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MissAdkins - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

MissAdkins

March 1, 2012

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1 previous review
March 1, 2011

I’m a school librarian and English teacher in the UK, and I run the NaNoWriMo YWP with my students, and invite sixth form to take part in NaNoWriMo proper every year. This has a huge impact on my s... more

March 1, 2012

As an English teacher and school librarian, NaNoWriMo is one of the highlights of our school year. This last November we had over 60 students sign up to write novels through the month. The support offered by The Office of Letters and Light is just amazing, from a free wall chart and badges for our young writers to the superb site that enables students to connect as writers, and allows me as an educator to keep an eye on their progress and chivvy them along if they needed encouragement. What's stunning is the impact that this free site has on our students. Shy and retiring types come together as a group to find that they have a common goal, and one that is hugely impressive. It gives them a confidence and a presence around the school that is completely unique.

More feedback...

How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?

Very Well

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

Life-changing

Will you recommend this organization to others?

Definitely

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2011

March 1, 2011

I’m a school librarian and English teacher in the UK, and I run the NaNoWriMo YWP with my students, and invite sixth form to take part in NaNoWriMo proper every year. This has a huge impact on my students and their learning. This year I had 38 students sign up to take part, and though we lost several in the first couple of weeks when the enormity of their task became apparent, those who remained and worked through it underwent a marvellous transformation. From all year groups, this bunch of novelists became a tight and supportive group of friends who looked out for each other all through November and beyond, and still now meet up in the library to talk about their writing and to cement their friendships. They worked their hearts out during the month, and all of those who were dedicated to it made their word counts, including several 11 year olds who went for the full 50,000. Several of those who had joined up shy and reclusive, are now loud and enthusiastic centres of their friendship group who stunned us with their hard work.

I’m told by their teachers that their writing and confidence has improved. I see in each of them a new found respect for writing and for the novels that they read. The display board featuring their names has been a focal point in the library since day one; I can’t bear to take it down. For students who are usually forced to be so focused on academic success to undertake such a task for nothing much more than the pride and joy of doing it is something really special, and the role that the Office of Light and Letters plays in this is essential. The virtual classroom feature gave my students a focus and a safe place to leave online messages for each other when they weren’t in school. The wall chart and badges kept them going, and I’m really looking forward to our formal presentation day when they get their certificates. Some of them are still working on finishing their stories and redrafting. It’s not just a one month thing, but they’re all already talking about doing it this year too, and the writing notebooks have started to appear in their bags.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

student confdence and achievement levels.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

give them more funding to carry on the great work that they do!

Holly - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

Holly

February 28, 2011

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Review from Guidestar
February 28, 2011

This was the first year I used the Young Writers' Program in my classroom. I couldn't believe the enthusiasm generated by the whole process. I had students who had never written much of anything setting goals for themselves and writing whole novels. I wrote along with my students and found the writer's banter that we tossed back and forth to be exhilarating. Students enjoyed the peptalks posted by published authors, they liked the materials I was able to use in the classroom including the tracking poster and finalists' buttons. Several plan to move along to the Script Writing Frenzy. Others can't wait until starting YWP again next year. I will definitely use this wonderful writing program again in the fall.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

Writing my own novel with my students and watching them enjoy the fun of first time authorship.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Make the prize at the end - the published book - easier for students to obtain.

Ken Mosier - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

Ken Mosier

February 28, 2011

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Review from Guidestar
February 28, 2011

2010 was the fifth time that I have participated in the National Novel Writing Month, which is sponsored by the Office Of Letters And Lights. I am a freelance journalist, who is a frustrated novelist.
However, working feverishly on the novel in 30 days concept, I find that it has helped me organize the articles which I have been assigned for pay. I no longer grown when an editor wants something of about 2,000 words -- since that is less than two days' work during November.
I am also impressed that the organization has such a heavy emphasis on classroom writing -- many schools participate and OLL even has workbooks and lesson plans. But even those whose teachers have not see the (Office Of Letters And) Light, can particpate in the Young Writers' Program.
My nine-year-old grandson participated for the first time and is very proud of his winner's certificate. Although he wrote with me during the past year, he plans to write his second work with his father in 2011.
There is even a good chance that his mother will also participate.
Every year has been an experience that I have enjoyed and one of my novels (from 2009) is just about ready to be sent to an agent.
Also, my grandson and I are working on a novel together which we hope to finish and submit by June.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

The National Novel Writing Month and through the Young Writers' Program.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

I can't think of a change that I would make (except make November a couple of days longer)

AntoniaSherbrooke - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

AntoniaSherbrooke

February 28, 2011

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Review from Guidestar
February 28, 2011

I wrote my buns off for NaNoWriMo this year, while pregnant and working f/t. It would be GREAT to see some cash incentives for writers. It costs more to have inmates in any US jail.

Where's the logic?

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

A great forum for writers in the same area

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Have a substantial cash payout PRIZE for winners

Tom Barrington - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

Tom Barrington

February 28, 2011

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Review from Guidestar
February 28, 2011

There comes a time in nearly every life, sometimes more than once, when a man or a woman must stand for something. Finding that ‘something’ may be found and discovered with concerted effort, or you might just stumble upon it one day and say, “What a great idea. I should do this.”

It is rare, I believe, that anyone stumbles upon a great idea or life mission and then finds or discovers completeness to life. Likewise, I believe, those who plan for, execute to perfection and live the so-called ideal life of collage, internship, ‘linked-in’ and eventually married with more cars in the garage than children in bedrooms, more debt than substantive values and less time to make love than to screw-in a light bulb, are also less than what they once perceived their future selves to be.

So, where does that lead?

If I were twenty-five again, I’d say the possibilities are endless. However, at fifty-six? It is not so much endless are the possibilities now, it is the possibilities left endlessly abandoned. Such is the case of many talented writers who curse their inability to complete a novel-length work of fiction. I know, I was one of those writers.

Then, one day I did indeed stumble upon a website declaring November to be National Novel Writing Month. I have never heard of such a thing. I read the story of how this event came to be and the rules for joining the contest to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. I thought it insane to think that anyone might actually achieve such a feat, but the more I read and realized that tens of thousands have done just that over the course of this organizations short life, I became remarkably motivated.

I knew I had a story to tell; it had been rattling around in my head for ten years. Because of this organization and its mission to give writers of all ages the motivation, innovation, and structure needed to create from scratch a work of art in the form of novel-length fiction, I dedicated myself for the month of November 2010 to write, and write, write until done. And, I did just that and completed my novel and proudly became a winner of the NaNoWriMo contest. I was not alone. Literally hundreds of thousands of writers all around the world have benefited from this organization.

I will be participating in future events.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

November 2010.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Organizing more events or activities outside the bay area.

More feedback...

How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?

Very Well

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

Life-changing

Will you recommend this organization to others?

Definitely

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2010

Sara E. - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

Sara E.

February 28, 2011

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Review from Guidestar
February 28, 2011

Nanowrimo is providing an excellent service for young writers and students by helping to strengthen their writing skills at a time when the writing skills of our youth have been in decline. I am a former teacher, and now work in the publishing field where I continually disappointed by the lack of writing skills of young applicants. Nanowrimo's workshops not only help to strengthen writing skills, but also make give it a movie-star quality so that writing well can be perceived as "cool".

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

The effect of Nanowrimo for four years.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Upgrade their server capacity and staff.

More feedback...

How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?

Very Well

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

A lot

Will you recommend this organization to others?

Definitely

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2010

Lisa Catherine Harper - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

Lisa Catherine Harper

February 28, 2011

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Review from Guidestar
February 28, 2011

I'm an author & taught NaNoWriMo as a volunteer to a 3rd class for the month of November. They revised and self-published the novels, with illustrations, author bios, and blurbs in December. This included a lesson in bookbinding (they made their own books). We had a well-attended reading/author reception at the end.

The material and lesson plans provided by OLL were terrific. Clear, accessible, challenging, easily adaptable for my class. This was an incredible experience for the entire class. All children participated and finished. THey wrote over 600 pages. They learned a terrific amount about storytelling, narrative, character, deepening imaginative thought, letter-writing in the form of peer-review....Most important, they persevered, and have great pride in their ability to finish. They sort of couldn't believe what they accomplished.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

seeing children reach and exceed their goal.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

none. spread the word more widely.

pvanwinkle - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

pvanwinkle

February 28, 2011

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Review from Guidestar
February 28, 2011

I first heard about NaNoWriMo two years ago through an online writing community to which I belong, but I did not really understand how it worked. When I began to investigate it this year, I discovered that not only was it open to the general public, but also they offered a program for young writers and classroom teachers. After reading all about the Young Writers Program, I decided that it would be a fun way to teach writing in my English 9 Honors class.

Most of the students were excited about it when I first introduced the idea to them; a few were concerned that they wouldn't be able to complete the challenge. As we went through the wonderfully detailed lessons provided by the Office of Letters and Light, more students became engaged in the assignment. They began planning who their characters would be and what kind of adventures they would encounter. When we got to November and the challenge began, they frequently asked for more and more days in the computer lab to work on their stories. Every day, someone would come to class bursting at the seams with new details about his/her story.

I cannot imagine a better way to teach writing to students. It is a real-world application of the elements and skills we are asked to teach. It is also exciting to see the students become so engaged in such an extended project. I plan to continue using this program in the future.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

teaching writing to my students with the Young Writers Program which allows them to set their own word-count goal. This makes it customizable and achievable for the students.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

advertize to schools around the country so that more teachers are aware of this wonderful opportunity to supplement or enhance the often difficult task of teaching students to write.

Gwen - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

Gwen

February 27, 2011

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Review from Guidestar
February 27, 2011

This have to be the best program for anybody who wants to write something but never got to do so. By being almost forced to step out of your comfort zone and sit and put all your deepest feelings and fantasies on paper and slowly watch something grow into something bigger than you expected along with your self-confidence....


... this has to be the meaning of internet.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

Joy of accivement. Nothing else.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Give them more space to be seen. I would love to have known of this organization earlier than I did.

Laura M. - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

Laura M.

February 27, 2011

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Review from Guidestar
February 27, 2011

My AP students have particpated in nano for several years, and while the emphasis is on quantity of words rather than quality, surpisingly, their stories hold together. A few of my kids plan to finish thgeir books into full fledged novels. The student version only rewuires 5,000 words, but I have had students exceed 50,000.

As a writer, it also forced me to get my butt in gear and write. Nano enabled me to forge a bond with other participants in the comunity. My friends and family don't mind that I write, they just don't want to hear about it, so forming allegiances with writers is crucial.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

having my studnens particpate.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

try to tie the activities into the curriculum more. open it up to nonfiction as well as fiction.

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