National Novel Writing Month

I first took part in National Novel Writing Month in 2006. It was such fun, I've done the same every year since then, only "flaming out" twice. While I did find it incredible fun, I also learned very important lessons from taking part. If only this had existed when I was younger, my life might have been better. As it is, taking part changed my life in profound ways.

Specifically, as someone who did not yet realise I had grown up - undiagnosed - on the autsim spectrum, or how damaged this experience had left me, NaNo taught me confidence. It taught me how to get big things done which were important to me. Of all the experiences I've had in over 60 years of life, this was one of the most profound ones to affect me long term. My life is so much richer, so much happier, because of their programs. Had I been exposed to this while I was younger, it would have made an even greater difference, but nothing like this program existed then. Even those students who are not especially interested in writing could gain a great deal from taking part. It teaches you not only to reach for big goals, but that you can achieve them if you try.

I used to love NaNoWriMo. Cannot believe a group that was supposed to foster creativity, learning, a love of imagination and the skill of the written word pivoted to AI crud. would do 0 stars if I could.

Horrified to see a group like this pivot to shilling the use of algorithmically-generated 'content' rather than encouraging people to grow as creatives. Absolutely anathema to the OLL I used to love and support.

Hearing the lack of support given to local chapters and the abuse of power at higher levels, I cannot in any way endorse OLL as any kind of 'great nonprofit.'

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A worthy nonprofit to encourage new authors./ Books News Tip: Three enjoyable books by Wisconsin/Florida Author Katie Marie Bille, on Amazon.com. Katie brings the characters to life, in places all over the United States of America. The books give information on many real places to visit, interesting stories and relationships. The country stories book has recipes and fun facts to read about horses, building a violin, music camps in the mountains and much more to discover. The three enjoyable books are: Ten Country Stories on Farms, Lakes, Ranches & Mountains, Fifteen Love Stories Under The Florida Sun and Child Development And More... Birth To Twelve Years, a helpful book of knowledge for new parents. Katie Marie Bille, Author is also a Speech Language Therapist and has a degree in Radio Television and Film.

NanoWrimo helped my daughter gain confidence in writing, which was difficult for her due to ADD. After succeeding in NanoWrimo, she went on to get an A in her freshmen writing class in College. I also enjoy the fun of writing through NanoWrimo... I want to be a published writer some day! Thank you Office of Letters and Light for providing the NanoWrimo experience for the world.

This organization encourages me and hundreds of thousands of others all over the world to follow our dreams of writing a novel, being the writer we always felt was inside us. Writing takes commitment, courage, and inspiration. All of us dedicate a month to put the novel as a top priority. That is pretty amazing how many finish! It changes something inside of all of us. Our stories go on to effect others that read the stories. It isn't your ordinary non-profit. They are encouraging a movement and inspiring people to follow their dreams!!!

NaNoWriMo and the Young Writers Program of NaNoWriMo made a huge difference in my teaching junior high students. We all became authors. They became leaders to their peers, younger students in our system, and even to parents, who were surprised and delighted their children wrote novels. The staff is warm, friendly, helpful, personable, and make one feel a part of the organization. The Office of Letters and Light is one of my favorite nonprofits.

The Office of letters and light is a great charity that runs a few great programs for writers including NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo. These events help people from all around the world write a novel in a month. This charity has really helped me personally will writing and has me waiting till their next event because I can't wait to join in. The really nice thing about the OLL is all of their programs are free.

The Office of letters and light is one of my favorite charities. It allows kids and adults alike to find there inner novelist and we a novel. With the traditional NaNoWriMo in November and 2 other sessions in the summer.

This organization's encouragement of writing - including thinking about, planning and discussing writing - has helped me concentrate on my writing goals. I have also seen the results of its Young Writers program in schools, helping children realize the fun and satisfaction of writing even when it requires work. I have passed on news of its NANOWRIMO annual event to many of my friends and even to people I have just met who show any interest in writing.

The staff at OLL are all incredible at motivating and keeping us writers going throughout the year. They work tirelessly to develop the support they offer and have the highest intentions for everyone involved. The Young Writers Program benefits hugely from everyone's efforts and it feels so good to be a part of it all. I love sharing with other local writers about the benefits of signing up with Nanowrimo and seeing them blossom.
I cannot recommend highly enough!

I have told so many people about NaNoWriMo. I love the atmosphere and support they give to writers. The groups that get together locally are always fun, and it is great to be able to dedicate time to a novel.

Some years ago someone suggested I needed to 'exercise my creative muscle' and that I should do so by trying NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month. The idea is, for adults, to write 50k words of a novel during November, but there is also an excellent Young Writers' Programme which stimulates and encourages youngsters to set and achieve their own writing goals. All of this is managed on voluntary donations and such fundraising as can be achieved.

The Office of Letters and Light is always supportive and helpful and finds time to answer the most trivial enquiries with courtesy and genuine friendliness, which makes a huge difference to hopeful writers who may be in any form of difficulty.

They deserve any assistance they can get, and in particular help from you!

The young writer's program brought about by NaNoWriMo is an amazing opportunity for teens and young adults interested in writing. By writing 50,000 word goals It makes the writer realize what deadlines (And coffee) are all about. My first official year with the orginization was this year. But I only just recently discovered this jewel of a writing program! It's amazing the work that Angotti and his band of merry writers are capable of!

My experience with OLL is all through their National Novel Writing Month program, Nanowrimo.org. If it weren't for Nanowrimo I would hardly be writing now! Nano gave me a kickstart into imagination and brilliance again, and led me to another amazing website for young writers. Because of a Nano, I am going far over and up from everything I imagined. I am in love with writing!

these people changed my life. I've always wanted to be a writer, but it's hard to truly call yourself if you don't finish anything. These people provide the tools, the motivation, or the boot to the behind needed to finish your lofty ideals. They have created something truly groundbreaking throuugh NanoWrimo, and yet its so simple. Through NanoWrimo, I have seen people get published, finish their goals, grow confident in their writing, become close friends with people across the world. Myself, I finally finished my first novel. It's not just a few pages of story dropped before the end of the first chapter. It's DONE. Because of them.

I discovered the Office of Letters and Light last year when one of my friends recommended that I give a try National Novel Writing Month. I have always loved writing and they have helped give me the motivation to actually get started writing my first full length novel. I love their Young Writers Program too and actually signed my child up to participate this year. My sister-in-law also enjoyed participating in their NaNoWriMo program this year.

The Office of Letters and Light servers a great purpose: to bring the joy of writing to people. It's really far more completed than that, because it's all about encouraging people to tell stories, which will release their inner artist. I've just finished my second NaNoWriMo in a row, and though this one was a little less stressful than the last, it allowed me to complete another novel--one that I will one day publish. My first novel had been submitted for publication as well, for what The Office of Letters and Light has done is push me towards my dream of being a writer. And write I have . . . Let others be served by the Office of Letters and Light, and see if they come away feeling the same as I have two years running.

The Office of Letters and Light not only encourages writers like me to get on with our writing but they also help kids with their young writers program. Of all the things I do throughout the year, I can honestly say that every cent that I have given, every time that I have participated in their events, the challenges that I have won and lost, all have enriched my life. I am moving forward in my life goals because of the work of this organization. Especially in today's world where art and literacy efforts are constantly getting defunded and shortchanged, the OLL's work truly stands out.

Since I discovered NaNoWriMo in 2007, I've won and I've lost, but losing has never lessened the experience for me. I've met amazing people, experienced the event with people of all ages, and formed lasting friendships that I couldn't do without now. Writing and NaNo have been a staple in my yearly calendar, and I like to think that it has enhanced my writing ability through unhindered practice. I have been a participant, a donor, and a volunteer, and I recommend this event to anyone with the creative lunacy to birth a novel in thirty days.

2008: I was thirteen, trying to figure out what to do in the time when I didn't have school, and by some stroke of genius and or luck, I found the website. Again. I'd found it once before, at twelve, and thought it would be really cool... but I forgot about it... and it took me another year to find the NaNoWriMo website, and by then I had decided. I was going to... try to write a novel. I joined NaNoWriMo, put in my info, and then sat back a minute. Being that I was thirteen and still at the threshold level for the Young Writers Program, I joined that too, set a word goal of 20,000 words (I'd looked at the recommendations on the site), and then angsted for weeks over what I was going to write.

Fastforward to 2012: I've just won my 5th NaNoWriMo. Through the writing, and through participating and planning so many years, I have learned things about myself that I am sure I never would have before. I've made friends-- NaNoWriMo is responsible for introducing my to my best friend (EVER). I can measure myself by the novels I've written, and it's all because of NaNoWriMo that I have this. If it wasn't for this program, my scrivenings would be in paper notebooks, forgotten (I never ilked looking at my handwritten pages). I wouldn't be as confident as I am today. I certainly wouldn't be able to write as well today (not that there isn't room for improvement).

Basically, in a large way, NaNoWriMo has shaped me into the better, stronger person I am today. I think a donation will greatly help others reach this same conclusion.

I came across NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month, at the end of October 2010 quite by chance as you do. I thought then, why have I not known about this before. I thought that the whole concept of challenging yourself to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days was wonderfully crazy. The story of how it all came about was itself worthy of a novel (or maybe Nano the film!). I loved the fact that the Office of Letters and Light (such a cool name!) not only supported writers and aspiring writers to accept and succeed at the challenge, but also supported literacy projects through the Young Writers' Program. They could so easily, and I'm sure people would have still have signed up, have run it for profit, but they chose to make a difference in the world though people doing what they love. The team behind the project are incredibly motivating and dedicated. They inspire and uplift and this comes through in absolutely every detail of what they do. I have just completed my third challenge and can honestly say that my chance happening upon NaNoWriMo was the best example of serendipity for me on the web. I cannot imagine a November without them now and what is brilliant is that they are still there throughout the year gently nudging and encouraging us to be our best selves.

My daughter introduced me to NaNoWriMo five years ago and I have participated (and won!) every year since that time. With great information and tremendous support, I am again writing --a novel every year! As I hone my craft and gain experience, I feel proud of my accomplishments and look forward to possible publication. I have been so encouraged by others who are on this same journey, many of whom are now published authors. Not only do adults participate, but this site has encouraged young writers across the globe. I involve more people every year, and am thrilled to spread the word that "Yes, you CAN write a novel!" The pep talks help us all stay on track and the challenge is profound and gets to me every year!

Today I completed my 3rd NaNo novel. Without NaNo, I would never have met my amazing critique group that has helped get me published. The community spirit that NaNo builds is irreplaceable, as is the work the contribute to literacy.

I stumbled upon NaNo in 2004 and was thrilled and excited to find a site which offered to write and also offered help to make it. In 2004 it was not as advanced as it is today but still pep-talks where send and did just show what I felt throught that month of full.time job and writing. The following years I sort of forgot about it, even though I finished my novel and feklt - great. In 2011 I remembered and looked if it was still there. And was happy to find it alive and kicking. THese days the staff manages to answer personal emails and soon and well, besides the pep-talks the videos are just inspiring, funny to look at and well, the new addition of Camp NaNo during the summer months, the always growing possibilities and - I call 'em gadgets make it so much more than just ' a board'. It's become part of my daily life, especially due to some people I met there whom I chat and write with on a daily basis, sharing our works, life and a huge mountain of virtual muffins - and bathtubs of coffee. Without the effort of the staff and all those other people behind the scenes it wouldn't have happend - and I would miss something without even knowing it could exist. So, I do hope, naNo continues to thrive and to inspire lots of people to write and meet and - enjoy their creativity. Best regards, tontaube

I have always been a writer, but it was not until I found National Novel Writing Month, hosted by the Office of Letters and Light, that I was finally able to push myself until I reached The End. The feeling of community and the energy that is generated during this event is incredible. The other things they do, The Young Writers and Script Frenzy, both provide this great energy as well. Just knowing that there are so many other people out there in the world, going through the same challenge as you is an incredible motivation.

This wonderful organization sponsors National Novel Writing Month along with a couple of other events that encourage writing. It's a great way to help those of us with dreams of sharing our written word with the world.

I've always wanted to write but never made it a priority. Then I stumbled upon Chris Baty's "No Plot? No Problem!" book and the NaNoWriMo site. It's a wonderful community of creative and crazy people who want to write, donate to writing and literacy programs and support each other in an otherwise isolating endeavor. I have met many wonderful, caring, civic minded people who want to share their love for reading and writing. They understand the confidence and reward of having a supportive community to cheer and encourage and help each other succeed. This has been a life-changer for me. I hope it continues to grow and change more lives every year.

I always enjoyed writing, but didn't do much beyond short stories. I heard about the Office of Letters and Light and their NaNoWriMo program through a volunteer that I happened to talk to in the book store I worked in. Every year I participate in the great adventure and while I do not always succeed in their challenge I'm glad I try. Their pep talks from published authors don't just encourage you to write, but also help you believe you can succeed in writing. I now try to donate to them every year for providing such a great program to everyone. Without them I would not have written the four novels I now have for editing, nor would I believe I could one day publish them. The Office of Letters and Light is not just a great nonprofit organization, but has fostered a wonderful community on the internet for writers of all ages.

Though I am new at volunteering I have participated in NaNo WriMo (a program run by the OLL) for six years. The program has fostered a love of writing in myself and others. Nowhere else can writing be sponsored so widely and with so much fun and enthusiasm. It is amazing the work the OLL does across the globe fostering the creative activity of writing.

I have been a volunteer in the role of municipal liaison for ten years. I am proud to be involved with this organization. What a great experience for youth and adults. This is a wonderful experience. Their support of writers everywhere (I mean everywhere) is wonderful. The look of pride and amazement on the face of the participants when they meet the challenge is rewarding. This is truly an organization worthy of any support possible. If my pockets were deeper, I would surely do more.

The programs that OLL runs (NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo and previously Script Frenzy) are so amazing. Not only do they encourage creativity and productivity, I have also made great friends in other participants, improved my writing skills, and become more confident in my abilities. As a senior in high school, that's greatly helpful. This year will be my third year participating, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to do it once more. I have learned so much both about writing and about people (characters must be believable, so a writer must know about people) from NaNoWriMo and the other writing projects. Thank you OLL! I'll be around for many years to come.

This will be my fifth year participating in NaNoWriMo, one of the programs funded by The Office of Letters and Light, and my second year volunteering as a Municipal Liaison, organizing local events. I love that it encourages people of all ages to write, to just let themselves be creative and play with words and have fun. OLL not only promotes literacy, it encourages people to carve out some time for themselves, gives them permission to do something that they want to do, no matter how crazy that something sounds to the rest of the world. And completing the challenge gives such an incredible confidence boost in all areas of life that it really can be life-changing, in a way.

Before I joined the board, I was a participant. Both experiences have been life-changing. My creative forces have been rejuvenated by my connections to the Office of Letters and Light, because THAT IS WHAT THEY DO. OLL inspires, encourages, and supports creative pursuits and they do it very very well. It's been an honor to serve on the board and I look forward to continuing to serve for years to come.

It's important for children to learn to write. It's important to let them be creative. And it's important to let them understand they can accomplish something if they put the time into it, are self-motivated -- it helps to teach them responsibility. The Office of Letters and Light provides a fun community that really motivates young (and old) writers. In addition to all the good experiences the writers have during NaNoWriMo, it encourages and teaches new generations of authors. Whether they are creative writers of fiction we will use to take a break and dream, whether they grow to be different kinds of authors, we're cultivating important little flowers here. In addition, it's easy to donate to the Office of Letters and Light. Straightforward monetary donations or purchases in their shop, and you get a pretty halo to boot. They send a few emails asking for donations and that's just fine, I don't feel bombarded and I can tell they put their best into every message.

I've been a NaNoWriMo novelist since 2003 and a NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison since 2009, and I've felt that every single year has been a wonderful, fulfilling experience. The Office of Letters and Light is a fantastic organisation that works hard to run all of the programs it does and has done in the past. I'm proud to be a volunteer and donor for the OLL and hope to be one for many years to come.

For the past two years, my experiences with NaNoWriMo have all expanded and improved my writing, and taught me so much. OLL is so encouraging, I think NaNoWriMo is a great program for anyone who wants to switch up their lives or needs that extra push to start writing. And don't be discouraged- I'm shocked at each increasing wave of WriMo's joining each year.

With programs geared towards adults (National Novel Writing Month) and youth (the Young Writers Program), the Office of Letters and Light seeks to encourage everyone to write the novel they were always going to write "someday." There is no feeling like the one you get when listening to a 16 year old talk about all the books they're going to write, starting with this one, this November... and they succeed more often than you'd expect. It's an amazing thing to witness and a worthwhile goal to support.

The Office of Letters and Light proudly hosts NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. I have participated in 2009, 2010, and am planning to take part next month, also in 2011, I volunteered to be a betabug, do beta testing for their website. I did this since I knew I wouldn't be participating that year due to pregnancy. This organization helps the world's dreamers put their ideas on to paper making them a reality. How wonderful is it to have the motivation and cheering team to make things happen? They make dreamers into doers.

The Office of Letters and Light serves two major programs. The first, and perhaps most well known, is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. In November, willing participants sign up on the website and attempt to write 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days. It's not a writing tactic for everyone, but for those who like it, it really does change lives. Most participants have always dreamed of writing a novel, but always said something along the lines of "Oh, I'll do it someday." NaNoWriMo ends all of that in one giant hurrah. Turn off your inner editor and fly free, writers! It's beyond difficult, and the majority of participants never finish. But it's more than just about writing a novel, it's about realizing that everyone can accomplish great things. Everyone should do a NaNo sometime in their life, because they never know what awesome things they can learn from it until they try. The second program is the Young Writers Program (YWP), which brings NaNo into the classroom for young children (generally, the 50,000 word count is lowered to fit the age group and situation). There's lots of resources for educators available. Creativity is often forgotten in today's classroom. A large number of adults see no worth in the arts and want to rid schools of it. But they forget what a little creativity can do; what sorts of amazing things it can bring within and out of the minds of children. With the YWP comes vital skills like improved writing skills and time management! Overall, there is no question: If you've ever been interested in writing a novel, get involved!!

The Office of Letters and Light brings the art of literature to everyone through their 'National Novel Writing Month' event and other events throughout the year. I have been a participant in NaNoWriMo for years now and enjoy the heck out of it. It has helped me develop my writers voice and also helped my daughter learn to write. The comeraderie is awesom within this world wide writing/reading community. Join Now and give it a try this year! You wont be sorry.

I found out about the Office of Letters and Light through participating in NaNoWriMo. It is the first charity I have ever donated for, actually. I so loved being a part of the program and after hearing about all the amazing work this nonprofit does I decided that I had to give back and donate! It is an amazing organization that does so much good for creativity and budding writers! Can't praise it enough!

My personal experience with the Office of Letters and Light (OLL) is through NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. This is an event where participants attempt to write 50,000 words of a novel in a month. This is a wonderful experience for a tremendous amount of people - it gives writers a strict deadline and helps them actually reach the goal of finishing a novel, something that is difficult for a lot of us. While it doesn't sound like a lot, this helps build the confidence and abilities of thousands of people, build a community and a support system for writers who might not have one offline, and brings people of all sorts into the creative process. It's truly invaluable and I'd like to thank OLL for all that they do for us writers.

Every year i get to see the joy, excitement and confidence in the face of adults and teens in my area. Every daily goal they reach and every story they finish is a reminder of how great this program is. Too often our lives revolve around the things we have to do, the tasks that are musts. This program challenges you to take a little time to enjoy the things you want to do, give yourself a little time each day to be creative, and to make something all your own. their joy is my joy.

Through National Novel Writing Month and Script Frenzy, I have re-connected with my long-neglected writing life. I truly believe that I would not have done so with the same dedication and passion had it not been those events put on by this organization.

I just read a debuted self-published book "The Gentleman Chameleon" by J. B. Kelly available on amazon.com WOW What an easy read for women who are attracted to wrong partners. Great suggestion for all Women groups!

The Office of Letters and Light has changed my life. Even during the months when I'm not participating in National Novel Writing Month or Script Frenzy or Camp NaNoWriMo, I'm thinking about what my next story will be. They've influenced my dreams. But I'm especially excited that they get children involved in writing their own stories! We all need books....

I served as a Municipal Liaison for OLL, specifically for OLL's annual Nanowrimo campaign. I was able to interact with both administrators and people in my region (Kansas-Other), solve problems, make suggestions, and write a novel in six days. Without OLL's stewardship, I would never have been able to experience personal satisfaction and growth in my own adminstrative ability.

Two years running now I have participated in NaNoWriMo and it has been a most incredible experience. The office of Letters and Lights has inspired and guided me to achieve literary goals I never thought possible and I am very excited about the upcoming month of November. I believe this program and all that goes with it is one of the most beneficial non profit programs I have come across on a sociological level. I think the loss of great literature and the appreciation of storytelling in general has begun to detrimentally effect our modern society and NaNoWriMo takes a huge step towards curtailing this decline.

I loved NaNoWriMo this year. I tried a new style of writing I had never done before. NaNoWriMo always makes me stretch myself. I didn't participate in as many of the write ins as last year, but the ones that I did go to were fun and constructive.

The Office of Letters and Light is an amazing venture that provides a support structure for new and experienced novelists alike. 2011 was my 2nd NaNoWriMo and was much harder than 2010. There's no way I would have made it on my own without the community encouragement and motivational messages. I marked the impact that Letters and Light had on my life as life-changing; I think everyone has a story living inside them and Letters and Light provide the perfect opportunity to bring it to life.

The Office of Letters and Light is a wonderful organization that supports one of my own personal missions in life: to encourage people to write-- to write often, to enjoy themselves, to create projects, to reach goals, and to develop creativity. I've participated in National Novel Writing Month-- NaNoWriMo-- five times, and each time, I've completed a novel. I've used this project to encourage friends, students, and colleagues to challenge themselves, and have always found my own personal participation highly rewarding. Now, I can call myself a novelist-- five times over!-- and can be proud that I don't just talk about writing, I WRITE! :)

This organization sponsors the National Novel Writing Month event. It is an awesome event to help writers set a goal of writing a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Due to this event I have been able to not only write a novel, but also publish it through CreateSpace. The Office of Letters and Light also sponsors a couple of other events that I have not had the pleasure of joining at this time. These events are also great for helping writers achieve goals.

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.

Last year The Office of Letters and Light launched Camp NaNoWriMo, a July version of the November event. This came at the most perfect time. I had already participated in the November event, so successfully that I was still going with my novel by the time July rolled around again. But oh was I suffering with the lack of motivation. In November, I reached the 50K word goal in 15 days. Yes, that's exactly the half the allotted time. By July, I was desperate for someone to help me finish this behemoth of a novel. And there was Camp NaNo. I couldn't believe my luck. Naturally I signed up immediately. And yes, there were a few snags, a few technical hitches but my lord, once those got ironed out --- and pretty fast too --- my novel trundled steadily along and the feeling was incredible. NaNoWriMo tells me I am not alone when I'm slaving away at my laptop on a novel that may never see the light of day. And the people at OLL make that possible for me. There's no telling how valuable that is, how grateful I am for their existence and the fact that they listened! They actually listened when I put in my November feedback survey how much I wanted another version of NaNo during the year. They actually gave me what I wanted, what I needed. For that I will always be grateful, never mind the goodies they also send when I've attained the goal. This year I can't wait to do Camp NaNo again, never mind waiting til November. And yes, this is another novel.

I took part in National Novel Writing Month in 12010 and in 2011, and I look forward to participating again in 2012. I absolutely love the community in the NaNo forums, and I've met some outstanding people on the forums and face to face in the library write-ins. The Office of Letters and Light does an amazing job with this event and with many others throughout the year!

An amazing literary charity that gets people of all ages thinking and writing creatively.

Every year The Office of Letters and Light touches thousands of lives and encourages creativity in schools and in the day to day lives of aspiring writers of all ages. I have been participating in National Novel Writing Month for six or seven years now and everyone I know who also participates walks away from the challenge inspired and empowered to continue the pursuit of their creative dreams. They truly are one of the greatest non-profit organizations of their type.

Once again my daughters wrote novels after signing up with the Office of Letters and Light and their NanoWriMo program. Both daughters, aged 14 and 9 wrote longer and more complex novels than the previous years. This year I opted to write songs instead, and though the songs turned out alright, I regret that I didn't shoot for the novel. I missed the structure of the novel writing that NanoWriMo provided, and frankly, November was once again a slightly dark month.

I work at a university and understand the importance of literacy and creativity for the advancement of the human race. The Office of Letters and Light (OLL) fits the bill of a Great Nonprofit absolutely. It helps make writing and creativity cool, and the wider its reach around the entire world, the better it will be for the rising generation and the future of our earth. The benefits of inspiring people to think beyond the boundaries of their lives is something that, although cannot be measured, is completely invaluable for humanity.

The Office of Letters and Light runs National Novel Writing Month, which I have found invaluable as a motivational tool for writing fiction. It allows me to be part of a community of people working toward a common goal. Writers are often isolated by virtue of their work and programs like this are tremendously important.

I love the Office of Letters and Lights and their National Novel Writing Month project. I have written novels as a part of NaNoWriMo for the past two years, and last year, I got a new group of folks involved by starting an online group to support our mutual novel writing. Everyone has a great story to tell, and NaNoWriMo and OLL help make this possible for lots of folks who wouldn't otherwise take the first step. Thank you!

The Office of Letters and Light make me proud of myself. I'm happy to have participated in their projects a few times now and will be participating again in the future. I get to achieve something that I never thought I'd be able to do which has given me more confidence in my everyday life.

I have participated in NaNoWriMo three times and won three times. It has been a huge catalyst in getting my writing going - procrastination, other creative projects and life tend to get in the way - so I am happy to help the cause for other aspiring writers and particularly, the young kids who benefit from the OLL programs so they get off to an early start in following their creative dreams.

I have worked with them since 2003. I have donated my hard earned $ as well. I spend more time volunteering for this organization than any other. I vote with my time and my money.

The ability to communicate is vital for leading a fulfilling life, to be educated and to educate, either just in a daily life or as a profession. This organization does a brilliant job of bringing the joy as well as the technical aspects of writing and writing well to all that come to the programs it offers. I'm proud to be a donor to the Office of Letters and Light, for they do illuminate the lives of all they touch!

Very good fun, and they're very supportive, with witty pep talks which I always enjoy. I am also very pleased with the Office Of Letters And Lights Ready Set Novel Kit, which I was bought for Christmas.

How to describe Office of Letters and Light? Organized, empowering, energizing. My favorite programs is their Young Writer's Program which I've used in the classroom as an English teacher (8th grade). Through the materials OLL provides, not only have the students improved their own writing, but they've finally come to understand many of the concepts primary to selecting and enjoying good literature. The National Novel Writing Month format translated well into my classroom, and applying many of OLL's WYP materials helped me teach state content standards in ways students could really apply them. The NaNoWriMo also has inspired and motivated my own writing.

As an annual partcipant in NaNoWriMo, I am grateful to the Office of Letters and Light for offering writers the opportunity to share a love of writing with other writers. Whether participants continue a writing career or not, this experience promotes the importance of the arts in enriching our lives. I've made life-long friends and colleagues.

I am epileptic and have short term memory problems due to complications from the initial (unexplained) illness that brought on the epilepsy almost ten years ago. Writing is one of the things I am still able to do, and with the organizational and goal-setting skills I've learned by participating in NaNoWriMo, I have been able to hone my craft a great deal. I participated in 2010 and 2011, and the novel that I started in 2011 is now up to just shy of eighty thousand words of rough draft. I have gotten to the point where I am noticing bumps in the plot line that I am working on smoothing out, and with the step by step and goal for each day method I have learned doing NaNoWriMo, I know I will get things smoothed out and get the rough draft of the novel completed. Then I will get to have fun applying the same methods to revising and get the novel ready to start finding a publisher and see where I can go from there!

The OLL continues to provide programs that help all writers meet their goals. My experience with them has been nothing but positive. They are an excellent source of encouragement and motivation, and their programs have helped me complete several novels that are now on their way to being published. I couldn't have acheived that dream without their support and assistance.

The Nanowrimo experience is a lasting one. I've now written 3 novels, thanks to the prompts and pushes (in the gentlest way) and I'm in the middle of an extensive rework to combine two of them, thanks again to a prompt from the team. Although I probably won't participate again this year, I continue to donate because I know I'll be back...after I finish my rewrite and (hopefully) publish. I've recommended the program to many of my friends and family, all of whom are thrilled to be playing in the Nanowrimo sandbox. One doesn't do it for the goodies, of course, but it also sure helped me that as a Winner, I got a free license to Scrivener, the best writing tool I've ever seen! So...all in all I'm a total fan!

Among other works, the Office of Letters and Light organises NaNoWriMo, an amazing worldwide novel writing challenge. My taking part in the 2006 edition changed my life as I found out that I really could write a novel. Now a published writer, I donate every year, so others get a chance to go through the same experience. And of course, I still participate. The challenge is a great way to push one's writing further.

The Office of letters and light provide free literary services to adults and children alike. Personally I have taken part in their Nanowrimo writing challenge for three years running and have improved my own writing speed and style in a forum where I am challenged and supported by peers world wide that I would otherwise have had absolutely no opportunity to communicate with. There is nothing else like The office of letters and light, and their work with the young writers program within schools and community is unsurpassed.

NaNoWriMo is a contest that I heard of through a friend. I was interested in it, therefore I entered. This contest has helped me to realize my dream of becoming a published author. It has also helped me through some very difficult times.

While I didn't finish a novel this past year, I was glad to support their new initiative of Camp NaNo during the summer. They're allowing people more opportunities to work toward their dream of writing a 50, 000 word novel in a month as well as continuing their great work with youth.

I love these guys. They are on the ball in getting orders out, have a great variety of items. Only bad thing this year....they ran out of winner Tshirts before the event ended. I wasn't sure I was going to "win" so waited until I did to order and they were out :(

This past November was my second time doing NaNoWriMo. I was just as impressed by the quality of pep talks from authors, the quick responses to questions, the organization that brought fellow writers together, and the fun "can do" attitude that fills the OLL site. I finished a novel in thirty days, something that will require a lot of work to polish, but there is nothing like holding that first draft in your hands...something it could have easily taken me a year to do without the support system of OLL. But it doesn't stop there. That "I can do anything" attitude spills over into life after November. It inspires dreams and the action needed to do something about it. OLL is bringing not just more written word to the world, but an army of dreamers who can see no limits to the power of a dream. They are making things better and a future filled with possibilities.

The Office of Letters and Light is an organization dedicated to service. It makes a difference in the world of literacy. We get pep talks from best selling authors. We get organized to meet in groups, make friends, and talk book talk. I love NaNoWriMo so much that I have done it for 3 years (two straight, then one I took off because I was a college freshman with too much on my plate, then another in college.) It is such a great way to raise literacy rates in schools, which the Office supports with classroom materials and help, and in adults, who aren't reading or writing as much as they should either. We have several "chapters" within easy driving distance of where I live. I have the flexibility I need. Even though I haven't met the people in the Office, I still feel like I'm friends with them. Besides learning how to write better and the pleasure I get from story telling, NaNoWriMo also helped me strengthen my organizational skills, learn perseverance, made writing exciting, gave me a sense of accomplishment, and provided a wholesome recreational activity for a whole month, both in solitary but also in social settings. The teen demographic is high in the organization. Shouldn't that be encouraged?

Until NaNoWriMo showed me that you CAN finish a novel, I had done no more than write starting chapters and do outlines. With NaNoWriMo, I have completed six manuscripts. No, they weren't good when they were finished, but you can't fix something until it exists. Every year I have gotten better and I'm on the second draft of my 2011 manuscript. But my story is not the important one. To me, NaNoWriMo's important contribution is providing this same structure and encouragement to high school and elementary school age writers. There is no question in my mind that NaNoWriMo is changing young lives.

I started NaNoWriMo last year, in 2010. It sounded intimidating, but I and handful of friends were ready to go at it and see where it took us! That long month was full of panic and progress, but in the end a novel finally came out of it. I'd never written a novel before, and not at the end of November 2011 I'm finishing up my second NaNo novel. Not to mention my Script Frenzy scripts. OLL is a true inspiration, compelling people to write and really express that message that they always wanted to tell the world. Their funding goes to helping schools across the nation. It's OLL that builds communities, that can get people together to accomphsh one common goal.

I began writing with NaNoWriMo in 2006. I was a fledgling author at the time and it gave me an opportunity to be motivated and encouraged to write as much as I could in one month--and I wrote more than I had thought possible! Sure, the quality wasn't where I could have wanted it, but it was a first step to many years of growth that I've been able to be a part of because of NaNoWriMo.

In 2009 I served my first year volunteering as a Municipal Liaison, or volunteer regional coordinator. Not only did this allow me to continue to develop my writing skills and my leadership skills, it opened a new world of writing with others to me that has forged friendships that have now lasted years, making me a stronger writer and a stronger person.

NaNoWriMo has been instrumental in my growth and I know it will continue to be a part of my life for years to come.

OLL has been outstanding in the service they provide individual people as well as society on a whole; literacy and creativity. In a world plagued by TV and movies no one has time for imagination and books any more. OLL has made it possible to motivate both self and others to imagine a new story (one that isn't Harry Potter or Twilight or Jursey Shores), create it and by creating it they write. Whether it's NaNoWriMo or Script Frenzy, all the participants have to start and work the same way, one word after another, and that's fantastic.
But they're more then just words on .doc files or paper, the guys back in the Office work their butts off to organize book drives and other sorts of events that raise money for literacy programs. Oops, there's that word again, literacy.
Here in Ontario we have a problem with kids not passing their grade 10 Literacy tests (approx 40% of test-takers fail) and therefore not being able to graduate high school until they do pass the class. OLL puts money into literacy programs all over North America and the UK to develop these sadly underfunded programs.
OLL is creating a future for a generation raised on media and spell check. I can't think of a better thing to do.

NaNoWriMo was easily the most fun I had in November. I was working full-time so I knew it would be time-consuming, although I didn't really know what else to expect. I shouldn't have worried. The encouraging e-mails arrived frequently enough to spur me on but not so frequently that I felt harried. The input from people taking part was especially heartening towards the end, it was good to hear the organisers themselves were behind on their word count!

Real Life friends were supportive if not understanding; they all wanted to know what I would gain at the end, what the tangible benefit was. Towards the end I was berating myself for taking on something so overwhelming with no clear payoff - November had seen a death in the family, my best friend was away travelling, and I felt very much alone in my ridiculous endeavour. Why not do it another month indeed?
That day a NaNo mail from Lemony Snicket arrived, one of many from different authors. Lemony Snicket is a literary god to me, so this felt very much like a sign! Suddenly the ridiculous was fun, suddenly it made sense to do it because other people were too; other people were having a hard time, other people were asking themselves why they'd started this, but they were doing it. Suddenly I wasn't alone.

Less than an hour from midnight on the day of the dealine I hit 50,000 words and basically fell to the ground in a heap, exhausted, my poor hand cramping up. But I smiled because I'd done it. I felt something I hadn't felt since I'd graduated 2 years ago - acheivement. A sense that I could. I tried to e-mail my travelling friend but I ouldn't type another word. It didn't matter. That cyber certificate confirmed what I felt. I had done it. I could do it. All because of the kindness and craziness of NaNoWriMo volunteers.

I have participated in NaNoWriMo, hosted by The Office of Letters and LIght for the last two years... and actually achieved my goal last year. It was a difficult task, being an at home mom with 'better' things to do with my time than sit in front of a computer and pretend to play author, but I did it-- and honestly, I think I did a pretty good job! While I did receive support from friends and family, the set up and organization of the program was really what helped me to get through. Motivational emails from recognized authors, reference help, bar graphs to help chart my progress-- all of it helped to push me through, especially on those days when nothing went right and I needed to figure out how the villain was going to approach poor Charlotte but she was being so closely guarded that it seemed next to impossible...

I have completed a 60,000 word story that I am now in the process of editing. This is a goal that I've held onto since I'd been a teenager. I'm 36 years old now and have only accomplished it because of NaNoWriMo. Having someone else on the sidelines helping to keep me from getting overwhelmed, providing structure, and just reminding me that the only way to progress was to move forward made it all possible.

I am so grateful for The Office of Letters and Light and am glad that there are people out there who see the importance of nurturing the creative mind.

... and who are there to applaud a job well done at the end.

Thank you.

The Office of Letters and Light is an inspiring NGO that is using the very best forms of grassroots tactics and social networking. I would support them in any endeavor they choose to start because I trust them as an organization. They have great integrity.

I have been a participant in The Office of Letters and Light for eight years and can say without hesitation that the work that they do is as important as anything in the world. Creativity is something that will serve every individual in positive nature. With the work that OLL does, people are able to strive towards goals that they would otherwise believe impossible for them. Because of their hardwork and dedication, I have been able to finish three novels and am in the process of preparing a manuscript for publishing. All of which would have been infinitely harder without the support, knowledge and encouragement of the OLL staff.

I am a high school English teacher in Colorado, in the Denver metro area. I have had my creative writing class participate in the Office of Letters and Light's NaNoWriMo program for four year now. National Novel Writing Month has become an important part of my curriculum and, more importantly, part of the school's culture. Students who are not participating for a class can still participate on their own, and at the school we hold write-ins and other events around NaNoWriMo.

The OLL provides us with SO much to make this a big part of our school. They send FREE classroom kits, they offer FREE lesson plans, and they even have a FREE online version of the student workbook (for all grade levels and even homeschool children, not just traditional high school students). I can easily purchase additional materials as needed, such as t-shirts and journals and mugs and buttons that I give away as prizes to students (and they LOVE them!). These resources are what make this wonderful project possible each year.

My students have found out so much about themselves as writers and as people through NaNoWriMo. They connect with other students worldwide via the NaNoWriMo website, and they connect with each other in more meaningful ways as a result of reading each other's work and helping each other through the strenuous creative process of trying to write a novel in a month! Their creativity, which for many of them has been buried beneath years of formal writing, five paragraph essays, and research papers, comes out timidly at first, and then explode out of them. Many of my students, in their reflections, speak of how much confidence they gained through NaNoWriMo, how much they learned about writing (in general, not just creatively), and how they accomplished so much more than they ever thought they could.

Last year, I had a student, Andrew, who tried to drop my creative writing class early in the year, because he hated writing. His parents, however, made him stay in the class because they believed it would help him improve his writing skills in general. He slogged through the first two months of school, where we studied units on fiction writing and poetry. He went through the motions. Then NaNoWriMo hit and his hatred had reached a boiling point.

"Write a whole novel in a month?!" I remember him exclaiming. "No effing way."

But as we started planning our novels at the end of October, he begrudgingly started to like his characters and his plot and his story idea. Three days into November, I remember Andrew coming in before class, getting his class materials out and talking excitedly to anyone who would listen. He was talking about his novel. A particularly snobby teenage girl flipped her hair, turned around to him, and said with a sneer, "What, did you just, like, figure out you like writing or something?"

Andrew became silent for a moment, then responded with a huge smile on his face, "Yeah!"

I will never forget that moment. It was one of the best moments of my teaching career thus far. Andrew reached his word count goal that November--surpassed it, in fact--and then finished his novel before he graduated that summer. He sometimes returns to visit, and he always talks to me about his novel and how he's still working on it even now. He likes writing now. He likes reading now. If NaNoWriMo can help to inspire a change so great in a high school senior, a 17-year-old, to grab hold of a love of life-long learning--well, I say that organization needs all the support it can get!

I love NaNoWriMo and what is does for education in this country. I love the people at the OLL for putting in such hard work to make it possible. I can't imagine a year without NaNo!

This past November, I participated in Nanowrimo, sponsored by The Office of Letters and Light. Without the great opportunity, I would never have finished a novel. What an inspiring organization!

I did Nanowrimo last November, and it is one of the best things I have ever done. I managed to write a novel that month, and it has changed the way i think about and approach my own writing. I'm applying what I learned in November now and trying to complete another novel, one that has been in progress and not finished for about 7 years. All this was made possible by the tireless efforts of all the volunteers and OLL who worked so hard to make it possible.

I probably would never have even tried to write a novel if it weren't for the Office of Letters and Light. Because without them, there wouldn't be Nanowrimo every November or Script Frenzy every April. They do so much work to make sure that the websites work so we can keep updating and supporting each other from all over the world.

I've been doing NaNoWriMo, through the Office of Letters and Light, for several years now. It's provided immeasurable motivation and inspiration for my writing by kick-starting the process and helping me continue in it. It emphasizes freeing yourself from killing the creative process by ignoring the inner-editor. The frequent emails from OLL leaders and published authors provide encouragement. This organization wants to help aspiring writers become actual writers, and its value is excellent!

Office of Letters and Light is really a wonderful thing. I honestly would never had had the courage to finish up my novel and get my ideas down on paper. NaNoWriMo was the first encouragement that I really had--I felt a drive to write. Though it was stressful, I think it was a wonderful learning experience, which is why I returned for my second year in 2010. I may not be a professional writer, and I may still be young, but I feel an enormous sense of accomplishment having finished this program.

The community NaNoWriMo creates, and the entire tone of the event creates a wonderfully stressful month. I really appreciate OLL for being there. :)

On October 31, 2010, I sat up eagerly, waiting for the bell to toll 12, and for NaNoWriMo to officially begin. As it did, I began my frantic race to finish 50,000 words, and, on November 28th, two days before the deadline, I did! NaNoWriMo was an AWESOME program. I've never ever been able to finish anything before, and with the NaNoWriMo staff's constant encouragement, I finally did. I mean, really. I went on the site everyday to find tips, encouragement, and to ask questions. I love absolutely everything about it, and I'm psyched for next year. Seriously, anyone who has ever toyed with the idea of being an author should look into NaNoWriMo. See you next year in the forums!

If you have a passion for writing, you have to check these folks out. I have been a participant I NaNoWriMo for six years now where every November a bunch of writers get together and see what magic they can produce in a manic month of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. It gives you the freedom to explore creativity without the pressure of making every word just right. The folks at the Office of Letters and Light host a great sight and are very supportive in their efforts to mold creativity in writers of all ages. I support them with a donation every year as well as participate in their programs. Give it a try! You won’t be sorry.

As a free-lance writer with dreams of becoming a fiction writer, particularly a novelist, I stumbled upon NANOWRIMO about 3 years ago. Now I have succeeded in completing the 50,000 words-in-one-month challenge two times. What every writer knows is that showing up at the blank page every day is how you get stories started, keep them going and get them completed. And NANOWRIMO helped me do this by forcing me to meet daily word count and providing daily encouragement from established writers via email. I have two drafts of novels as a result of my two experiences with NANOWRIMO and one of them can be directly credited with helping gain admissions to a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program where I believe the rewritten novel will be ready for publishing. NANOWRIMO held me accountable by encouraging output and supplying technological tools to help me track my progress and connect with other writers. The daily emails or maybe it was less frequent but it seemed daily helped me turn on my computer and start the process which is all it takes most days. It is said that once a person does something every day for 30 days it becomes habit and NANOWRIMO helped daily writing become habit for me.

I won NaNoWriMo this last year, and I have to say it was a wonderful experience. The team setting it up runs a very tight shop, the services provided are wonderful in assisting you to finish your work, and they are wonderful people in general.

I've always wanted to write a book but have never ever EVER buckled down and just done it. Until NaNoWriMo. The Office of Letters and Light encouraged and inspired me to do something I possibly may have never done on my own; I found my voice and actually completed something. Since then, there has been a revolution in my life, spawned from that one simple activity of writing a book in a month.
The OLL is an organization that brings awareness to something that is being severely undermined by the world of social networking: creating an extended work and committing to something, not just getting out your 140 characters and calling it a day. One thing is for sure; if I ever publish, a good chunk of my first check is going to OLL.

NanoWriMo inspired me to write a story that has been stuck in my head for ten years! They provided daily information, motivation, and fun challenges that helped thousands of people reach their writing goals. The literary world needs NanoWriMo! ~Kathy Gerstorff, www.breakthecyclebooks.com

Nanowrimo is an excellent start for anyone who has eve tried to write then got bored along the way and stopped. I wrote nanowrimo for the first time in 2010 and it was a great eye opener and just the motivation i needed to continually put my thoughts on paper and actually come up with a very good draft in 29days. The pep talks were fantastic and kept my spirits up through the thirty days and i would definitely be a part of the program year after year.

NaNoWriMo was an amazing experience for me. I am a new writer and although I didn't go to any of the write-ins all of the emails and posts from other people really helped me. They encouraged me to not give up and helped me with ideas for my story. NaNoWriMo is a community for writers of all kinds to share expertise and thoughts.

NaNoWriMo and the Office of Letters and Light made writing communal, and that is difficult to do. It brings together hundreds of people with passion to network and write, and enjoy doing so for the sake of it. This event is a wonderful opportunity to make friends and recognize your potential. One wonderful woman I met during NaNo, happened to live in my area. We're now good friends who support each other not only in our writing endeavours, but also in other pursuits. NaNo helped me work with my low self-esteem too. It's a funny thing, that such a simple event, writing a novel, can do that. But it did, and I'm so glad OLL gave me the opportunity to take up the challenge. It teaches us that things can change, that life has a lot of drafts. It's brilliant.

When I was younger I always wanted to be a writer. I'd almost given up on that dream until I found The Office of Letters and Light and their NaNoWriMo program. It's so motivational and supportive in so many ways. The pep talks sent out every week are wonderful, and even the other participants are always so nice and helpful. It felt great to be part of such a strong writing community. And most importantly, NaNoWriMo helped me to finally write my first novel! I was finally able to push through it with the support of the OLL, and the sense of accomplishment and pride it gave me was amazing! I know there are plenty of others with this same story, especially other teenagers like me. I'd say The Office of Letters and Light is one of the best nonprofit programs for getting young people, and older adults as well, involved in the arts.

Oh man! NaNo '10 and Screnzy '09 were my first experiences with OLL, and they were exhilarating. Just leaving behind the drive for perfection was freeing enough, but when I realized that hey, here was a huge achievement I'D done. Me. I'd actually managed to accomplish something-and it felt great.
OLL also provides a great community for its participants.

NaNoWriMo, hosted by OLL gives people, young and old, the chance to do something people only dreamed about. People said "One day I want to write a novel." OLL turned the day into a month, set a specific start time and a dead line, created competition with others and incentive of one proof copy, and provided an outlet for advice, praise, guidance, help, pep talks, reverse psychology, and writing dares. Even the more famous published authors, such as Lemony Snicket, are interested in NaNoWriMo. Even if they don't write a novel specifically for this event, they provide the pep talks and the advice. OLL is a place where aspiring authors can get deadlines to work towards, and ideas to work from.
NaNoWriMo is the best thing that ever happened to me, even though it cut into my reading time of other novels.

NaNoWriMo is something I have tried on three separate occasions--and the third time's the charm! The month of November felt both too long and too short. There were days I wasn't sure I could write a novel at all, but somehow I made it through. The Office of Letters and Light have a wonderful organization, and it was thanks to their passion for this crazy cause and their crazy good web presence that I managed to make it to the finish line. The message boards in particular made a big impact on me. It helped me get out of the house to meet with other writers, which in turn helped me get a little more competitive with my word count. The whole concept of NaNo is absolutely outrageous, and I love it--along with a whole bunch of other people across the world. This is definitely something I will participate in, hopefully for years to come.

I was a first time participant in NaNoWriMo (this past November 2010). It pushed me beyond what I had imagined I would be able to do - a novel(la) in less than 30 days! (I'd started on Nov 5.) There were posts/emails of encouragement and inspiration from the organizers (Letters and Light) amidst the gut-wrenching agony of blank screens and, yes, sometimes doubt.

NaNoWriMo helped me to do something I've always wanted to do. And, now I know, I CAN do it.

My heartfelt thanks to the Office of Letters and Light - and to NaNoWriMo! Haroo!

P.S. The winner's certificate was nice, too!)

I have participated in Nanowrimo for 4 years now. Through this wonderful organization, I have met close friends. I have encouraged people to write their own personal stories. I cannot say that everything has been rosy, I have written about some very personal topics. However, writing about them and having a goal to obtain helped me get through it, and I feel that by writing things out I am beginning to understand myself and the world around me more. So why Nanowrimo? It helped me make lifelong friends, encouraged me to write for the joy of writing, and helped me understand more about myself.

NaNoWriMo is an inspiration to aspiring authors! In fact, even college professors are encouraging their students to participate in the program to develop perseverance and a stronger work ethic.

This is no divisive group, either! Where else can thousands of individuals with a myriad of opinions come together to accomplish so much? Nowhere. (Oh, sure, we could point to Congress, where reams of writing are generated annually, but do we really want more of THAT kind of writing?)

Spread the word: The Office of Letters and Light has a wonderful thing going with it's NaNoWriMo!

I recently completed writing a 50,000 word novel during National Novel Writing Month. It was a terrific experience! I had always wanted to write a novel and don't believe I would have accomplished this task had it not been for NaNoWriMo. I logged in every day and updated my word count total and there was always something new on the site that would lift me up and move me forward: a video, something to read, new cover art to look at, updates from other participants, etc. I received words of encouragement in my email inbox at regular intervals. Through the good times, when I wrote like I was flying and through the bad times, when I was slogging through confusion, the staff at NaNoWriMo was always there with a encouraging word.

A friend had recently completed 50,000 words in 2009 and encouraged me to join in 2010 as she knew I loved writing but never had the drive to continue. To start, I was nervous - unsure about plot-lines, if my character's were strong enough - however, she assured me it's not all about the qaulity and it can be revisited in December. I started Nanowrimo pumped with the idea of 50,000 words written down, my own words. The month was hard work, but well worth it. By the end; my fingers ached with typing, my head felt it was exploding with idea's and my school notebook was becoming a plot book - I would go into lessons and end up writing my own story down instead of notes. I encourage everyone I now meet and know of to join Nanowrimo and to particpate in this amazing event and I'm defaintly going to rock Nanowrimo 2011!

NaNoWriMo is an undertaking, it's a challenge, and like anything that stirs the spirit, it isn't simple, it isn't something you can approach lightly. But no matter how you come at it, there are going to be challenges, there are going to be roadblocks. One way to overcome these struggles is to have an excellent backing -- and a whole lot of stubbornness -- and that's precisely what the Office of Letters and Light delivers to each and ever NaNoWriMo participant. I've never personally done Script Frenzy, but I'm sure it's the same.

I have never been a part of something so encouraging. My whole life I have dreamed of being a writer, but my confidence in... well, everything! was shot. I didn't believe I could ever finish anytrhing, written or otherwise. My first year, of NaNoWriMo, I didn't even win, but I felt a burning determination that I could win next year. In 2010, I did.

It... it's a challenge unlike anything I've ever done before, and non-nanoers don't seem to understand why I bother with a competition where everyone can win and you don't get a prize. But it builds you up and makes you believe in yourself. It's energizing.

Throughout the year until the next November, The OLL team don't leave us hanging. The put on other challenges but more than anything, they continue to be encouraging. We regularly recieve emails and notices letting us know about fun competitions we might be interested in, and encouraging us in our writing.

And the forums they have created are left open to us all year round, which in an invaluable gift, to be able to meet and talk to people who actually understand what you're going through. Writing can be so lonely and hard, but the NaNoWriMo program that OLL puts on changes all that.

I don't mean to gush, but I am really, genuinely grateful for OLL and what they have helped me achieve and the people they have helped me meet.

I was talked into doing NaNoWriMo by a friend, and I never expected to enjoy it as much as I did. It's exhausting and your brain is fried, but the experience is totally worth it. Without all the encouragement from the NaNo team (especially the adopt-a-____ forums and the frequent pep talks) I know I would never have finished my novel. I plan to continue doing NaNoWriMo for as long as I can.

National Novel Writing Month is a brilliant group. The community that can be found among writers is always a strange one (in a good way!) but the community that it's possible to build through NaNo, with the hectic, craziness of the month of November and the insane drive that calls so many writers back for more every year is impossible to capture adequately in words.
Nanowrimo brings people together; when I first started doing it in my freshman year of high school, it was with a small group of classmates who thought the idea was cool. As time has progressed, I've found that no matter where I go, there's always someone who has heard of Nanowrimo, and it makes an excellent Nice To Meet You type icebreaker in social situations.
I've written a novel in a month. What have YOU done with YOUR life?
Nanowrimo is amazing.
The forums, the people, the idea. All of it. Every single heartbreaking, hope-filled minute nanosecond. It's worth anything.

I'm so grateful for OLL and NaNoWriMo. I wouldn't be the writer I am without them.

Though NaNoWriMo is supposedly only a novel writing month, the Office of Letters and Light is more than just something that encourages people to write. Through it, I have learned to let go and release my creative energy in many forms: novels, pictures, films and music. It encourages us to forget about the fear of failing at our endeavors, and to stick with them until they are finished. They tell us that everyone has their own story to tell, something unique from everyone else's. In short, the Office of Letters and Light is totally awesome.

The Office of Letters and Light is one of the top promoters for creative writing. NaNoWriMo has become an international event, inspiring thousands.

I've done NaNo nine times, and continue to write year-round. It's been an helpful both in terms of moral support but also when it comes to being a clearinghouse for information.

The OLL has given me at least one month out of the year when I know the meaning of life. It is to write a book in November.

The OLL sponsors two of the greatest writing programs I know: National Novel Writing Month and Script Frenzy. Both are done in the name of supporting writing and reading, as well as education. This organization is wonderful and these two programs have inspired me as a student to actually care about reading and writing, as well as caring about spreading literacy. Besides supporting young and old adults to act, these two programs encourage the Young Writers' Program, which gets even middle and grade schoolers to care about literature.
As an organization that pushes so hard for intellect in a society that generally does not, I feel that the OLL is definately worthy of five stars. I donate to them every year and strongly encourage others to do the same.

The office of Letters and Light organizes NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, every November. NaNo is an incredible movement of people all across the globe, working on the same project -- or related projects -- at the same time. The community of support and encouragement is unbelievable, and enables people who never thought they would write a novel to produce 50,000 words of story. Many of them are not particularly good words of story, but it is still a very real accomplishment, and it is much easier to make a mediocre novel into a good novel than to make a blank page into a good novel. I know people who would never have dreamed of trying to write a novel if NaNo weren't there, encouraging amateurs to just sit down and write, and providing a specific, concrete timeframe in which to do so. I think that a lot people who don't manage to reach their wordcount goal still find NaNo to be a rewarding experience, because it got them writing more than they would've otherwise, and the only way to get better at writing is to do it.

During the 30 days of NaNoWriMo I wrote a novel. I know a lot of people did, but I am terrible for procrastinating. I've always wanted to write a novel, and finally after some gentle nudging from a friend I dove into NaNo head first. After 28 days of hard graft I sat back and marveled that a novel had appeared in front of me.

I thought about how comparatively easy it was. It had been easy to write a novel in 30 days. Then I realized what made it easy: The website, the staff, the regional liaison, the graph on my personalized page, the forums, even the little sticker on my laptop that said "Noveling machine".

The Office of Letters and Light deserve any and all assistance they get. So even though I was unemployed and in a tough spot I dug deep into my paypal and gave them 10 dollars. NaNoWriMo gave me the gift of a novel, they affirmed my place on this earth as a writer and the very least that I could do, was give them whatever I could.

NaNoWriMo is possibly one of the best writing programs I have ever entered in. Going into what could be viewed to many as an impossible feat, with thousands of people from around the world beside you can really be a life-changing experience.
The first year I participated in NaNo, I didn't go online and make an account, and it was brutal. The second year, just being able to go online and chat with others going through the same writing struggles was able to give me that extra edge and push myself further as a writer and an artist.
I don't know what I would do without NaNoWriMo, or the Office of Letters and Light that runs it.

I have participated for two years in the Office of Letters and Light program - NanoWrimo. I am an avid writer and my teacher not only requires that we participate in Nano but that we are also writing for at least 30 minutes everyday. Although I have personal motivation to write everday without the requirement of having to do NanoWrimo, I probably wouldn't do it. I am thanking this program because it has gave me the confidence I needed to become a good writer. There is not better practice to perfect this skill than the challenge of having to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. Without it I wouldn't be nearly at the level I am now. I can't wait for next year's Nano, and Happy Writing!~

The Office of Letters and Light is an amazing organization. They allow millions of people across the world to have the opportunity to test their creative juices. In a world where TV overpowers intellectual thought and makes it difficult to convince the masses that reading is as rewarding if not more...they allow those of us that would like to take reading a step farther into creating. From high school students to college students to stay at home moms to working professionals The Office of Letters and Light gives people the opportunity to test their creativity by creating and supporting Nanowrimo and Script Frenzy. It is an amazing feat the amount of time and energy they put into encouraging us to write and keep writing until we reach our goal...even when we are utterly behind. They give many people the opportunity to experiment with a skill they never knew they had...while others have the chance to learn more about writing, creating a story, and developing characters.

NaNoWriMo completely changed my conception of what I'm capable of, writing-wise. If I can write a 50,000 word novel in a month, then there's no reason why I can't write down all the stories that come into my head the rest of the year. It's an incredible motivating force that has been invaluable to me as a writer.

The Office of LEtters and Light was very helpful to me over the past year with their challenge to write a 50000 word novel in one month. They say everyone has a book in them, and this helped get mine out. Through discipline and the encouragement from their web site, I was able to complete my 50000 word novel in about 28 days, and am now working to self publish it. In fact, that part has been going rather slowly, so I'll have to look and see if they have anything that can motivate me to finishing up this project that is so close to being completely finished. I hope to do it again and see if there are any more books inside me waiting to get out. Thank you, OLL and nanowrimo.org!

I am an English teacher who is completely sold on The Office of Letters and Light's program--NANOWRIMO. I require my Creative Wrting students to participate in November,and they are all excited about it. November's competition has literally changed the lives of many young people in Idaho. Nothing better than seeing the satisfaction and pride on a young writer's face when they complete the 50,000 words in a month. I have completed each year we have participated, and I am looking forward to another November.

I have participated in NaNoWriMo, an Office of Letters and Light every year since I discovered the event. I donate each year because I believe in the power of the project. I wish that the Young Writers Program had been a part of my education. It might not have taken me so many years to claim my identity as a writer if i had taken part in such a supportive program.

NaNoWriMo turned me from a person who thought about writing into a writer. The challenge and encouraging community provided by NaNoWriMo pushed me to write more than I had ever written before.

Breaking through my doubts about writing a novel also helped me to conquer doubts in other creative ventures in my life. I come back every year because I learn more about myself and my creative process every year that I compete. Even when I fail, I learn something useful that I can take with me as I develop my writing skills.

The first year that I failed, I learned that I needed to learn how to structure a plot, so I studied and wrote focusing on plot for a year and my next NaNoWriMo novel had a better plot than any piece of long fiction than I had ever written before.

I would not be blogging regularly if it were not for NaNoWriMo. I am known in several communities as a writer now. Before NaNoWriMo, I didn't even think of myself as a writer. No I really am one.

I haven't published a novel yet, but because of NaNoWrimo, I have had short stories published and have non-fiction material out in the world for people to read.

I can honestly say that NaNoWriMo changed my life.

I'd always wated to be a novelist but it was hard to find the time. Then I heard about Nanowrimo, a yearly competition run by the Office of Letters and Light. 50k words, 30 days. I've alwasys liked a dare, so I took part. I wrote a novel - and I realised I could do it.

And I realised that Nano, and the Office of Letters and Light, was about more than a slightly mental challenge.

It was about convincing people that they had the potential to do all of those things which they had always been convinced they could not realisitcally do. It was about hitting them over the head, repeatedly (and metaphorically) until they did just those things. It was about making people realise that they have something unique and creative to offer the world if they are willing to take the plunge. It was about supporting them while they did it. Best of all, it was about making it fun.

OLL does so many wonderful things: It sends wicked pep talks throughout both November and the year to keep you on track - the latest draft I'm hoping to send to an agent would not have happened without an email from Chris Baty. It runs a brilliant, friendly and excellently moderated set of forums for writers to share info and advice. It runs the Young Writers' Programme. If I had known about the Young Writers' Programme at 13, my first novel would not have taken so long and my life would have been better for it. It keeps people like me sane, and reminds us of the purpose. It makes life better. It's all in the name - office of letters AND light.

Walking into my local library book sale I found "How to Write a Novel in 30 Days". This book introduced me to NaNoWriMo and the 50,000 word challenge. I have done it 3 times now and it has changed me. I know face the challenge and other things in my life with the support of the staff and fellow writers. I can only wish them continued success and hope everyone who is thinking of writing for fun or professionally will get their start here.

I first discovered NaNoWriMo through a friend who was participating in OLL's Young Writers Program through her school in 2008. The challenge was to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. We were game!

I was pleased to find that both the NaNoWriMo and the Young Writers were run in a very organized fashion. Not only were the websites nice to look at, they provided you with easy to find information and plenty of helpful tips. I love the encouraging emails that were sent out weekly and the message board where I could coverse with other aspiring novelists.

I continued to participate in NaNoWriMo in 2009 and 2010 and intend to do it again this November. I have no complaints about OLL. Every experience with them has been great.

NaNoWriMo is such an excellent resource. What else in this world would inspire young students to write so much and so joyfully? My students met their goals and, in most cases, exceeded them. And, while they were having fun writing, they were learning about novel structure, character, setting, plot, etc. The students in our school who were not participating were interested every day to follow the progress of our writers. I have students who are begging me to let them write - something that a teacher doesn't hear every day. I will continue to use NaNoWriMo as long as I teach.

I have taken part in NaNoWriMo, one of the projects under Office of Lights, for two years now and definitely plan to take part again this year. The challenge to write 50K words in a month taught me not only that I am actually able to write that many words and that my other College/Uni assignments seem insignificant compared to this, but it also improved my typing speed and helped me make new friends through the forums and NoNoMail itself.
I adore the lengths the NaNoWriMo staff goes to motivate us to finish. The videos are great fun, and the pep talks are just awesome- the staff knows exactly what we are likely to feel like at certain parts of the month and supply us with just the right words to motivate- fun, honest and challenging.
That is the part about NaNoWriMo that I love the most: the challenge and the community. And the staff are those who make it possible. Thank you, everybody, and thank you, Office of Lights, for supporting this projects. You have made November that one month when it is easy to avoid depression. :D

NaNoWriMo is one of the highlights of my year. It helps young people bring out their creativity and I think that's a wonderful year. In my case, NaNoWriMo helped me to finish a novel that has been stuck in my head for a long time now. Once I'm done with the editing process, I might even get it published :) I've always wanted to be a writer and NaNoWriMo helps me do it.

My teenage sister roped me into the annual NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) under duress. I expected to be either bored or frustrated by the process. In fact, I had a wonderful time! The O.L.L. provides a well-designed website with lots of help and information, a profile page where you can update your word count instantly (which turned out to be a highly effective motivator for me!), and even forums where you can contact other WriMos. They send out encouraging newsletters and pep talks written by successful authors throughout the process.

I was so impressed by this organization's literacy and community programs that I dipped into my very thin wallet and found some funds to contribute. That doesn't happen very often!

NaNoWriMo is what I look forward to most when November comes around--even more than Thanksgiving! I love writing, but it can be hard for me sometimes to find time or set aside time just for writing. NaNo helps me do that, and gives me a goal and a reward if I meet that goal.
I've participated in NaNoWriMo for two years now, and it's done me a boatload of good in helping me plan my time and keep improving as a writer and as a person.
For instance, I'm a lazy person. I freely admit that. But this world unfortunately doesn't have a lot of room for laziness, so I have to make schedules and deliberately irritate myself into doing what needs to be done. November is no exception. But NaNo makes what I'm doing enjoyable, necessary planning and irritating schedules or no. Better yet, if I have pent-up frustrations, they all go into my NaNovel, releasing my stress as well as keeping me on track!
Also, there are people I'd like to keep in touch with that I don't see very often anymore. Since they participate in NaNo, too, the forums and NaNoMail are really easy ways to contact and keep in touch with them. Word Wars help boost our word counts and let us sort of hang out at the same time. They also improve my weak social skills (I'm not much of a people-person), which will help me later on in life.
Thanks a ton, NaNo!

I started my writing career as a young woman of 17. I wrote under a Pen Name for nearly 13 years. Although writing was not my career (I was officially with the military) I wrote endlessly, successfully and prolifically. In May of 1998 my sons, ages 11 & 4 1/2, were killed when a drunk driver struck the vehicle they were in. Their deaths brought about the death of my writing - be it for my career or for personal joy. I bought out my contracts for pending works in progress, ceased all ties with the writing world and tried to desperately write when no words would come. The death of my writing wasn't a conscious choice at first, but it was the end result after I lost my sons. During the next two years I not only mourned their loss, I mourned my inability to create with words.

It was the year 200 when I first returned to writing. A friend, the only one I remained in contact with; started telling me about 'this friend' a friend of hers had. Apparently this guy started some crazy group. The groups purpose; to write a novel in one months time.

I rolled my eyes. A Novel in a month wasn't impossible. My previous writing career already told me that. The idea itself was trite, and yet my friend continued speaking of it. "Yeah, I guess last year they wrote their great American Novels from his apartment!" She went on to talk as if the idea were insane, even insinuating 'real writers would never do such a thing,' and I managed to get the Groups name before our conversation ended.

I knew better, having been a writer with a deadline, that such a goal could be accomplished; but what I originally joined the group to do was find out more information on 'this guy' who started this internet group. I didn't learn much about the groups founder, I didn't even participate actively in the group, but that year, as I scoffed, mocked and later fell for the crazy idea, I began writing for the first time since my sons had died.

In 2000 I won my first National Novel Writing Month by writing the worst novel I have ever written. (No really, it was about a bug living in my kitchen during THAT NaNoWriMo!) In order to become a verified winner, we had to send out document files to 'this guy' and he opened them in a word processor, verified they were in fact more then 50,000 words and then he added a star next to our username. I was pretty happy that 'this guy' couldn't see me as i logged in and saw that star for the first time - I can promise you I saw it through blurry, tear-filled eyes and I smiled through my tears.

In 2000 'this guy' and National Novel Writing Month taught me that my writing wasn't dead yet. I have been a proud NaNoWriMo Participant and Victor for every year since 2000 and I am happy to report, I have gone back to writing professionally as well.

Because of my military service, I used a different screen name then the one I am known by now. At the time that I joined NaNoWriMo I was working undercover and as such my identity online and in real life was hidden. In the year 2001, due to the events of September 11th; my life changed from being an undercover operative to deploying all over the world. my 2001 NaNoWriMo Novel was written in pieces, on various government computers from 3 different countries. In 2002, my NaNo-Novel was written in much the same manner, but my 2003 I was home, stationed in Michigan and I volunteered to become a Municipal Liaison in the city of Flint. That was the year I physically met other Participants, or Wrimo's as we call each other.

During my first year as a Municipal Liaison, I shared the region of Flint with a fellow particpant/ML. While all the writers coming to our forums and our meetings were fantastic, my Co-Municipal Liaison took a distinct disliking to my presence. Because of this in 2003 I had the distinct pleasure of working with The Office of Letters and Light staff to rectify the problems in our region. Not only were they attentive, helpful and prompt, but the staff members I dealt with were REAL, presenting themselves with a sincerity and authenticity not often found in a Charity Office Staff - I remember being stunned that they were just like me - loving NaNoWriMo and it's wrimo's, writing their own novels, and excited about our future as a Charity.

2003 was also the year that I as a Municipal Liaison had my first Young Writer. Although it would be another 2 years before YWPNaNoWriMo would have a website and forum of it's own, already teens and young adults flocked to NaNoWriMo. One such teen, just 13 and accompanied by her father, came to my Flint Regional Write-ins. Year after year she returned, victorious and always growing. Not only did she actively participate in forums and write-ins, she enlisted other teen friends and aided me with the smaller 6-12 year olds who also began appearing with their parents - all wanting to 'write a novel in a month'. I will never forget the phone call I received from my Original Young Writer - "Eensybeensyspider, will you send me a sticker and some of the hand outs you give out at write-ins? There is no NaNoWriMo on my Campus." - My littlest writer had grown up and now was in college. Again the tears returned to my eyes, this time tears of pride, as not only my adult wrimos succeeded but my young wrimos too.

My first few years as an ML were wondrous. NaNoWriMo grew, my region grew. No longer were there 5-8 wrimos at an event (including myself) but now we were hitting double digit attendance numbers! The type and group of participants was as varying as the types of genre's in a library. I watched as these writers, who participated in free program (NaNoWriMo) gave money for our charity's. I watched as friendships forged, groups united, people moved away and newcomers arrived. There is no amount of room to describe all the amazing instances of writers I have had the honor of being with, but for the purpose of this review I do need to share one Wrimo's story.

As I stated, there were many year I was deployed during National Novel Writing Month. One particular year, I was deployed with US Marines in Northern Iraq. The story of my writing a novel in a war zone was featured on NaNoWriMo's website a few years back and can be located here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3294913 - That alone is a testament to the power of The Office of Letters & Light and National Novel Writing Month, but It was during that same NaNoWriMo that I had the distinct honor and privilege to witness the power of NaNo & OLL.

I was writing, as the article states, my novel as we worked our way through the countryside of Iraq. During the beginning of November, my unit visited a tiny village. One of the women in this village took an interest in my presence and through a translator we spoke. She had noticed my hours of writing and asked what it was about. Through the translator I explained I was writing a novel for National Novel Writing Month. For three days this Iraqi woman named Tirife asked about my writing, what this NaNoWriMo was, and why would anyone do it. Teaching her about NaNo was such a thrilling thing because she seemed interested and excited about the idea that women could write novels!

As I stated in my interview for NaNoWriMo, I did manage to win that years NaNoWriMo - barely. The fact that my novel had to travel by so many means just to be validated on time, was amazing - but 6 days after I received word that I did officially win NaNoWriMo, we returned to Tirife's village.

How can I put that moment to words? Bear with me as I try. We rolled up to the village and after cursory greetings began walking through, All of a sudden a woman, completely covered, saying the oddest words comes running towards us. Instantly we alert, it's years of habit and training, but this woman either doesn't see our pointed weapons or didn't feel threatened. Running to our translator she begins talking so fast he must grab her to force her to slow down. Once he understands her and he gives the unit the 'all clear', they walk my direction. As he explains to me that Tirife has written a novel, she is putting sheet after sheet of paper, written in Arabic into my hands.

Tirife wrote 51,204 words that November. By hand, on blank paper, on paper that had stuff printed on it, on magazine pages, on anything she could put ink on. She wrote her story as a novel. In the mountains of Iraq, in the squalor of the horrid building she lived in, with no power, no running water, in a country that had a war ongoing in it, she wrote a novel, and now she stood bouncing on her toes, her eyes barely visible, shining with pride, handing me portions of her book for me to read.

I have never been so humbled, honored, stunned, moved or inspired as I was that day in the bitter cold, sitting with her and the Translator listening to what I believe to be the very first National Novel Writing Month Novel written in Iraq by an Iraqi citizen. I still cry as I think of it.

You ask for an honest and candid review? This is one. Bringing literacy, creativity and a sense of community to people through it's programs for writing is THE FINEST charity I know of. I am active in many, many not for profit charity's; Girl Scouting, Boy Scouting, Shriner's Childrens Hospitals, Twestivals - and all of those are fine, upstanding, life changing charity's - but none - none have had the power to show the individual the exact same lesson:

We are all creative beings. We all have story's to share. Writing is a valuable method of communication. We CAN achieve anything we set our mind to.

I have been fortunate to have written with thousands of wrimos as I have traveled the globe. I have Municipal Liaisoned in 3 different cities, I have been to local write ins in over 15 different states. I have met fellow wrimos, Municipal Liaisons, Supporters of writers and Young Writers. This year in my region a 97 year old woman who went to one of our Library write-ins was writing a novel, by hand, "the old-fashioned way". All because 'this guy' - Chris Baty - was brave enough to challenge himself and others.

Hey Chris - Thank YOU!

My name is Cylithria Dubois. They call me the Eensybeensyspider. I can't put to adequate words how much this organization has changed me, my life, my fellow writers lives and in turn; the World, but it has.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a writer. However, having dreams and working towards them are two different things, and as college approached I decided to focus on more realistic goals. Being the author of a complete, original novel seemed too unlikely toever happen and so I put it on the list of things to do 'someday.' But when I heard about National Novel Writing Month, I saw that thousands of people were writing their own stories while working their day jobs, taking care of their kids, going to school or doing any other number of things we call life. Now, 1 month and 50,000 words later, I am the author of 1 complete, original first draft. I could not have done it without The Office of Letters and Light.

When I was in middle school, I heard about National Novel Writing Month. I'd always been interested in writing, but that didn't seem like something that would fit into my schedule. However, when I reached high school and found myself in a larger student population with only one friend, I needed something to pick me up. There was no better time to try it.

Now I've won three times, each time exceeding 50,000 words in 30 days. It's given me indescribable amounts of confidence. Now in my junior year of high school, I have a large circle of friends, many of them also writers.

In short, OLL is the best thing to happen to me in years.

I learned about this program in 2009. I have been writing stories to entertain myself and a few friends since I was little but had never seriously worked on anything that approached novel length. It was a test of discipline to keep writing regularly during the thirty day period. It was with great satisfaction that I finished the 50,000 word rough draft. Through doing this project I learned more about my strengths as a writer and where I needed to improve. The forums are excellent for advice and support and I found much of them inspiring with helpful advice and encouragement.

I am writing on behalf of the Office of Letters and Light, a non-profit organization that sponsors free events that focus on creative writing. These programs include National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), held in November, and ScriptFrenzy, in April. These programs respectively encourage the writing of a 50,000 word novel and a 100-page script in a supportive, fun manner. These programs are open to people of all ages, and NaNo is international in scope.
I signed up for NaNoWriMo because my sister challenged me to it, and because a change in employment allowed me to have time for it. People, from teachers in grade school to writing friends, have long told me that I am a good writer. However, lack of time, and the sense of being blocked had kept me from writing anything more than e-mails a to-do lists.
NaNo forced me to stop being a perfectionist, and to just get the story out of my head and on to the electronic page. The encouraging e-mails from published authors, some well-known to me, others new, were full of such humor that I laughed out loud while reading them. The NaNo web site allows participants to communicate with other participants and ask for help from the writing community that the program creates. There are even some write-ins and parties associated with NaNo, which I was not able to attend but hope to in the future. I am impressed that the number of participants increases every year; I believe the 2010 count was somewhere north of 250,000.
I am pleased to say that I finished the challenge, and had such a good time doing so that I am not only planning to participate in NaNo again in 2011, but also want to attempt ScriptFrenzy in April.
I even made a donation to support the Office of Letters and Light's school writing programs. I strongly support the notion that such programs must be available. In these difficult economic times in which tax receipts are down and the costs for education are up, I believe that any free program that encourages literacy and writing are an absolute necessity. So often, creative programs are the first to be cut as school systems focus their teaching efforts on the basics that will allow students to pass the standardized exams. To have available classroom instruction and encouragement is essential to cultivating communication skills in the next generation. Those skills could be the difference between career success and career failure.
Thank you!
maharden700@yahoo.com

I have been participating in NaNoWriMo for the last six years, with widely varying degrees of success. The last two years, I have finished a novel. Two 50,000-word novels in as many years. That is an accomplishment most people would never dream of accomplishing, one I never would have attempted without the encouragement and community provided by the NaNoWriMo forums, weekly pep talks, and the never-ending enthusiasm of all the staff.

Thanks to the Office of Letters and Light, I have accomplished something that is truly worth being proud of. If I can write an entire novel, beginning to end, in 30 days while working two jobs, I can complete a bachelor's degree. I attribute my determination in finishing college and diving headfirst into all the challenges university life - and life beyond - has to offer in no small part to my participation in NaNoWriMo. All I need to do is open up that old Word file or look at those winner buttons to remind myself what I'm capable of when I put my mind to something.

I had never heard of NaNoWriMo or Office of Letters and Light until Oct of 2010. A friend of mine mentioned it in passing and I had to ask what it was. She told me a little about the writing challenge and sent me the website address. When I looked at the site and saw what they were all about, I was on board. Within three weeks I had an idea for the book I was going to write and as of Nov. 1 I was off.

In doing the challenge, I found so much support from everyone who had signed up. This is support from strangers. They know nothing about me but they were sending words of encouragement and help. With more research I found that they not only support adults and their dreams of being a writer, they also support kids. They have so many different writing challenges, professional support to polish the novels, stories, plays, whatever.

This community is amazing. I wholeheartedly support it and can't wait to be able to do more.

I first found out about NaNoWriMo in 2004 and I have been participating almost every year since then.

It's difficult at times, because I'm usually in classes, but it can feel quite rewarding when I sit down and manage to write that whole novella in a month's time.

Writing was always something I dabbled in, but I never wrote very fast, but after a few years of NaNoWriMo, I have learned that I can, in fact, type 2000 words in a day given the right motivation, and sometimes I have gone far above and beyond that in the course of the month.

Because of my experience with NaNoWriMo, I have been able to more-or-less keep up with a serial novel, posted in short chapters, for over half a year now.

While I have yet to actually finish a NaNo Novel because I lose my momentum to school after finishing, I really hope to finish one someday and make it available to the internet, since I do not think I am nearly good enough to be published.

The Office of Letters and Light runs National Novel Writing Month, an event designed to focus peer pressure and adrenaline to support the writing process. They provide constant feedback and support, and have organizers across the country who work hard to support budding novelists.

They helped me do something that I had been wanting to do for a long time. They helped me realize that I could do it, even if I didn't really think I could. Their support has led me to help support others in acheiving their dreams, just by letting them know that I believe that they can do whatever they put their mind to.

I've been following the Office of Letters and Light since 2008. I've participated in the past five National Novel Writing Months and the past four Script Frenzys and I have to say that I've loved every single minute of it! The 30-day time limit is a wonderful prod to get yourself writing and honestly it's motivated me more than anything else ever has. The community is incredibly inviting and helpful. No matter what you enjoy writing - scripts, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, something else entirely - there is a place for here! There are forums, pep talks from published authors, and tons of resources for writers of any level. It's a ton of fun. They also sponser a Young Writers Program that promotes writing and storybuilding in schools and libraries. Programs like these are so essential now, especially with budgets forcing schools to cut back on creative outlets. The Office of Letters and Light is wonderful at fostering creativity and I can't thank them enough for it. I don't know where I'd be with my writing or my life without NaNo and Screnzy or the fabulous people who make it all possible. Thank you, OLL, for all you do! Whether you write professionally or you scribble for fun you should definitely give these sites a visit.

I was a bit doubtful about participating in NaNoWriMo when a coworker of mine first encouraged me to sign up. I've always loved reading but believed I was a terrible writer.

And now, I'm a NaNoWriMo winner. That's right. I wrote 50,000 words in 30 days. Some of those words were strangely inspired, some of them came from my pen without my brain consciously considering them ahead of time, some of them were boring, and some were downright terrible (and embarrassing, *sigh*).

The experience of completing such a monumental challenge was incredible. There is absolutely no way I could have achieved such a thing without the full community of NaNoWriMos out there doing the same thing, supporting each other through the website, at local write-ins, with emails. I am so grateful to the people at the Office of Letters and Light for their intensely motivating work--you made something wonderful possible for me!

I'm addicted to NaNoWriMo now, and I can't wait to drag all my friends along with me on the journey next November!

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and challenge of writing a novel in a month's time! The support I received throughout the month from everyone at NaNo WriMo was encouraging and kind. They made me feel like my achievements were more important than their own. The support and caring words just kept coming every single day and I never felt alone in the challenge. My creative writing teacher specifically geared her class around people that wanted to feel the accomplishment of completing a novel. I was so proud to get my certificate and say, "I did it!" I love my novel and am happy with what I've done. I was blown away with the time everyone took in the organization to encourage me to keep going and never give up. They are people dedicated to their love of writing. Thank you! :0)

Nanowrimo gave me the confidence to really begin a career in writing. I learned new skills that I've been able to apply to every stage of my writing. The local gatherings (called "write-ins") were, for me, the most valuable part of the process. Engaging in "word wars" helped me learn to just get those words out without worrying about the editing. Constant editing had always been my biggest obstacle to success.

I will do nano again and again!

I participated in Nanowrimo 2010, and I found the whole process to be incredibly inspiring. This is the first time I've started a book...and actually FINISHED it. And it doesn't matter that my book is not, by any means, the Great American Novel, and it doesn't matter that I have no intention of pursuing publication. Just the fact that I did it - I wrote a novel in a month! - gave me so much creative stimulation, and that's been spilling over into other areas of my life. Because I have seen the direct benefits of a little creative encouragement on myself, I was happy to donate to The Office Of Letters and Light, so that they can continue their mission, particularly their creative writing programs for school children. I plan to continue to be involved with the Office of Letters and Light both as a donor, and a participant in future years of Nanowrimo.

National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, is an incredible experience for a new writer. In just 30 days, participants strive to write a 50,000 word novel. Thanks to the Office of Letters and Light, they need not do it alone. An incredible support network connects writers across the country and the world. Daily motivational e-mails from esteemed writers, and the spirited efforts of regional group leaders, help keep the word counts up.

I can say without a doubt that participating in this experience has made me a better writer.

I've been doing NaNoWriMo since 2006, and each year, not only learn something new, but get help for the more technical aspects of my stories and make some great friends.

A couple years ago, the group "NaNo Quackers" was formed for people that had disabilities (mostly mental). Having Asperger's Syndrome, I promptly joined, and we stay in touch throughout the year; I even made a great friend through that group who is still one of my best friends to this day.

In NaNo 2010, I finally participated in some actual write-ins (instead of just some in Second Life) with my region, and had a blast at each one I attended.

For me, NaNo isn't just a time to actually sit down and write, but a time to socialize, which is typically something I don't do. It's improved my social skills as well as my writing skills, and has actually gotten me to finish stories that I've started (something I'm typically bad with).

It's wonderful that there's a National Novel Writing Month, and I donate to OLL every NaNo to try and at least show some of my appreciation for all the people that take their time to run NaNo.

I dove into NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month) on October 30th 2008. I've competed (and won! wooooooo!) and donated to the Office of Letters and Light in 2008, 2009 and 2010. I intend to write a novel every November for the rest of my life, and donate to OLL every year as well. It is the most fun, and most important writing tool I have found to date. The notion (to write a 50,000 word novel in the 30 days of each November) is brilliant. It is a contest with yourself that includes tens of thousands of cheerleaders the world over, urging you to keep writing-the hardest thing for writers to do. And on top of that, OLL has taken the joy of writing to the schools. Donations help run free NANOWRIMO programs in schools-encouraging our children to write! Harry Potter reawakened the joy of reading. I think the Young Writer's Program can inspire the future JK Rowlings. Keep up the stellar work.

As a writer, focus is one of the hardest obstacles to overcome when attacking a formidable challenge, like say a book. Many times you look for tools to help you overcome this obstacle, coffee, motivation books, random strangers forces to listen to your story ideas that give you just enough encouragement to move forward. But alas, these tools don't seem to keep you focused or motivated. Then you discover NaNoWriMo, the literal sword pulled from the stone of lethargy and busy lives, that not only helps direct that focus but motivates you like a Nonprofit Yoda to the young Skywalker in all of us. It is invalueable for encouragement, insight, and ingeniuety to a young writer or an old writer. I am grateful for all it gave me last November and look forward to the journey this coming year.

As a writer, I used to take too long to finish any work, let alone a novel. Now that I have achieved finishing a novel in a month, two years in a row, I have more confidence in myself.
The camaraderie and the encouragement I found in NaNoWriMo and The Office of Letters and Light , together with my friends from Writing.com, have been exemplary. I can't thank the NaNoWriMo site enough.

Joy Cagil

My daughter and I did NaNoWriMo together this year. It was my first and her second. It fun, interesting and challenging. I had always thought I wanted to try my hand at writing, my story may never get published, but I proved to myself that I could write a story and a long one at that. The website was very helpful and encouraging. The people that I met along the way were extremely nice and supportive.

I took the NaNoWriMo (associated with the Office of Letters and Light) challenge last November, and from it was born a novel that is in the publishing process. I absolutely advocate this wonderful group of encouragers... and I would love to see them win!

A friend told me all about NaNoWriMo about five years ago and had nothing but positive things to say. This past summer another acquaintance mentioned NaNoWriMo and we ended up essentially daring each other to take up the challenge of writing a novel in a month. What followed was well beyond my expectations.

I entered in mid-October and was chomping at the bit to start. Then, shortly before November began, I received the first of several pieces of correspondence. One was from a regional leader who provided encouragement, another was from the head office. Then, as the month progressed, I received periodic pep talks that were indispensible. Some made me laugh, some made me cry, but all resonated in some fashion or another.

What was more beneficial for me though, was the personal page set up for me that graphed my progress on the novel. It provided a visual for how I was – or was not – making my way to the finish line. The statistics on my progress showed me where I was, and where I needed to be.

Finally, after I finished, the prizes were awesome. A video of congratulations from the head office was just what I needed for a good laugh. The certificate I have had framed and sits in a place serving as a reminder of my accomplishment.

NaNoWriMo is one of the best experiences I have ever had. An amzing organization heads it up and I have shared my experience with countless others.

National Novel Writing Month changed the way I treated writing rough drafts. Because I only had to spend one month on a novel if I didn't like it, I had the chance to try things I otherwise wouldn't have taken risks on. In some cases I pushed through drafts I would have killed and ended up saving them because I kept at it. NaNoWriMo is the reason I can say I've written 7 novels, and I'm only 18.

Writing is a solitary business, and it's hard to find community, but NaNoWriMo offers that. When people ask me what my favorite holiday is, I say November.

I heard about NaNoWriMo at a writing conference - as a great way to model self discipline for daily writing habits. It delivered that and much more.

I have recommended it to my writing friends, emering and established. It is a motivating event run by a team of well-organized volunteers.

I had heard of NaNoWriMo before, but never though I would be crazy enough to participate in it myself. I'm now glad that I did for the first time last year. Without NaNoWriMo who knows when I might have eventually got around to doing what I had often thought I would like to do "one day".

Reading about the history of NaNoWriMo and the other projects offered by the Office of Letters and Light shows just how far what once started out as a spontaneous, crazy idea has developed. The support they offer, especially for younger writers, is invaluable.

NaNoWriMo is the only place my friends and I know about that offers the non-judgmental guidance in order to reach our common goal. It is well-organized and involves everyone - I feel - on a personal level. It's not a faceless organization. Everyone that works on it gets down in the grit of it with you and that is the best support aspiring novelists need!

Thank you, NaNo.

I have participated in the National Novel Writing Month for the last three years, as have my daughters. I have found it to be a great experience. As someone who has written for years, it was wonderful to do it as part of a supportive community. I enjoyed the opportunity to provide information in my own fields of expertise to others who needed it for their writing. For my younger daughter, who was still in high school the first time she participated, taking on the immense task of writing 50,000 words in one month caused her to stretch her limits. She gained faith in her ability to rise to a challenge and to complete a difficult task under deadline. I have donated to OLL in the past and intend to do so in the future, as well as continuing to participate in the program.

I have talked about writing my novel for years but never done it. It was always someday when I have the time. I work a 10 hour day and when I get home from work I'm tired and uninspired. This year I committed to the challenge of NANO and every night I wrote my word count. Thanks to the 30 day calendar with the word count for the day I was able to keep on track. The emails from NANO kept me entertained and inspired to keep my fingers on the keyboard and the goal in my sights. Not only did I get 50,000 words written but I proved to myself that I could attain my goal and I had fun doing it.

I LOVE!!!! OLL and NaNoWriMo! They provide such a great outlet for people to be creative and write. It allows people to talk with other writers and gives them a goal to strive for. If you have an idea, write it in November!

I found this organization through a program at our library, and after checking out their website, decided to participate in the program. It was a totally amazing experience! They provided all the support and encouragement a writer needs to write a novel, even a forum for participants to communicate and support each other. There is even a program for local (physical) support through the Municipal Liaison program where volunteers provide help and encouragement in their areas. This allows aspiring writers to focus on their writing. They even have a Young Writers program, which encourages increased literacy in younger people. It is amazing to see how people who don't think they have anything to write turn around and be completely enthused about writing a novel. I've participated for 2 years now, and plan to continue participating for as long as I can. It is amazing what energy there is when a group of people get together and work on meeting their word count. Thanks for starting this and continuing to support writers and soon-to-be writers!

Nanowrimo.org through the Office of Letters and Light, provided the formula and just the right amount of stimulation to get me to do something I have never finished before... a novel. I wrote like a maniac throughout the month of November 2010. Over 53,000 words of Sci-Fi creativity came to my brain. Loving every minute of the adventure and basking in the accomplishment, I have to thank the Office of Letters and Light for giving me the push and encouragement I needed. I am now editing the novel. You can be sure I'll be back for more next November. Thanks, Guys!

I have participated in the OLL's primary program, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) for six years now, and this previous year I volunteered as a Municipal Liaison in my region. I've seen people who were convinced they weren't writers, weren't creative, and would never be able to manage to write 50,000 words in a single month (the goal of NaNoWriMo) far exceed their own expectations of themselves. I've experienced that phenomenon myself, as well. I have also seen the program build strong connections and friendships between people, and bring them together not only to better themselves and the world through their writing, but their own communities and the world through shared action and group goals.

The OLL inspires people to set goals for themselves, to believe in themselves, and to compete first and foremost against themself, rather than against others. They further literacy all around the world... not just the mechanical literacy of learning how to read and write, but creative literacy - learning how to touch people and be touched by people through creative written expression. They also further the positive development of the individual as a whole, by providing them with an achievable goal, as well as the support structure to reach that goal, thus proving to the participants themselves that they are capable, and strong, and creative people.

I learned about the Office of Letters and Light through their championing of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I participated in NaNoWriMo 3 times, and each time was a greater and more fulfilling experience. The online community they've managed to build to support aspiring fiction writers worldwide is astounding and inspiring. I felt supported and bouyed every day of NaNoWriMo because of The Office of Letters and Light's online resources and pep talks. Overall, the experience was incredibly rewarding, and I'd gladly participate in NaNoWriMo again!

Not long after graduating from college, a friend and I were talking about turning 25. He said, "I thought I would have patented an invention by now." I replied, "I haven't even written a novel yet." That was September 2009. Two months later, I was frantically writing my first National Novel Writing Month project and discovering the supportive communities built around The Office of Letters and Light's annual program. While I have been writing fiction for ten years, participating in NaNoWriMo has given me the goals, structure, and motivation to draft two novels of contemporary fiction and to expand my creative reach. Participating in NaNoWriMo has increased my confidence. The experience I have gained has convinced me to pursue creative writing alongside visual art in my graduate program, beginning this fall (2011). OLL's NaNoWriMo program has been essential in helping me rebuild my self-confidence as a creative person.

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.

National Novel Writing Month is a wonderful community initiative that encourages those who have never written much before -- perhaps those who have never dared to think of themselves as a writer before -- to take up the literal pen and finally write that dreamt-of novel. A lot of people see NaNoWriMo as a fun thing to do in November, but I think it's much more than that -- it's a powerful literacy tool to empower people of all ages to reach beyond what they think they're capable of.

Good writers learn by reading; great writers learn by writing. Participate in NaNoWriMo, give it a go one November, and you will find yourself tapping into creative juices you had no idea were there. Take what you've learned from NaNoWriMo and harness these energies outside of November, and a writer you are (because a writer writes!).

Participants write fantasies, literary fiction, personal memoirs -- whether or not participants go on to edit and try to publish (and many do not), an important event has taken place simply in the act of picking up that pen, turning on that laptop, firing up that AlphaSmart. The act says 'I can do this.' It says 'My dreams are worth it.' It says 'Maybe I won't get to 50k, but I will try my hardest, and I will be proud of whatever I achieve if I've put an honest and solid effort in.'

NaNoWriMo is an important project and is especially effective at targeting teens and youth (through the Young Writers Program as well as the general NaNoWriMo challenge). It deserves and will make good use of any funding it receives.

Constructive feedback:

- After four years of ML-ing, I have found that the 50k goal, while integral to the event, is a deterrent and frustration to many participants year after year. I repeatedly tell my wrimos that any new writing in November is more than they would have written otherwise, and is an achievement to be celebrated. But too often I find people unnecessarily focused on the goal of 50,000 words rather than the simple fact that they're trying their best amidst family, work, and other demands. I find it disheartening when someone who wrote 35,000 words in November talks about themselves as though they and their efforts are a failure. I am not suggesting we do away with the 50k goal, but I think it would be worthwhile to consider ways to get across the message that 35,000 -- or 5,000 -- words is a worthy achievement, too, even if it may not qualify as a "win."

- I know that NaNoWriMo has had the plans (but not the money) to launch a year-round NaNoWriMo-type challenge for a couple of years now. I think it's very important to take this step. I find, and have found personally, that it's difficult to keep up the writing momentum after the frenzied month of November, and extra motivation throughout the year (or at least a website where we can continue to update our word count and find support from other writers in the forums) would be invaluable -- and very necessary. To keep the benefits of what I described above, the ways NaNoWriMo helps with literacy, I believe that the event must have a year-round component in order to help the new and burgeoning writers keep themselves on track. For this, NaNoWriMo needs and would make good use of any funding monies. Also, if a year-round NaNoWriMo event were to be launched, my following point is even more important.

- NaNoWriMo organizers need to seriously consider adding the genre of "autobiographical fiction" to their list of accepted genres (preferably with it's own forum). After a slow but steady increase in acceptance of "rebel" memoir and autobiography writers over the last 5 years that I have been involved with NaNo, this past year the official stand was that memoir and autobiography writers are well within the rules *as long as* they believe they are writing fiction (since that is the cardinal rule of the NaNoWriMo event: one must write fiction, and this makes sense when non-fiction is things like cookbooks and legal texts).

In my experience, a vast majority of memoir/autobiography writers (who post on the NaNo forums, at least) fictionalize their writings in some way (name changes, merging of events, writing stories vaguely based on their lives but changing anything they see fit -- hmm, that sounds like fiction to me). But as of now, these writers are still relegated to the "rebels" forum, the place for people who choose not to play by the rules (such as writers choose to start writing before the Nov. 1 challenge begins). I would suggest adding an "autobiographical fiction" (which is a fictional story loosely based on the author's life) section to the forums to make it clear that this genre is part of the "allowed" NaNoWriMo genres. The non-fiction memoir and autobiography writers will still be rebels, of course, and that's fine. But I think this would be an ideal compromise, letting these writers know that if they are willing to fictionalize their stories, or if they consider their stories fiction, then they will be playing by the rules.

(Why is this more important if NaNoWriMo were active year-round? Because it's hard enough being a "rebel" for one month of the year; feeling like you're not a legitimate participant in a full-year event would be so much harder. I feel strongly that the "fiction/non-fiction -- where does memoir fit in?" question needs to be resolved before the NaNo challenge launches year-round. I also think resolution of this question would bring in more donation dollars from participants -- participants who feel validate and supported donate more, after all.)