25 Benefits of Writing a Novel in a Month

October 27, 2023

With National Novel Writing Month (a.k.a. NaNoWriMo) just around the corner, writers all over the world are sharing tons of advice on how to prepare for the challenge of writing a 50,000-word draft of a novel in a month. (Heck, we’ve added a fair amount to the writing advice archives ourselves.)

(8 Tools for Pacing Your Novel.)

But what people don’t talk about as often is: Why? Why would anyone take on such a daunting challenge (which equates to writing 1,667 words every day in November), and what do they get out of it?

We’ve asked members of our community (including the staff and volunteers of the nonprofit that runs NaNoWriMo’s free programs) to share the often overlooked benefits of writing a novel in a month—both silly and serious, heartfelt and practical. To celebrate this year’s 25th annual NaNoWriMo challenge, here are 25 of the best benefits we’ve received from this ambitious creative endeavor:

Words! So many words!

“Words that might have taken you years and years to produce otherwise. Sure, the draft will be messy, but all first drafts are, and now you’ve got so much more time to revise it.”

—Marya Brennan, Director of Programs

Form a creative habit.

“They say it takes about 22 days to form a habit. November has 30 days, which makes it just long enough to form and enforce the writing habit. Whether you get that novel done, hit 50k, or only manage to get some of it finished, attempting to write a novel in 30 days can help you find your rhythm and launch your writing into the rest of the year.”

—A.K. Child, co-Municipal Liaison (ML) for the Northern Virginia, U.S.A. region

You can answer questions no one else knows the answer to.

“What’s on a wizard’s grocery list? Do you think a fairy or an alien would win a fight? What exactly does my hamster do when I’m not home?”

—Josie Gepulle, Programs Associate

Community and friendship!

“When I first moved to Boston almost 20 years ago, I only knew my roommate. At a talk from NaNoWriMo founder Chris Baty, I decided to volunteer my time to help boost my self confidence. I became best friends with my co-ML, and I’ve met almost all of my other friends through NaNoWriMo over the years since. It’s been a super fun experience and I can’t imagine November without it!”

—Jordan (QueenOfTheUniverse), co-ML for the Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. region

It’s really, really fun.

“I seem to forget this every year until I sit down and start writing on November 1. In a world where it feels like you’re expected to turn every creative pursuit into a side hustle, there’s something glorious about diving into your imagination to see what you discover just for the sheer joy of it.”

—Sarah Mackey, Director of Community Engagement

Time management skills.

“I wrote a first draft of my history dissertation while my baby took naps, thanks to the 5+ years of NaNoWriMo I already had under my belt.”

—Tiggy McLaughlin, ML for the Northwest Pennsylvania, U.S.A. region

NaNoWriMo is so liberating.

“It’s a way to escape your inner editor, to let the words flow without worrying about whether they will survive the delete button. It’s an affirming way to get your butt in the chair, and to ignore, for a little while, all the things that intrude on your writing time.”

—Michelle R. O’Rourke, ML for the Great Falls and Helena, Montana, U.S.A. region

Self-confidence.

“Some of my students said NaNoWriMo gave them confidence: Now, when they look at a task like calculus or applying to college, they remember they wrote an entire novel in a month, and they know they can do this, too.”

—Jennifer Ansbach, Educator from Manchester Township, New Jersey, U.S.A.

You get a chance to play…

“…with words and characters and plot lines and donkeys and wizards and mermaids and space aliens and big ideas and small ideas and planets and gopher holes. NaNoWriMo abounds in spontaneous whimsy, wackiness for wackiness’s sake, experimentation as lifestyle, as breath. NaNoWriMo is a hidden pathway to our inner child (who should be our outer adult).”

—Grant Faulkner, Executive Director

NaNoWriMo has a unique energy that proclaims ‘anything is possible.’

“It’s the perfect time to experiment with a new genre. The motivation and support from the NaNo community will give you the impetus to write, and all the writing prompts and events will help you get over your inner resistance.”

—Sonia Rao, ML for the India, Asia region

Bragging rights!

“How many people can say they’ve written an entire novel in just one month? Impress your friends, family, coworkers, dates, neighbors… anyone you come across, really.”

—Katharine Gripp, Communications Director

I get the unruly story out of my imagination and make it tangible.

“For me, writing the first draft of a novel is the hardest part of the process, the part most prone to writer’s block. Forcing myself to write 50,000 words in one month—a much larger output than I would otherwise accomplish—forces me to shove my inner critic aside and just get the words down on the page.”

—Virginia Duke, co-ML for the Billings, Montana, U.S.A. region

NaNoWriMo helped me to create goals and stick to them.

“The Young Writers Program let my imagination run as free as I wanted to, without any barriers or school topics blocking me in. Honestly, these words aren’t ‘just words.’ They are pieces of myself.”

—Calla C., Young Writers Program participant

You’ll actually finish your novel!

“For 30 days you feel like you aren’t doing much of anything, but if you just have faith in the process and add even one word each day, the magic of NaNoWriMo hands you a completed manuscript at the end of the month!”

—Morgan Bell, ML for the Newcastle, Australia region

It’s good to do something for yourself.

“November can be a tough month for a variety of reasons. Why not take a break from reality and write your worries away? It’s always good to get your emotions on paper; it’s basically free therapy!”

—Josie Gepulle, Programs Associate

I found my writing club during NaNoWriMo.

“It consists of a writing mentor I can reach out to, a writing buddy to compare work with, and a few fans who urge me on. My mentors help me over cracks in the writing sidewalk that can make me stumble; my writing buddies help me over gaps of time that stop me from writing because I’ve lost focus; and my fans are the real heroes, helping me hurdle my mental mountains by saying, ‘Did you finish it yet?'”

—JLNickymaster, co-ML for the Central Valley, California, U.S.A. region

Think how strong your wrists will get!

“Sweater season is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and show off those toned flexors. Just make sure to pause for stretch breaks in between word sprints.”

—Marya Brennan, Director of Programs

Bravery.

“Without NaNoWriMo, I suspect that I would still be stuck in my world of daydreams, not brave enough to spill them out on the page.”

—Abigail, Young Writers Program Student from New Zealand

You’ll accomplish so much.

“If you concentrate on pushing words out instead of writing the ‘perfect’ words, you will achieve a lot more and you will be surprised by the quality you achieve when you look back (after a resting period, of course!).”

—Shari Mickle, ML for the East Valley, Arizona, U.S.A. region

NaNoWriMo is a distillation of the creative experience,

“removed from the expectations of class, gender, race, sexuality, nationality and age. It’s proof that truly anyone can bring a story to life—and if you can do that, you can do anything. Great for your self esteem, terrible for your sleep.”

—Nick Fierro, Former Intern

NaNoWriMo, and writing, saved my life.

“No matter what’s going on in my life, come November, I must participate. I don’t know what life would be like without NaNo and the incredible community I’ve built around me.”

—Candice Greene, ML of the Boise, Idaho, U.S.A. region

The tight timeline helps to overcome perfectionism and procrastination—

“the two main destroyers of creativity. When writing speedily, we are able to let go of our inner critic, our negative self-talk and self-doubts, thus giving our creative brain full play. This often results in portions of scintillating prose which make you wonder (in delight): ‘Did I really write that?'”

—Sonia Rao, ML for the India, Asia region

It ignites your cooperative and competitive spirit.

“‘Co-opetition’ (a phrase coined by NaNoWriMo participant Ren B.) is ‘the act of challenging your friends for common benefit.’ You have no idea how motivating it can be to write alongside thousands of others until some of those others start reaching their goals ahead of you…”

—Marya Brennan, Director of Programs

Writing can be the outlet you need,

“especially if you ever feel like it’s hard to speak up or that your voice isn’t heard. Public speaking is the enemy of shy introverts everywhere, but maybe you can stand up for the things you believe in by writing a novel. You have the power to envision a better world and encourage others to do the same. That’s the magic of storytelling.”

—Josie Gepulle, Programs Associate

Claim your creative confidence.

“Once you know you can do it, NaNoWriMo opens you up to the reality that yes, you truly can be (and are!) a writer.”

—Tiffany T. Cole, Social Media Manager

While November is the biggest community challenge hosted by NaNoWriMo (with hundreds of thousands of participants each year), we also have year-round programming, resources, and community. Our Young Writers Program provides online classrooms for educators and parents, as well as free resources such as Common Core-aligned lesson plans and Young Novelist Workbooks.