My Nonprofit Reviews
Bardie
Review for The Office of Letters and Light, Berkeley, CA, USA
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.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I was a first time particpant in NaNoWriMo2010. I've been writing since before I hit middle school but NaNoWriMo gave me focus. I finally wrote an entire story, beginning middle and end, without stopping or giving up. I finally found out that being a writer is truly what I want to be 'when I grow up,' though I suppose I'm an author now before I even have my driver's license. Before NaNoWriMo, my mom wouldn't allow me to write anything outside of school. But I've been given the chance, and the help.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Include an editing section. It's a lot easier to write than it is to edit a novel. Make the proof novel thing easier to understand to those unfamiliar with everything except reading books.
How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
How did you find this group?
My literature teacher and almost all of the people in Creative Writing Club had participated in NaNoWriMo. I originally thought it was a small poetry thing, but I soon found out that it was National Novel Writing Month. I missed freshman year, but caught on this year. I then checked out all the easy links to and from OLL.
What, if any, change in your life has this group encouraged?
I wrote my first novel. I confirmed that my official career goal is to be a writer, preferably an author. I also relate to my friends better, because they write novels in one month each year. And we're all still in high school! My life will be fulfilling now. I won't be wandering aimlessly between painter and scientist and accountant and teacher. I will still have to chose one other career, but I now have direction. I'm able to choose my classes for next year based on something.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
