The Demise of NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo, the non-profit organization that oversaw the annual National Novel Writing Month tradition, has come to an end after a 25-year run. The organization announced on Monday that it would be ceasing operations due to persistent financial struggles and public controversy that has plagued it in recent years.

Financial Struggles and Controversy

In an email to community members, which was also shared on Reddit, NaNoWriMo provided a detailed explanation for its decision. The organization acknowledged that it had been facing financial difficulties for six years, a challenge commonly faced by arts-based non-profits. A recent report revealed that 25% of arts organizations were experiencing deficits exceeding 10% of their budgets in 2023.

The financial struggles may have contributed to NaNoWriMo’s decision to partner with Inkitt in 2022, a move that sparked backlash from the community. Inkitt, an online publishing platform, was criticized by some authors for being a scam and exploiting young or new writers. This partnership may have been the first sign of trouble for NaNoWriMo.

Internal Drama and Controversy

The drama within NaNoWriMo continued to escalate in 2023 when a content moderator involved with the organization’s Young Writer’s Program forum was accused of running a smut site and grooming underage users. Additionally, users complained about the lack of attention from moderators, leaving user reports and complaints unresolved. Although the board of the organization could not verify all the allegations, it decided to shut down the forum.

Artificial Intelligence Policy Sparks Outrage

One of the most significant controversies surrounding NaNoWriMo occurred last year when the organization issued a statement on the use of artificial intelligence. While NaNoWriMo claimed to be neutral on the issue, it stated that the condemnation of AI has classist and ableist undertones. This statement did not sit well with many in the NaNoWriMo community, including some disabled members who distinguish between using accommodating tools and generative AI.

Consequences and Fallout

The backlash against NaNoWriMo’s AI policy was swift and severe. Authors Maureen Johnson and Daniel José Older resigned from the nonprofit’s board, and other authors condemned the stance, noting that generative AI models were likely trained on their works without permission or compensation.

The End of an Era

As a result, for the first time since 1999, there will be no NaNoWriMo. Writers who want to challenge themselves to write a full novel in a month will now have to hold themselves accountable. The demise of NaNoWriMo marks the end of an era for a community that had been a staple of the writing world for over two decades.