Have you always dreamt of writing a novel, but are unsure how to start? You’re not alone. There are writers all over the nation that have pages of ideas but don’t have enough time or resources to start a novel. That’s why NaNoWriMo was created; a non-profit organization that aims to encourage authors to find their voice and achieve their writing goals. Established in 1999, National Novel Writing Month takes place in November each year.

Starting on November 1st, writers are challenged to write a 50,000-word manuscript by November 30th. This comes out to over 1,500 words a day. Along the way, you can collect badges and go to events to meet other writers. At the end of the month, you submit your finished novel and claim your prize.

With thousands of people participating in NaNoWriMo, why should you? Here are six major reasons why participating in NaNoWriMo may help you write your novel.

1. It holds you accountable

There is a tight schedule to follow when you participate in NaNoWriMo. Each day you upload the amount of words that you wrote onto your profile for everyone to see. Also, the account holds this information so every time you log in, you see exactly how close you are to reaching your goal. Each week holds new due dates that will push you to reach those 50,000 words. This system holds you accountable for your work. If you skip a couple weeks of writing, usually you won’t notice—but in NaNoWriMo, every day is crucial. With a hard deadline at the end of the month, it will help keep you motivated to stay on track.

2. To form a community with other writers

Writers from all around the world participate in NaNoWriMo every year. Events are held throughout the month to connect writers and share ideas. One way to get to know writers in your area are through write-ins, where writers are invited to meet at bookshops, coffee cafes, or workspaces to write. This environment helps fuel creativity and allow you to connect with others.

They also have active forums you can find on the NaNoWriMo website. These forums are created by participating writers that wish to share questions or ideas. Threads can be about plot ideas, writer’s block, and even feedback on chapters. Therefore, it creates a friendly environment to share work and get constructive feedback to stay strong during the month. You might even learn something new!

3. To learn new tricks

NaNoWriMo makes it easy for writers to meet each other and share ideas. They provide inspiration through their Nano Prep Library, Podcasts, and Novel-Writing courses. Each of these platforms provides useful articles and workbooks that will help you on your journey. Also, the page is available throughout the month to provide any extra information you need when creating your novel.

If you don’t know what your story is going to be about, check out the Prep Library to get some new ideas. Or it might help you flesh out something you already had in mind. Maybe you’ve never written a book before. No problem! Take one of the writing courses to teach you all the tips and tricks. It’s a great way to stay motivated and inspired the rest of the month.

4. It’s great practice

They say practice makes perfect—and writing every single day in November is a great way to train. Writing a novel is a huge challenge for any writer. Every day is filled with new obstacles to overcome. NaNoWriMo gives you great practice when it comes to writing a novel since you get to work through every stage. There is a lot of writing and rewriting involved, which will help you find your voice and style. Maybe you’ll learn a new style, or technique. And it could help you later down the road.

5. To find inspiration for the future

You may have never thought writing a novel was something for you. As you write through November, you may stumble upon new ideas for the future. With each challenge you face in your novel, it will ignite inspiration. Perhaps a fellow writer gave you a new idea or a forum sparked your imagination. You may want to try things differently next time. NaNoWriMo gives you a good taste of novel writing that will help you on your writing journey.

6. It motivates you afterward

What happens after NaNoWriMo is just as important: you now have a completed novel that you worked tirelessly on. The next stage is editing it and getting your work published. NaNoWriMo gives you that push to finish your novel, and what’s next is polishing it up for publication. It can help your dreams of becoming an author come true.

Have you done NaNoWriMo before? Share your tips on how to stay motivated and finish your novel below!