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National Novel Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month, often shortened to NaNoWriMo ( ), is an annual creative writing challenge that takes place in November of each year. Participants are tasked with writing a 50,000-word novel draft by the end of the month, aiming for an average of 1,667 words each day. Writers are instructed to prioritize speed and quantity over quality, with the 50,000 word count being the primary goal (although writers are free to edit their drafts after the competition). The U.S. based nonprofit organization that founded the project closed in 2025 due to scandals and financial issues, but the event lives on through community-led initiatives and alternative platforms like NaNo 2.0.

The project began in July 1999 in San Francisco with 21 participants. It snowballed over the next two decades, with over 400,000 people participating in 2022. In March 2025, the organization announced it was shutting down, with interim executive director Kilby Blades publishing a YouTube video citing financial struggles and "community vitriol" as the reasons for closure.

During the 25 years of the organization's existence, its website provided participants—called "Wrimos"—with an online community of support, information about local meetups, and tips for writer's block. Writers wishing to participate first registered on the project's website, where they could post profiles and information about their novels, including synopses and excerpts, and give each other feedback. Well-known authors wrote "pep talks" to motivate participants throughout the month. Regional volunteers, called "Municipal Liaisons," provided networking and advice, and organized in-person and virtual writing events for local writers. Provided by Wikipedia