The 5 Best NaNoWriMo Alternatives to Draft Your Novel in 2025

National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, was an annual challenge where participants aimed to write a 50,000-word novel during November. Founded in 1999 by Chris Baty and friends, it quickly grew into a global phenomenon with hundreds of thousands of writers joining in each year.

But after years of mounting scandals, the organization shut down in April 2025. However, since no one really owns the concept of “writing a novel in November,” various publishing companies and writing communities have since launched their own spin on the challenge.

In this post, we'll explore several alternatives that build on the idea of NaNoWriMo while offering their own unique twists on the month-long writing sprint.

Nanowrimo alternatives

NaNoWriMo struck a chord with writers because it was free, open to all skill levels, and offered a clear, tangible goal: 50,000 words in 30 days (about 1,667 words a day). Beyond the word count, it gave participants accountability and a sense of community, whether through local meetups or lively online forums.

The alternatives below maintain most of these core elements while adding their own features to help you complete your novel.

✍️ Platform	📆 Timeline	📝 Goal	🏆 Prize	⭐️ Best for
Reedsy Novel Sprint	November 1-30	50,000+ words in Studio	$5,000 (1st), $2,500 (2nd), $1,000 (3rd) + agent call + 3-month Studio Premium for all finishers	Writers seeking prizes, agent connections, and professional development
ProWritingAid Novel November	November 1-30	50,000 words	Milestone badges and rewards	Writers who want expert workshops and classic NaNoWriMo community vibes
Order of The Written Word	November 1-30	30,000 words (novel) or other creative goals	Limited edition yearly t-shirts available for purchase	Writers wanting flexibility (poetry, shorts, editing)
AutoCrit Novel 90	October 1 - December 31	50,000+ words (full novel)	Prize draw for participants	Writers who need 90 days and coaching from bestselling authors
World Anvil NovelEmber	November 1-30	Flexible (50,000 words or custom goal)	Digital badge and certificate	Writers working on worldbuilding, RPG content, or non-traditional projects

Let's explore each alternative in detail.

1. The Reedsy Novel Sprint 2025

Reedsy's Novel Sprint follows the same timeline and word count target of NaNoWriMo, while adding substantial prizes and support.

How it works: Write your novel of at least 50,000 words in Reedsy Studio throughout November. You can join anytime during the month, though we recommend starting early.

Throughout October, we’ll host Preptober events to help you get ready, followed by regular workshops and writing sprints in November to keep your momentum going. 

At the end of November, you can submit your work, which will be judged by Reedsy’s internal panel. While the real prize of the event is to finish your novel draft, we will award:

• $5,000 to the first-place-winner
• $2,500 to the second-place winner, and 
• $1,000 to the third-place winner. 

Each of these three winners will also receive a 30-minute consultation with a literary agent from our network. 

Additionally, every person who writes at least 50,000 words in Studio (no cheating — we’ll know if you copy/paste or used AI!) will receive, for free, three months’ access to our paid Craft + Outlining plans.

⭐️ Best for: Writers who want an experience similar to NaNoWriMo but with added incentives and professional development opportunities.

2. ProWritingAid: Novel November

ProWritingAid's Novel November combines the classic NaNoWriMo structure with expert-led workshops and a robust support system.

How it works: Register for a free ProWritingAid account and commit to writing 1,667 words per day throughout November. You can use any writing tool you prefer (Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, etc.) while tracking your progress via the Novel November dashboard.

During both October and November, you’ll get planning workshops to develop your story structure, as well as expert advice from top authors (Madeline Miller, Rufi Thorpe, and many more). 

Throughout November, in the Novel November forum, you can enjoy daily writing sprints, join a writer circle (e.g. Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, etc.), and receive badges as you progress through the challenge. 

While there's no cash prize, participants earn badges and rewards for hitting milestones throughout the month. The real value lies in the expert mentorship and comprehensive support from planning through publishing.

⭐️ Best for: Writers who crave the classic NaNoWriMo vibe — badges, community, and a forum-style experience — while also getting insider tips from bestselling authors and publishing pros.

3. Order of The Written Word: November Challenge

The Order of the Written Word (O2W) was founded by YA author Holly Rhiannon, who spent three years as Montreal’s Municipal Liaison for NaNoWriMo. O2W emerged in response to NaNoWriMo’s stance on generative AI, offering a dedicated space for authors, poets, and storytellers who prioritize thoughtful, deliberate creativity. To this purpose, she started her own alternative event, the November Challenge.

How it works: O2W offers three different challenges to suit your writing goals:

• The Novelist’s Initiation: Write 30,000 words of a novel or complete the first draft of a new one.
• The Trials of Verse & Vignette: Create 15 poems or 8 short stories (each between 1,000–10,000 words).
• The Refinement Ritual: Revise an existing manuscript, whether it’s a novel, story collection, or poetry collection.

To take part, you’ll need to join their Discord community, where you can track progress, connect with other writers, and access event resources like The Crafting Grounds (for Preptober prep) and Scrollwork Sessions (scheduled writing sprints).

A built-in WriterStats bot helps you log your word count or revision progress and share updates with the group.

If you take part, you’ll also have the chance to grab one of their limited-edition tees — custom-designed by a different artist each year — and enjoy exclusive discounts from sponsors like Scrivener, Ulysses, Plottr, and more.

⭐️ Best for: Writers who want a more flexible approach to November writing challenges, with options for poetry, short fiction, or editing — all within a supportive, AI-free community.

4. AutoCrit Novel: 90 Writing Challenge

AutoCrit's Novel 90 is not a direct replacement for NaNoWriMo but it's similar in nature. It extends the 30-day sprint into a full 90-day writing marathon 一 from October 1 to December 31, 2025 一  giving you more breathing room to complete your novel. Not exactly a NaNoWriMo replacement, but close enough.

How it works: Register for free on their site and choose your writing style "team":

• Planner: For writers who outline extensively before drafting
• Pantser: For writers who discover the story as they write
• Plantser: For writers who blend both approaches

Each team is led by a USA Today bestselling author who provides guidance, coaching, and motivation throughout the challenge. 

You don't have to submit your work for judging if you prefer to keep your process private. However, organizers will select "favorites" for features and prizes. All registered participants are automatically entered into a closing prize draw. 

⭐️ Best for: Writers who prefer a longer timeframe and want coaching from experienced authors in their specific writing style.

5. World Anvil: NovelEmber

World Anvil's NovelEmber is a flexible, community-driven alternative that welcomes writers working on novels, revisions, or creative projects of all kinds.

How it works: NovelEmber operates on an honor system — you set your own goal and decide whether you've achieved it. The traditional target is 50,000 words, but you can also participate as a "REBEL" with custom goals:

• Draft a novel, novella, or piece of serial fiction
• Turn your tabletop RPG campaign into a novel
• Write ten 5,000-word short stories set in your world
• Complete 50,000 words of worldbuilding content
• Etc.

World Anvil users can monitor their progress through a dashboard widget and create shareable graphics to update followers, connect with fellow "Anvilites," and claim a winner's certificate at the end.

⭐️ Best for: Writers who want a flexible November challenge without the pressure of competition or strict rules — especially those working on worldbuilding, RPG content, or non-traditional projects.

DIY approaches and useful tools

Besides direct NaNoWriMo alternatives, there are some other sites that offer tools to track your progress and keep you accountable throughout your writing journey. Whether you're looking for gamification, community support, or simple progress tracking, these platforms can help you stay motivated:

• Shut Up & Write: A global community hosting both in-person and virtual writing sessions where you can write alongside other authors in focused, timed sprints.
• 4thewords: A gamified writing platform that turns your writing into an RPG adventure, where you battle monsters and complete quests by hitting daily word count goals.
• Novlr: A writing tool which you can use to track your word count and which also hosts writing sprints every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the Novlr Discord.
• Pacemaker: A flexible goal-setting tool that helps you create custom writing schedules and tracks your daily progress toward any word count target.
• TrackBear: A simple, visual word count tracker that displays your writing streaks, progress charts, and daily goals in a clean, motivating interface.
• My Write Club: A free accountability platform offering writing sprints, goal tracking, and a supportive community of writers cheering each other on.

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Now that you’ve picked your November writing challenge, it’s time to get ready. Most of these alternatives include a “Preptober” phase for a reason: the writers who thrive in November are the ones who start Day 1 with a solid plan. Check out our next post for 8 essential tips to prepare for your November writing challenge.