The Writing Community Faces a Major Divide Over A.I. Use in NaNoWriMo

The writing world is buzzing with controversy as NaNoWriMo, the nonprofit that promotes writing through its annual November challenge, faces backlash over its stance on using generative A.I. NaNoWriMo’s statement appeared to endorse A.I. as a helpful tool for marginalized and disabled writers, sparking outrage among established authors like Daniel José Older, Maureen Johnson, and Erin Morgenstern who spoke to Slate. These writers argue that the use of A.I. harms creativity, exploits social justice language, and undermines genuine writing efforts.

At the heart of the conflict is a disagreement over what writing truly means. For many, NaNoWriMo has always represented a commitment to the raw, human process of creativity—writers pushing through self-doubt, distractions, and mental blocks to craft a story. But NaNoWriMo’s evolving stance on A.I. clashes with this ethos, especially as some authors discovered their work was used without consent to train A.I. algorithms. This has led several writers to step down from NaNoWriMo’s board and distance themselves from the organization.

NaNoWriMo’s decision to present A.I. as a tool for fighting systemic discrimination or aiding those with disabilities feels misguided to many in the writing community. As a result, authors are leaving the organization behind and forming new, A.I.-free writing spaces. The message from those opposing A.I. use is clear: creativity and community matter more than convenience, and the human element of writing must be preserved. For them, no technology can replicate the sweat, tears, and triumph that come from writing a story, one word at a time.

Despite NaNoWriMo’s intentions to accommodate new technology, many writers believe that the soul of storytelling is being sacrificed for convenience and corporate interests. As the controversy continues, the future of NaNoWriMo hangs in the balance, with writers choosing to stick to their old-school methods, protecting the purity of the craft from what they see as the looming threat of artificial intelligence.