NaNoWriMo rule change: you CAN use an existing project (just only count words written in November)

You may NOT be a NaNoWriMo rebel after all! 

There’s been a change in the rules and they’re subtle so you might have missed them. Let me address your attention to this page from the official help:

Do I have to start my novel from scratch on the first of the month? Can I use an outline?

Traditionally, NaNoWriMo works best when you start a brand-new project. It may be an arbitrary distinction, but we’ve seen that novelists do better (and have more fun) when they’re free from the constraints of existing manuscripts. Give yourself the gift of a clean slate!

That said, we welcome all writers at any stage. Outlines, character sketches, and other planning steps are encouraged. Just be sure to only count words written during the month.

I’m actually really excited about this change because it’s what I’ve been recommending all along! But what do you think?