Right now, 107 students from the eighth grade class of New York’s East Hampton Middle School are writing novels. In fact, National Novel Writing Month has drawn 45,000 kids ages 5 to 17 as participants. These youngsters come from 28 different countries.
The Millions has more about the student writers in New York. For children, the rules have been slightly adjusted. While an adult has to write 50,000 words to “win,” children are allowed to set their own word count. The site even has a suggestion table for word count goals depending on age.
The main NaNoWriMo site bars anybody 12 years or younger from receiving an account. Child participants can turn to the youth writers program site which launched in 2005. The site also helps teachers use NaNoWriMo as a class assignment. Kids who “win” are instructed to “Celebrate like a crazed wombat!” upon completion.