Thirty days to get your book out of your head.
One prompt a day, built for nonfiction. A word goal you set. A tracker that lives in your browser, with no account. At the end you have a habit, a working outline, and real pages of your draft.
- 30 daily prompts
- 0 accounts or emails needed
Show up, write, log it. Then do it again tomorrow.
Most nonfiction books stall for the same reason: the writing never becomes a habit. The challenge fixes the habit first and gives every day a job, so you never sit down wondering what to write.
Pick a start date and a daily goal
500 words a day is a sensible default with a full-time job. Set less if your days are full; the point is to show up every day, not to hit a big number once.
Open the tracker each day
It shows that day's prompt: what to write, why it matters now, and a tip. Write first, then log your words.
Keep the chain going
Missed a day? Pick up with the next prompt. Do not double up. The tracker shows your days and your streak, and nobody else sees them.
Day 30: decide what is next
On day 29 you reverse outline what you wrote. On day 30 you plan the next 30 days, with a clear list of what the draft still needs.
Every day has a job
Week 1: Find the book
Why you are writing it, who it is for, what you promise them, a working outline, and a bank of stories to draw on.
See the prompts → Days 8 to 14Week 2: Build the spine
A first draft of the introduction, then the opening chapters, so the book has a shape you can feel.
See the prompts → Days 15 to 21Week 3: Write the middle
The middle chapters, the client stories, and the chapter you have been putting off.
See the prompts → Days 22 to 30Finish the thirty
More chapters, a draft of the conclusion, a reverse outline of everything so far, and a plan for the next 30 days.
See the prompts →From people who help authors finish books
The First Draft Challenge is made by Scribe Media, a book writing and publishing company in Austin, Texas that has published more than 3,000 books. Scribe sells writing and publishing services. The challenge is for people who want to write their book themselves, and it is free. Read about the challenge.
Common questions
Will I finish my book in 30 days?
Probably not, and that is fine. The challenge is 30 days of writing in a row, which builds the habit and puts a real share of the draft on the page. At 500 words a day, 30 days is about 15,000 words. What you do after day 30 is in the after-the-challenge guide.
Is the challenge free?
Yes. The prompts, the guides and the tracker are free, with no sign-up. Your progress stays in your browser. The challenge is made by Scribe Media, a book writing and publishing company, and it says so.
Do I need an outline before I start?
No. Week 1 builds one with you: your reason for writing, your reader, your promise and a working list of chapters, while you still write every day. If you already have an outline, use week 1 to test it and start drafting sooner.
When can I start?
Any day. The tracker counts from the start date you pick, so there is no group start date to wait for. Many people start on a Monday so the weeks line up with the calendar.
What if I miss a day?
Write the next day's prompt the next day, and do not double up. One missed day does not end the challenge; trying to catch up usually does. Read what to do when you miss a day.