s Program is open to anyone under the age of 18 who is participating either on their own or as part of a teacher-lead group. The Young Writer’s Program allows participants to set their own word count goal, making the event more accessible to younger writers. Writer’s over the age of 13 may participate on the main NaNoWriMo website using the standard 50,000 word goal. I would encourage teenagers to participate on the main website if participating on their own.

To participate in NaNoWriMo, visit their official website at NaNoWriMo.org

I have been a participant every year since 2005 and have won every year except 2007. If anyone on Triond would like to be my writing buddy, send me a message for a link to my NaNo profile.