11,667 words
Begin without polishing. Open the next scene in your outline and keep moving forward.
Helps this week: Focus mode (Ctrl Shift F) hides the panels. The word count in the editor footer and inspector shows where you stand.
THIRTY DAYS. FIFTY THOUSAND WORDS. ONE STORY.
Write your November novel,
one day at a time.
Fifty thousand words in thirty days is about 1,667 words a day. This guide turns that into a quiet, steady plan: a little setup before the first, one milestone each week, and a habit of keeping your draft safe. TaleSpyre is a home for your next novel. It's free, needs no account, and keeps your writing on your own device.
Free public beta · No account required · Writing stored on your device · Best on desktop
Before Nov 1: set the table
Do these in late October so that November is only about writing.
- Create your project. Open the workspace in the browser you plan to use all month. Start with the empty project or choose New project, then rename the project and its book.
- Set your goal. Open Planning tools → Goals & word counts and set the Manuscript goal to 50,000. The sidebar's Manuscript goal bar then shows your progress toward it.
- Outline with chapters and scenes. Add a chapter from the + menu and add scenes with New scene. Drag them in the tree to reorder. Scene titles like "Ana finds the letter" are enough.
- Build a small story bible. Under Planning tools → Story Bible, add your main characters, plus the places and facts you'll need to remember.
- Gather research. Add a New source for anything you'll draw on, then link it to the scene that needs it from the inspector's Links tab.
- Sketch a timeline. Add a few key moments with New event, then switch between Planning view, Visual timeline, and Vertical timeline.
- Make your first backup. Open Help → Backups & recovery and choose Download complete workspace. Keep the file somewhere other than this browser.
The 30-day plan
Pace: about 1,667 words a day. TaleSpyre counts your words and tracks your manuscript total, but it doesn't track daily goals. Write down the total when you sit down each day and aim for about 1,667 more.
23,333 words
The middle is where drafts wander. Look back at what you planned and pick up a thread you left behind.
Helps this week: Planning tools → Architecture for plot threads, beats, and promises, so that each setup gets its payoff.
35,000 words
Keep your names, dates, and details straight without stopping to reread.
Helps this week: Story Bible character cards and the timeline for checking when things happen.
46,667 words
Push toward the climax. Spend time on finding things fast, not on hunting through files.
Helps this week: the command palette (Ctrl K) jumps to any scene, searches your prose, and runs commands like New scene. Research linked to scenes stays one click away, with Chicago-style citations if you want them.
50,000 words
Write the ending, even a rough one. Then check Goals & word counts, and make a fresh backup.
Helps this week: Goals & word counts for your total, and Download complete workspace to save a dated copy of the finished draft.
A daily rhythm
- Before you write, write down today's starting word count.
- Write until you've added about 1,667 words, or until you need to stop. Tomorrow is another chance.
- When you finish, make a safety download if today's words matter to you. (They do.)
Protect your words
Your draft lives in this browser on this device.
TaleSpyre saves your workspace automatically and keeps two recent recovery copies in the browser. You don't need to press Save. Because the copy is local, another browser, device, or private window won't have your writing, and clearing browser data can remove it. There's no cloud copy.
Download complete workspace from Help → Backups & recovery for every project, or use Export & backup for a single project. Keep dated copies on another drive or in a storage service you choose.
In supported desktop Chrome or Edge, you can also connect a new, empty JSON file that updates automatically.
Use Check a backup file to verify a backup. Restore a backup brings it back as separate projects without replacing existing work.
Never clear site data to fix a problem until you've made and checked a backup.
FAQ
Is TaleSpyre free?
Yes. The public beta is free to use, with no account and no payment.
Where is my writing stored?
In your browser on your own device. Nothing is uploaded, and there's no cloud sync. Download backups to keep extra copies.
Does it work offline?
Your writing is saved in your browser rather than on a server. Offline startup isn't available in the beta, so you'll need a connection to open TaleSpyre.
Can I use it on my phone?
TaleSpyre is best on desktop for a month of drafting. Some screens, such as research, are still being improved for small screens.
Is this connected to NaNoWriMo?
No. TaleSpyre isn't affiliated with any challenge organization. The NaNoWriMo nonprofit closed in 2025. This plan works for any November novel-writing challenge you set for yourself.
November starts with one sentence.
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