If I told my friends that I was going to give away halos, they’d probably would wonder just who is in charge of hiring at the Pearly Gates, but those aren’t the kind of halos I’m talking about. I’m talking about NaNoWriMo halos.
When you donate to NaNoWriMo, the good folks at the Office of Letters and Light attach a little halo to your profile on the NaNoWriMo site. The money from your donation goes to fund the servers and the staff and the offices that make NaNoWriMo possible. It also goes to helping schools participate in NaNoWriMo through the Young Writer’s Program.
Well, after I made my donation, I was feeling pretty good about getting my halo and I decided to tweet about it and encourage other Wrimos to donate if they could. Not long after that message went into the Twitterverse, I received a reply that reminded me that not everyone was in a position to contribute.
It only took a second for me to realize that there was something that I could do to help: I could sponsor halos.
At first it was going to be a handful, and then the number grew to ten. Then I decided that with 30 days in November I’d donate a single halo for each day of the event. Not only that, I’d give writers a chance to tell their writing stories here on How Not To Write. After all, this website is devoted to helping people get over their own fear of writing by watching me diagram my failures. Why not take it to the next level and help people get out there and write?
How the How Not To Write NaNoWriMo Halo Giveaway Works
So here’s how the NaNoWriMo Halo Giveway works:
To enter, just fill out the form below. Yes, that’s about it. However, please only fill out the form if you do not believe that you can donate to NaNoWriMo this year. If you can afford to donate, please save a halo for others. [Donate to NaNoWriMo]
On October 31st (at noon EST), I’ll pick 30 random people from the list of entries and submit an order for their halos to the good folks at the Office of Light and Letters.
If for some crazy reason I do not get 30 entries, I will extend the contest till the slots are filled. Oh, and please only submit one entry. Seriously.
If you are selected, I will also give you the opportunity to write a guest post on my blog. The theme of your post should be “Why I’m Entering NaNoWriMo” or something to that effect. Actually, you could write about most anything you like as long as the post concerns your personal experience with writing. Could be something fun and zany, might be something sad. Note: The guest post is entirely optional.
Help Me Help Other Writers
Please help me spread the word on this little giveaway. Feel free to forward this post on to any Wrimo you know who may need a halo boost! Thanks!!! 🙂
Doing NaNoWriMo? Buddy up with me!
This is a fantastic idea! I think you have a generous heart to donate and give halos away to those who can’t afford to donate, but love NaNoWriMo anyway. I will definitely spread the word and retweet this, and I hope you don’t mind. I added you to my NaNo Buddies. 🙂
Jenny Beans´s last blog post..Why Write Horror in a Horrific World and Time?
@Jenny Beans Thanks!!!! 🙂
What a fabulous idea! Hopefully it will even serve to inspire a few people on the fence to finally take the plunge and join NaNoWriMo.
Laura Tamayo´s last blog post..Provocative Paint
@Laura Thanks! I hope so too!
This is awesome Jamie. I’ll tweet it again tomorrow. I’ve been totally dragging my feet on my donation. I’m totally poor right now, but I am planning to participate, and ten bucks is just thirty three cents a day. I have no excuse. I’ll have a halo on my site tomorrow. Great job, Jamie.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..High Five!
Jamie, you rock!
Karen Putz´s last blog post..Working with Your IEP Team
@WriterDad @Karen Thanks folks!!! Btw, Sean, you’re making me feel like Sally Struthers with that 30 cents a day. 🙂
Ha!! That’s funny.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..The Perfection of Pixar
Jamie, the halo is perfect for you. 🙂 You are so generous for doing this for other writers.
Karen Swim´s last blog post..A Verse of Hope
What a great idea! I’ve my own halo, but I admire your generosity and think that allowing people to post their own stories on your blog about their own writing lives is a great way to spread the word about NaNoWriMo. Great stuff!
That’s such a fantastic idea. I’m sure you will inspire others to take the plunge and try NaNoWriMo for the first time. I’ve donated in previous years and was even an ML for a couple of them, but the economy and my own finances are so bad that I just don’t see it happening this year. But good on you for helping others make the donation!
I’ve done the same for a few newbies who couldn’t afford to donate in previous years. It’s fun!
I would LOVE to see every Wrimo with a halo, and after seeing the Office of Letters and Light this past summer, I can attest to the fact that NaNoWriMo can definately use the funds. 🙂
Way to go!
Love that halo!
I’m thinking about donating some amount of $$ based on how many words I write in November. I haven’t spent any time on the NaNo forums yet — has anyone else done that?
Liz C´s last blog post..Breaking new ground
@Karen Thanks so much. I hope it helps others who can/should donate give and helps other writers who want to join jump in.
@Tom Thanks! I’m really looking forward to the guest posts from those who choose to participate in that part.
@Sarah I’ve heard from a few who read this post already and went to make their donation, so that makes me doubly-happy. 🙂 Thanks!
@Joi Thanks! Your comment sums up the big picture for me so perfectly.
@Liz I think your idea of sponsor by the word is great! Did you know that NaNo has a sponsorship program? http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/sponsorship
As for the forums, I’ve put up a few posts but I think I’ll get more into it when Nov rolls around. Some great talk in there though!
This is so fabulous. And to think, we knew you when. Sadly I have to mail mine this year so I may never get a halo but no matter. Oh well, I’m off to spread the word on my thread groups.
Deb´s last blog post..Ohio wind storm of September 14
@Deb Oh, you’ll still know me later when I’m still here putting out my little posts and still dreaming about the day my book shows up in a store. Thanks for spreading the word, Deb! 🙂
Sounds like an awesome plan!
I just read about you on nanowrimo’s site, which brought me here. What a generous way to help the organization and its members. Very creative! I had to add you as a buddy. Trying hard this year to get past the finish line. Good luck to you, too! Helen
@Jenny Thanks! Good luck this year!
@Helen 🙂 Thanks for buddying up. I added you back. Best of luck this year!!!
Thanks. I need it…my first time.
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that is a great way to help those who cannot afford to give, but would love to give. Some have employment issues or some might be just barely paying bills and living from paycheck to paycheck.
Stacie
@Jenny Stop in anytime! 🙂
@Stacie Thanks for saying so. Best of luck to you this year!
This is a really great idea. Thanks so much from everyone for doing this!
I’m still hoping to raise a bit to put in myself. 🙂
Great work.
@Britt @allisoncm Thanks!!! 🙂
Thanks for doing this. Found you on twitter @deegospel
Dee Stewart´s last blog post..Brainstorming the Story Core
@Dee Thanks for the note!!! 🙂
That is a lovely idea! I have the means to donate so I won’t take advantage.
(got here following a comment you left on Kimberly’s NaNo story – she said she liked what you wrote, so that’s some recommendation for you!)
Greetings from Rome.
N.
Nathalie (Spacedlaw)´s last blog post..Purr
@Nathalie I loved Kimberly’s post abut NaNo. She’s so funny. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!!!