88 Comments
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Shannon Ratliff's avatar

can't wait for this! finally excited to push past my short story word limits as a chronically minimalist writer

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First Draft November's avatar

Oooo! Short story into a novel?!

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courtney's avatar

i'm also a chronically minimalist writer (even my short stories never get past 3k) !! we got this!!

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Melissa Coffey's avatar

Another long-form challenged writer here, Shannon. Hoping I can re-start my stalled 1st novel attempt & push past 10K where I stopped. You're not alone!

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Shannon Ratliff's avatar

we're all in this together! *to the tune of the high school musical song* 🥰

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mcp's avatar
Oct 27Edited

lowkey excited and nervous at the same time to participate in this challenge, never done anything like this but definitely looking forward to it🤞🏼

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First Draft November's avatar

Sometimes it’s the fear that makes us actually write- right? 🫠

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Thomas Mixon's avatar

I've never done a challenge like this before, but am looking forward to giving it a shot!

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Conran G Jeffrey's avatar

Was planning to start my first draft in November, so this is some excellent motivation! Can't wait!

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First Draft November's avatar

Perfect timing! ⏱️

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allison strong's avatar

I can't wait either.

Is this thread a part of our "prep" work? I'm re-reading "Story Genius" and getting out my index cards.

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First Draft November's avatar

We have another post coming out that will help you prepare! And next week we will start the accountability threads so we can all check in with each other on how we are doing.

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Tarah Burrows's avatar

🫶🏻🫶🏻cant wait to get started, so incredibly happy to be doing this with such a supportive community

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A.J. Parker's avatar

Recommending you all! 💕 I think I will be providing some First Draft November updates over my page!

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Raquel's avatar

Excited to follow along! I'll be sharing on my Substack too 🥰

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the creative nomad's avatar

I want to write my first part live

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Raquel's avatar

Excited to follow along! I'll be writing live too 🥰

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Melissa Coffey's avatar

So excited! Love the emphasis on curiousity & playfulness, 'cos outlining feels too formulaic & seems to suffocate my story-telling urges. Hoping this will be the catalyst to re-connecting with my novel/la (?) draft, which stalled at 10K after doubts with my opening. I'm writing a feminist reimagining of Bluebeard, so one of my MC's has a very serious "Doorway fo No Return" lol!

Looking forward to writing in community - & this just might kickstart my Substack newsletter, which I finally got a title/concept idea for a few weeks ago. It'll be all about creativity & creative process (mainly writing, but other modes too). If I get it set up, I'll definitely be posting First Draft November updates.

PS: Popped a post up about the course on Medium to help spread the word.

https://medium.com/@Melissa_Coffey/is-your-novel-idea-missing-nanowrimo-aab1313f3f79?sk=3046110386542ac3fcd414d885c40953

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Kimberley De Villiers's avatar

I love a challenge and I'm up to getting started with writing. This has been a thought and a discussion and a few inconsistent notes and outlines but not enough action. I want this, I need this. No excuses! Although I am brand new to Substack and honestly have no idea how I got here or how it works 😅

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Raquel's avatar

Welcome to Substack!

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Kaye Sims's avatar

Excited to find this site - after doing NaNoWriMo for 15 years!

Several friends are still planning to do it anyway - even w/o the official organization website.

Thanks for setting this up!

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Allison Bothley's avatar

I wrote a novel last year and now I need an "edit this bitch in a month" group. Help. ha

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Andrew Careaga's avatar

I'm pumped! I posted about this on my blog. https://andrewcareaga.com/2025/10/28/no-more-nanowrimo-no-problem-write-that-novel-anyway/

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Raquel's avatar

Excited to follow along! I'll be sharing my Substack 🥰

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courtney's avatar

i'm so scared LOL but i'm ready!! let's do this!!!

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Nathalie Edwards's avatar

Perfect timing!!!

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Rebekah Rowe's avatar

So excited to join along! Let’s write these novels!

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