Write a novelthis November.
50,000 words. 30 days. One finished first draft. Join writers everywhere taking on the November novel writing challenge, and let Chapterly keep you on track.
Write 50,000 words per month in My November Novel
Write 1,667 words per day to stay on track!
- words
- 50,000words
- days
- 30days
- words a day
- 1,667words a day
- finished first draft
- 1finished first draft
Your daily target
How many words a day?
Starting late or already writing? Tell us where you are and we'll do the math.
Write 1,667 words a day for 30 days to reach 50,000 words by November 30.
That's about 7 double-spaced pages, or 84 minutes at 20 words a minute.
Looking for a NaNoWriMo alternative?
For more than two decades, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) organized this challenge. The nonprofit shut down in 2025, but the tradition didn't go anywhere: every November, writers still set out to draft a novel in a month. You don't need anyone's permission to take part, just a goal, a plan and a way to keep yourself writing every day.
The plan
Your month, mapped out
Four weeks, four milestones. Hit them and you'll write THE END on November 30.
- Week 1 · by Nov 711,667total words
Set it in motion
Meet your characters, establish their world and let the story's problem arrive.
- Week 2 · by Nov 1423,333total words
Raise the stakes
Complications pile up and your hero commits to a goal there's no walking away from.
- Week 3 · by Nov 2135,000total words
Turn the corner
The midpoint twist is behind you. Everything costs more now, and the end is in sight.
- Week 4 · by Nov 3050,000total words
Write THE END
Climax, resolution, final line. Messy is fine: you have a complete draft to revise.
Prepare in October
Walk in ready to write
An hour or two of prep now saves you from a blank page on November 1. Our free tools help.
Find your premise
Pick an idea you can't stop thinking about. Stuck? Spin up a story idea.
Plot generatorKnow your genre
Every genre makes promises to its readers. Decide which ones your story keeps.
Book genres guideName your cast
Heroes, villains and everyone between: names with meanings for any culture or world.
Name generatorBuild your world
Kingdoms, cities and villages that sound like they have a history.
Place namesChoose a working title
A title makes it real. Generate a few and pick the one that makes you smile.
Title generatorCollect sparks
Keep a list of scenes you're excited to write. They'll carry you through week two.
Writing promptsTrack it in Chapterly
Your 50,000 words, counted for you
Chapterly is a writing app built for drafting books. Set a monthly goal for your novel and focus on the story: Chapterly does the counting, the math and the nudging.
- A 50,000-word monthly goalChapterly counts the words you write and shows how many you still need each day.
- Reminders that keep you honestChoose a part of the day and Chapterly nudges you to show up for your words.
- AI help when you're stuckAsk for what happens next, a burst of dialogue or a chapter outline, then keep writing.
- Readers waiting at the finishWhen your story is ready, share it with readers on Chapterly and grow an audience.
Write 50,000 words per month in My November Novel
Write 1,667 words per day to stay on track!
Evening reminder
Time to write! 1,667 words today keeps My November Novel on track.
Keep going
Tips for writing every day
Week two is where most novels stall. These keep yours moving.
Same time, every day
Even 20 minutes counts. A habit beats a heroic weekend.
Bank words early
Aim for 2,000 a day in week one to build a cushion for busy days.
Don't stop to fix
Leave notes like [research this] and keep going. Editing is December's job.
Stop mid-scene
End each session knowing exactly what happens next. Tomorrow starts itself.
Skip ahead when stuck
Write the scene you're excited about and fill the gap later.
Find a writing buddy
Share your daily count with a friend. Accountability is rocket fuel.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the November novel writing challenge?
Writers set out to draft a 50,000-word novel between November 1 and November 30. That works out to about 1,667 words a day. The goal is a complete first draft, not a polished book: you write forward, save editing for December, and finish the month with a story you can revise.
Is there a NaNoWriMo alternative?
Yes. The National Novel Writing Month nonprofit shut down in 2025, but the challenge itself belongs to writers and anyone can take part. You can track your 50,000 words with a monthly writing goal in Chapterly, plan with the free name, plot and title generators, and share your story with readers when it is ready.
How many words a day is 50,000 words in a month?
1,667 words a day for 30 days. If you start late or miss days, divide the words you have left by the days remaining: the calculator on this page does it for you. Many writers aim a little higher early in the month to build a cushion for busy days.
Is 50,000 words long enough for a novel?
50,000 words is a short novel or a strong start on a longer one. Many young adult and middle grade novels run 50,000 to 80,000 words, while adult fantasy and science fiction often run longer. Treat the challenge as a draft: you can keep writing in December.
Do I need to plan my novel before November?
You don't have to, but a little preparation helps you keep writing every day. Many writers use October to choose a premise, name their main characters, sketch the setting and outline the main turning points, then leave room to discover the rest while drafting.
November 1 is coming.Your novel is waiting.
Set your goal, gather your ideas and bring a friend. Thirty days from now you could be holding a finished first draft.