As many RP enthusiasts are also authors in some capacity, I wondered how many folks were also surprised to hear that the organization behind one of the most prominent writing events of my formative years has announced that they're shutting down for good.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/02/creative-writing-nanowrimo-to-close-after-20-years
The general consensus seems to be that they were already struggling financially (as non-profits are wont to do), but that there were also a ton of mishandled issues including misbehaving staff, but then also their open acceptance and promotion of AI generative text in writing that was the final nail in their coffin in a lot of writer's eyes.
It's unfortunate to hear. Especially in a time of plummeting literacy rates among both children and young adults.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/02/creative-writing-nanowrimo-to-close-after-20-years
The general consensus seems to be that they were already struggling financially (as non-profits are wont to do), but that there were also a ton of mishandled issues including misbehaving staff, but then also their open acceptance and promotion of AI generative text in writing that was the final nail in their coffin in a lot of writer's eyes.
It's unfortunate to hear. Especially in a time of plummeting literacy rates among both children and young adults.
Oh no I didn't hear about that. I always wanted to participate but life and stuff got in the way.
Yes, I did read about this. I only took part in NaNoWriMo its first few years (2005-2007). Sadly, the current state of affairs along with a general shift away from actual writing literacy and knowledge to AI-dependent texts has, shall we say, 'put the writing on the wall' of NaNoWriMo's demise. Another step in the 'dumbing-down' of the world. 
Yeah I took up some issues with the way nano handled, like you said the AI. That's why I didn't participate this last year. On the website.
But I still wrote.
And I still think the spirit behind it is going to live on for some time.
Some friends and I that try to participate were talking about still trying to do it this year, anyway. Still pretty sad! Definitely a staple being ripped out.
But I still wrote.
And I still think the spirit behind it is going to live on for some time.
Some friends and I that try to participate were talking about still trying to do it this year, anyway. Still pretty sad! Definitely a staple being ripped out.
I peeked over at Writing.Com's NaNoWriMo stuff, and apparently some of their participants had already been leaving behind the official site and tools and just using W.C's own. I guess that could still be one place to go if you want more of a community experience with the event. I admit I haven't been active on that site in years, but it's always seemed plenty friendly and encouraging. Not nearly as much comes with a free account there as here, though.
Quote:
As many RP enthusiasts are also authors in some capacity, I wondered how many folks were also surprised to hear that the organization behind one of the most prominent writing events of my formative years has announced that they're shutting down for good.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/02/creative-writing-nanowrimo-to-close-after-20-years brawl stars online
The general consensus seems to be that they were already struggling financially (as non-profits are wont to do), but that there were also a ton of mishandled issues including misbehaving staff, but then also their open acceptance and promotion of AI generative text in writing that was the final nail in their coffin in a lot of writer's eyes.
It's unfortunate to hear. Especially in a time of plummeting literacy rates among both children and young adults.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/02/creative-writing-nanowrimo-to-close-after-20-years brawl stars online
The general consensus seems to be that they were already struggling financially (as non-profits are wont to do), but that there were also a ton of mishandled issues including misbehaving staff, but then also their open acceptance and promotion of AI generative text in writing that was the final nail in their coffin in a lot of writer's eyes.
It's unfortunate to hear. Especially in a time of plummeting literacy rates among both children and young adults.
What's next? I've grown into a daily writing habit, so I'll keep on writing.
There's a creative non-profit that was created a little over a year ago after the Detroit NaNo region (which was the largest and most active NaNo region in the world, fun fact) broke off from NaNo and became its own non-profit and runs online and local events. It's called First Draft Detroit, and is running a "summer frenzy" for two weeks starting June 28th where sprints will be run online in the Discord server, and held in person for those local. While the name is local, and it is a locally run non-profit, people from all over are welcome in the Discord to join the challenges and talk with the community.
November is still the "main" month when the First Draft Frenzy is hosted, but as I said FDD is also doing a two week version. It's not just for writers, it's for all creators, to set your own goal of what you want to accomplish in two weeks (or 4 weeks in November).
Everyone is welcome,
November is still the "main" month when the First Draft Frenzy is hosted, but as I said FDD is also doing a two week version. It's not just for writers, it's for all creators, to set your own goal of what you want to accomplish in two weeks (or 4 weeks in November).
Everyone is welcome,
I did not have “nanowrimo supports ai” on my bingo card.
Including AI in NaNoWriMo, a challenge for a human to generate as much as possible without worrying how it comes out, is absolutely wild. What is the point after that?
I loved NaNoWriMo. I won many years in a row, once to the tune of 200k words, and then stopped because I gave myself carpal tunnel whoops. I still sort of counted it as on the calendar of my personal most important holidays of the year; an incredible celebration of creativity and quieting your inner voices that judge so harshly.
The silver lining, for me, is that the website and org is totally irrelevant to the challenge. There is nothing that stops you from writing 50k words every single November. If you need help with tracking, there are dozens of free spreadsheets, apps, etc out there inspired by NaNoWriMo.
Maybe in future we organize our own little RPR writing challenge? Would anyone be interested in that?
I loved NaNoWriMo. I won many years in a row, once to the tune of 200k words, and then stopped because I gave myself carpal tunnel whoops. I still sort of counted it as on the calendar of my personal most important holidays of the year; an incredible celebration of creativity and quieting your inner voices that judge so harshly.
The silver lining, for me, is that the website and org is totally irrelevant to the challenge. There is nothing that stops you from writing 50k words every single November. If you need help with tracking, there are dozens of free spreadsheets, apps, etc out there inspired by NaNoWriMo.
Maybe in future we organize our own little RPR writing challenge? Would anyone be interested in that?
Kim wrote:
...a challenge for a human to generate as much as possible without worrying how it comes out, is absolutely wild. What is the point after that?
It's definitely not for everyone, but working like that for my draft 0 has always been good for me, but I'm also a planner so I'm not starting with absolutely nothing. That said, not worrying about the quality if the main piece of advice given to any writer working on their draft 0 or first draft! "First drafts suck" is a phrase both to validate the difficulty of writing a first draft, and to assure people that first drafts aren't supposed to be the best thing you've ever written, and just getting the words out is the most important part! It can remove a lot of stress when you worry about quality later.
Kim wrote:
Maybe in future we organize our own little RPR writing challenge? Would anyone be interested in that?
I'm always interested in writing challenges!
Another of the "opportunities I'll never get". I had been following NaNoWriMo with curiosity for several years and wanted to give it a try - but always, *always* real life got in the way. The writing pep talks from authors were lots of fun though, I hope there's ways to retrieve those, maybe through Wayback Machine?
But anyway, I had since fallen out of the loop, and now reading it involved / supported AI I got such a strong revulsion I can't bring myself to feel sad for this lost opportunity the way I am for many other lost opportunities (I plan to write a book someday that I'll call just that, "my lost opportunities". I have to get all those off my system somewhat)
/Little OT tirade
I've never quite hated something as fiercely as I find myself hating AI these days. It's wherever I look... and I'm sick of it. Sick that no one seems to see its idiocy, how ugly the generated images are, how imbecillic the prose, the mistakes it makes, and on top of it all, how illegal it is. It just makes me want to scream in frustration.
/End of OT tirade
With this said, I love Kim's idea of RPR writing challenges. Who knows? Maybe I'll be able to take part to one, someday.
But anyway, I had since fallen out of the loop, and now reading it involved / supported AI I got such a strong revulsion I can't bring myself to feel sad for this lost opportunity the way I am for many other lost opportunities (I plan to write a book someday that I'll call just that, "my lost opportunities". I have to get all those off my system somewhat)
/Little OT tirade
I've never quite hated something as fiercely as I find myself hating AI these days. It's wherever I look... and I'm sick of it. Sick that no one seems to see its idiocy, how ugly the generated images are, how imbecillic the prose, the mistakes it makes, and on top of it all, how illegal it is. It just makes me want to scream in frustration.
/End of OT tirade
With this said, I love Kim's idea of RPR writing challenges. Who knows? Maybe I'll be able to take part to one, someday.
Kim wrote:
Maybe in future we organize our own little RPR writing challenge? Would anyone be interested in that?
Yes! This would be a lot of fun and I think would draw out some wonderful talent! Maybe as part of Epic Week, or maybe a specific month where not much is going on here?
Kim wrote:
Maybe in future we organize our own little RPR writing challenge? Would anyone be interested in that?
Yeah! I'll echo others' interest in something like that.
I enjoy writing sprints and nanowrimo as well to get that rough draft out or I'll piddle around with every sentence until it's perfect and get burnt out LONG before the project is done.
That's what nano did for me. Made me so overthinking every detail and just WRITE lol.
So if we do something similar here that'd be amazing!
That's what nano did for me. Made me so overthinking every detail and just WRITE lol.
So if we do something similar here that'd be amazing!