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2007 Stories
Kansas City Star
"Alex, a senior at Blue Valley North High School, is working on his fourth novel. Each November, he participates in National Novel Writing Month, an event where participants have just one month to pen a 50,000-word novel." 12/07
Williams Record
"Well, it’s all over now. It’s been 30 days, 50,000 words and countless hours of sacrificed sleep, but my novel is finally done." 12/07
BBC News UK
"A challenge to write 50,000 words in the month of November has sparked many budding novelists in to action." 11/07
The Boston Globe
"In the lines of fire: Soldiers take to fiction writing contest to help combat the stress of war." 11/07
Chicago Tribune
"I think the beauty of this is that I'm not grading what they are writing. It allows them to unhinge the trap door of ideas," said Rushek. "I'm of the holistic perspective that one must write before they write well." 11/07
About.com
"Down the short hiking path to the hidden waterfall, the breeze picked up a chill from the water, reminding us that despite recent 80-degree days, we were indeed noveling in November. A few writers shivered, but most of us pulled on our hoodies, exhilarated just to be outdoors with our books-in-progress."
The Des Moines Register
"Writing tends to be a brooding, solitary affair. Not so, though, for the dozen would-be-novelists hanging out at a West Des Moines Panera restaurant on a recent Thursday evening." 11/07
HeraldNet
"Quantity, not quality, is the overriding rule of this offbeat effort, with a close second being the notion that it's no fun writing alone." 11/07
Grand Junction Free Press
"What began as a writing challenge in 1999 among a small group of friends in Oakland, Calif., has exploded into a global, caffeine-generated phenomenon." 11/07
Kamloops This Week
"Although no city organizing committee has put up a banner or corn dog cart in its honour, November is National Novel Writing Month." 11/07
Western Morning News
"There's a buzzing online community for the initiative where several thousands of people are, as I write, sharing their experiences of writer's block, caffeine overloads and their writing target successes. Indeed, this project is the biggest writing competition in the world." 11/07
NPR's On the Media
A short audio clip on NaNoWriMo, courtesy of NPR. 11/07
Chicago Public Radio
F. Scott Fitzgerald spent eight years writing Tender Is the Night. Finnegan's Wake took James Joyce seventeen years to complete. But this November, some Chicagoans are joining a global community of writers trying to finish novels in just 30 days as part of National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. Audio clip & transcript 11/07
The Messenger Press
"National Novel Writing Month, which kicked off midnight of Nov. 1, is a nonprofit literary project created in 1999 by a small group of people in San Francisco. Eight years later, “NaNoWriMo” is inspiring thousands of authors of all ages to write a 50,000-word novel by Nov. 30. 11/07
1LIVE
A clip from German radio station 1LIVE about Wrimos in Cologne. (In German) 11/07
The Flint Journal
"The best characteristic of writers is their imaginations never die, and they are always willing to share ideas -- no matter how seemingly ridiculous -- with other writers." 11/07
The Kansas City Star
"...unlike other monthlong observations, National Novel Writing Month is not a time to appreciate or increase your awareness of novel writing. It’s a time to do it." 11/07
The Georgetown Voice
NaNo is already popular among college students. According to Chris Baty, founder of NaNo, some colleges even run NaNo workshops in their fall semesters, and professors “are flabbergasted by how much the students take to it.” 11/07
Worcester Telegram
"NaNoWriMo isn’t about writing “the great American novel.” It’s about producing “the great frantic novel,” according to Chris Baty, NaNoWriMo founder and program director." 11/07
Redlands Daily Facts
"As much as National Writers Month is an individual endeavor, it's also a team sport." 11/07
The Daily Reflector
"It's comforting to know that there are thousands of other people across the nation struggling with you for the next 30 days." 11/07
UWISHUNU
"November 1st was a day that many writers around the world had been anticipating with a frenzy that usually only accompanies the big holidays like Christmas, Hanukah and, for some folks, Administrative Professionals Day." 11/07
DIY Life
Have you heard of NaNoWriMo? It's very popular in some circles, and still completely new to others. 10/07
Irregular Times
There is no promise that any of the works written in the month will be published, or any guarantee that any of the results will be much good. The benefit seems to be in the experience, a kind of endurance run for people who want to prove that they can get words down on a page. 10/07
The Lance
"Time management skills are learned and honed for many thanks to NaNoWriMo." 10/07
Daytona Beach News-Journal Online
"This event, now in its ninth caffeine-driven year, encourages would-be novelists to finally take the plunge by whipping out a 175-page novel (50,000 words) in 30 days. Quality is largely optional and, frankly, beside the point." 10/07
Writer Unboxed
An interview in three parts with NaNoWriMo founder Chris Baty. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 10/07
Way of the Geek
An audio file of an interview with Chris Baty. 10/07
Twenty-Four/Seven
"Competing in National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, demands that you expel a 50,000 word novel in 30 days of excruciating, brain-bashing authorship, leaving behind such diversions as accuracy, grammar, first-run movies, or sleep." 10/07
Daily Writing Tips
"It sounds crazy and probably is, but Nanowrimo teaches important writing habits that no fiction writer can afford to ignore." 10/07
HumanKindMedia
"Chris talked to us this summer about how he went from 'Hey, let's get some friends together and each write a novel this November' to leading an online, global community tens of thousands strong with a powerful shared intention." 9/07
2006 Stories
Daytona Beach News-Journal Online
"On this night, October 31st, All Hallow's Eve, as the wind shrieks through the trees outside my window and the dogs huddle under the couch, barking at suspicious noises buried in the night, I find myself facing the most terrifying, scarifying, soul-wrenching sight known to man: a blank page." 10/06
The Washington Post
"If this growth rate is constant and participation is cumulative, then every American will be writing a novel in November 2027. We'll be a country made entirely of boozing, tortured authors." 11/06
New York Times
The secret to writing a novel in a month is just to do it — and it’s a good idea to accept from the start that, barring miracles, it will be very, very bad. 11/06
The Boston Globe
"Amiya Seligman, also 10, was about halfway through her 8,000-word story about a land of magical creatures, a baby who's reincarnated every 5,000 years, and an epic battle between good and evil." 11/06
The Boston Globe
He's not sure if the experience will lead to a career as an author, though. "I change my mind, like, every month," Lev says of his long-term career goals. "But this month it's to be a writer for NaNoWriMo." 11/06
National Public Radio
"To help you along, we've asked fiction writers from all genres for the essence of noveling: how they write, how they overcome writer's block and their best written sentence. Each weekday this month, we'll publish another novelist's thoughts. Check back for novelists as varied as Neal Pollack, Rita Mae Brown and Joyce Carol Oates." 11/06
The Utne Reader
"Forget the archetypal image of the brooding writer buried in a heap of crumpled paper. There will be no time for perfectionism or procrastination in November as a projected 75,000 would-be novelists attempt to pound out 50,000 words in 30 days." 11/06
CBSNews.com
Everyone says they'll write a book one day. What if each person wrote a 50,000-word novel in 30 days, setting aside fears and making a mad dash for the impossible? It's a beautifully insane scheme that appeals to insomniacs, masochists, and -- apparently -- the would-be writer in thousands of us. 12/06
Radio Iowa
"Still, she says better than any prize is the discovery you've done something you didn't think possible." 11/06
Galveston County Daily News
"There are some who say writing a novel takes talent, language skills, academic training and dedication. Or it takes deadline -- a very tight deadline." 11/06
The Queens Chronicle
"'You're much more likely to complete your novel if you know other people who are taking on the same crazy challenge,'" Baty said. "'It takes the idea of a miserable, cloistered, isolated novelist and moves it into ... a cross between a marathon and a military block party.'" 11/06
The Link: Concordia's Independent Newspaper
"Some might ask why anyone would want to waste their time writing an awful novel in 30 days when they could take their time and write a brilliant novel in a year or more. But that's precisely the point: when's the last time you, personally, wrote a novel at all?" 10/06
Progressive U
". . . rest assured there are thousands of others, all the way around the world, sharing the stress and the heartache and the triumph with you." 11/06
LAist
"This fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach to writing forces novelists to get the words down and out, instead of stressing about little things like symmetry and syntax." 11/06
North Jersey Media Group
"'I just assumed they would be abysmal novels," Baty said. "But hey, they would be our abysmal novels. We could talk about them at parties. Suddenly we were novelists.'" 11/06
The Book Standard
"'In 1999, under the influence of Peet's Coffee, I got this idea that writing novels would be a great way to spend a month with my friends. None of the 21 of us who participated that first year had any hopes for the quality of our prose, but it turned out to be much less disastrous than we had feared, and the group writing process itself was a lot of fun.'" 11/06
The Daily News Online
"'It's nice to have someone there to tell you "Things are going to get better," ' Norvell said. 'Or just to say, "Stop being stupid. Just write." '" 11/06
The Commonwealth Times
"The biggest piece of advice a writer receives is to make time to write every day. But what about when a word of wisdom becomes a month-long goal toward a bigger project?" 11/06
The North County Times
"November is the month for your closet Great American novelist to break free and sound out a barbaric YAWP." 11/06
Santa Cruz Sentinel
"They squeeze in writing time between classes, at lunch, after work and long after normal bedtime. Sometimes it seems like those 30 days will never end, but the joy of finishing makes it worth the sleep deprivation." 11/06
Quick
"I want to combine all sorts of fun stuff in one big, nonsensical treatise that I can show my grandchildren as proof that I have no talent whatsoever. I'm thinking unicorns and Oprah Winfrey and a long journey and maybe an acid trip or something (I have to have some plot device explaining how they all end up together, after all)." 11/06
CSIndy
"Strickland's advice to new NaNoWriMo competitors sounds like the advice you'd give an endurance athlete: "Pace yourself. Eat. Sleep. Take breaks. And don't neglect your family. You'll still have to live with them when it's over." 11/06
The Exponent
"'It's not like you get a prize or anything if you finish,' he said. 'The biggest prize is having written something lengthy like that. It's a pretty big accomplishment, especially in a month's time, especially while in college.'" 11/06
www.writeandpublishyourbook.com
"What started out as a modest novel writing contest...has turned into a ginormous monolith of motivation" 09/06
www.coolcleveland.com
"Participants range from full-time workers with families (that they actually do like to spend time with), college students, pre-teens, stay-at-home moms, busy entrepreneurs...you name it." 10/06
www.gazette.net
"'There is nothing like having a word-war with your teenager to get your competitive juices flowing.'" 10/06
www.nextnc.com
"The dog will walk himself. The dishes will get done in December. Sleep? Over-rated. Friends and family? They probably already know you're a little nuts. And those Must-See TV shows become Must-Tivo." 11/06
http://northjersey.com
"There are no prizes, no one looking over your shoulder. But the project offers the motivation to write, and if you make deadline, the satisfaction of having written." 11.06
Unshelved Comics Archive 11/06
www.trashionnista.com
"I'd been trying to write a novel for years and had actually written about 30,000 words of three or four different books, but never managed to get any further. And that was over about 10 years! So to write 50,000 words in a month - I was amazed." 11/06
The Free Lance-Star
"'An era where everybody is writing novels is an era where everybody is more engaged, and having fun,' Baty said. 'Writing novels is just monkey barrels of fun.'" 11/06
Dane 101: The Collaborative Blog for Madison, Wisconsin
"...we throw our mental stability into a blender for 30 days..." 11/06
Radio Iowa
"Dozens of Iowans are not out enjoying the fall colors this month...they're indoors trying to write a book." 11/06
QuickDFW.com: ROTFLMAO
"...There's no pressure whatsoever! The thing that makes NaNoWriMo special is that it encourages crappy writing." 11/06
Galveston Country Daily News
"There are some who say writing a novel takes talent, language skills, academic training and dedication.
Or it takes deadline -- a very tight deadline." 11/06
Common Wealth Times
"...Many are taking their places in front of their computers with caffeinated drinks in hand and plot on their minds. Who will make it? Who will fail? Only a month will tell."
11/06
The Parthenon Online
"The emphasis is quantity more than quality, and after completing your novel, you will be entitled to all the pretentious trappings of authors who spend years writing their books. These include referencing your book at dinner parties and talking about your writing mindset."
11/06
The Colorado Springs Independent
"Strickland's advice to new NaNoWriMo competitors sounds like the advice you'd give an endurance athlete: "Pace yourself. Eat. Sleep. Take breaks. And don't neglect your family. You'll still have to live with them when it's over."
11/06
Northjersey.com
"Editing comes later."11/06
Daily News Online
"Martin is one of the tens of thousands of writers around the world who'll spend November holed up with a laptop, notebook or typewriter --- and usually a coffee pot --- in the literary equivalent of the 400-yard-dash: National Novel Writing Month."
11/06
CBC
"Don't worry, it's going to be a terrible book. Don't worry, you are not going to like it," he said. "After 10,000 words you are going to want to drop out, but you know what? No other time in your life are you going to sit down and write a book."
11/06
Watauga Democrat
"How many kids does it take to make a million words?
That's what the Watauga County Library hopes to find out by the end of November."
11/06
The North Wind: Northern Michigan University's Independent Student Newspaper
"I got fired from my job, and needed something to do with my time. I went searching on the Internet for something to do writing-wise," [Sara Perri] said. "It�' a good kick in the butt to get some work done and not let life get in the way of writing."
11/06
Neverland: a NaNoWriMo in progress
An NMU student shares the first chapter of her project for National Novel Writing Month -- another take on the story of Peter Pan
The Arizona Republic: Students try novel idea: a book in 30 days
Johnson and 20 other students, is taking a unique creative-writing class at Phoenix College called 30 Days = Novel. The online course has spanned the month of November to coincide with National Novel Writing Month. With the goal of completing 50,000 words, the length of a short novel, students are drafting a creative work by following daily writing goals and regularly checking in with each other online.12/05
Lifehacker.com
You got a book in you, but starting is the hardest part of getting it written? Clear your calendar from November 1st to November 30th, where thousands of brave souls gather online to pump out 50,000 words of their book in 30 days. 1.10.07
2005 Stories
ABC NEWS.com
"Thousands Challenge Themselves to Write 50,000 Words During National Novel Writing Month" 11/05
Wired
"Stop Dawdling, Get Scribbling" 11/05
The Boston Globe
"30 day guarantee: Thousands of aspiring authors have vowed to create an entire novel in one month" 11/05
The Bismarck Tribune
"The write stuff: Novelists take on challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days" 12/05
Big Green Magazine
"The Chronicles of NaNoWriMo: One editor's journey through the National Novel Writing Month" 12/05
Atlantic City.com
"Writers cramped for time" 11/05
Rocky Mountain News
"Would-be writers embrace novel approach to the craft" 11/05
San Diego Tribune
"Writer's novel idea: Dash off book in month" 11/05
Eugene Weekly
"National Novel Writing Month Begins" 11/05
slushpile.net
"Writing about writing. Interview: Chris Baty, Author" 10/05
Portland Mercury
"November is National Novel Writing Month" 10/05
Daytona Beach News-Journal Online
"TWENTY-FOUR/SEVEN" 10/12/05
The Lariat Online
"Novel writing contest seeds interest in aspiring authors" 10/05
Blogcritics.org
"NaNoWriMo Notes: Why? Why Not." 10/05
The Roanoke Times
"Having idea for book isn't novel" 10/05
Blogcritics.org
"NaNoWriMo Notes: Why I'm Writing a Novel in November" 10/05
Williston Herals
"Faster than a speeding pen" 10/05
Gilroy Dispatch
"Someday I'll Write a Novel -- Well, Now's the Time" 09/05
O'Reilly MacDevCenter
"It was a dark and stormy night..." 9/05
2004 Stories
Mount Vernon Democrat
"It's the most fun you'll only want to have once a year!" 11/04
About.com
Interview with six participants. 11/04
Washington Post
"Speed Writing: With One Month to Pen a Novel, a Faster Piece Is Better Than a Masterpiece" 11/04
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Writers say right-on to novel idea" 11/04
St. Petersburg Times
"The great American novel, written at warp speed" 11/04
Free Lance-Star
"Put it in writing: Novelists seek to pen 50,000-word book in November" 11/04
Greely Tribune
"Word warriors: Want to write a novel in 30 days?" 11/04
Education World
10th grade teacher Lisa Corey brings NaNoWriMo to high schoolers in Buffalo, New York
Aete Six
11/04
Toasted Cheese
"Quantity, Not Quality" 11/04
Daytona Beach News-Journal
"Drop and give me twenty chapters!" 10/04
AlterNet
"Ready, Set, Write!" 10/04
DeviantART featured us on October 16, 2004.
WordSmitten is smitten with NaNoWriMo.
On October 16, 2004 NaNoWriMo was slashdotted!
San Francisco Chronicle
Heide Benson explains how to "shed 250 pages in just 30 days!"
2003 Stories
Guardian Unlimited
And they're off! It's November 1 so it's time for the annual month of madness that is NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. 11/03
http://blogs.news-journalonline.com/247/2003/10/want_to_write_a_novel_really_q.html
Another good NaNo installment from Chris Bridges in Florida.
http://nique.net/issues/fall2003/2003-10-31/18.html
Georgia Tech students get their write on!
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/4220842p-4232888c.html
Journalism Professor Rosanne Pagano pens a really nice editorial about NaNoWriMo for Anchorage Daily News.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1362559,00.asp
The sweethearts at PC Magazine name us Site of the Week.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3201832.stm
A short piece from the BBC (we love you, BBC!) features some interesting interpretations of material on our FAQ page and an unnamed, mysterious NaNo spokesperson.
http://www.cherokeetribune.com/articles/2003/10/16/307/10118971.txt
Carolyn and Stacy, our Atlanta MLs, discuss the coffee and late nights of NaNo.
Some highlights from past years...
http://discover.npr.org/features/feature.jhtml?wfId=835782
NPR's All Things Considered delves into the fame, the fortune, the ninjas, the monkeys.
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?s=%20%201009934
A well-done local TV news piece from WTNH Connecticut.
http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2002_10_20_archive.asp#85589477
Sandman creator, mop-headed dreamer, and all-around fine writer Neil Gaiman says nice things about NaNoWriMo in his on-line journal. Thanks Neil!
http://www.usatoday.com/life/columns/candy/2001-12-05-candy.htm
USA Today columnist Whitney Matheson gets to know her fellow Wrimos at the Chicago Thank God It's Over party.
http://seattleweekly.com/features/0147/arts-longenbaugh.shtml
Wrimo John Longenbaugh checks in with a rib-tickling update on the Seattle amateur novelist scene.
http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/01/book110801.htm
The transcript of the riotous-yet-informative Washington Post on-line chat.
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20011108.atc.20.ram
Where all our dreams come true when NPR's Noah Adams utters the phrase "NaNoWriMo" on All Things Considered. Los Angeles Wrimo Heather Havrilesky recounts the sad reality of voice recognition software-aided noveling.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/09/14/EB189645.DTL
Josh Sens' column in the Chronicle lays it all out: the speed, the alcohol, and Roxanne Chan of Albany, who recently placed first among thousands of entries in Mr. Food's Hometown Grilled Cheese Recipe Contest.
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0115/edlafarge.shtml
The Village Voice's Paul LaFarge places NaNoWriMo within the context of "automatic writing" movements of the past 200 years.