November Sprint Writers
Announcements:
Sprinting starts at 10 am WDC on Nov. 1 at the latest. See forum to confirm.
New in 2025: Any new writing is fine. It doesn't have to be a novel.
New in 2025: You must SIGN UP to participate.
RULES:
1. Joining a Sprint
In the subject line of a new message, announce your intent to join an upcoming "official" or "mini" sprint with the word "JOIN" and the scheduled sprint time.
- Please use military/international time (24-hour clock). ▼
12:00 AM = 00:00 12:00 PM = 12:00
01:00 AM = 01:00 01:00 PM = 13:00
02:00 AM = 02:00 02:00 PM = 14:00
03:00 AM = 03:00 03:00 PM = 15:00
04:00 AM = 04:00 04:00 PM = 16:00
05:00 AM = 05:00 05:00 PM = 17:00
06:00 AM = 06:00 06:00 PM = 18:00
07:00 AM = 07:00 07:00 PM = 19:00
08:00 AM = 08:00 08:00 PM = 20:00
09:00 AM = 09:00 09:00 PM = 21:00
10:00 AM = 10:00 10:00 PM = 22:00
11:00 AM = 11:00 11:00 PM = 23:00
- All times are according to the WdC Time 
(example: "JOIN 10:00" or "JOIN 14:15 MINI")
2. Sprinting
Set up your writing space.
- You may write in any application you choose.
- If adding to a novel or other longer work, clearly delineate the current sprint.
Set a timer and make sure the volume is adequate.
- To use the Google timer: ▼
- Using a separate device or window, open Google in a browser.
- Type "Timer 30 minutes" (or "Timer 15 minutes" for a mini-sprint.)
- Press or tap Enter to start the timer.
- To use the Android (Samsung) or iPhone/iPad timer: ▼
- Launch the Clock app.
- At the bottom of the screen, select "Timer" (all the way to the right).
- Set to 00:30:00 (or 00:15:00 for a mini-sprint).
- Tap "Start" to start the timer.
Write your words. (They must be your words, so no AI!)
- The following methods* of composing are permitted:
- typing
- glide typing (formerly "Swype")
- handwriting / convert to text
- dictation
- When the timer alarm goes off, stop writing.
*Some of these methods are significantly faster than others, and therefore will give a competitive sprinting advantage. We recommend you learn to use the faster methods
| Ask for help in the forum! |
if you're in it to win it. If you just need us for the motivation, by all means, go at your own pace.
3. Getting Credit
- Copy/paste your words into https://wordcounter.net. (privacy policy) 
- Report your word count on the Sprint Writers Entry Form.
Record your final word count using the Sprint Writers Entry Form. Review your results on the Sprint Writers Scoresheet, and notice there are several tabs across the bottom where you can view your data in more detail.
4. Official Sprints
30 minutes long
Proceed regardless of participation (solo participants win by default)
Scheduled daily as follows (WDC times):
02:00 (2:00 am)
06:00 (6:00 am)
10:00 (10:00 am)
14:00 (2:00 pm)
18:00 (6:00 pm)
22:00 (10:00 pm)
4. Mini-Sprints
Impromptu 15-minute sprints
Group members may propose in the forum at any time on the quarter-hour (:00, :15, :30, :45)
At least two Sprinters are required for Score Points to be awarded
However, if one lone Sprinter logs words for a mini-sprint, those logged words contribute to the word count total
5. Score Points
Points awarded as follows:
5 pts for participating in an Official Writing Sprint
3 add'l pts to the 1st place winner of the Official Sprint (total 8 pts)
2 add'l pts to the 2nd place winner of the Official Sprint (total 7 pts)
1 add'l pt to the 3rd place winner of the Official Sprint (total 6 pts)
2 pts for participating in a Mini-Sprint
1 add'l pt to the first place winner of the Mini-Sprint (total 3 pts)
Scorekeepers 
Storm Machine 
Battywyn🎶Prep! 
6. Elimination
All Sprinters start the month with a 5-day grace period.
After the grace period, Sprinters must maintain a cumulative score of 4 points per day or risk elimination. For example:
On 11/6 you must have 4 points.
On 11/7 you must have 8 points.
On 11/8 you must have 12 points.
...etc.
Sprinters who fall below the required daily cumulative score are eliminated (you will be removed from the scoresheet.)
Keep track of your cumulative points on the Sprint Writers Scoresheet.
7. Prizes
The top-scoring Sprinters at the end of November earn prizes of some kind or another. Yes, we realize that's vague. We're trying to write our novels, here, people. Shut up and sprint, already, and for goodness sake, don't get eliminated. That would be A Very Bad Thing. (But for the record, the prizes have generally been portfolio awardicons.)
PREVIOUS WINNERS: ▼
2024: 1st, 1518 points, LdyPhrankenstein
2nd, 1444 points, 🐱 panther pwheeler
3rd, 711 points, Olivia doing OctoPrep
2023: 1st, 2083 points, 🐱 panther pwheeler
2nd, 1605 points, LdyPhrankenstein
3rd, 1249 points, Timekeeper Red Alert
2022: 1st, 1194 points, 🐱 panther pwheeler
2nd, 1181 points, LdyPhrankenstein
3rd, 620 points, Olivia doing OctoPrep
2021: 1st, 1427 points, 🐱 panther pwheeler
2nd, 884 points, Timekeeper Red Alert
3rd, 715 points, Andy~hating university
2020: 1st, 565 points, Andy~hating university
2nd, 489 points, ⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites
3rd, 358 points, Timekeeper Red Alert
2019: 1st, 658 points, Munchomonster- Octoprep
2nd, 552 points, Schnujo's now Cujo -- Run!
3rd, 485 points, LinnAnn -Bone Writer
2018: 1st, 539 points, LdyPhrankenstein
2nd, 492 points, ⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites
3rd, 270 points, Timekeeper Red Alert
2017: 1st, 511 points, ⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites
2nd, 468 points, Andy~hating university
3rd, 308 points, Storm Machine
2016: 1st, 314 points, Storm Machine
2nd, 245 points, ⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites
3rd, 216 points, 💙 Carly: Joan Watson
2015: 1st, 620 points, Andy~hating university
2nd, 372 points, Sihaya
3rd, 368 points, MontyB
2014: 1st: 599 points, Storm Machine
2nd: 485 points, Fran 🌈🧜♀️
3rd: 425 points, 🌑 Darleen - QoD
2013: 1st: 617 points, 🌑 Darleen - QoD
2nd: 435 points, Storm Machine
3rd: 387 points, Dawn Embers
2012: 1st: 537 points, fabledfigment
2nd: 528 points, Dawn Embers
3rd: 424 points, Bear Hunter
Happy Sprinting!
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