NaNoWriMo canceled

I’m so out of the loop since I left social media (and I like it that way, far less stress from all the drama). I was quite surprised to learn today that the organization National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) has been canceled.

It seems like a lot of things contributed to a mass exodus of support from authors and board members, including allegations of: no background checks on municipal liaisons (MLs), MLs engaging in child grooming and bullying, and the organization’s advocacy for the use of A.I. to generate manuscripts.

I haven’t participated in a NaNoWriMo since, well, my everyday became NaNoWriMo. While the contest—which encourages writers to write a 50,ooo-word manuscript in 30 days—helped me jumpstart my writing routine, I haven’t advocated for that pace in quite a long time. It doesn’t work for me, and I find the “write fast, publish faster” mentality toxic for a lot of reasons. In the last few years, I’ve opted for sustainability and a holistic approach with my own writing, prioritizing my mental and physical health over my word count.

Still, it’s sad to see what NaNoWriMo has become.

I had a fantastic experience with both the organization and local chapters during the years I was active. I found the writers it attracted to be supportive and encouraging. I still see my old ML in writer-ly events around our state, and it’s always lovely to chat with her. That doesn’t mean that NaNo could never attract people with malignant intentions, though. It’s upsetting that the organization would protect child predators. Unfortunately that just seems to be the way of things (I’m lookin’ at you, Catholic church and Hollywood). Our culture talks a lot about the children, but actually does very little to protect them.

I’m still grateful for everything I’ve learned from participating in past years. I still enjoy chatting with the writers I met. Hell, I even still look back on those early novels I wrote with nostalgic fondness. What NaNo’s bitter end does for me, though, is reinforce my belief in sustainability rather than burnout, and building a holistic writing life rather than running myself into the ground.

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash