AI Killed NaNoWriMo
This Just In: The writing month challenge may be dead, but there’s a new option to keep writers going.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) shut down last week after 25 years of supporting the writing community.
The nonprofit encouraged writers to pen a 50,000-word novel each November, the equivalent of 1,667 words per day. Writers who won the challenge received everything from online praise to discounts from software providers. More importantly, the nonprofit fostered community among writers, encouraging each other to succeed (or, at the very least, to write).
Last year, however, the organization behind NaNoWriMo burned all of that goodwill to the ground by embracing AI-generated slop novels. “Writers” could submit 50,000 words they “wrote” by prompting generative AI and still “win” the challenge. It wasn’t a good November for the organization, and it’s no surprise they decided to call it quits.
Recent polling data showed that people are not too keen on AI tools and even less so on the people building them. It probably doesn’t help that the people in charge of the US government seem to think AI is the answer to everything, but that’s for a different article. NaNoWriMo whiffed heavily on AI and paid the price.
It’s a shame because the community and encouragement developed there was something that many writers craved and will miss. Writing is a solo sport, which is why connecting with others is so important. We learn and grow from our connections with others who challenge and support us.
While NaNo is dead, the spirit will live on through Writing Month.
Founded by Benjamin Hollon, Writing Month allows writers to set their own goals throughout the year (not just in November, and not limited to 50,000 words). Rules are more flexible, and the writing spirit is emphasized over simply writing 50,000 words.
I first encountered Writing Month last October when Benjamin posted about building a NaNo alternative. Writing Month launched just in time to provide an option for those looking for something new. I recently asked Benjamin what led to building Writing Month; here’s what he said:
Over the past few years, I'd been growing increasingly irritated with NaNoWriMo, both the organization and the challenge itself, to the point where in 2023 I wrote that I might stop participating altogether. The most important part of NaNoWriMo was the community, a bunch of writers writing at the same time and sharing their progress with each other; that's what I've done my best to preserve with Writing Month. I want writers to have a place to do that, no matter what their specific writing goals are. Personally, I found that doing the full NaNoWriMo destroyed the rest of my writing habits; I'm finding it more important to do regular writing every month than a very high goal once per year. Writing Month lets me track that monthly writing while still getting the community of writers NaNoWriMo had.
Writing Month focuses on building a project (which can have multiple goals) and adding buddies to cheer you on. You can find me (or add me as a buddy) at Justin.
It’s 7:39 p.m.; Do You Know Where Your Posters Are?
Speaking of cool indie website projects, seven39 redefines social media by being open only three hours a day, starting at 7:39 p.m. EST.
I first learned of the site from The Verge’s coverage, and I was quite enamored with the idea. I signed up that evening and started playing.
Think of seven39 as an old-school IRC or AOL chatroom. The conversation is free-flowing for those three hours, with people posting messages and replies. A countdown sits atop the page, counting down until the site closes. When that happens, seven39 shuts down, and an image tells you to go do something else.
There is a gamification aspect, where each like leads to a daily digital leaderboard. Post more engaging things and end up in the top three. People share photos and ideas and generally engage in simple conversation. It’s been a lot of fun.
seven39 is still in its early days, but features are being added regularly. You can sign up anytime during the day and then you’ll receive an email when seven39 opens for the evening. Want to be my friend? I’m over there posting nonsense at Justin.
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