Key Takeaways:
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a nonprofit organization known for encouraging thousands of people to write novels each November, is currently embroiled in a heated debate over its position on artificial intelligence (AI) in creative writing.
The controversy began when NaNoWriMo issued a statement asserting that opposition to AI tools is “classist and ableist,” leading to a strong backlash from both its community and prominent authors.
#NaNoWriMo, the disgraced “write a novel in a month” platform that got exposed for alleged grooming, has now fully embraced using AI to write, even going as far to post an overly aggressive FAQ about it.
Apparently it’s ableist AND classist to be against AI.#WritingCommunity https://t.co/pLyyG3ZsOu pic.twitter.com/PPXxDBBVxi
— Arumi Velociraptor | sudo -426 int (@Arumi_kai) September 1, 2024
The organization’s statement, released on its website, argued that categorically condemning AI disregards issues of privilege, noting that “not all brains have the same abilities” and that AI tools can reduce the financial burden of hiring human assistants.
NaNoWriMo, which started in 1999, has grown to become a major event in the literary community, challenging participants to write a 50,000-word manuscript in 30 days.
While the organization has previously accepted novels written with AI tools like ChatGPT, it also noted that using such tools for the entire submission “would defeat the purpose of the challenge.”
Can I just say Labor Day was an amazing time for NaNoWriMo to come right out and say they are happy to steal the products of writers’ long, hard labor.
— Bryn Donovan – Author (@BrynDonovan) September 2, 2024
This year, however, NaNoWriMo’s messaging seemed more supportive of AI, stating that it recognizes some community members stand against AI for their personal use, but everyone should have the freedom to choose their tools.
The response to NaNoWriMo’s statement has been overwhelmingly critical. Many writers took to social media platforms like X and Reddit to express their concerns, arguing that AI tools are exploitative and undermine the value of human creativity.
Them what’s the point of having 1 month of nanowrimo if you can ask the chatbox to vomit 50,000 words filled with uncopyrightable gibberish in less than 5 minutes?
— Nancy Foster 💉🇲🇽 (@drafoxter) September 2, 2024
Disabled writers have also spoken out against the statement, arguing that it implies they need AI tools to be effective, a notion they find both offensive and incorrect.
Daniel José Older, a lead story architect for Star Wars: The High Republic, was among the first to resign from the NaNoWriMo Writers Board in protest publicly.
Hello @NaNoWriMo this is me DJO officially stepping down from your Writers Board and urging every writer I know to do the same. Never use my name in your promo again in fact never say my name at all and never email me again. Thanks! https://t.co/KDKZ0zVx3H
— Daniel José Older (@djolder) September 2, 2024
This controversy is just the latest in a series of challenges for NaNoWriMo. The organization has previously faced criticism over a lack of transparency, particularly following allegations of child endangerment and grooming, and for its partnerships with companies that offer AI writing tools.
My eyes feel like bleeding after reading SOME of that
— Heartburn & Magic Bears & Women’s Rights (@austinjbooks) September 1, 2024
In response to the mounting backlash, NaNoWriMo has amended its original statement to acknowledge concerns about the impact of generative AI tools on the writing industry.
It also sought to clarify that AI encompasses a wide range of generative and non-generative technologies and that the complexity of this category makes it difficult to take a definitive stance.
Despite this clarification, many in the writing community remain unconvinced. Critics argue that NaNoWriMo’s stance effectively supports the use of AI in creative work, a position they see as fundamentally at odds with the organization’s mission to foster human creativity and community.
I thought they hit rock bottom last year, but somehow it keeps getting worse.
— Arumi Velociraptor | sudo -426 int (@Arumi_kai) September 2, 2024
Rebecca Thorne, a longtime participant in NaNoWriMo, expressed shock at the suggestion that being economically disadvantaged necessitates the use of AI tools for writing.
@rebecca.thorne Human writers support human editors and human artists. And here I thought #nanowrimo would feel the same. Let’s talk about National Novel Writing Month, and their new stance on AI. This organization has fallen so far, and i’m going to be fascinated to see who sponsors it in November. 😐 #writertok #authortok #booktok #book #fyp #nanowrimo #nationalnovelwritingmonth #wrimos ♬ original sound – Rebecca Thorne
The debate over AI in creative fields continues to grow as these tools become more advanced and accessible.
Many writers draw a clear line between generative AI, which creates new content from existing data, and non-generative tools, such as grammar checkers, that assist without generating original work.
tell me you’ve lost the plot without telling me you’ve lost the plot. isn’t the whole point supposed to be to challenge yourself?
— leonardo givenchy (@eeeli_jah) September 2, 2024
The pushback against generative AI is particularly strong, with many in the creative community arguing that it undermines the very essence of human expression and artistic endeavor.
NaNoWriMo has yet to provide further comments following its updated statement, leaving many to wonder how the organization will navigate this complex and contentious issue moving forward.
The moral compass of this organization is finally destroyed beyond recognition.
They’ve killed the entire purpose for their existence: encouraging writers to work hard.
Imagine a marathon-runners organization telling people they can just use a car.
— Zackary Russell (@ztrussell) September 2, 2024
For now, the situation remains a flashpoint in the ongoing conversation about the role of technology in creativity, highlighting the tensions between innovation and tradition, access and authenticity, in the world of writing.
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