Calling all writers to this month-long virtual writing community hosted by Olivia Gratehouse, full of all kinds of writing resources and events as an alternative to NaNoWriMo!
Writing and storytelling has been one of my greatest passions since I was a child. From the time I was ten years old, shamelessly copying the likes of C. S. Lewis and Christopher Paolini, my mind would come alive with all kinds of grandiose stories full of magic and adventure.
But it wasn’t until 2013 that I began to take my writing seriously, by participating in a writing event known as National Novel Writing Month, or “NaNoWriMo” for short. Little 18-year-old me had no idea what she was getting into, but the event set me on a writing trajectory for more than ten years afterward, participating almost annually in the challenge to write a novel in one month.
Which is why it pains me that earlier this year, the people who run NaNoWriMo decided to allow AI into the writing process. This came as a huge shock, especially since such standards negate the entire purpose of this challenge in the first place. NaNoWriMo has always been about taking on the seemingly impossible task of writing 50,000 words in 30 days, and now they’ve stunted that challenge.
But here’s the thing: as much as I’ve loved NaNoWriMo all these years, I’ve rarely actually “won” the challenge and written all the 50,000 words. Instead, I’ve used the event as a springboard for my current writing project, an opportunity to double down on whatever story I’m working on at the time. In reality, what I love most is the spirit of NaNoWriMo, the community, hearing fellow writers talk about their manuscripts and cheering each other on. I love the writing sprints and pep talks and the solidarity between people who just want to tell a good story.
So then I thought, why can’t I just do that myself? And thus, the idea for Storywielders was born.
What’s a Storywielder?
I’m so glad you asked!
Are you a writer? Congratulations, you are a Storywielder! They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and it doesn’t matter if you write fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or even just ghostwriting: you yourself are a living, breathing story, and only you can choose how to wield it.
So for the month of November, I decided to host a little writing community of my own. I want to give fellow writers the opportunity to cultivate a community and write together, setting our own goals and working at our own pace.
To get started, I set up a Discord server for anyone who wants to join forces and be creative together. In this space, you can talk about your writing project, set your own goals, participate in writing sprints, and cheer each other on. I’ll be posting pep-talks, words of encouragement, as well as hosting a few virtual write-ins every week.
Want to Join Our Storywielders Group?
If you would like to join our community of writers, then click on the link below. It will open up to a google form which will need to be filled out before members are approved.
Sign up to join our Storywielders group here!
(Note: Moms and teens 16 years old or older joining up!)
Participation is completely free, plus, I’ve also put together a special writer care package, full of all sorts of prompts, creative resources, and a few tools to help you along your writing journey. Included in the care package will be:
✍🏻 a Writer Wellness PDF, complete with a writer care checklist, a writing tracker, a bingo, and more!
✍🏻 reading resources on writer craft and worldbuilding
✍🏻 YouTube playlists for writer craft and inspiration
✍🏻 music and ambiance playlists for any writing mood
✍🏻 and more!
A link to the care package will be emailed on Friday November 1st. Whether you’re writing, editing, or even just brainstorming for your net WIP, I invite you to share it with me this November and wield your story.
