NaNoWriMo FAQ

How and when can I sign up? Is there an entry fee?

You can sign-up year-round! To sign up for the upcoming National Novel Writing Month, just click on the "Sign Up Now" box at the top of the site (at the tip of the runner's pencil), and fill out the User Registration form.

Kapow! You're officially signed up for National Novel Writing Month.

There's no sign-up fee for National Novel Writing Month, but we do ask ably-financed participants to contribute (http://store.lettersandlight.org/) something towards hosting and administrative costs. Because we're a nonprofit, the donation is tax-deductible! The amount you contribute is up to you.

How do you win NaNoWriMo and what are the prizes?

The way to win NaNoWriMo is by writing 50,000 words by midnight on November 30. Every year, there are many, many winners. There are no "Best Novel" or "Quickest-Written Novel" awards given out. All winners will get an official "Winner" web badge and a PDF Winner's Certificate.

The real prize in NaNoWriMo is the manuscript itself, and the exhilarating feeling of setting an ambitious creative goal and nailing it. And the $1,000,000.

Just kidding about the $1,000,000!

The actual winning process works like this: From 12:00:01 AM, local time, November 25 until 11:59:59 PM, local time, on November 30, all participants who have written more than 50,000 words can have their winning word counts verified by our site. Uploading your novel to the Word Count Validator makes your NaNoWriMo victory official, gets you listed on our Winners Page, and routes you to the secret spot where you can collect this year's winner's certificate. It will also turn your word count bar purple.

To become a winner, first make sure that you have written a manuscript that is 50,000 words or longer. Then sign in to the site, click on Edit Profile, then scroll down to the area labeled Word Count Validator. Copy and paste your entire novel into this box. Then hit the "Submit" button, and prepare for your accolades.

We understand that you may be reluctant to upload your novel to a random website, even to one as winsome as ours. If you are using Microsoft Word it is very easy to completely scramble your novel before uploading it in a way that will not affect its word count.

1. Open the file and make a new copy of your novel using 'Save As...'

2. Open the Find and Replace dialog box (Edit -> Replace).

3. Click the "More" button to expand the box.

4. Check the "Use Wildcards" checkbox.

5. In the "Find What" field, put this: [a-zA-Z0-9] (include the square brackets, no spaces before or after)

6. In the "Replace With" field, put this: a

7. Click "Replace All"

8. Select All (Ctrl+A) and Copy & Paste into the validator!

The procedure for Open Office is essentially the same, except that Open Office refers to 'Regular Expressions' instead of 'Wildcards'. (Thanks to Peter Dudley for this advice!)

You can get the same effect in a more cumbersome way by just doing a find-and-replace on every letter in the alphabet, one letter at a time. Open the find-and-replace interface on your word processing program and tell it to replace every "b" in your story with an "a," and every "c" with an "a," then every "d" with an "a." And so on.

We realize that people can cheat and upload something that's not a novel and still "win." But since the only real prize of NaNoWriMo is the self-satisfaction that comes with pulling off such a great, creative feat, we don't really worry too much about people cheating. Those who upload 50,000 words they copied from Wikipedia.org just to see their name on the Winner's page are pitiful indeed, and likely need more help than a downloadable winner's certificate can provide them.

When and how do I start writing? Do I have to write my novel on your site?

You begin writing at 12:00:01 AM local time on November 1. You write your novel off-line, on whatever word processor you like. If you write 50,000 words or more, you upload the manuscript to our site between November 25 and November 30 for word-count verification to win.

Is there a minimum age to participate?

You must be 13 or older to have an account on NaNoWriMo.org. But all ages are very welcome to take part in National Novel Writing Month, and we encourage younger writers to sign up over at NaNoWriMo's Young Writers Program website (http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/). It's a similar challenge for participants 12 and under, as well as those participating as part of a K-12 classroom group.

NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program participants get to choose their own word-count goal for November, and also have access to great noveling workbooks and fun, kid-oriented writing activities. Like NaNoWriMo, membership in the Young Writers Program is free.

What happens to all the novels written for NaNoWriMo? Has anyone been published?

Novels that are uploaded to us for verification and victory between November 25 and November 30 are counted by a computer script, and then automatically deleted. We do not read or keep any novels sent in, and NaNoWriMo authors retain all rights to everything they write during the event.

Many, many winning novels have been written through NaNoWriMo. Our stats:

1999: 21 participants and six winners

2000: 140 participants and 29 winners

2001: 5,000 participants and more than 700 winners

2002: 13,500 participants and around 2,100 winners

2003: 25,500 participants and about 3,500 winners

2004: 42,000 participants and just shy of 6,000 winners

2005: 59,000 participants and 9,769 winners

2006: 79,000 participants and 13,000 winners

2007: 101,510 participants and 15,333 winners

And a growing number of these novels have found publishers, including one New York Times #1 Bestseller!

Jon F. Merz---NaNoWriMo novel: The Destructor (Pinnacle Books, 2003). Contact: Pinnacle Books (http://www.pinnaclebooks.com/)

Lani Diane Rich---NaNoWriMo novels: Time Off for Good Behavior (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fexec%2Fobidos%2Ftg%2Fdetail%2F-%2F0446693065%2Fqid%3D1127018927%2Fsr%3D2-2%3Fv%3Dglance%26s%3Dbooks&tag=nationalnov09-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) (Warner Books, 2004) and Maybe Baby (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fexec%2Fobidos%2Ftg%2Fdetail%2F-%2F0446615781%2Fqid%3D1127018272%2Fsr%3D8-3%3Fv%3Dglance%26s%3Dbooks%26n%3D507846&tag=nationalnov09-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) (Warner Books, 2005). Contact: http://www.saragruen.com/

Sara Gruen---NaNoWriMo novels: Flying Changes (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fexec%2Fobidos%2Ftg%2Fdetail%2F-%2F0060790954%2Fqid%3D1126474574%2Fsr%3D1-1%3Fv%3Dglance%26s%3Dbooks&tag=nationalnov09-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) (HarperCollins, 2005) and Water for Elephants (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWater-Elephants-Novel-Sara-Gruen%2Fdp%2F1565125606&tag=nationalnov09-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) (Algonquin, 2007). Contact: http://www.saragruen.com/)

Rebecca Agiewich---NaNoWriMo novel: BreakupBabe (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F0345484002%3F%255Fencoding%3DUTF8&tag=nationalnov09-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) (Ballantine Books, 2006). Contact: http://rebecca.agiewich.net

Francesca Segre---NaNoWriMo novel: Daughter of the Bride (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F042520880X%2Fsr%3D8-1%2Fqid%3D1142552450%3F%255Fencoding%3DUTF8&tag=nationalnov09-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) (Berkeley Books, 2006). Contact: http://www.FrancescaSegre.com.

David Niall Wilson---NaNoWriMo novels: Vintage Soul (http://vintagesoul.macabreink.com/) (Five Star/Gale, 2007) and The Mote in Andrea's Eye (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FAndrea-Star-Science-Fiction-Fantasy%2Fdp%2F1594144532&tag=nationalnov09-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) (Five Star/Gale, 2006). Contact: Five Star/Gale (http://www.gale.com/fivestar/)

Gayle Brandeis---NaNoWriMo novel: Self Storage (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSelf-Storage-Novel-Gayle-Brandeis%2Fdp%2F0345492609%2Fsr%3D8-1%2Fqid%3D1171930992%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks&tag=nationalnov09-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) (Ballantine Books, 2007). Contact: http://www.gaylebrandeis.com

Kimberly Llewellyn---NaNoWriMo novel: Cashmere Boulevard (Berkley Books, 2007). Contact: http://www.KimberlyLlewellyn.com

Geonn Cannon---NaNoWriMo novel: On the Air (P.D. Publishing, 2007). Contact: P.D Publishing (http://www.pdpublishing.com/)

Lisa Daily---NaNoWriMo novel: The Dreamgirl Academy (Plume/Penguin Putnam, 2008). Contact: http://stopgettingdumped.com

Jacob and Diane Anderson-Minshall---NaNoWriMo novel: Blind Curves (Bold Strokes Books, 2007) Contact: http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

James R. Strickland---NaNoWriMo novel: Looking Glass (Flying Pen Press, 2007) Contact: http://www.jamesrstrickland.com

Kathy Cano-Murillo---NaNoWriMo novel: Love Shine (Grand Central Publishing, 2007) Contact: http://www.CraftyChica.com

Ann Gonzalez---NaNoWriMo novel: Running for My Life (WestSide Books, 2008) Contact: http://www.AnnGonzalez.com

Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen---NaNoWriMo novel: The Compound (Feiwel and Friends, 2008) Contact: http://www.rockforadoll.com

Jessica Burkhart---NaNoWriMo novel: High Jumps at Collins Academy (Simon & Schuster, 2007).

Jenna Bayley-Burke---NaNoWriMo novel: Just One Spark (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FJust-Spark-Modern-Romance-Extra%2Fdp%2F0263849880%3Fie%3DUTF8&tag=nationalnov09-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) (Mills & Boon, 2006). Contact: www.jennabayleyburke.com

Teryl Cartwright---NaNoWriMo novel: A Sensible Match (Vintage Romance, 2007). Contact: http://www.terylcartwright.com

Dave Casler---NaNoWriMo novel: The Story of the Great American Flying Broomstick, Book 1: Genesis (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0980060303?tag=ameriflyinbro-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0980060303&adid=0WCSYW6A0AWS5BF98MMX&) (Mt. Sneffels Press, 2007). Contact: http://www.americanflyingbroomstick.com

Liz Hegarty---NaNoWriMo novel: Salt River (Scholastic New Zealand, April 2009). Contact: http://www.scholastic.co.nz/

C.J. Lines---NaNoWriMo novel: Filth Kiss (Hadesgate Publishing , 2007). Contact: http://cjlines.com

Moondancer Drake---NaNoWriMo novel: Worlds Collide (PD Publishing). Contact: http://www.moondancerdrake.com.

Simon Haynes---NaNoWriMo novel: Hal Spacejock No Free Lunch (http://www.spacejock.com.au/Hal1Download.html) (Fremantle Press, June 2008).

Farhan Devji---NaNoWriMo novel: The Hockey Farmer (http://www.amazon.com/Hockey-Farmer-Farhan-Devji/dp/0981820867/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213939936&sr=8-1) (Cacoethes Publishing, June 2008). Contact: Cacoethes Publishing (http://www.cacoethespublishing.net/?q=node/28&authorId=51)

Kalayna-Nicole Price---NaNoWriMo novel: Once Bitten (Bell Bridge Books). Contact: http://www.Kalayna.com

Why are you doing this? What do you get out of it?

NaNoWriMo is all about the magical power of deadlines. Give someone a goal and a goal-minded community and miracles are bound to happen. Pies will be eaten at amazing rates. Alfalfa will be harvested like never before. And novels will be written in a month.

Part of the reason we organize NaNoWriMo is just to get a book written. We love the fringe benefits accrued to novelists. For one month out of the year, we can stew and storm, and make a huge mess of our apartments and drink lots of coffee at odd hours. And we can do all of these things loudly, in front of people. As satisfying as it is to reach deep within yourself and pull out an unexpectedly passable work of art, it is equally (if not more) satisfying to be able to dramatize the process at social gatherings.

But that artsy drama window is woefully short. The other reason we do NaNoWriMo is because the glow from making big, messy art, and watching others make big, messy art, lasts for a long, long time. The act of sustained creation does bizarre, wonderful things to you. It changes the way you read. And changes, a little bit, your sense of self. We like that.

Can I participate if I'm not American? Are non-English novels okay?

You bet! We are very proud to be an international event, and don't consider the "National" in the title to refer to the United States. This is an event for all nations. We'd change the name to "International Novel Writing Month," but InNoWriMo doesn't roll off the tongue in quite the same way.

You can write novels in any language you like. Our validator doesn't handle non-Latin characters sets, sadly, so there may be an issue with becoming an official winner. But this is just icing on the NaNoWriMo cake, and we encourage you to write in whatever language is most comfortable for you.

Can I share writing duties with a partner?

No. But we would like to take this opportunity to plug our Script Frenzy event. Script Frenzy participants write a 100-page stage play or screenplay in April, and for Script Frenzy you are welcome to work with a partner.

Why 50,000 words? And how do you define "novel"?

Our experiences over the past nine years show that 50,000 is a difficult but doable goal, even for people with full-time jobs and children. The length makes it a short novel. We don't use the word "novella" because it doesn't seem to impress people the way "novel" does.

We define a novel as "a lengthy work of fiction." Beyond that, we let you decide whether what you're writing falls under the heading of "novel." In short: If you believe you're writing a novel, we believe you're writing a novel too.

Can I write one word 50,000 times?

No. Well... No.

What is NaNoMail?

Everyone participating in NaNoWriMo gets a little mini-email program built into their user account. It's called "NaNoMail," and it allows you to send private messages to other participants without having to know their actual email address. You'll see a "Check and Send NaNoMail" link on your Author Profile page.

NaNoMail is turned on by default. To make it so participants can't send you NaNoMail, just sign in, then head to My NaNoWriMo-->Edit User Settings and uncheck the box marked "Allow Private Messages."

Do I have to start my novel from scratch on November 1? Can I use an outline?

Yes.

This sounds like a dumb, arbitrary rule, we know. But bringing a half-finished manuscript into NaNoWriMo all but guarantees a miserable month. You'll care about the characters and story too much to write with the gleeful, anything-goes approach that makes NaNoWriMo such a creative rush. Give yourself the gift of a clean slate, and you'll tap into realms of imagination and intuition that are out-of-reach when working on pre-existing manuscripts.

Outlines and plot notes are very much encouraged, and can be started months ahead of the actual novel-writing adventure. Previously written prose, though, is punishable by death.

If I'm just writing 50,000 words of crap, why bother? Why not just write a real novel later, when I have more time?

There are three reasons.

1) If you don't do it now, you probably never will. Novel writing is mostly a "one day" event. As in "One day, I'd like to write a novel." Here's the truth: 99% of us, if left to our own devices, would never make the time to write a novel. It's just so far outside our normal lives that it constantly slips down to the bottom of our to-do lists. The structure of NaNoWriMo forces you to put away all those self-defeating worries and START. Once you have the first five chapters under your belt, the rest will come easily. Or painfully. But it will come. And you'll have friends to help you see it through to 50k.

2) Aiming low is the best way to succeed. With entry-level novel writing, shooting for the moon is the surest way to get nowhere. With high expectations, everything you write will sound cheesy and awkward. Once you start evaluating your story in terms of word count, you take that pressure off yourself. And you'll start surprising yourself with a great bit of dialogue here and a ingenious plot twist there. Characters will start doing things you never expected, taking the story places you'd never imagined. There will be much execrable prose, yes. But amidst the crap, there will be beauty. A lot of it.

3) Art for art's sake does wonderful things to you. It makes you laugh. It makes you cry. It makes you want to take naps and go places wearing funny pants. Doing something just for the hell of it is a wonderful antidote to all the chores and "must-dos" of daily life. Writing a novel in a month is both exhilarating and stupid, and we would all do well to invite a little more spontaneous stupidity into our lives.

What if I start and don't finish? Or hit 50,000 words but I'm only halfway through my novel?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

And the 50,000-word goal is a threshold, not necessarily a stopping place. Reaching 50k and realizing you still have a lot of wrapping up to do is a good thing---it gives you something to come back and work on later.

How do I update my word count?

The word count module (and excerpt function) is in your profile page.

Go to Edit Profile (the red link in the upper right)

Click on the third tab called Author Info.

Scroll down to the novel-related fields.

What if there's a discrepancy between what my word count said and what yours comes up with?