Octvember 2025: A Flexible Writing Challenge for Authors
Your stories, your goals, your season to write what matters.
Welcome to the very first Octvember!
This is a new writing challenge designed for fiction authors who want the motivation of a group event without the pressure of rigid rules. Octvember runs through both October and November, giving you more time and more freedom to create.
Want to only write on the weekends? You got it.
Need to avoid those pesky family holidays? Do it.
Prefer to spend the month revising instead of drafting? Absolutely.
You’re in control.
Why Octvember?
Too often, writing challenges focus only on word counts or force everyone to write on the same schedule. It was all or nothing. That never worked for me, and I know I’m not alone.
Writing should feel motivating, not restrictive.
Octvember exists to give you space to set your own pace, choose your own milestones, and celebrate your progress in a way that fits your writing life.
How It Works
There are no strict rules here, only guiding principles:
Start anytime in October or November
Choose your goal: word count, chapters drafted, hours logged, revisions completed … it all counts
Track your progress in a way that works for you (I’ll be sharing tracker templates in upcoming posts, or you can make your own)
Celebrate wins: every step forward is worth acknowledging
How to Join In
Decide on your personal Octvember goal.
Share it in the comments below so others can cheer you on.
Check back for upcoming tracker templates, videos, and weekly check-ins.
What’s Coming Next
Tracker Templates: I’ll be posting two different options for you to use depending on your style
Weekly Check-Ins: short posts to help you stay on track through October and November
Motivation Boosts: personal updates, pep talks, and strategies to keep the words flowing
The Heart of Octvember
At its core, Octvember is about making writing feel doable, enjoyable, and personal. It’s about giving yourself permission to create in the way that works best for you, and remembering that progress looks different for everyone.
Whether you are sprinting through a first draft, slowly revising a tricky scene, or just building a consistent habit, your work matters. And I cannot wait to see what you will accomplish this season.
Happy Writing!
