Ink feeds your soul

Every November, thousands of writers worldwide take on NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), setting out to draft a 50,000-word manuscript in just 30 days. It’s more than just a sprint to a word count – NaNoWriMo is a month-long commitment that builds critical skills, motivation, and, for many, a whole new perspective on their writing life.

The challenge:

“draft an entire novel in just one month. For 30 wild, exciting, surprising days, you get to lock away your inner editor, let your imagination take over, and just create!”

I first heard about NaNoWriMo in 2012, on a cold autumn day, from my uncle, a book guru who knew how to spark my interest and creativity. He challenged me to give it a try and craft a story that was short, sweet, and simple. Sitting in front of the weekend house, next to the little canal, in the touch of the winter air, was more meditative than anything else. The wind picked up pieces of autumn, spun the colors, and whispered secrets between the trees. It felt like the world was rearranging itself, just for a moment, as if it wanted to show every shade it had saved up all year. The experience stuck with me, and it’s easy to see why thousands return to this event each year. The good news is, if you still wish to join this challenge, it is not too late; the point is to prove to yourself what you are really capable of with consistent work.

The first step: 50,000 words in a month means 1,666 words/day. That is around 1.5 pages in a book – when you look at it like that, it seems achievable and not too frightening. Choose a world you want to write about.

No story is the best story: just take inspiration from your own life. While sitting on a bus or going to the shop, take your time to look at people as your characters, think about their background, observe how they dress, imagine how they live, and what they do every day. This will fill you with immediate and infinite creativity and stories for a lifetime. You will paint your own canvas by letting your imagination roam with this simple technique. There is no room for mistakes in this process because, in this world, everything is possible, just like in dreams.

The real rewards of NaNoWriMo go deeper than just reaching 50,000 words. It teaches commitment and discipline for every age. You create habits and understand processes that benefit not only this project but also future ones. High productivity can be the foundation for a great year ahead, setting you up with the mindset and stamina to tackle new ideas and think outside of the box.

In the end, it is not about reaching the full word count and treating it like an exam, but exactly the opposite: to bring back the honest and childlike excitement of life. After this, you’ll walk away with a solid start on your new novel, perhaps even a structure you can build on or a storyline to refine further. Each word and perception brings you one step closer to a finished draft or the launch point for your next big idea.

If you connect with friends or join a local or online NaNoWriMo group, the encouragement and shared excitement can give an extra boost to your daily writing. The Young Writers Program provides a unique space to write alongside peers, with resources and word count goals tailored for younger participants. Being part of a supportive community makes the journey richer and can be especially valuable as you push through the challenge.

Finally, remember you’re joining a legacy of writers who have started their own bestsellers during NaNoWriMo. Books like The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen all began as NaNoWriMo projects. This month could be the start of your own writing success—so take the plunge and see where NaNoWriMo leads you.