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Bestselling novels that started as NaNoWriMo drafts
Take writing inspiration from these beloved books that got their start during National Novel Writing Month.
Published on October 31, 2023
Water for Elephants
Sara GruenPerhaps one of the most well-known novels born out of NaNoWriMo, Gruen’s success story is what writers dream of. Her historical fiction romance pulls off a wondrous balancing act with the right amounts of drama, love, and action, and captures all the most fantastic stories from the era of train circuses. The 2011 film adaptation starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon made it one of the first NaNoWriMo books to be made into a movie.
You Had Me at Hola: A Novel
Alexis DariaStep into the fiery and glamorous world of telenovelas with Daria’s “You Had Me at Hola.” Jasmine and Ashton, two actors each determined to take their careers to the next level, are co-stars with undeniable chemistry — both on and off the screen. In addition to its steamy romance scenes, this story-within-a-story excels at celebrating Latine representation in Hollywood and portraying the close relationships often exhibited in Hispanic families.
With the Fire on High
Elizabeth AcevedoAcevedo’s sophomore novel was actually written more than 6 years before its release. The author started it as a NaNoWriMo draft in 2013, but didn’t think it would ever get published. Luckily, her editor loved the heartwarming tale of a single mother determined to pursue her passion for cooking.
Zero Repeat Forever
G. S. Prendergast“The 5th Wave” meets “Beauty and the Beast” in this thrilling contemporary sci-fi that pits a ruthless alien invasion against a small band of human survivors. As cities crumble and the Nahx take over, Raven, a human, and Eight, an alien soldier, are thrown together when their respective partners are killed. Although the two should be mortal enemies, their very survival depends on relying on one another. Prendergast is a huge fan of NaNoWriMo (“Zero Repeat Forever” was initially drafted in 2011) who encourages other writers to participate each year.
Trail of Lightning
Rebecca RoanhorseRoanhorse brings Navajo folktales to life in this electrifying novel about the apocalypse brought on by climate change. Searching for a missing girl, monster hunter Maggie Hoskie must battle witchcraft, as well as the ancient gods and monsters of old who walk the earth once again.
Wool: Book One of the Silo Series
Hugh HoweyThe first of Howey’s acclaimed “Silo” series finds a group of people living underground after the Earth’s surface becomes uninhabitable. The suspense, coupled with lyrical prose and a wide cast of characters, makes for a nuanced adventure full of dark, delightfully unexpected twists and turns. The three-time NaNoWriMo finisher and self-publishing whiz initially released “Wool” as a short story that has since spawned the book trilogy, an Apple TV+ series (“Silo”), and a comic book adaptation.
Modern Girls
Jennifer S. BrownRose, a tough-as-nails immigrant matriarch, and her daughter, Dottie, an unmarried 19-year-old modern office girl, both have their dreams and plans for the future brought to a screeching halt by unplanned pregnancies. This is a thought-provoking and moving tale about the limited choices available to women in a bygone era and the sacrifices parents make for their children.
All of Us with Wings
Michelle Ruiz Keil“All of Us with Wings” is a deeply rewarding story set in San Francisco, full of music and magic. Xochi is a runaway who finally finds her people in a polyamorous rock ’n’ roll enclave. “Take some Francisca Lia Block, combine it with Charles de Lint’s ‘Newford’ stories, and blend in author Michelle Ruiz Keil’s unique take on music and memory, and you will find the country where ‘All of Us with Wings’ resides,” Colleen Mondor wrote in her review for Locus. Still not sold? There’s also a magical bookstore cat.
From Unseen Fire: The Aven Cycle
Cass MorrisPolitical intrigue drives Morris’ tale set in an ancient society reminiscent of the Roman Empire. As the future of Aven hangs in the balance, a mage and senator join forces to battle for control over the city. The first installment of the “Aven Cycle” introduces readers to an intricate and fully fleshed out magic system and a cast of ambitious and ruthless characters all vying for power.
A Blade So Black
L.L. McKinneyMcKinney’s desire to propel Black protagonists to the forefront of the fantasy genre led her to write this must-read modern fairy-tale retelling. Imagine “Alice in Wonderland,” except Alice is a total badass who by day deals with all of the typical challenges of life in Atlanta and by night battles monsters in the dark and bizarre dream realm that is Wonderland.
American Panda
Gloria ChaoMei’s traditional Taiwanese American parents couldn’t be prouder that she’s only 17 and is already a freshman in the pre-med program at MIT. There’s just one little problem: Mei hates germs. And she’s developed a mega-crush on a boy her parents DEFINITELY wouldn’t approve of. A hilarious and heartfelt debut that was born out of NaNoWriMo’s 2015 challenge.
Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles
Marissa MeyerAll three books in “The Lunar Chronicles” were initially hammered out during NaNoWriMo. Cinderella is a cyborg in this fantastic, futuristic amalgamation of fairy-tale retellings, sci-fi adventures, and romantic intrigue. Smashes genre conventions and subverts stereotypes.
Shine Shine Shine: A Novel
Lydia Netzer“Shine Shine Shine” is shining proof that there are no limitations to what you can write or what you can achieve by participating in NaNoWriMo. This is an illuminatingly odd lyrical love story about an astronaut, his autistic son, and his childhood friend who became his wife, shouldering the weight of normalcy and humanity on her shoulders.
Rainbirds
Clarissa GoenawanGoenawan was heavily influenced by Haruki Murakami, Banana Yoshimoto, and other aspects of Japanese pop culture like manga, and all that love shows brilliantly in this debut work of magical realism. The story follows Ren Ishida, who is trying to learn to let go after his sister’s murder. “Rainbirds” won the 2015 Bath Novel Award, an international prize for unpublished authors, two years after it was conceived and written as a NaNo draft.
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
Karina Yan GlaserOn author Karina Yan Glaser’s website, she writes: “The idea for ‘The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street’ came a few days before National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) back in 2013. … A few days before November 1st, I woke up in the middle of the night with the idea for the first line of the book and frantically wrote it down in a notebook next to my bed. The line was this: ‘Among the many people who had visited the Vanderbeekers, there was quite a bit of debate about what it was like, but general agreement about what it was NOT: calm, today, boring, predictable.’ It was this line that guided my writing about this family, and despite extensive revision that line stayed in the story through many, many, many drafts (although it ultimately ended up being moved to the second chapter).”
The Atlas of Forgotten Places: A Novel
Jenny D. WilliamsThis debut made a splash that was several years in the making. After writing a NaNoWriMo draft and getting an MFA, Williams started the story over from scratch. It’s an intriguing, intricate, and vivid novel spanning several continents.
Side Effects May Vary
Julie MurphyThe author of “Dumplin’” wrote her debut novel during NaNoWriMo. In this non-tragic cancer story (yes! It’s possible!), Murphy has added a twist to the Kids with Cancer trope. Alice’s brutally honest reaction to finding out she’ll live is the most touching part.
On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction
William ZinsserParticipating in NaNo yourself? Hoping to see your work make a bestseller list someday? This classic writing guide will help polish up your storytelling skills. Distill the essence of great writing and learn to avoid common pitfalls with Zinsser’s thorough and beautifully put advice.