Join the Samhain Story Sprint: 30 days, 30,000 words, 1,000 a day. A free November writing challenge with Story Bible Studio. Bring your writing group.
Most people say they will write a book someday. This November, you actually do it. The Samhain Story Sprint asks for one month of heads-down effort. In return, you finish 30,000 words of your own story. That is a novella, or the solid first half of a novel.
You do not need a year. You need November.
Join the Sprint: get your free tracker
What Is the Samhain Story Sprint?
The Samhain Story Sprint is a free 30-day writing challenge that runs from 1 to 30 November. It starts with the Samhain Story Bonfire on the night of 31 October, the traditional start of the Celtic New Year.
| Launch | Samhain Story Bonfire, 31 October to 1 November |
| Challenge | 1 to 30 November |
| Goal | 30 days, 30,000 words, 1,000 words a day |
| Cost | Free |
| Hashtag | #SamhainStorySprint |
If you used to take part in NaNoWriMo, this is your new home. The goal is smaller, the community is warmer, and the tools are built in.
The Samhain Story Bonfire: Start at the Threshold
Samhain (say it "SOW-in") is the Irish word for November. It is also the old festival that marks the Celtic New Year, when people lit great fires and the veil between worlds was said to be at its thinnest. It is a threshold, and a threshold is the perfect place to begin a new story.
On the evening of 31 October, we light the Samhain Story Bonfire. Share your title, your first line, or what you are leaving behind and what you are starting. Then, on 1 November, the sprint begins. You can read more about the festival in Samhain, the Celtic New Year on Enda Storrie.
Choose Your Pace: Spark, Sprint or Storm
The Sprint is the heart of the challenge: 30,000 words in 30 days. If you want a gentler pace or a bigger challenge, pick one of the two options instead.
- Spark: 10,000 words. Write 333 words a day, then add 10 extra on the final day. Those last 10 words become the closing line of your Samhain story.
- The Sprint: 30,000 words. Write 1,000 words a day. This is the main goal.
- Storm: 50,000 words. Write about 1,667 words a day. This is for experienced writers who want to go all out.
Why 1,000 Words a Day Works
A thousand words feels small. It is about two pages, or 40 minutes of steady writing. But 1,000 words multiplied by 30 days is 30,000 words. Big challenges are just small days stacked together.
The effort is not in heroic word counts. It is in turning up every day for one month. Watch your milestones as you go: 10,000 words is a third of the way, 15,000 is halfway, and 30,000 is done. For more help with daily targets, read Setting Goals and Word Count Targets.
Write in Sprints With the Story Bible Studio Timer
A writing sprint is a short, timed burst of focused writing, often 15 to 30 minutes. Two or three sprints a day will get most writers to 1,000 words.
Story Bible Studio has a built-in sprint timer and word tracking, so you can set the clock, write, and watch your total grow. Sign up free, then keep your characters, places and plot notes in the same place as your draft. New to timed writing? Start with Writing Sprints: The Pomodoro Method for Writers.
Bring Your Writing Group
A month is easier together. Accountability is what carries writers through week two. Story Bible Studio Groups let your writing circle, class or workshop take on the Samhain Story Sprint as a team.
- Word-count challenges and a leaderboard, so everyone can see the group's progress.
- Discussion threads on the challenge, so conversation stays on the work.
- Start a group free. The organiser gets the Writer's Studio plan while the group is active, for up to 20 members.
- Members join free for 3 months, with no card needed. That covers all of November and beyond. After that, members keep half price for as long as they stay.
- Classrooms are free for students, for up to 30 students with a verified educator.
A group of six writing 1,000 words a day will finish 180,000 words between them by 30 November. Hold your own group Bonfire on 31 October, in person or online, and share it with #SamhainStorySprint. If you do not have a group yet, read How to Join or Start a Writing Group.
How to Join the Samhain Story Sprint
- Join the Sprint and get your free tracker and weekly emails: sign up here.
- Choose your goal: Spark, the Sprint or Storm.
- Sign up free to Story Bible Studio, or start a free group for your writing circle.
- Plan your story before 1 November. Grab the free Story Bible Starter Kit to get your ideas in order.
- Post your goal with #SamhainStorySprint.
- Join the Bonfire on 31 October, then write 1,000 words a day.
Want to warm up first? Try Chain Story Online, where writers build stories together, one part at a time.
Samhain Story Sprint FAQ
Is it free?
Yes. The challenge is free, and so is a Story Bible Studio account. Writing group members get 3 months free, with no card needed.
Can I switch goals during the month?
Yes. If Storm is too much, drop to the Sprint. If Spark is going well, push on. The goal is to finish something.
What if I miss a day?
Do not panic and do not quit. Add a few hundred words to the next few days, or run an extra sprint at the weekend.
Do I have to write a novel?
No. Write a novella, short stories, a memoir, a script or the first half of a bigger book. Every word counts.
Can my writing group join?
Yes, and we hope it will. Start a free group in Story Bible Studio and invite up to 20 members.
Related reading: Writing Sprints: The Pomodoro Method for Writers | Tips for Finishing Your First Draft | Establishing a Consistent Writing Routine
Thirty days of focus. Thirty thousand words. One story you will be proud of. We will see you at the Bonfire.
Join the Sprint: get your free tracker
That's it. Enda Storrie
P.S. Want a nudge to write every day? Try the free 7-Day Chain Story Challenge.
