The National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) organisation is set to overhaul its all-ages social spaces amongst other policies, prioritising safety and community well-being. Kilby Blades, the Interim Executive Director, addressed the NaNoWriMo community with a detailed update on the upcoming changes, pushing towards more controlled, safer online environments.
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“We listened to a lot of feedback in November—some of it was hard to hear, but taking action to improve the organization was necessary,” Blades stated, outlining the need for improvement following concerns raised in November. The forthcoming changes are designed to align with NaNoWriMo’s mission to provide structure, community, and encouragement for creative endeavours.
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Key among the adjustments by NaNoWriMo is the discontinuation of open, all-ages social spaces. Users between 13 and 18 years old will retain account access for productivity and tracking purposes but will be barred from forum participation and from sharing location or session information. The organisation aims to create a safer environment, moving away from hosting and moderating spaces that cater to all ages.
“Though younger members will be able to connect as Buddies with users they already know, our policy of hosting and moderating all-ages spaces will retire.”
Kilby Blades, NaNoWriMo Interim Executive Director
Furthermore, NaNoWriMo plans to reintroduce forums with a focus on small groups, transitioning away from the unsustainable model of a global, always-on “mega-forum.” The new strategy includes opening regional and affinity group forums, moderated by trained Municipal Liaisons and volunteers, to maintain manageable and safe discussion spaces.
Blades also highlighted a complete revamp of their volunteer programme, introducing stringent training, support, and security checks, including identity verification and criminal background assessments. Additionally, a new certification process for educators will be implemented on the Young Writers Program (YWP) website, requiring formal validation for those wishing to use the classroom feature.
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Despite the absence of a single launch date for these changes, the organisation is in the final stages of preparing for the transition, having revised policies, legal contracts, and technical back-ends to support the new measures. Blades acknowledged the challenges and the sense of loss within the community due to the altered or suspended programs but reiterated the commitment to a safer, more accountable NaNoWriMo.
“We are working very hard to ensure that we rise to the standard that our community deserves and rightfully expects. We are building a safer, stronger, more accountable NaNoWriMo.”
Kilby Blades, NaNoWriMo Interim Executive Director
Writers welcomed the move, with some saying it was a “sensible decision.” There is also an updated FAQ section regarding the recent changes.
As these changes unfold, NaNoWriMo invites community feedback and queries, ensuring an inclusive and transparent transition to the newly envisioned framework.