NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program - Home

Camp NaNoWriMo is underway!

Chris Angotti — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:33:54 +0000

The bugle calls, the writing begins. Camp NaNoWriMo's April session is officially underway.

If you're 13 or older, it's not too late for you to join up! Start a new novel, work on an old one, or go wherever the Camp muse takes you. (The Camp muse looks an awful lot like a jaunty bear, it turns out.)

If you're under 13, things are hopping in the forum-driven YWP version of Camp. Say hello to your fellow writers!

Over 21,000 people are writing novels with us this April. Be one of them!

Chris Angotti
Director of Programs

You're invited to Camp NaNoWriMo!

Chris Angotti — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:17:19 +0000

While we won't be putting on Script Frenzy next month, we do have another great creative writing opportunity for you:

Camp NaNoWriMo, now in April and July 2013!

If you're 13 or older, you can sign up today at CampNaNoWriMo.org. For the first year, we have flexible word-count goals! Write 10,000 words, 999,999 words, or anything in between.

If you're under 13, no worries! We'll be running an ultra-fun, low-pressure version of Camp in our forums. You can choose your own goal and deadline, exchange tips with fellow novelists, and even track your word count with a simple widget.

If you're an educator, check out our suggestions for teaching NaNo during the Camp months.

Any questions about Camp NaNoWriMo? Please send us a smoke signal via the contact form.

We hope you'll join us for these two months of creativity!

Chris Angotti
Director of Programs

Your Revision Advice (And Other Highlights)

Chris Angotti — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:59:08 +0000

A few highlights from the first weeks of our "Now What?" months...

If you're on Twitter, we'll also be holding a "Now What?" chat on Thursday, January 17 at 5:00 PST. Just follow the #nanowrimo hashtag to keep up with the conversation!

Hope all goes well in your revision process. Just like Sockrocks says, "Don’t charge at it with open pens, take it slowly, chapter by chapter." Good luck!

Chris Angotti
Director of Programs

The "Now What?" Months

Chris Angotti — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:57:47 +0000

For the first time, we're spending January and February on revision and publishing! We call them our "Now What?" months, and here's how you can participate.

We want to hear our young writers' best revision advice. Share your ideas here, and we'll post them later this month.

You can also follow along as we publish pep talks and advice articles, plus hold webinars and Twitter chats in the weeks to come.

Because the YWP will be sharing "Now What?" with the NaNoWriMo adult program, we'll use the landing page linked above as our main resource area. Rest assured that all content will be age-appropriate, and you won't need to sign up for a separate account to visit the site. If you'd like to join fellow young writers as they revise, don't forget to check the December and Beyond forums.

We hope these months encourage you to move forward in the next phases of your November adventure. Time to dig out that rough draft!

Chris Angotti
Director of Programs

Winter Naps and Editing Your NaNoWriMo Novel

Tim Kim — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:00:30 +0000

Well, 2012 is coming to a close, and in the tradition of great grizzly bears the world over, we are heading off for our winter nap. (Generally, we find grizzlies to be solid role models. That means we eat a lot of berries and salmon, and lumber from place to place.)

We'll be back, and up and at 'em in January! And we're coming back with a vengeance: we're launching our first ever "Now What?" months, in the tradition of the "I Wrote a Novel! Now What?" page. Throughout January and February, we'll be sharing pep talks and advice for editing, revising, and publishing your novel, both through traditional publishers and via self-publishing. We hope to see you then!

A quick good night, and happy holidays from everyone here at NaNoWriMo HQ. You've made 2012 a fantastic year.

Lumbering off,

Tim

Self-Publishing Your Novel

Chris Angotti — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:05:19 +0000

We've distributed CreateSpace self-publishing codes to all verified winners! Look for yours on the winner page, and be sure you know all the details about the offer.

CreateSpace offers NaNoWriMo winners five free paperback copies of their finished books.

A parent or guardian must create an account and help you design, upload, and set up your novel. This guide from CreateSpace describes all necessary steps.

The promo code can be used only after the novel has been approved. It should be applied during the checkout process for the five additional copies.
The offer is valid until June 30, 2013.

Free shipping is not included in the offer.
For specific format, design, and ordering questions, please see CreateSpace's help section or contact form.

Congrats again on your win. And don't forget: in January and February, we'll share revision resources to make that manuscript shine!

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

2012 Young Writer Survey

Chris Angotti — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:43:04 +0000

Who knows NaNo better than our writers? Nobody.

That's why we're looking for your help in planning next year's event. (Yes, already.)

Complete our annual young writer survey by January 31 to share your noveling experience and your ideas to help us improve the program. This is also where you can suggest your favorite authors as potential pep talkers!

Each year, we make changes—like the updated Dare Machine, word-count stats, and others—based on your responses. Thanks in advance for helping us make NaNoWriMo 2013 even more awesome.

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

30 Covers, 30 Days Recap

Chris Angotti — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:35:16 +0000

This year's 30 Covers, 30 Days project included more young writers than ever before! Here are the covers that professional designers created for them. (Be sure to click through for synopses!)

Now What?

Chris Angotti — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 22:51:25 +0000

Congrats on all your hard work last month! No matter your final word count, you created a story that only you could write. Now, what are you going to do next?

"I Wrote a Novel! Now What?" has general advice for the months ahead, including information on our CreateSpace self-publishing offer.

The December and Beyond forums are also open and hopping. Seek revision advice, find a critique partner, or share your next big, fun, scary adventure.

Starting in January, we'll support your revision and publishing process with pep talks, advice articles, webinars, and live chats. Check back here and in your email for details.

Plus, we'll have more to share this week: a 30 Covers, 30 Days recap and our annual survey! November's over, but our writing community goes year-round. Thanks for being a part of it.

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

Advice for the Final Days

Chris Angotti — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:45:14 +0000

The last days of NaNo, and the last installment of fine participant advice. Once you're sure you know how to win, learn from these experienced fellow novelists how to reach the finish line.

Just keep cranking! You're almost there! You can do it! – brainz4christ

If you're behind, sit down at your desk, open that document, and get your fingers moving. Set youself mini-goals and reward yourself with treats when you reach them. Just believe that you can do it, and you'll get there! – amcgrath

No matter if you're halfway through your novel or nearing the end, just keep writing. – andi.penwrite

Focus on getting your story to an ending point. When your NaNo is over, you're going to be too tired to finish that abruptly-stopped and confusingly-plotted novel you've so lovingly worked on for 30 days. So finish the story before you crash. – thayanora

A few days from the end, skip to the climax of your novel. Write it and the resolution, even if it's terrible. It's a whole lot easier to fill in a gap during your editing than try to finish after the deadline. – Esin_of_Sardis

Have everything backed up on multiple devices. Have backups of backups. Or backups of backups of backups. You never know when a device is going to fail. – vader95

If you're behind, invite some noveling buddies over for an all-nighter. You can even do it online! – nuttynetti98

Make a bet with your friends, or give yourself a reward if you reach your goal. Trust me, it will feel better at the end—sort of a high off of relief, perseverance, and caffeine. – SydneyMo

End your story with a nice bazang! Let your imagination bring your story to an unforgettable, dramatic, or shocking ending. – Youngprodigyrising

Finish. Your. Freakin'. Book. – meme1750

This is the time for you to show the world what you are made of. You've persevered up to this point. Now it's time to tackle the last miles. – friendzyfriend

Remember: You don't have to finish your story by November 30th, just your word count. You can continue writing your story in December. – OtakuBoss1357

Write fast and furious, in every spare moment. Think about the story, constantly if possible. – Brambleshadow

Let yourself cry when you finish the book. It is a sad/overtly joyous moment. – Medea_Corinth

Write write write! Even if it's the worst piece of digested-ten-times-by-an-eight-stomached-cow, it's something. Improving that junk is probably one of the most fun things I've ever done. – Sonya Noble

These last few days are the most exciting, energetic, happy, silly, wonderful, amazing, glorious, maybe even supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!! My suggestion is: Just have fun. – ForestNerd