NaNoWriMo—aka National Novel Writing Month—is a crazy, exhilarating, caffeine-fueled sprint where writers worldwide attempt to churn out 50,000 words of a novel in just 30 days. This is my fourth (or maybe fifth?) time participating, and let me tell you, every single time, it’s a ride.
For the uninitiated, NaNoWriMo is part challenge, part community, and all about writing without second-guessing yourself. There’s something freeing about aiming for quantity over perfection, embracing the inevitable typos, and just writing. This year, I dove headfirst into “Shadow Wolf”—my most intense and ambitious installment yet.
I went in with an outline, which was a lifesaver. Having my Save the Cat-inspired structure laid out helped keep my story on track, but NaNoWriMo added that crucial fire under my butt to push through the tougher sections. Even with a plan, there were days I stared blankly at the screen, wondering how to untangle Katya’s latest mess—or whether she even should untangle it.
Writing Kat’s journey as a 17-year-old headmistress of a magical academy with dragons, chaos magic, and a ‘harem’ of boy shifters was both exciting and overwhelming. She’s carrying so much responsibility (hello, school expansion woes) while juggling romantic tension and trying not to let Niorhal (in the form of a dragon) wreck her life—literally. Sometimes, I felt like Kat and I were both drowning under the weight of expectations.
The cover inspiration is keeping me going.
I’m absolutely in love with the concept for the cover. The idea of wolf shifters and a subtle dragon soaring overhead? It perfectly encapsulates the tone of this book: high stakes, dark beauty, and magic just at the edge of control. Knowing what this book might look like once it’s finished is a huge motivator.
One of my favorite parts of this NaNoWriMo experience was exploring the relationships between Kat and her inner circle. Fennel, Eddie, and Artemon are all so distinct, and writing their dynamics—especially as Kat contemplates her feelings and responsibilities toward each of them—was a challenge that paid off. I loved letting Donna, Kat’s sharp-tongued bestie, comment on her love life while also hinting at her own complexities. And, of course, adding in the thumping mystery of Niorhal and the strange figure with the staff made it impossible to stop typing some nights.
NaNoWriMo also reminded me to embrace imperfection. Did some plotlines get a little messy? Absolutely. Did I write a few scenes just because I was running out of time and needed to hit my word count? Yup. But sometimes, those rushed scenes brought out ideas I wouldn’t have considered otherwise. Like Fennel’s tattoo—which started as a random addition but became a pivotal piece of the story.
This book is shaping up to be everything I hoped it would: a tale about bravery, finding balance, and knowing when to expand (literally, in the case of the academy walls!). It’s also about learning that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting your instincts and your people.
With NaNoWriMo wrapping up, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. Sure, there’s a lot of editing ahead, but I’ve got a solid draft and some scenes I genuinely love. If you’re debating whether to try NaNoWriMo next year, do it. You’ll be amazed at what you can create when you let go of your inner critic and just write.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a dragon to tame and two days left of Nanowrimo to finish! More soon.
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