Ever wanted to write a book? Join NaNoWriMo.

In one month’s time, half a million of the bravest and craziest people from around the world will participate in what is quite possibly the greatest writing event in the history of mankind: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).

Most of these people aren’t professional writers. They’re just average folks of questionable sanity who thought it might be fun to write a book.

Each year, NaNoWriMo participants commit to writing 50,000 words of fiction between 12:01am on November 1st and midnight N...