Our Story
“Write first! Ask questions later!”
–Chris Baty, NaNoWriMo founder
National Novel Writing Month began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel in thirty days. Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write, determined to end the month with a first draft. They enter the month as elementary school teachers, mechanics, or stay-at-home parents. They leave novelists.
NaNoWriMo is internet-famous. We’re community-powered (hello, Wrimos!). We’ve hosted authors drafting novels like Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, Elizabeth Acevedo’s With the Fire on High, Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, Marissa Meyer’s Cinder, and more. Our website tracks words for writers like Fitbit tracks steps, and our volunteers host real-world writing events in cities from Seoul to Milwaukee like, well… like nothing else. Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel.
NaNoWriMo officially became a nonprofit organization in 2006, and our programs now include community writing challenges like National Novel Writing Month in November and Camp NaNoWriMo in April and July; resource-driven initiatives like NaNo Prep in September and October and the “Now What?” Months in January and February; the Young Writers Program for kids, teens, teachers, and families; plus local initiatives like the Come Write In program for libraries, bookstores, and community spaces, and the Municipal Liaison program for local volunteers.
NaNoWriMo believes stories matter, and we’re here to help you write yours.
