For a long time, November being the National Novel Writing Month was a “the grass is green” kind of obvious fact – at least, for writers. Run by the nonprofit National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, the challenge was audacious, if gruelling: write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Hence the popular designation of November as “a writer’s month”.
So, is National Novel Writing Month still a thing?
Now, however, the nonprofit organization NaNoWriMo officially closed its doors in early 2025. Its collapse was the result of financial instability, catastrophic failures in community trust related to child safety, and a profound misalignment with its user base on creative principles.
So, many authors and would-be authors are now asking, “Is National Novel Writing Month still a thing?”
Well… yes and no. NaNoWriMo might not be returning to our small screens, but, like in any good epic fantasy saga, the fall of the reigning monarch has caused a lot of would-be heirs to rise. Minus the whole medieval civil war thing, that is.
Though, before I give you your definitive guide to the new landscape of November writing challenges, it might be good to explain what the damn thing even is:
hat is a November Writing Challenge?
A November writing challenge is an event, typically community-based, that encourages writers to pursue a hefty creative goal during the 30 days of November. The traditional goal set by NaNoWriMo was 50,000 words, though new alternatives offer a wide range of possible goals. These can include:
- Writing a 50,000-word novel (duh).
- Writing a shorter work of 30,000 words.
- Completing a collection of poems or short stories.
- Finishing a major revision of an existing draft.
- Achieving a custom goal based on time spent writing or pages edited.
So, while writing almost 2000 words a day is a lot – and you kind of had to, if you wanted to succeed in the NaNoWriMo challenge – there is good news: you can pursue more modest goals.
But what will replace NaNoWriMo? Well, I have a few options for you…
(If you prefer short video summaries, here is one in two parts:)
The New Alternatives to NaNoWriMo
For those who loved the traditional 50,000-word sprint, these new big guys offer a direct replacement:
- ProWritingAid’s Novel November (NovNov): This is positioned as the most direct, large-scale international replacement. It’s a free, 30-day challenge to write a 50,000-word first draft. Its big feature is a great level of expert support, offering over 150 free sessions and Q&As with bestselling authors like Madeline Miller and Tomi Adeyemi. It even integrates with popular writing software like Scrivener and Google Docs.
- The Reedsy Novel Sprint: Hosted by the Reedsy marketplace, this 50,000-word challenge is a high-stakes contest. It features significant cash prizes ($5,000 for first place) and consultations with literary agents. In a direct response to the NaNoWriMo controversy, Reedsy has a hardline, technologically enforced anti-AI policy: to be eligible for prizes, all 50,000 words must be written within Reedsy’s proprietary software. Which, yes, might be a bit of a hurdle for those who prefer Dabble/Scrivener/WorldAnvil… but if you do, I have more good news, because our next contender is:
- Dabble’s 60-Day Novel Challenge: This free challenge formalizes the “Preptober” preparation month. October is explicitly dedicated to outlining and planning, while November is for drafting the novel. It’s supported by a curriculum of weekly workshops and is integrated with the Dabble writing software.
- AutoCrit’s Novel 90: This challenge extends the whole thing into a 90-day writing marathon from October 1 to December 31. The goal is to complete a 50,000+ word novel in a more manageable timeframe than the traditional one. Its signature feature is a style-based coaching system where participants are sorted into teams (Planner, Pantser, or Plantser) and led by bestselling authors who provide tailored guidance.
- World Anvil’s NovelEmber: This is the perfect option for writers of speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi)… or just those who like worldbuilding. Participants can use the honor system to set a custom goal, like completing an editing pass, writing short stories, or even designing a tabletop RPG.
- Order of The Written Word (O2W): O2W offers three distinct tracks: The Novelist’s Initiation (30,000 words), The Trials of Verse & Vignette (15 poems or 8 short stories), or The Refinement Ritual (a revision pass). The whole thing is run through a tight-knit, values-driven Discord server.
- Sarra Cannon’s Rough Draft Challenge: Hosted by a bestselling author Sarra Cannon (by the way, her course on time-management for authors is also great… no, I am not an affiliate), this challenge has grown in the last few years. The challenge is highly flexible, with tiered word count goals (from 10,000 to 100,000+) and a “Diamond” tier for any custom goal.
Oh, here is a handy table
| Challenge Name | Host/Platform | Timeline | Core Goal | Cost | Key Features | Community Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novel November (NovNov) | ProWritingAid | Nov 1-30 | 50,000 words | Free | 150+ expert workshops, live Q&As, app integration, daily sprints, badges | Large-scale, supportive, educational |
| Reedsy Novel Sprint | Reedsy | Nov 1-30 | 50,000 words | Free | Cash prizes, agent consultations, strict anti-AI (must use Reedsy Studio) | Professional, competitive, career-focused |
| NovelEmber | World Anvil | Nov 1-30 | 50,000 words or flexible “rebel” goal | Free | Worldbuilding integration, honor system, printable certificates | Flexible, low-pressure, genre-focused |
| Order of the Written Word | O2W Community | Nov 1-30 | 30k words, 15 poems/8 stories, or revision | Free | Values-driven (anti-AI), Discord-based, flexible tracks | Principled, intimate, multi-disciplinary |
| Novel 90 | AutoCrit | Oct 1-Dec 31 | 50,000+ words | Free | 90-day timeline, style-based coaching (Planner/Pantser/Plantser) | Guided, structured, supportive |
| 60-Day Novel Challenge | Dabble | Oct 1-Nov 30 | 50,000 words | Free (with software trial/discounts) | Structured prep month (Oct) and writing month (Nov), software integration | Methodical, educational, software-focused |
| Rough Draft Challenge | Sarra Cannon | Oct 1-Nov 30 | Flexible (tiered word count or custom goal) | Free | Author-led, YouTube-based community, simple tracking platform | Author-led, positive, motivational |
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