One of the missions nearest and dearest to our hearts here at NaNo 2.0 (besides writing) is sharing as many resources as we can to help others write! And many* of us know** that the most important resource out there is community. That’s why we’ve gathered information on a few communities to share below.
We know some of these communities well, but don’t have first-hand experience with all of them. We’ve included information on cost and age inclusion for each community, and we encourage you to explore their sites before joining to find what’s right for you.
There are many writing communities and challenges out there, and we’re excited to spotlight more in the future. Are you part of a community that you’d like to see featured? Let us know!
Without further ado, and in no particular order…
Shut Up & Write
Shut Up & Write is a nonprofit led by community members with participants in 60 countries. It offers in-person and online writing sessions and is completely free. While they don’t have a dedicated monthly writing challenge, they do have online events every single day. There are also local chapters in many major cities that host weekly or monthly write-ins.
- Age Restrictions: 18+
- Cost: Free
Pathfinders Writing Collective
Pathfinders Writing Collective is an online community that focuses on being a safe space for collaboration and community. They have a website, Instagram, and Discord where folks can participate year-round or during their 4 yearly writing challenges in March, May, June/July, and November-January. Each challenge is geared towards different writing goals but customizable to every participant–you “pick your own path, your own pace, and how to define and track your progress.” Fundraisers are held during challenges; the proceeds go to other nonprofits.
- Age Restrictions: 13+
- Cost: Free
4thewords
4thewords is a web-based app that gamifies writing–you defeat monsters by writing words in battle! It offers its own writing software and goal tracking, daily challenges, and special events. There are a multitude of incentives like traveling to new in-game destinations, leveling up, and equipping your avatar with outfits and loot, all of which are aimed at keeping you writing. 4thewords also has a moderated forum on the website and a Discord community where you can interact with fellow writers.
- Age Restrictions: 13+
- Cost: Free with paid options
Novel Quest
Novel Quest, created by a team of folks that includes some NaNo 2.0 volunteers, is an annual challenge in November for anyone looking to complete a writing or editing-related goal. It offers preparatory workshops and writing events (in-person, online, and hybrid). You can join a hosted challenge or create your own, win virtual badges as you move towards your goal, and customize trackers to match your goal.
- Age Restrictions: 13+ (with parental supervision)
- Cost: Free
Write Your Damn Novel
Write Your Damn Novel is a writing podcast and Discord community centered around writing a book in a month. It is run by long-time NaNoWriMo participants (and NaNo 2.0 members) Kristina Horner and Liz Leo. The Podcast offers advice on a multitude of writing-related topics and questions you may be asking yourself as November looms close. The Discord community is moderated and active throughout the year. It offers writing sprints and encouragement throughout November.
- Age Restrictions: 13+
- Cost: Free
NaNoWriMo.ca
NaNoWriMo.ca was created to revive and continue the NaNoWriMo writing challenge and community. While the website is a Canadian domain, it does cater to writers around the world. It offers a page on resources, another on finding other writing communities (including local regions), and it features a moderated all-ages forum where you can connect with other writers.
- Age Restrictions: 13+
- Cost: Free
Rough Draft Month
Rough Draft Month is a 30-day challenge in November geared toward creating your book’s rough draft. It offers different goal tiers with weekly/monthly word counts to hit, or the ability to set your own word or non-word related goal. The website has a beta word-sprint editor, a leaderboard through TrackBear, and a moderated Discord community that offers events, writing sprints, and encouragement. A couple of our NaNo 2.0 volunteers also help run this community, and you can find more information in our recent Rough Draft Month community spotlight.
- Age Restrictions: 13+ for Discord with some 18+ channels
- Cost: Free
Rough Draft Challenge
The Rough Draft Challenge from the Heart Breathings YouTube channel (intro here) features a website where you can log in and set a goal for your writing project. You can update and track your progress throughout the month, and join the Facebook and Discord communities to stay motivated and share your progress with others.
- Age Restrictions: 13+
- Cost: Free
Honorable Mentions:
Reedsy Novel Sprint 2025 is a 50,000 words in 30 days (November) challenge hosted on the Reedsy website. It is free to join, offers prep and writing events, and has cash prizes, but you can only join by writing exclusively in Reedsy’s writing software, “Studio”, which has a free and subscription version.
Novel Gauntlet offers writing challenges during April and October. You can pick your word goal, track your progress on their leaderboard, and win virtual badges as you progress. The only age restriction is for joining the Discord, which is 18+, but the Bluesky is open to ages 13+.
Million Word Writing Challenge is a personal challenge to write 1 million words in a year, which translates to about 84,000 words per month. This challenge emerged from Kate Cavanaugh Writes on Youtube, and while there isn’t a dedicated community for this challenge, anyone can take it on!
*There are SO. MANY. ARTICLES out there on the benefits of finding a good writing community. So what are you waiting for? Go forth and engage!
**There is also PROOF (and more proof) that collaborating in writing groups and peer feedback is beneficial for confidence, self-esteem, learning, befriending, writing better, and probably a whole host of other goodly things.