A Future Without NaNoWriMo
Posted on August 8, 2025 by Aywren
This year, long-time yearly writing challenge, NaNoWriMo, shut down. I know that NaNoWriMo was facing financial troubles based on some of their choices, including the decision to turn a blind eye to the use of AI in writing (which I feel defeats the purpose of the challenge), but I still can’t help but feel a bit sad about the loss.
This post isn’t about pointing fingers at anyone or rehashing what exactly happened to lead to this. I haven’t fully read up on everything to do with the entire situation, so for more information on what all was going on, please reference this article and check out this official video:
I’m particularly sad because I was a proud participant of NaNoWriMo, and the offshoot Camp NaNo, for many, many years. In fact, most of my long-term writing projects -- such as Dreigiau, Runne, Flames of Bedlam, and Spot of Mummery -- all started in some NaNo challenge capacity.
I have lots of NaNo winner badges displayed on my websites from many years. Finishing NaNo back in my early college years was something that brought me great pride and feeling of accomplishment as a young writer. I think the loss of what NaNoWriMo was is a big loss, actually.
However, that’s not to say there aren’t other options out there.
Last year, after catching wind about NaNo and the AI drama, but still wanting to take part in a writing challenge, I chose to do so through a group called Goblin City Writers. This is primarily a very active writer Discord, and they host something called the Novel Gauntlet, which I took part in. In 2024, the Novel Gauntlet took place in November -- likely in response to NaNoWriMo. But, it looks like it’s now hosted in April and October, which is probably a better time of year than November, to be honest.
If Goblin City doesn’t seem like your jam, here’s a post that lists a number of other alternatives you can choose from. Or, you can just hop on over to a tool like TrackBear and do your own thing without the need for an organized writing month.
It’s just a shame this ended in such a way, and super sad that the original NaNoWriMo website doesn’t exist in any capacity anymore (see it on the Wayback Machine). I know that’s the nature of the Net – nothing is forever – but I will always remember the good days and the feeling of accomplishment early NaNo brought me in my younger years.
May the stories created during those long Novembers continue to live on!