Why I Stopped Chasing 50k in November – And What I Do Instead (Post-NaNoWriMo Thoughts from a Fantasy Author)

It’s November 20, and for the first time in years, I’m not staring at a word-count tracker with a mild sense of dread.

No frantic 1,667-words-a-day sprints.

No 3 a.m. panic sessions because I fell behind on day four.

No guilt spiral when life (or a global holiday rush) got in the way.

If you spent the last decade or so doing NaNoWriMo like I did, you probably feel the same quiet weirdness this year. The nonprofit that ran it closed its doors last spring after everything that happened—AI controversies, safeguarding issues, years of financial struggle. A lot of us grieved, then exhaled.

And honestly? That exhale felt… good.

I used to treat November like a literary boot camp. 50,000 words or bust. I “won” a handful of times (hello, messy first drafts of books that eventually became published novels). But most years I limped across the finish line exhausted, or I quit halfway and beat myself up for months.

This year I asked myself a question I wish I’d asked sooner:

What if the goal isn’t to write a novel in 30 days… but to still be in love with writing on day 301?

So I stopped chasing the 50k dragon in November.

Here’s what I do instead—and why it’s the gentlest, most sustainable magic I’ve ever given my stories.

1. I switched to “Cozy November” (my personal post-NaNo tradition)

- 300–500 words a day max

- Only on weekdays (because weekends are for hot chocolate and reading someone else’s book)

- Tea, candles, my favorite blanket, and zero guilt if I only manage 100 words

It adds up to 6,000–10,000 words by December 1—plenty of forward motion without the burnout.

2. I gave myself a theme instead of a word-count cage

This month my theme is “butterflies in the fog.” Every scene I write has to include at least one tiny moment of wonder (a butterfly landing on a sword hilt, fog curling like spell-smoke, poppies glowing in moonlight). It keeps the joy alive and the words flowing naturally.

3. I celebrate tiny wins like they’re huge

- 200 words = fancy sticker on my tracker

- 500 words = extra cookie and an episode of my comfort show

- Any writing at all = “I’m a real author today” dance in the kitchen

Positive reinforcement is witchcraft, friends. It works.

4. I protect the spark during the holidays

December used to be a dead zone for writing. Now I treat it like a cozy hibernation:

- One gentle writing morning per week

- Voice notes while wrapping presents

- Reading holiday fantasy instead of forcing output

The stories are always happier when I come back in January rested and excited.

5. I found (or made) my people

There are so many beautiful alternatives popping up this year—Novel November, Reedsy sprints, small Discord groups doing “Slow-vember.” The community spirit of NaNo never actually died; it just scattered into warmer corners.

If you’re missing the camaraderie, search “cozy writing November” or “slow nano alternatives.” You’ll find hundreds of us sipping tea and cheering each other on without the pressure cooker.

The real secret I learned

The books that mean the most to me weren’t born from frantic November sprints.

They were born from consistent, kind, sustainable love—day after day after gentle day.

So if November feels different this year, maybe that’s okay. Maybe it’s an invitation to write like the world isn’t watching the word counter… because the only person who needs to fall in love with your story is you.

Here’s to softer Novembers, cozier winters, and stories that grow like poppies—slowly, beautifully, and exactly when they’re ready.

What gentle writing goal are you setting for yourself this season? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to cheer you on ♡

P.S. If you’re looking for a little holiday magic right now, the preorder for The Monarch’s Inferno is live. Link in bio if you want to curl up with butterflies and fog this winter.

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