No NaNoWriMo this year?
Write with us every night in November
Free, any goal, real company. Then finish strong in Moonlit January.
When NaNoWriMo ended, a lot of us lost more than a website. We lost the deadline, the buzz, and the feeling of writing alongside thousands of other people. Moonlit Scribes is a small, kind community for people who write late at night or before dawn, and this November we're writing together every single night. You're welcome to join us.
You write every word. Nothing you write is used to train AI. Your stories stay yours.
Start here
Join the Discord, say hello in #introductions, and write with us tonight. It's free, and you can simply watch until you're ready.
Join the Discord Get Moonlit January remindersWhat you'll find in November
- A prompt every evening. Selene, our muse, posts tonight's prompt at 7 p.m. Pacific (10 p.m. Eastern, 3 a.m. in London for the early birds). Use it, or write whatever you're working on.
- Quiet writing sprints. Twenty-five minutes of writing together, then share your count or your favorite line. Every number counts, even twelve.
- Real company. Write alongside others in the Quiet Room, our voice channel, with cameras and microphones optional, or cheer each other on in #progress.
- Your goal, not ours. Fifty thousand words, a finished draft, a few new chapters, or simply writing most nights. Every goal belongs here.
Like tracking your words? Use whatever you love: TrackBear, a spreadsheet or a paper calendar. We're the company that keeps you going.
Then: Moonlit January
January 1 to 31, 2027. Thirty-one nights, one story. Our main event, built for the things people told us they miss:
Count the nights
Show up and write, any amount. Words, pages or minutes are optional extras.
Relight the lamp
Missed a night? Make it up at the weekend. No one falls out of the challenge.
Small circles
Write with a small group who know your name. Pen names welcome.
A finish line
Everyone who finishes earns a place in our Showcase.
Read more about Moonlit January and our nightly sprints.
Where we stand on AI
Moonlit Scribes is built for human writing. You write every word, and nothing you write is ever used to train AI. Our sprints, challenges and community are people writing alongside people.
We'd rather be open than vague: we use AI in a couple of optional, clearly labeled places. "Talk with Selene" is an optional chat preview, and Selene's prompts are drafted with AI help, then chosen and edited by James, our founder. If you'd rather avoid AI entirely, simply skip the chat. More on how Selene works.
Writing a life story?
Many of us are writing about our families, not novels, and that's welcome too. Our small, free founding memoir circle begins on November 9, with six gentle weekly questions. Requests close November 6.
Get Moonlit January reminders
A short note before the challenge begins, plus sprint news along the way. Nothing else.
Thank you. We'll remind you before January begins.
Occasional notes only. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy
Questions people ask
Is this NaNoWriMo?
No. The organization behind National Novel Writing Month closed in 2025, and Moonlit Scribes is independent and isn't affiliated with it. We're simply a place for writers who still want a challenge, a deadline and good company.
Do I have to write 50,000 words?
Not at all. Choose your own goal for November, or none. In Moonlit January, the goal is simply the number of nights you write.
What does it cost?
Nothing. Moonlit Scribes, the nightly sprints and Moonlit January are free.
Can I join partway through November?
Of course. Come tonight, whatever the date. Every night is a good night to start.
Do I need to write at night?
No. Our writers include night owls and early risers all over the world. Write whenever your quiet hours fall.
Do I need Discord?
For group sprints, yes. It's free and takes a minute to set up. You can also write solo anytime with Selene's Ritual on our home page.