October 28, 2013 at 02:32PM

Welcome to Week Zero! NaNoWriMo is this Friday, and anticipation at HQ is at an all-time high. This week comes with 2013's inaugural pep talks from Rainbow Rowell and James Patterson, author Teri Brown as your NaNo Coach, and a Map to the Month headed your way. NaNoWriMo is even more fun with a friend, and today is officially NaNo Recruitment Day! Your loved ones have stories to tell: encourage them to write with you this November in—holy catfish!—five days.