NaNoWriMo 2023: Your Guide to National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is a fun and popular writing challenge that takes place every November. Participants aim to write 50,000 words for a new or existing novel within the 30 days of November. 

With some planning, tips, and commitment, NaNoWriMo can help aspiring authors finally write the novel they've been dreaming about. This comprehensive guide will give you all the details on how NaNoWriMo works and how you can take part.

What is NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, but it is also a nonprofit organization that produces the annual, month-long 50,000 words writing challenge.

The event has a long and interesting history, but it started in 1999 with only 21 participants in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has since grown immensely in popularity. 

In 2022, more than 400,000 writers around the globe participated in the novel writing month and their Young Writers Program. More than 51,000 writers met their novel writing goals and became NaNoWriMo winners.

The purpose of NaNoWriMo is to help writers get over their inner critic and just write freely without obsessing over editing and perfection. As the nonprofit founder, Chris Baty says on their About page: "Write first! Ask questions later!" 

The deadline pressure of NaNoWriMo forces writers to power through without overthinking.

When is NaNoWriMo? 

NaNoWriMo always takes place throughout the entire month of November. It kicks off at midnight on November 1st and ends at 11:59pm on November 30th. 

This equals exactly 30 days to write 50,000 words. The deadline is strictly enforced if you want to participate in the official challenge from NaNoWriMo. However, you can also set your own goal and write at your own pace during the national writing month. Participants can choose to either write a new novel draft or continue working on an existing one. 

NaNoWriMo Rules

To take part in NaNoWriMo, all you need to do is sign up on the nonprofit's website. You’ll first announce a new project, then select “Join with a new novel” or “Join with an existing novel” on the challenge invite banner. 

You self report your words on NaNoWriMo’s site, but you should follow these basic rules:

1. You need to write at least 50,000 words by the November 30th deadline. Going over is great, but anything under will not be considered a win.

2. Only writing done in the 30 days of November counts. Don’t try to give yourself a head start by updating your word count with any content written before November 1st.

3. All genres and skill levels are welcome to participate, so feel free to write what you desire! Participants should be 13 or older.

4. Only you should write your novel. NaNoWriMo is about pushing yourself to write, so you shouldn’t be using a ghostwriter or collaborators.

5. You must update your word count on the NaNoWriMo website to track your progress.

Follow these rules, and you'll be an official NaNoWriMo winner if you cross 50,000 words by November 30th!

Plan & Win NaNoWriMo 

The best way to win, or succeed, at NaNoWriMo is to create a writing plan and stick to it. So it’s best to plan ahead, follow a few tips, and dedicate enough time for your goals.

Tips to Help You Win NaNoWriMo

→ Outline your novel idea before November. Outline your plot, create your characters, and build your setting or world to allow the words to flow quicker. Check out NaNoWriMo’s Prep 101 for help.

→ Set a daily word count goal based on your schedule. Writing 2,000 words daily leaves wiggle room for busy days. 

→ Calculate how many hours you need to write daily to hit your word count goal. Schedule writing sessions on your calendar and treat them like appointments. 

→ Tell friends and family you'll be busy this November with a writing challenge. Ask them to understand if you can't socialize as much.

→ Eliminate distractions and time wasters during your scheduled writing sessions to maximize productivity. Freedom is a great app to help you block online distractions.

→ Follow the "just write" mindset. Editing and revising can come later. Silence your inner critic for the month.

How to be Counted as an Official NaNoWriMo Winner

To become an official winner, you have to update your word count to pass 50,000 words on NaNoWriMo website by the end of November 30th.

You’ll then get a 50K badge and receive your winner goodies from NaNoWriMo’s sponsors. If you forget to update your goal by the deadline, you can still backdate your progress in your goal stats to win. Learn more.

How Many Words to Write Per Day for NaNoWriMo

To complete a 50,000 word draft in 30 days, the recommended daily word count is 1,667 words. However, this allows for no days off during the month of November, which might not be feasible for everyone.

Here is a breakdown of daily word counts based on how many days you can devote to writing:

• 30 days to write: 1,667 words per day 
• 25 days to write: 2,000 words per day
• 20 days to write: 2,500 words per day 
• 15 days to write: 3,334 words per day
• 10 days to write: 5,000 words per day

Ideally, aim for at least 2,000 words per day to have a buffer for busier days where you fall slightly short. Writing pace varies per person, but somewhere between 1,500-2,500 daily words is reasonable for most people. Time how long it takes you to write 500 words and use that to get a sense of how much time it will take you each day.

Even if you fall behind, just keep moving forward! Even 500 words a day is great progress to becoming an established writer and that’s the true goal behind national writing month, anyway.

How to Update Word Count on NaNoWriMo

To officially participate in NaNoWriMo, you'll need to join the challenge and update your word count progress on their website. Here are simple steps to enter your count:

1. Login to your NaNoWriMo account that you created when signing up.

2. Click the + icon at the top menu bar.

3. Enter your word count in the menu that drop downs. You can either update your total  word count or enter the count from your last writing session.

4. Click "Update Progress" to save your total. 

5. Track your progress on the stats graph.

6. Repeat this process daily or whenever you write to update your growing total word count.

Entering your word count provides motivation as you see your progress rise daily on your NaNoWriMo stats page. Friends can also encourage you via the site as they track your count.

Tracking Goals that aren’t Word Counts

Not everyone wants to write 50,000 words in November, but they still want to participate in national writing month. If you already have a manuscript that you want to revise, or you’d prefer to track time or page goals, you can.

It won’t be part of the official challenge and you won’t be able to actually track the time, pages, or editing progress on their site, but NaNoWriMo has a quick guide for how to translate that into word counts.

• Editing: Track the number of words on the pages you edit.
• Time: Use word count to track minutes. For example, say one minute equals 40 words. So if you write for 20 minutes, you’ve written 800 words.
• Pages: Take the average words per page of a manuscript (250) and multiply it by the number of pages you write. So if you write 5 pages, you’d enter 1,250 words.

The Best NaNoWriMo App for Writing 

NaNoWriMo doesn’t offer a writing app, and there is no official NaNoWriMo app for updating your word counts on the go. However, they do have an official sponsor page that includes discounts on paid writing apps.

Ultimately, the best writing app for NaNoWriMo is the one that you’re going to love writing in.

If you want to try a new writing app, Motif is easy to use, online, and free for writers this National Novel Writing Month. We also make it easy to set and track word count progress on your manuscript and chapters. Sign up.

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NaNoWriMo FAQs

If you're new to participating in NaNoWriMo, you likely have plenty of questions about how it works. Here are answers to frequently asked questions:

Do you actually write your novel on the NaNoWriMo website?

No, the nonprofit's site is just used to track your progress. You can hand write your novel or use any writing software like Motif.

How do I enter my word count in NaNoWriMo?

Login to your NaNoWriMo account, click the + icon, then input your word count in the drop down.

Can I start NaNoWriMo in the middle of November?

Technically yes, but if you’re trying to hit 50,000 words and you haven’t written anything yet, you might find it difficult. If you’ve been writing that month already, you can backfill your progress.

You could also choose to set your own goals based on the time you have left, such as 20,000 words if you have 20 days left. While you won’t be an official “winner” when you hit that goal, any writing should feel like a win!

How does NaNoWriMo work?

You register on the site, start writing a new draft or continue an existing novel on November 1st, update your word count as you write, and reach 50,000 words by 11:59pm on November 30th to "win."

Can you sign up for NaNoWriMo any time in November?

Yes, you can sign up and track progress on your projects year round on the NaNoWriMo site. And the official challenge registration is open all month. But again, starting late may make the 50,000 word goal hard to achieve.

Is NaNoWriMo only for adults writing novels?

No, they offer programs for students and teachers in K-12 classrooms as well. The official challenge is open to writers aged 13 and over.

When is the last day I can sign up and start NaNoWriMo? 

You technically can join and start writing any day in November. But realistically, it will be difficult to finish 50,000 words if you start late. If you’ve been writing in November and just haven’t updated your progress, you can backfill your word count.

We hope this beginner's guide provides plenty of tips and motivation as you embark on the NaNoWriMo challenge this November. Just stick to your game plan, silence your inner editor, and let the words flow freely throughout the month. You've got this!