If you've got a story idea sitting in a notes app, a half-finished draft you keep meaning to get back to, or just a New Year's-style resolution to finally write "the book," you don't have to wait until January. ProWritingAid's free, month-long writing challenge, Novel November, kicked off on November 1, and it's built to help writers like you turn an idea into an actual manuscript.
What Is Novel November?
Novel November invites you to write 50,000 words in 30 days…a big step toward your first novel draft. It’s free, open to everyone, and about more than just watching your word count climb. You’ll build a writing routine, find encouragement, and get support to keep going, one page at a time.
In 2025, more than 70,000 writers joined in and wrote a combined 120 million words. This year, organizers hope to welcome 100,000 writers from around the world, and you could be one of them. Whether you’re starting your first novel or working on your fifth, you’ll be in good company, with fellow writers cheering you on along the way.
What You Get When You Join
When you join Novel November, you’ll get practical tools, expert guidance, and a writing community to help you make progress on your manuscript, all for free:
Daily live sessions. Interactive writing sprints, craft webinars, networking opportunities, and workshops from sponsor brands: essentially a daily appointment to actually sit down and write.
Writers' Circles. Connect with writers in your genre for encouragement and day-to-day accountability to help you keep writing when that early November enthusiasm starts to fade.
Bestselling authors and industry experts. Live sessions this year include Jessica Brody (Save the Cat! Writes a Novel), Onyi Nwabineli (Someday, Maybe), Troy Onyango (International Booker Prize judge), Eden McKenzie-Goddard, Marve Michael Anson, and Lily Meade. This lineup brings expertise in craft, story structure, and the business side of publishing.
Milestone tracking and badges. Built-in progress tracking and badges to help you actually see the habit forming, rather than just trusting it's happening.
Backing from major industry partners, including IngramSpark, Spotify, Scrivener, Kickstarter, Bookouture, Kobo Writing Life, Bookvault, and ALLi. Writers who finish the challenge receive access to exclusive sponsor offers, giving you something to look forward to beyond reaching 50,000 words.
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.
Why This Matters If You're Self-Publishing
A finished first draft is the single biggest hurdle most aspiring self-published authors never clear: not cover design, not formatting, not distribution. Novel November is built specifically to solve the "getting words on the page" problem, with enough structure and community to make 50,000 words feel achievable instead of abstract.
And because it's backed by names already woven into the self-publishing world, the challenge also connects you with resources for what comes next. Your draft doesn't have to be perfect. It gives you a starting point for revising, editing, and preparing your book for publication.
How to Join
Novel November is 100% free and open to sign-ups now! If you’ve been thinking about writing a novel, this is an invitation to give your story some time and attention. You’ll have a writing community, expert guidance, and a shared goal to help you keep going, one page at a time.
Ready to take the next step toward publishing your book? Explore IngramSpark's free online self-publishing courses for practical guidance to help you move forward with confidence.
