Join the 2026 Novel November challenge
You’ve dreamed of writing a novel. Let November 2026 be the month you bring that dream to life. You’ll be in good company with tens of thousands of writers worldwide overcoming doubt, distractions, and writer’s block to reach 50,000 words in 30 days.
How Novel November works
Track your word count wherever you write
Measure your progress directly in Word, Scrivener, Google Docs, or your favorite app—no copy-paste required.
Get advice from bestselling authors
Get your questions answered in live sessions. Our 2025 program featured more than 150 events led by top authors like Madeline Miller (The Song of Achilles), Tomi Adeyemi (Children of Blood and Bone), Rufi Thorpe (Margo's Got Money Troubles), Graham Bartlett (City on Fire), and many more.
Write with others
Join daily writing sprints and networking events where you’ll write alongside tens of thousands of fellow participants, stay accountable, and feed off the energy of a global writing community.
Celebrate your success
Earn rewards and badges as you achieve your writing milestones so you maintain momentum throughout the challenge.
How does it work?
October
Join us for Preptober
With dozens of free workshops throughout October, run by bestselling authors, editors, and agents, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running.
November
Put pen to paper
Write 1,667 words a day in your favorite writing app. Stay on track with daily sprints, expert Q&As, and a community that keeps you motivated.
December
Polish to publish
With 50,000 words under your belt, learn how to edit, publish, and market your book with advice from agents, editors, and published authors.
Your challenge, at your pace
Writing 50,000 words in 30 days is an incredible goal—but it’s not the only one that matters. Every writer’s journey looks different, and every word you write is a victory.
This challenge isn’t about perfection or speed. It’s about showing up for your story, discovering your creative rhythm, and celebrating the progress you make—whether that’s 5,000 words, 25,000, or the full 50,000.
Wherever your story takes you this month, we’ll be cheering you on every word of the way.
Here's what 2025 NovNov participants had to say
Firstly bravo to all who have got to the end of the month. I don’t care what number you reached, I’m proud of everyone. This is the first time I’ve done anything like this and I have learnt so much this month.
Novel November was great and it was inspirational watching all the work being done by so many people.
All the sprints and events have been great support throughout this month. I've made great progress with the help of this community.
This has been my biggest month too — I've never written this much in a month.
Writing every day is massive for me. I want it to be a routine forever and this month has made me push myself to not miss a day.
NovNov has been epic; the sprints, the community, the accountability. Huge thanks to the organisers and participants, and well done to everyone who has shown up and written something.
Novel November FAQs
What is Novel November?
Novel November (NovNov) is a free 30-day writing challenge designed to help you write the first draft of your novel. With expert workshops, daily writing sprints, progress tracking, and a supportive global community, you’ll have everything you need to hit 50,000 words in one month.
Our 2026 challenge will begin with Preptober on October 1, 2026.
Who can join?
Anyone. Whether you’re writing your very first novel or you’re an experienced author looking for accountability, Novel November is built to support writers at all levels.
How do I sign up for Novel November?
If you don't already have one, you need to register for a free ProWritingAid account to join Novel November and get access to all features. Click here to sign up for NovNov for free.
When does this 30 day writing challenge start?
The Novel November challenge will begin on November 1, 2026 and runs through November 30, 2026. Prep workshops and resources will be available throughout October 2026 so you can start November ready to write.
How much does Novel November cost?
Nothing—participation is completely free. You’ll get access to the full program of workshops, community events, tracking tools, and expert support at no cost.
What tools do I need?
All you need is your favorite writing app—Word, Scrivener, Google Docs, or wherever you already write. Novel November integrates with these tools so you can log your word count wherever you write. You can also write by hand and manually log your word count via the Novel November dashboard.
How does Novel November work?
In October, you’ll prepare with planning workshops and expert advice. In November, you’ll aim to write 1,667 words per day (50,000 total) while tracking your progress directly in your favorite writing app. In December, you’ll get access to resources on editing, publishing, and marketing your book.
Is my writing safe with Novel November?
Absolutely. Any text you write for Novel November remains your own. ProWritingAid never sells or shares your writing, and your work is never used to train any algorithms. You can write with confidence knowing your novel is safe and private.
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