👋🏻 🥺 📝 💻 End of an Era – Goodbye, NaNoWriMo … 1999-2024 💻 📝🥺 👋🏻

What some people don’t know – prior to my book reviewing days, I also had other things. 

One of those things …

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)

I started in November 2011 with an idea from an event that happened in August of 2011. I had hoped, at that time, it would launch my career as a writing. And, yes – while taking my mother back and forth to work, caring for the house – I was a full-time college student.

That surprise anyone?

I was enrolled for my bachelor’s degree in criminology. I later had to leave my studies in October 2012 – combination of my mom’s mental issues, her work drama, and school issues. 

In April 2013, I took the leap to Camp NaNoWriMo, eventually doing both the April and July sessions from 2014-2024 (total of 23 sessions). My last regular NaNo was last November (2011-2024; 14 sessions).

I eventually completed one story over two sessions. And, I am proud of that story. While not the first one I ever did, it is my first as an adult; first completed NaNo story as well. Though, the one I did in my late teens is quite remarkable on its own. I have parts of it around, but remember the premise and characters. I still need to edit the NaNo story and see if anyone would like it. There is another story that is halfway, and I think it has the potential for a cutesy rom-com. It’s a no-spice, Christian romance with some humor.

NaNo and Camp NaNo were escapes for me, even if my mother inadvertently tried to sabotage it each time (even when she was working, more so when she retired). I feel bad looking back. I know she couldn’t help it, I should’ve been more patient. Though, to be honest – her mental illness was a huge problem.

In 2023, NaNo was rocked by a scandal. As someone who’d been through a sexual assault as a child – I was shocked at NaNo’s lack of response until it reached a fever pitch. They finally addressed it, but it was far too late for some. And, their response was not acceptable to many members. It also changed the landscapes with regard to Municipal Liaisons, and get-togethers.

The whole program was trying to get together post-COVID precautions. And, I’ll say this – for me – it seemed like COVID was the beginning of the end. I had always wanted to attend “write-ins”, but transportation or timing was another issue. Many of the people I didn’t “connect” with.

Then, last year (2024), another controversy outside of multiple MLs quitting, or refusing to be verified – NaNo’s stance on the use of AI in writing. As someone who wants to become an author, and do a lot for authors – reviewing and being on launch teams – the use of AI is contentious. The fact that NaNo took the stance it did originally seemed to doom the organization …

At first, it called the condemnation of AI as classist and ableist.

That had me giving up on it almost immediately. After all, there is a way of addressing the issue without complete condemnation, but being supporting with adaptive methods for authors.

They later back peddled on it … too much too late.

I had wanted to get through NaNo 2025 and walk away with 15 events. As far as camp? That would’ve been 25 (April and July), but … I would’ve done them. After getting the email I did on 3/31, that will no longer happen. 

However … it ending this way … it’s a loss for me. I get some things need to end, but one last hoorah would’ve been nice. I’ve had too many losses in the past 7 months (September) …

Losing my car, losing my independence, losing my mother, losing a decent computer (silly, but a loss none the less), losing my home (I know I won’t be able to stay here forever, and I can only pray until the end of the lease), now this?

Will I still write? I always did between sessions. But, it’s different now. I liked challenging myself. I liked the bit of a “job well done” at the end. I didn’t know 2024 was going to be the year of “lasts”, and so far the “firsts” in 2025 are not that promising. In fact, they’re dreadful.

I’m kind of wishing I could go back to 2024 and do things differently. I’d prefer to go back to 2010 and make a LOT of different changes. Certainly, 2022 would have had different changes as well. There are things I wouldn’t do again. Not at all.

But …

I move on, I have to. However, the news does hit the heart differently. I have taken screenshots/screencaps of my accomplishments. I have my certificates which will go into my important papers. Meaningless to some, the world to me.

This is not another one of those “firsts” I wanted. And, as April has two more firsts for me (first Easter and first birthday without my mom) … I’m not looking forward to it. I’ve already suffered through a first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first New Year’s, first Valentine’s day without my mother.

2025 seems like such an odd year for me right now.

That said …

Goodbye NaNoWriMo (11/2011 [my 1^st] – 11/2024 [last])

Goodbye CampNaNoWriMo (4/2012 [my 1^st] – 7/2024 [last])

I will treat today, April 1^st, like any other day. But, there will be no jokes for me. I will probably focus on packing, or at best – catching up on reading as some books do need to get read and packed. The books are part of a series and I don’t want to separate them.