NovNov, Grace, and the Power of Storytelling
This November, I’ve taken the plunge into NovNov—a 30-day writing challenge hosted by ProWritingAid that dares writers to craft 50,000 words in a month. It’s a bold commitment to storytelling, and it’s one of the reasons my social media presence has been nearly nonexistent lately. But trust me, it’s worth it.
What Is NovNov?
NovNov (short for Novel November) is ProWritingAid’s answer to the now-retired NaNoWriMo. It’s more than just a word-count goal—it’s a full-on writing ecosystem. With daily writing sprints, expert-led workshops, and a supportive global community, NovNov helps writers push past doubt and distractions to finally get that draft down. You can track your progress directly in your favourite writing apps like Word, Scrivener, or Google Docs. Learn more and sign up here:
https://prowritingaid.com/novel-november
My Project: Spicy Tales from Grace
I'm excited to give this a try. I know I've missed my self-imposed deadlines, but not because I haven't been writing. Every spare minute has been used for writing. But Spicy Tales from Grace has taken on a larger scope with six books in the works. NovNov offers the opportunity to write those characters that occupy my thoughts, efficiently. Even if it's just a rough draft.
So, my online presence has been minuscule.
To be honest, it feels icky to post romance books on the usual platforms these days. I will reassess and rework my social media marketing after November.
For now, I sit in on the workshops as much as I can, carve out an hour minimum for myself every day to write, and plot my novels when I settle down to sleep.
ProWritingAid users should check out the classes and workshops, regardless of their writing goals for November. I wrote my outline in 2 days after listening to their contributors. I had 5k words before the first day, and I have over eight thousand words down for book 5. (Shades of Grace is my working title if you’re monitoring the challenge.)
I'm having a blast writing Grace and her sassy friends, and I look forward to sharing their quirky but sexy craziness with all the readers looking for an escape from this heavy world.
Fun facts about my series:
The good guys get laid and the bad guys get screwed.
The stories feature a diverse group of strong women, both wild and flawed, who are on different journeys of self-discovery. They come together to combat misogyny.
The stories are about Canadian characters, mostly set in small towns, with found family. Sorry, no billionaires.
Sisters, survivors, and sex toys: a new revolution.
The reason for writing this series?
Listening to some of the commentary out there about women’s roles radicalized me. So now I write kick-ass women with loud voices, tough fists, on healing journeys that include sexual awareness and growth.
Drop me a line if you want to be a beta reader. New official Google signup forms will be available in December. Re-releases of second editions will be ready for Valentine’s Day.
Writing Tools That Make It Possible
One of the best resources I’ve leaned on is ProWritingAid. If you have a subscription, I highly recommend checking out their workshops and writing reports. I outlined my novel in just two days after listening to their contributors. Their tools help with everything from grammar and style to pacing and readability—perfect for writers who want to elevate their craft.
Wattpad: A Platform Worth Exploring?
As I write, I’m also thinking about where these stories might live once they’re ready. Wattpad has been on my radar. It’s a vibrant platform where stories become fandoms, and writers can connect with millions of readers. I’m considering adapting my chapters to suit Wattpad’s format.
If you’re still active there or looking for new reads, drop me a line—I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re participating in NovNov or just cheering from the sidelines, I hope you find your own unhinged peaceful protest through creativity this season. Writing is resistance. Writing is healing. Writing is joy.