Youth & Educator Resources

NaNoWriMo is also for young writers, teachers, and librarians who want to write with us and bring the joy of novel-writing into classrooms and communities. 

Are you looking for NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program (YWP) workbooks and lesson plans? The YWP program closed along with the official organization, and its resources are no longer available. However, you’re in luck! The NaNo 2.0 team includes the original author of the Young Writers Program curriculum, Tavia Stewart! And veteran NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program educator Laura Bradley!

They have taken inspiration from the former Young Writers Program and created the Young Novelist Challenge curriculum and workbooks. We know how valuable it is to have lesson plans that fulfill Common Core Standards and workbooks that support your students as they write. We are proud to bring you the Young Novelist Challenge!

Keep scrolling for Young Novelist Challenge resources, and come back for Pep Talks, badges, and certificates!

For Young Writers

How to Write a Novel in November

1. Set a word-count goal that feels challenging but doable.
2. Make a plan using the workbooks below.
3. In November, write and track your word count every day! Momentum matters more than perfection.

Pre-NaNo Workbooks

Get ready in October with one of our Young Novelist  Workbooks, inspired by the Young Writers Program workbooks of NaNoWriMo

• Elementary Workbook Doc, PDF, Spanish
• Middle School Workbook Doc, PDF, Spanish
• High School Workbook Doc, PDF, Spanish

Each workbook helps you create characters, map a plot, and lock that pesky Inner Editor away for the month. Finish your planning before November, so you can dive straight into writing.

For Educators

Standards-Aligned Curriculum Bring NaNo into your classroom with Young Novelist Challenge lesson plans, pacing guides, and activities inspired by NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program.  No matter the age of your students, we’ve got you covered: 

• Elementary K-2, 3-5
• Middle School
• High School

Use these in October for planning, November for writing, and December for celebrating and revising.

Learn from Experience Check out resources from our committee member Laura Bradley, a veteran middle school teacher who led students through the Young Writers Program of NaNoWriMo every year for eight years. Visit her site at nanoteacher.org.