It's Time To Move Past NaNoWriMo

Well, folks, I believe NaNoWriMo has finally run its course. It was already too big before, but now it's gotten way out of hand.

Let me explain what I mean as I try to give an unbelievably brief recounting of what happened with Nano this past November. (And please bear in mind, my understanding of this is cursory, at best. It's all just too convoluted.) The NaNoWriMo forums, where many writers congregate to socialize and get advice, is only administered by several key people, only one of which is even paid. That paid administrator, one Letitia Jones, was the target of a racist comment by the lead moderator who goes by the name "DragonChild" (I won't use her real name here). As such, "DC" was asked to step down last October after 20 years of volunteer service with NaNoWriMo. Now, Letitia admitted she was a little lax in her duties (for which apologies were made all around), but that didn't lessen the impact of what was said or done. Losses of other experienced mods came when it was discovered that one of the Nano sponsors was a predatory publishing company who charges tens of thousands of dollars to publish a manuscript. When writers complained, they were squelched. Those in Nano who did the squelching were eventually dismissed, but the damage was done.

In other words, the already under-staffed crew was short-handed before November even began.

Then, in the middle of November, it was revealed that one of the mods (arguably the most experienced one left) was into some very twisted diaper-wearing kink porn. Minors on the Nano forums were able to follow the trail of bread crumbs to these porn sites, and complaints were made about NaNoWriMo's forums becoming an unsafe space. The fact that these complaints were exacerbated by Christian writers who were frustrated by Nano's "no proselytizing" rule (and were therefore aching for an excuse to raise a stink), didn't help matters any. The whole sordid thing bled out into Twitter thanks to some posts by a user named "@Arumi_Kai" and a meltdown ensued. The Internet has officially dubbed this the "NaNoWriMo Grooming Scandal," although to be fair, that's a mischaracterization based on the wrongdoings one rogue moderator. (A "mad mod," if you will.) Eventually, the forums and even the Nano Discord had to be shut down. The whole thing was turned over to the FBI, who probably won't be able to make heads or tails of it any more than the rest of us can.

I, during all this, was doing my first (and likely last) year as a co-ML (Municipal Liaison), and got an exasperated email from my colleague saying that she couldn't follow what was happening on the forums. I jumped in, answering an emergency questionnaire sent out by the Nano Admins, but otherwise had no idea what was going on. Until, that is, an article by the Blocked And Reported podcast brought all the sordid details to light.

Ultimately, Nano is just supposed to be a fun, fan-run thing. It’s mostly volunteers looking to have a good time with a shared activity. And because it’s fan-run, there are a lot of non-professionals who don’t have much expertise or power. 

But I think it’s time to face facts, NaNoWriMo has finally gotten too big for its own good. I think maybe it’s time for Nano to either pare down or else break up into several other smaller, competing groups. Because it should really be a locally run thing. It's gotten way too “nationalized.” This should be regional. Maybe state-by-state. You know? Have a nationally set time, but otherwise leave it to the cities to self-organize. No need to have things centralized.

And let’s face it, November is a stupid month for novel writing! It’s no wonder only 15% of people complete their project every year. Who the hell is going to find the time to write a novel right in the middle of Thanksgiving? Right in the month when many people (and therefore relatives) have their birthdays? How can you get your Halloween decorations taken down, Christmas shopping started, leaves raked, turkey cooked, and lights put up outside your house if you’re busy writing? No, the time to write a novel is in January or February. You know, when the holidays are over and it’s cold outside, and the roads are crappy, and you’ve got nothing better to do except make a hot cocoa and sit down in front of your keyboard. THAT’S when to write a novel. Not November. God, no! Not November.

In fact, I think I’ll push for a “Not-Nov-Wri-Mo” event this January. It will be Milwaukee’s and nobody else’s.

Unless you want to join me.

Eric

*