Have you heard of NaNoWriMo?  NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month and is celebrated in November.  The What is NaNoWriMo page on the adult NaNoWriMo site says, "National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30."  It started in 1999 and you can read it's history here.

There is also a NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program.   According to the history page "Ellen Martin launched the YWP website with Chris and the rest of the gang in 2005."  The What is NaNoWriMo page on the YWP site says "The Young Writers Program of National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a novel by midnight, November 30. The word-count goal for our adult program is 50,000 words, but our Young Writers Program allows participants who are 17 years old and younger to set reasonable, yet challenging, word-count goals." 

There is a Word Count Calculator PDF which gives suggested minimum and maximum word count goals for grades 1-12, but these are just suggestions and you and your child can set whatever goal you think is reasonable for your child.

A great resource available through the site is the Young Novelist Workbooks, downloadable printable work books for Elementary, Middle, and High School students.  Contents include a Novel Writing How-Tos section covering characcter development, creating conflict, plot, setting, writing dialogue; a Getting Ready For NaNoWriMo section with tips, goal setting helps and commitment calenday; Ready, Set Write...And Keep Writing section wtih a progress charts and additional tips on beginnings, plots, etc.

The How NaNoWriMo Works for Educators page, encourages teachers to sign up and write novels alongside their students.  When you sign up as a teacher you get accees to a Teachers Lounge where you find elementary, middle and high school curriculum units, divided into 13 lessons, specifically for the NaNoWriMo program and go along with the workbooks mentioned above .  You can also order a free YWP Noveling Kit and receive a poster, a Triumphant Chart of Noveling Progress and up to 35 "Novelist" buttons and NANoWriMo progress stickers.

The workbook and curriculum lessons could be started now to help prepare for the actual writing that starts on November 1st.  Families could do the program on their own or get together with other homeschooling families and do it together.

Be sure to take the time to check out it.  I am sure you will be inspired.  If you decide to join, let me know so that I can add you to my buddy list.  ;)