NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program

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So you wrote a novel… now what? This January and February, we’re providing resources, events, and tips to help you on your revision and publishing journey.

Take all that fabulous NaNo energy and use it to transform your novel from first draft to final draft!

Find even more resources on blog, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and YouTube Channel.

Revise your draft

You started your novel in November, then took a well-deserved rest in December. Now what? Maybe you're still working on finishing your first draft, but if you've already penned "The End," then it might be time for you to revise. Here are a few resources to get you started:

Revision and editing activities excerpted from our Young Novelist Workbook (also in Google doc form!)
Our step-by-step "Now What?" Revision Resource Guide
Some "Now What?" tips from the NaNoWriMo blog (or see all our "Now What?" posts!)

Ask for feedback on your manuscript from a family member, teacher, or friend. Check out the Critiques and Feedback forum to find other interested NaNoWriMo participants. Give your beta readers some guidance with our "Reader Review Worksheet" from the Young Novelist Workbook.
Stick with it! Most writers go through many rounds of revisions before publishing their books. Keep striving to make your novel the best it can be.
If you're an educator, check out the post-November lessons in the Common Core-aligned curriculum (or skip straight to the revised "Now What?" Middle School lessons).

Publish your work

Ready to let your masterpiece loose in the wild? You've got some options.

Blurb logo

Self-Publishing

You wrote a novel—now print it! We've partnered with Blurb, a self-publishing company, to offer YWP participants a special NaNoWriMo landing page, a free ISBN, and 30% off your first order. Use the PDF download from the writing space for a simple process, or get creative. Read our how-to suggestions first, then publish your novel!

Submitting an Excerpt

Use the "Choosing an Exception Excerpt" and "Writing a Query Letter" activities excerpted from our Young Novelist Workbook (also available as a Google doc!)

Research magazines and journals that regularly publish youth writing. If you're 13 or older, try Teen Ink or Canvas Literary Journal. If you're 13 or younger, check out Stone Soup. Ember accepts submissions from writers age 10 to 18.
Send in your work!

Publishing Online

There are a ton of DIY online publishing options for kids and teens! If you're 13 or older, try WattPad or Underlined.
Start a Tumblr or Wordpress blog and publish chapters as posts!
Check out The New York Times' list of places for kids and teens to publish writing.

"Now What?" Flair

Stay on track with our "Now What?" sticker calendar, or declare your intentions on social media with our "Now What?" badges!

Take your novel to the next level at a #NaNoNowWhat event.

To see what time an event starts in your time zone, click into the event, then click "copy to my calendar".