Every November for the past 20 years, writers flocked to the nonprofit National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) website, eager to take up the organization’s challenge: Write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. November was dubbed National Novel Writing Month in 2000, as founder Chris Baty wanted to encourage writers to take advantage of the miserable late-fall weather. (He lived in the San Francisco Bay area, where it was often cold and rainy.)
What started as a simple-enough effort local to San Francisco in 1999 with 21 participants, NaNoWriMo ballooned over the years, in both participants and participant location. In 2022, more than 400,000 participants signed up, from all over the world. They logged their daily word counts, cheered each other on, and kept the dream alive that, yes, they could finish that book.
But after a remarkable two-decade run, NaNoWriMo’s story came to a dead halt.
A one-two punch of controversies — one involving inadequate oversight in the organization’s youth programs, another over its stance on artificial intelligence in creative writing — led to internal fractures and public backlash. The nonprofit shuttered its doors in 2024, leaving a gap where a vibrant community once gathered.
For many writers, it felt like losing a familiar November ritual — one that celebrated effort over polish, consistency over perfection. The idea wasn’t to produce a masterpiece, but to get words on the page and worry about revising later.
So now what?
The good news is that the heart of NaNoWriMo — the community, the commitment, the creative spark — still beats strong. Writers everywhere are carrying the tradition forward in new ways.
Did you ever participate in NaNoWriMo? Are you looking at November and feeling lost, wondering what will take the place of this structure and community that united writers across the globe for two decades?
If you’re hungry to write in November and still long to spend this short, cool month in a mad writing sprint, I want to share some NaNoWriMo alternatives with you – including an invitation to write with me for 30 days and celebrate your progress on the other end.
Alternatives for November Writing Challenges
Publishing platform Reedsy has launched its own November challenge, encouraging writers to draft 50,000 words in thirty days. This year, they’re offering prizes and even agent introductions for top participants — a mix of fun and motivation to keep those fingers typing.
ProWritingAid’s “Novel November”
ProWritingAid, in partnership with Scrivener, Lulu, Kickstarter, and others, hosts “Novel November.” Writers commit to a month of writing sprints, live workshops, and community events — all designed to help authors finish strong and polish their drafts after.
NON-WriMo is the alternative to NaNoWriMo for women writing nonfiction. Creator Janna Maron encourages women nonfiction writers to set their own goals and work at their own pace. “We prioritize ease, grace, and manageable goals over stress, pressure, and plowing through to force ourselves to meet a word count goal that, let’s be honest, isn’t a sustainable (or fun) approach to our writing and creative lives,” Janna says.
Local Events
Some communities are keeping the NaNoWriMo spirit alive locally. Libraries, writing centers, and bookshops are hosting their own challenges. For example, the Brigham City Library in Utah continues to host a November novel-writing event with local prizes and meetups.
Go Solo (or Small)
You don’t need a global nonprofit to make November count. You can gather a few friends, set your own daily goals, and hold each other accountable. Invite writer friends to join you on Zoom, or meet once a week in a coffee shop to share your writing progress and write some more. Whether you’re writing 50,000 words or 500, the goal is the same: show up for your story.
How will you show up?
November can be your month of accountability and encouragement. If you’d like a little extra boost, download our free November Writing Tracker. The tracker is a fun way to help you stay motivated and keep showing up. The visual rhythm of checkmarks is motivating, and even a few missed boxes show that you’re trying, not failing.
It’s not about word count; it’s about consistency. About honoring your craft, one day at a time.
Download the November Writing Tracker here.
The end of NaNoWriMo doesn’t mean the end of November writing. It’s simply a new chapter — one where we can return to the roots of what made it meaningful in the first place: community, commitment, and courage.
Let’s keep the tradition alive.
