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Reedsy Novel Sprint 2026
Novel Sprint gives you a month of structure, momentum, and community to help you make serious progress on your book. Join thousands of writers for live workshops, writing sprints, and a shared goal: 50,000 words in November.
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Starting on November 01, 2026
Win the challenge — and more!
Every November, thousands of writers set out to write their books. But this year, the stakes are higher. Join the Reedsy Novel Sprint for the chance to win $5,000 in cash prizes, introductions to a literary agent, and additional prizes from our partners.
First place
$5,000
+ Literary Agent Intro*
Second place
$2,500
+ Literary Agent Intro*
Third place
$1,000
+ Literary Agent Intro*
* 30-minute meeting with a literary agent.
An important caveat: When we say “write your novel in Studio”, we mean actually write it. You can’t copy/paste from another word processor, and you can’t use AI to generate your book. Writers who do not adhere to these rules will be disqualified. Read our Terms of Use for more details.
Our Novel Sprint partners
Novel Sprint 2026 is supported by partners who share our love of books, stories, and the writers behind them.
Perks for all participants
Benefit from a range of educational resources and support throughout the challenge. Watch your inbox for updates.
Unlock Studio's premium add-ons
Hit the 50k target to access Studio's premium add-ons for 3 months
Live events
Webinars and writing sprints to help you stay on track throughout the challenge
Community of writers
Weekly check-ins and celebrating wins to stay motivated
LIVE Events to keep you motivated
Novel Sprint is about more than hitting 50,000 words. Throughout the challenge, you’ll join live workshops and writing sprints designed to support every stage of the journey — from outlining your story and building your world to pushing through the messy middle, finishing your draft, and figuring out what comes next.
Come for the practical advice, stay for the momentum, and write alongside a community of authors working toward the same goal.
Upcoming
Story structure and outlining
16:00 EST, October 21, 2026
Turn your idea into a roadmap for November. Learn how to shape your story, identify its major turning points, and build an outline that keeps you moving when the initial burst of inspiration wears off.
Upcoming
Planning Sprint: Let’s outline together
15:00 EST, October 23, 2026
Bring your story idea and spend some focused time turning it into a plan. Write alongside other Novel Sprinters as you outline scenes, develop plot points, and get your novel ready for November.
Upcoming
Questions to answer before you start your draft
15:00 EST, October 28, 2026
Before you start writing, there are a few decisions worth making early. Learn how to choose your POV and tense, shape your narrative voice, write believable dialogue, and decide which parts of your world need to be clear before November begins.
Upcoming
Planning Sprint: Bring your world to life
15:00 EST, October 30, 2026
Put your worldbuilding into practice before the challenge begins. Join fellow writers for a focused planning session to develop the places, cultures, rules, and details that will shape your story.
Upcoming
Writing an opening that will hook your audience
15:00 EST, November 04, 2026
Your opening needs to do a lot — but it doesn’t need to do everything. Learn how to spark curiosity, introduce your story with confidence, and write a first chapter that makes readers want to keep going.
Upcoming
Writing Sprint: Start your story strong
15:00 EST, November 06, 2026
The first week is underway. Join fellow Novel Sprinters for a focused writing session, build your word count, and turn those carefully laid plans into actual pages.
Upcoming
Creating characters that feel alive
15:00 EST, November 11, 2026
From your protagonist to the side character who steals every scene, memorable characters are at the heart of great stories. Learn how to create characters who feel authentic, emotionally compelling, and essential to your novel.
Upcoming
Writing Sprint: Find your momentum
15:00 EST, November 13, 2026
Two weeks in, consistency matters more than perfection. Settle in for a focused writing session with fellow Novel Sprinters and keep your story (and your word count) moving forward.
Upcoming
Writing through the middle without getting stuck
15:00 EST, November 18, 2026
The middle of a novel doesn’t have to be where momentum disappears. Learn how to navigate Act 2, develop your story’s conflicts, and keep your draft moving toward a satisfying conclusion.
Upcoming
Writing Sprint: Push through the middle
15:00 EST, November 20, 2026
If the middle of your draft is starting to fight back, this one’s for you. Join a focused sprint, silence your inner editor, and add the next chunk of words to your manuscript.
Upcoming
Finishing your first draft
15:00 EST, November 25, 2026
Starting a novel is exciting. Finishing one is the real challenge. Learn how to push through the final stretch, avoid getting trapped in endless rewrites, and bring your first draft to a satisfying “The End.”
Upcoming
Writing Sprint: Race to “The End”
15:00 EST, November 27, 2026
The finish line is in sight. Join fellow Novel Sprinters for one final push to build your word count, tackle those last chapters, and get as close to “The End” as you can.
Upcoming
Editing without losing your voice
15:00 EST, December 02, 2026
Finished your draft? Now it’s time to make it stronger. Learn how to approach revision, build an effective self-editing process, work with feedback, and improve your manuscript without losing what makes your writing yours.
Upcoming
What happens after “The End”?
15:00 EST, December 09, 2026
Finishing a draft is only the beginning. Explore the paths to traditional and self-publishing, learn why building an author platform can start long before publication, and discover the next steps for taking your manuscript — and your writing career — forward.
FAQs
What is the Reedsy Novel Sprint?
The Reedsy Novel Sprint is an annual challenge (every November) where participants aim to write 50,000 original words in our free writing app, Reedsy Studio. With events, resources, and in-app goal tracking, this challenge is designed to help writers finish their first drafts — and get excited about doing it! At the end of the month, those who have written at least 50,000 words in Studio can submit their first chapters to our Reedsy Novel Sprint Contest.
What are the prizes?
We will award $5,000 to the first-place-winner of the Reedsy Novel Sprint Contest, $2,500 to the second-place winner, and $1,000 to the third-place winner. Each of these three winners will also receive a 30-minute consultation with a literary agent from our panel and additional prizes from our sponsors. Additionally, every single writer who completes our 50,000-word challenge will receive a three-month subscription to the Craft + Outlining Reedsy Studio add-ons.
Is there a Novel Sprint community online?
Yes! Everyone who enrolls in Novel Sprint will get access to a dedicated online community for the duration of the challenge. It’s where you can share your progress, take part in weekly check-ins, celebrate wins, connect with other writers, and stay motivated throughout the month. Whether you’re flying through your draft or working through a difficult chapter, you’ll have fellow Novel Sprinters writing alongside you.
How do I join the challenge?
Click the button above to receive updates and instructions on how to join the challenge in November.
How long does the challenge last?
The official challenge period in 2026 will be from Sunday, November 1st at 00:00 AM EST to Monday, November 30th at 11:59 PM EST.
Can I join the challenge anytime?
Yes! You can join the challenge anytime until Monday, November 30th at 11:59 PM EST.
How do I enter the contest at the end?
At the end of November, all those who have written 50,000 words in Studio will receive an email about submitting their first chapter via our Reedsy Prompts interface. Please note that the top three winners will have their submissions published on the Reedsy site; all other submissions will remain unpublished.
What is Reedsy Studio?
Reedsy Studio is an app designed for authors at every stage of the writing journey. Whether you’re planning, drafting, editing, or formatting, Studio puts the right tools at your fingertips — no other software required.
Is Studio free to use?
Studio’s basic features are 100% free to use, and always will be. There are two premium add-ons: Craft (with extra tools for productivity) and Outline (with extra tools for planning and storing research). Participants who write 50,000 words in Studio during the Reedsy Novel Writing Sprint will receive three months of access to all premium add-ons after the sprint ends.
Can I continue working on an existing project, or do I need to start a new one for the Reedsy Novel Sprint?
Yes! As long as you write 50k words for the same book in November, you are eligible to join the Novel Sprint. Simply import your current draft into Studio and add at least 50,000 new words by the end of November.
Can I write a non-English manuscript using Studio? Can my submission to the Novel Sprint be in a language other than English?
For the main Novel Sprint writing challenge, you can write your 50k words on Studio in any language. For the Novel Sprint Contest, only submissions written in English will be eligible for the prizes. The Novel Sprint Contest will accept translated submissions, as long as: 1) the submission has been translated into English 2) the submission is the author’s original work.
Can anyone under the age of 18 join the Novel Sprint?
Writers under the age of 18 are welcome to join us throughout the month of November for the month-long writing challenge on Studio, but they will not be eligible to submit excerpts of their manuscripts and receive cash prizes from the Reedsy Novel Sprint Contest.
Can I continue writing in Studio after the challenge?
Yes, and we hope you will! Take advantage of another three months of free premium features to get your first draft over the finish line.
