Chris Baty

In 1999, Chris Baty created National Novel Writing Month, wherein participants attempt to write a 50,000-word manuscript during the month of November. Those who complete the challenge on time are deemed to be "winners" in this noncompetitive group endeavor, where quality of writing takes a distant second place to quantity. In 2005, nearly 60,000 people took part and more than 10,000 succeeded.

In addition to No Plot? No Problem!, a guide for high-speed novelists, Baty has written for SF Weekly and East Bay Express. To learn more about National Novel Writing Month, visit www.nanowrimo.org.