NaNoWriMo gives writers so much. Isn’t it time you returned the favor?

I’m a volunteer with NaNoWriMo and it always amazes me how many participants are completely shocked to learn that NaNoWriMo isn’t completely flush with cash because everyone’s heard of them, haven’t they? It’s easy to get the idea in your head that supporting an organization by retweeting or clicking like on their posts, talking them up to family and friends or even just by feeling super affectionate toward them somehow translates to monetary support but that simply isn’t true. The fact is, NaNoWriMo is a non-profit, run almost entirely by donations made by participants just like you and whether they get to host this event next year isn’t a sure thing. It depends entirely on whether they raise enough funds to make it happen.

“But aren’t there worthier causes that need my money?” is a thing writers don’t ask because we are capable of thinking about more than one thing at a time. Writers can and do care about many things simultaneously, it’s what gives us that drive to put pen to paper, and ensuring that the next generation of writers gets to benefit from the same inspiration, support and community that NaNoWriMo provided for us is one of them. We know that just because other worthy things exist that need our dollars, doesn’t mean we should let this one worthy thing that matters to us die.

And die NaNoWriMo will, unfortunately, if we don’t support it. If you take a peek at the homepage right now, the fundraising bar is behind this year which means NaNoWriMo needs us even more than usual. Think about the high of hitting that milestone word count, of finally getting to achieve a meaningful step towards your writing dreams and goals, that NaNoWriMo gave you this year. Surely, you can give them a little something back in thanks?

So before you do another thing, take a second and make a donation to NaNoWriMo, even if it’s only a few dollars. You can even be efficient and purchase something from the NaNoWriMo merchandise store, where your dollars will go right back to the organization and you can knock a few people off your holiday gift list at the same time. (In particular, the posters make for gorgeous wall decor for writers of any sort, especially when framed, and most are on sale right now! I’ve got several hanging in my stairwell and they never fail to draw compliments, even from people who have never heard of the event!) You can even get someone else to donate in your name! Or if you’re completely and totally broke and so is everyone you know, they’ve got a list of other ways you can help fund the event without paying a thing from your own pocket.

Sometimes people get the idea that if they can’t give much, it’s not worth it to give at all. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Just as every word you write gets you closer to the end of your novel and the realization of your writing dreams, every dollar helps NaNoWriMo get closer to their fundraising goals. So for everything that NaNoWriMo has done for you and writers just like you, please take a moment to invest at least a little something in their future today.

Photo by Tim Green aka atoach