The Aftermath Of Nanowrimo

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Abstract

hat daily goal of 1700 words a day, give or take.No one has to complete the Nanowrimo challenge to remain part of the community. Instead, everyone is given a choice. One can either complete the project they have chosen or work on their own thing in writing sessions. They can also take the time to do freelance work for day jobs, journal if they have thoughts, or type out the latest fanfiction idea. There is always the sense of community that keeps you going one word at a time, even as you forget headphones to provide your own soundtrack or videos.Most years, Nanowrimo has not been eventful. My local group would meet either at Panera café or online after the pandemic. The biggest drama would be if we argued about different animated shows and who would watch the next season of Hilda.Municipal Liaisons are not the same as the forum moderators. Different responsibilities and scope; I manage my region, which happens to be the Miami area. That means that I schedule write-ins, motivate people in the area about the November challenge as well as the summer camps.During breaks I would sew, and some people would crochet. I have a happy memory of the previous ML’s son asking if he could finish the Pokemon I was sewing for him, and took to the task readily. Last I heard, he’s into Roblox, but it was a nice moment while it lasted. We’d also talk about nerdy things like anime or books, and become deeply

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involved with the conversations.<h1 id="1972">When Is A Safe Space No Longer Safe?</h1>I believe that we all need safe spaces. They are places where we can take time to relax, wind down, and hang with friends. We don’t have to worry about the world or our lives while pursuing crafts or shooting the breeze.Safe spaces have an inherent social contract. When people create a meeting for a group, they ask people to behave, to not be mean, and respond with encouragement rather than despair. “Don’t be evil” may be too broad, but “Don’t be a dick” can get the point across quite well.One person breaking the contract does not add danger, as long as others identify it. The problem is when we don’t have someone enforcing those norms, with kindness and firmness. As a result, the violations fester until they become normal, and then we wonder how we let them grow to such disastrous heights,Right now, I don’t know when or if the remains of the forums are safe. Heck, I am questioning my role as a Municipal Liaison and if I can find a replacement for next year. It is my priority to keep people safe, and it seems the organization has failed that as a whole. I have to rethink that, and what it means.2024 is going to bring a lot of those thoughts to the forefront. I want my community to be safe. And I have to think about what that safety means in the face of disruption.</article></body>

The worst way to derail the 50,000 words a month challenge is for controversy to emerge.

Nanowrimo, short for National Novel Writing Month has wrapped up, and we are now in December. The official events have wound down. This time, though, more unsettling news came, from outside the organization.

This link should explain what happened. I spent most of November processing what happened. More drama happened at the beginning of December that has reset all those anxieties, making me question the motives of the person who broke the news. And in all honesty, I can’t claim to be an expert about what happened or accurate about all the details.

What Made Nano Safe

Nanowrimo started as a challenge to help people complete their novels or the long project that they had been putting off due to a lack of time or headspace. They would log in their word counts on the Nanowrimo website accordingly. In addition, they would work hard to meet that daily goal of 1700 words a day, give or take.

No one has to complete the Nanowrimo challenge to remain part of the community. Instead, everyone is given a choice. One can either complete the project they have chosen or work on their own thing in writing sessions. They can also take the time to do freelance work for day jobs, journal if they have thoughts, or type out the latest fanfiction idea. There is always the sense of community that keeps you going one word at a time, even as you forget headphones to provide your own soundtrack or videos.

Most years, Nanowrimo has not been eventful. My local group would meet either at Panera café or online after the pandemic. The biggest drama would be if we argued about different animated shows and who would watch the next season of Hilda.

Municipal Liaisons are not the same as the forum moderators. Different responsibilities and scope; I manage my region, which happens to be the Miami area. That means that I schedule write-ins, motivate people in the area about the November challenge as well as the summer camps.

During breaks I would sew, and some people would crochet. I have a happy memory of the previous ML’s son asking if he could finish the Pokemon I was sewing for him, and took to the task readily. Last I heard, he’s into Roblox, but it was a nice moment while it lasted. We’d also talk about nerdy things like anime or books, and become deeply involved with the conversations.

When Is A Safe Space No Longer Safe?

I believe that we all need safe spaces. They are places where we can take time to relax, wind down, and hang with friends. We don’t have to worry about the world or our lives while pursuing crafts or shooting the breeze.

Safe spaces have an inherent social contract. When people create a meeting for a group, they ask people to behave, to not be mean, and respond with encouragement rather than despair. “Don’t be evil” may be too broad, but “Don’t be a dick” can get the point across quite well.

One person breaking the contract does not add danger, as long as others identify it. The problem is when we don’t have someone enforcing those norms, with kindness and firmness. As a result, the violations fester until they become normal, and then we wonder how we let them grow to such disastrous heights,

Right now, I don’t know when or if the remains of the forums are safe. Heck, I am questioning my role as a Municipal Liaison and if I can find a replacement for next year. It is my priority to keep people safe, and it seems the organization has failed that as a whole. I have to rethink that, and what it means.

2024 is going to bring a lot of those thoughts to the forefront. I want my community to be safe. And I have to think about what that safety means in the face of disruption.