NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program (original) (raw)
Your story matters
WRITE YOUR NOVEL NOW.
What is NaNoWriMo?
National Novel Writing Month is a fun, empowering approach to creative writing. The challenge: draft an entire novel in just one month. For 30 wild, exciting, surprising days, you get to lock away your inner editor, let your imagination take over, and just create!
Our Young Writers Program supports under-18 writers and K-12 educators as they participate in our flagship event each November, and take part in smaller writing challenges year-round.
FOR YOUNG WRITERS
Only you can tell
your story.
Set your word-count goal for the month and draft your novel right on our site. We'll help you track your progress. Plus, get support from published authors and an international community of fellow novelists.
How It Works for Young Writers
EDUCATORS
Unleash your students’
creative potential.
Start a virtual classroom to read student novels and track progress. Keep your kids motivated with free classroom kits, workbooks, and Common Core-aligned K–12 lesson plans.
“The Young Writers Program has given me the freedom to write on any subject and has improved my writing and grammar skills. It has made a huge impact in my English classes.”
7th Grader
Virginia, USA
“The first year I joined NaNoWriMo, I was inspired to actually finish a project. The Young Writers Program motivated me to continue on in my novel even when I didn’t want to.”
7th Grader
California, USA
“The Young Writers Program showed me that I could do whatever I want if I put my mind to it. I never thought I could write a novel. And YWP proved me wrong.”
7th Grader
Illinois, USA
“I am constantly thinking of story ideas for the next NaNoWriMo. The Young Writers Program has inspired me to let my imagination run wild, and I find myself more motivated after writing.”
6th Grader
California, USA
“I loved how you could just write. In most other programs, there was always a worksheet, or months and months of planning. I just loved writing my novel and was so inspired, I made a novel-writing club for my school!”
5th Grader
Indiana, USA
“We had over 500 students doing this project together. Students knew that there were other people who were having the same fears, going through the same struggles, and feeling the same sense of pride in their work.”
Daniel Stone
Educator, South Carolina
“I watched all my students grow and develop as writers, thinkers, and creators over the month of November. They’re excited to do it again this year and engage further in developing their own stories about their world.”
Celia Emmelhainz
Educator, Kazakhstan
“From November on, I see new depth in their reading journal entries as they begin to read like writers, contemplating and evaluating what published authors have done in their work.”
Melody Sutton
Educator, California
“Even if they only have 15-20 minutes to write, the room goes silent except for the sound of words making their way onto the page. Students leave my room and enter the world of their novels.”
Noriko Nakada
Educator, California