The Ultimate Guide To Writing Advice Is Free!

by Rana Asfour

​Listen! Have you heard it yet? It's the sound of millions of fingers tapping away at computers in rhyme, rhythm and prose in what can only be labelled as November's writing extravaganza. All around the world, writers are gearing up for the third day of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a 'fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing' open to anyone, anywhere in the world. ​And it's completely free. Find out how it works HERE.

On November 1, participants began working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. 

​So, if you've already started on your novel or have just been inspired to, then here's a little help for all of you brought to you by the fantastic tireless people at Signature, a Penguin Random House site that helps readers make well-read sense of the world by contextualising news and culture with book recommendations from all publishers.

​Just in time for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), Signature has teamed up with Evernote to create 'The Ultimate Guide to Writing Advice', a free downloadable e-book that feature writers like David Levithan, Andy Weir, and Elizabeth Berg sharing their hard-won insights into the craft and challenges of writing. The guide includes essays from 12 acclaimed authors and a copyeditor who explore every phase of the writing process. You’ll find tips, advice, and musings on getting started, overcoming writer’s block, developing effective writing habits, and much more. All you have to do is go to the website, sign in with your email and the guide is free to download. Easy!

One part writing boot camp, one part rollicking party, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) celebrates its 18th year of encouraging creativity, education, and the power of the imagination through the largest writing event in the world.

“Too many people think they’re not a ‘creative type,’ but to be human is to be a ‘creative type’. NaNoWriMo teaches you to believe that your story matters, to trust the gambols of your imagination, and to make the blank page a launching pad to explore new universes. That’s important because when we create, we cultivate meaning. Our stories remind us that we’re alive, and what being alive means,” says Grant Faulkner, Executive Director of NaNoWriMo in a press release.

Last year, NaNoWriMo welcomed 431,626 participants in 633 different regions on six continents. Of these, more than 40,000 met the goal of writing 50,000 words in a month. This year, participants will be inspired by weekly “pep talks”, penned by published authors, including Jenny Han, Alexander Chee, and Maggie Steifvater. NaNoWriMo has also partnered with 'We Need Diverse Books' to provide participants access to mentorship from authors including Heidi Heilig and Nita Tyndall.