Some writers adored it and accomplished a lot. I’ve considered shutting down the challenge for several years now. Yet, most got something out of their efforts to start and finish a work of nonfiction in a month. While people joined WNFIN from all over the world, the challenge didn’t attract thousands of participants-more like hundreds. Even when I sold coaching programs or a summit during the event, the income generated barely covered my expenses, time, or effort. I started the event simply to give myself and other nonfiction writers a legit challenge of their own while novelists were doing NaNoWriMo. (Learn more about the history of this event here.) I’ve run it every year since in one form or another. The year after I participated in NaNoWriMo, I gave birth to the Write Nonfiction in November (WNFIN) Challenge, aka National Nonfiction Writing Month (NaNonFiWriMo). In fact, starting and not finishing your manuscript during such an event ultimately might stop you from writing your book.īefore I take this subject further, let me provide a little more backstory. Since I’m not that different from you, I am confident you can do the same-even without a book-in-a-month challenge or contest to motivate you. I know I can write a book quickly any time I choose to do so. Those identities fueled everything from my mindset to my habits making it much easier to write a book. How did I accomplish this feat? I identified as a writer and author. Yet, I completed these manuscripts 30 to 90 days each time. In the nine years that followed, I wrote three traditionally published nonfiction books and four self-published ebooks…all without a 30-day writing contest to motivate me. Probably a larger number of participants “lost.” In other words, according to NaNoWriMo rules, I “won”-along with many other writers. I participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in 2005 and completed a 33,00-word novel in a month.

Powering through is not the answer, but choosing to be a writer and author is. Plus, the once-per-year push to write consistently and productively for 30 days isn’t enough to help a you develop a writing habit or the confidence to publish your work. On the other hand, failing at this endeavor can have a long-lasting negative effect. The positive impact of succeeding can be great. For many, this is a once-per-year chance to be a productive writer and make time to finish a manuscript.

For writers, November is all about participating in events that challenge them to write a book in a month.

Write a book in 30 days challenge