In a recent email to the NaNoWriMo community, the Board of Directors outlined a series of significant actions taken in response to recent grooming allegations that raised concerns about community safety and ethics. The message, emphasising transparency and commitment to improvement, marks a step in addressing these issues. Last year, National Novel Writing Month, commonly known as NaNoWriMo, faced criticism following allegations that a specific forum associated with the event compromised the safety of minors.

Read: NaNoWriMo board addresses ‘grooming’ claims as users leave

The primary goal of NaNoWriMo is to encourage and support writers of all levels to embark on the challenge of writing a novel within the span of 30 days. Participants set a word count goal for their novels, typically aiming for 50,000 words, and strive to meet this target by the end of November. However, users began leaving the platform after the reports emerged.

Enhancing community safety: NaNoWriMo’s response to allegations

According to the Board, “Our inbox has been flooded, and we appreciate all of the thoughtful responses from participants and volunteers who genuinely care about NaNoWriMo, our fellow writers, and the community as we do.” The organisation acknowledged the community’s active involvement and concern.

Key measures announced include a full-scale review of business practices, led by former board member, Kilby Blades. This review extends to a comprehensive overhaul of the organisation’s codes of conduct and the implementation of new procedures around community safety.

Significantly, NaNoWriMo said it has committed to a full revision and legal review of their employee handbook and Municipal Liaison (ML) agreement, alongside the development of a formal contract for all volunteers. A stricter vetting process for volunteers, including identity verification and background checks, has also been established, aiming to enhance the safety and integrity of the community.

Staff and technology changes at NaNoWriMo

Furthermore, the organisation licensed a digital constituent management system to improve volunteer management capabilities. This is complemented by comprehensive background checks for all current employees and the introduction of checks and balances to ensure adherence to conduct and ethics standards.

Staffing changes are also part of the strategic response, with a reshaping of certain roles and the initiation of new staffing strategies. “We believe that learning from this moment through addressing skill gaps in the organization is healthy,” the Board stated, indicating a forward-looking approach to organisational development.

Other significant changes include disabling the self-identification mechanism for educators on the Young Writers Program (YWP) website and a comprehensive revision of the technology roadmap to address usability issues.

Read: NaNoWriMo: the pros and cons of National Novel Writing Month

In terms of community engagement, NaNoWriMo is apparently conducting a deep dive into forums and forum moderation, including benchmarking with other organisations facing similar challenges. It plans to hold focus groups and Town Hall meetings to further involve community members in the ongoing dialogue.

The email then concludes on an optimistic note, expressing excitement for the future and an invitation for community members to contribute to the organisation’s journey. “We hope you feel seen and heard, and that you will stick with us as we continue supporting the writing community and our organization,” the Board expressed, reaffirming their commitment to a safer and more inclusive NaNoWriMo.

Users have had mixed reactions, with some saying it is a step in the right direction, however, others have criticised the move, believing the actions have come too late.

As these changes are implemented, it is expected that NaNoWriMo will continue to inform the community about safety issues in a bid to foster a secure environment for creativity, and regain trust from the community.