Mackenzie K. Writes

Hello, cyberspace!

A few months ago, I posted a farewell to NaNoWriMo, addressing where I finally drew the line with the organization’s extremely poor judgement and lack of consideration. At that time, everyone who participated in NaNoWriMo was–in some way, though I’m sure there were some outliers who were not–associated with the organization. For me, participating in NaNoWriMo in any sense would have been my acceptance of their organization.

Little did I know that less than a month after I posted that, the NaNoWriMo organization would come out with their very own farewell to the writing community, in which they disclose their reasons for shutting down (including lack of funding and “community vitriol”). I tried to find the actual shut down video, but unfortunately there has been so much posted in the interim that it’s almost impossible to find it. That, and I’m fairly certain they have deleted it since.

All that to say, I never thought I would see the day when I was participating in NaNoWriMo again. I have lost trust with the organization itself–which is unfortunate, since so much of my writing journey has been mapped out through failed and successful November adventures–and quite frankly I wasn’t all too thrilled with some of the changes they were making. The “new” NaNo just wasn’t the same as the NaNo I discovered back in 2015. Everything changes, of course, but it felt like NaNo was constantly going backwards, rather than forwards.

Enter, if you will, 2025. The first year where there will be no NaNoWriMo. The first year where writers are, in a way, “punished” for not agreeing with the organization. We disagreed. We made a stand. NaNoWriMo disappeared into the dust.

Seems a little extreme to me, but okay. XD

I’d made my peace with NaNoWriMo being a thing of the past, of course. Kinda hard to not be a little bit salty when I look back on the organization and how they’ve consistently handled things. But while I thought that NaNo was done and gone forever, the internet–as it so often does–seemed to have other plans.

Introducing NaNoWriMo 2.0! First off, I have some thoughts…

SOME THOUGHTS ON NANO 2.0

I’ll come right out and say it; I’m a bit of a skeptic for the NaNo 2.0 thing, but I’ve hit a bit of a crux in my writing journey, which I will talk about in a more in-depth post sometime. Essentially, it is this: if I do not get serious about my writing now, I might as well give up. And giving up just isn’t an option, so it’s time to get serious.

So! What is NaNoWriMo 2.0? I’m going to leave some links below, but at its very core, NaNo 2.0 was created by some of the original people who made NaNoWriMo what it was. The founder, Chris Baty, is even on the development team, which I feel like is a step in the right direction. Supposedly, a lot of the decisions which were made by the more modern NaNo did not stem from this leadership team, but rather a leadership team that grew in 2024. (This does indeed track with when the Mass Exodus began…) I don’t know all of the more subtle nuances of this, and I’m sure there are about a hundred people on the internet who know more than I do, but from a very brief poke around the website, I’m hesitant, but must say that this really does feel legit…

And, dare I say it, feels like the old NaNoWriMo…

The difference, of course, is that this new NaNoWriMo is not the organization it once was, and therefore does not have most of the features it once did. No writer swag, no word tracker, no forums. It is a simple site that serves one purpose–to be a main hub for all writers interested in participating. (they do have some fun participation buttons, though! so that’s kinda awesome)

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Links To Check Out…

• NaNoWriMo 2.0‘s website
• Kate Cavanaugh’s YouTube video

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MY WRITING JOURNEY – A CONFESSION

Recently, I have felt convicted about my lack of perseverance when it comes to my writing. I have wrestled for years to find a rhythm that felt right, thinking that once I found that perfect formula, I would finally “make it”. I’d be a “writer”. I’d “finish my book”. (that’s a lot of air quotes.)

I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but sometimes I feel like I’ve wasted too much time in the process. I struggle with consistency. I struggle with persistence. When the going gets tough, I turn right around and wonder if I should have gone left instead. And it’s been years of this, this sort of lollygagging back and forth expecting my feet to find traction automatically. But that’s just not how creativity works. You have to fight for it. You have to press into it even when you don’t want to. You have to work for it.

So today I’m stepping up to the proverbial plate and saying…I’m ready to work for it. Well, maybe I’m not ready. But I’m done waiting for the day when I am. I’m going to start even if I’m not ready yet.

Which brings me to the main point of this post and these two slightly unrelated precursors…

I AM PARTICIPATING IN NANOWRIMO 2025

Or, more specifically, my own isolated version of NaNoWriMo 2025. Which is probably better for me anyway. No distractions. No setbacks. Just pure, unadulterated writing and chaos.

After all, isn’t that what National Novel Writing Month is supposed to be? Writers actually writing?

I have about 20,000 words written in my current manuscript right now. Another 50k on top of that and we’ll have ourselves a full-fledged novel. It’s terrifying and exciting and exhilarating all at once. I’m excited that NaNoWriMo is back. I’m excited that it’s boiled down to its most basic of elements. I’m excited that November is right around the corner…

I won’t say the last few years have been easy. The Lord has worked on me in more ways than I’d care to admit, and I truly believe He is about to set me on yet another path of learning and growing. But this time, I’m not fighting Him on it. This time, I’m willing to let go and see where He takes me.

This time, I’m willing to admit that I can do better.

So welcome to Preptober 2025, my friends! Let’s see where the next few months take us!