NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program - Home

NaNoWriMo in the Summer?!

Chris Angotti — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:36:56 +0000

This June and August, thousands of writers will attempt novels in an idyllic online writers retreat. And the Young Writers Program is invited! Find out more on our official Camp NaNoWriMo YWP page.

To celebrate the launch of Camp, we've also got some great new summer merch available.

How excited are we about all this?

That should answer your question. Hope you'll join us for the fun this summer!

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

It's Script Frenzy Time!

Chris Angotti — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:00:48 +0000

Come join us for a brand-new writing challenge: Script Frenzy! In April, thousands of writers around the world draft their own scripts for movies, TV shows, plays, and graphic novels. And just like for NaNoWriMo, we provide resources, encouragement, and community along the way.

Never written a script before? Never even thought of writing a script? No worries! We've got all kinds of stuff to get you ready.

Another month of ultra-fun writing abandon is just around the corner. Sign up or log in for Script Frenzy today!

Survey Reminder

Chris Angotti — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:04:38 +0000

Thanks so much to those who have already completed NaNoWriMo's annual young writer survey. I've taken a peek—okay, many peeks—at the responses so far, and have begun jotting down your ideas to improve our program.

Remember: You can still fill out the brief survey any time through January 31, 2012. Your voice will definitely be heard and appreciated. And, you'll get a chance to win NaNoWriMo stickers, pencils, t-shirts, or staff feedback on an excerpt from your novel!

Thanks again for your creativity and dedication. It's going to be a great year for NaNo, and we're so glad you're a part of it.

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

Chris Angotti — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:22:25 +0000

Ready to get your novel out there? If you are 13 or older, check out the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

The contest offers prizes for General Fiction and Young Adult Fiction, with grand-prize winners receiving publishing contracts and $15,000 each. And hey, a Wrimo won last year!

Join the conversation about the contest on our blog.

Good luck!

Young Writer Survey 2011

Chris Angotti — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:25:41 +0000

Each November, we try to make the NaNoWriMo experience a little bit better than the year before. In 2011, for instance, we improved our homepage and resources sections; added NaNo Stats, Word Wars, and several new forums; and made our workbooks available in hard copy.

Many of these upgrades were based on suggestions from writers like you. Make NaNo 2012 even more awesome by participating in this short survey.

By helping us out, you'll also get a chance to win NaNoWriMo stickers, pencils, t-shirts, or staff feedback on an excerpt from your novel! Simply complete the survey by January 31, 2012 and provide your name and email address to enter the giveaway.

Educators: You can find your survey here. (Sign in for access.)

Thanks in advance!

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

NaNoWriMo Store Sale

Chris Angotti — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:00:50 +0000

We're having a sale! From now until November 18th at midnight PST, all NaNoWriMo items in our store are 20% off. That includes our First-Class Novelist shirt, 2011 winner's shirt, and plenty of other writerly goodies.

The sale is now over. Thanks for your support!

Our interns are very happy about this sale:

CreateSpace Passwords!

Chris Angotti — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:28:47 +0000

We just uploaded CreateSpace redemption passwords to all winner's pages!

This is your opportunity to get five free paperback copies of your novel. You'll have until June 30, 2012 to take advantage of the offer. See full details on the "I Wrote a Novel! Now What?" page.

Want to share—or seek help revising—your work? Many are already posting in the Story Swap Shop, and you're sure to find some wise Wrimos there.

Or, consider posting your novel on Figment. Tag it with "NaNoWriMo11" to be part of their growing library.

I Wrote a Novel! Now What?

Chris Angotti — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:46:50 +0000

We hope you've spent the last few days recovering from your epic month of noveling (after properly celebrating, of course). By now, you might be ready for your next steps. Behold:

I Wrote a Novel! Now What?

This is our annual guide to revision, publication, and new writing challenges for the upcoming year. You can also find support for these pursuits in our post-event forums.

The Story Swap Shop – Trade your novel and seek critiques.

Novel Draft Aftercare – Share tips and advice on publishing.

Big, Fun, Scary Adventuring – What else will you explore and discover in 2012?

And, remember that you'll be receiving your password for the CreateSpace publishing offer on Friday, December 9th.

Get started whenever you're ready! Our resources will be here for you.

Congratulations! + What's Next?

Chris Angotti — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:01:55 +0000

You made it through NaNoWriMo 2011. Whether or not you hit your word-count goal, you've got a lot to be proud of. Together, the YWP wrote over 367 million words. And we couldn't have done that without each and every one of you.

Right now, we're manually verifying word counts and making sure everyone's NaNo-novel gets the glory its deserves. We're also working on a few things that you'll be seeing here soon.

The "I Wrote a Novel! Now What?" page will be posted early next week. That's where you'll find information about revising your novel and submitting it for publication, as well as some other writing adventures to try next.

Your CreateSpace redemption password will be posted on your winner's page on Friday, December 9th. It will allow you to receive five free paperback copies of your novel after you revise, design, and submit it.

Our annual NaNoWriMo survey will be posted the week of December 12th. That will be your chance to share your success stories and make suggestions for program improvements. Your voice counts!

And finally, Script Frenzy YWP is only four months away! During the month of April, you write an entire script (for a movie, TV show, stage play, or comic book). If you've never written a script before, we've got plenty of resources—including boot camps, workbooks, and forums—to help you out. Sign up today!

The Most Important Novel in the World

Chris Angotti — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:59:59 +0000

Hello Wrimo,

Over 300,000 adults, kids, and teens have worked on novels during this year's NaNoWriMo. We're proud of that number, but today I want to talk about just one of those manuscripts:

Yours.

After a careful survey, we've determined that the book you're cooking up is the most important one in the whole world. Why? Because it's your unique vision. Only you could have come up with those uncommon characters and that peculiar plot; only you can write the words that define your novel as—positively, undoubtedly, amazingly—by you.

Speaking of that vital manuscript, full of your terrific touches, where is it right now? Is it open in a different window? Safely organized on your desktop? In a notebook nestled in your backpack? Please tell me it's okay—not in your trash bin (real or digital) or under a pile of dirty laundry. What you've created is special, and it deserves a comfortable, accessible place of honor.

In these last days of the month, take a good look at that honorable text. Seek out a favorite paragraph, a memorable quote, a witty description—anything that reminds you of your power as an author. Remember how it feels to read those bits, and then:

Write more of them.

No matter where you are in your word count, there is always more brilliance to uncover. Rededicate yourself to laying bare your best work. Because when you write, those moments come. Sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly, but they're always there. Get them onto the page.

At NaNoWriMo, we often use the phrase "Your novel needs you." That's most true in the waning days of November, when it's tempting to just be satisfied with whatever you have so far. But your unique work is entitled to better. To the best, even. No novel is more important than yours right now, and we want you give it what it most wants: a great ending.

Good luck, novelist.

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

P.S. And when you reach that ending, be sure you know how to win NaNoWriMo. The Word Count Validator awaits!