Our eleventh charitable organization is Office of Letters and Light. I’m guessing the name doesn’t ring a bell. But maybe these names will: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and Script Frenzy. NaNoWriMo and Script Frenzy are both projects of the Office of Letters and Light, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California.
NaNoWriMo, the best known of the two, was “accidentally founded” (according to the website) by Chris Baty in 1999. In 2006, the nonprofit org known as the Office of Letters and Light was launched. The Office of Letters and Light “organizes events where children and adults find the inspiration, encouragement, and structure they need to achieve their creative potential.”
Those key events are NaNoWriMo and Script Frenzy:
NaNoWriMo challenges you to write a 50,000-word novel, from scratch, in the month of November. In 2010, 200,500 people took part; I was one of those who participated. It wasn’t my first effort though I will woefully admit that I’ve never finished in November (darn those clients and tax deadlines). But that’s part of the game. It’s fun and quirky and inspiring. And that’s all that matters. NaNoWriMo also offers a Young Writers Program for kids who are 12-and-under or students in a K-12 classroom. In 2010, 50,000 students took part in National Novel Writing Month’s Young Writers Program.
Script Frenzy offers a similar challenge to write screenplays, stage plays, graphic novels, and TV scripts. Participants first learn the basics of scriptwriting, including structure and formatting, before rolling up their sleeves and writing their own 100-page blockbuster (or art-house masterpiece) in the month of April. Yeah, April. Tax month. Which is why I’ve never finished a script (that’s the story I’m sticking to anyway). Again, there’s a junior company, the Script Frenzy Young Writers Program.
Cool events, right? And so cleverly and enthusiastically done. Neither is a web-only challenge: write-ins and workshops take place in person all over the world in libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops.
Many of my friends and readers participate each year which explains this year’s nomination to the 12 Days list. Thanks to all who suggested that I include it in the series.
So, how do you get involved? First, play along next year. You won’t regret it, I promise. Even if you don’t finish, it’s fun and inspirational. If you decide to give it a whirl, look me up. My username is, not surprisingly, taxgirl.
Even if you don’t wish to sign up, consider making a donation.
You can make a donation by clicking here or donating through Paypal.
You can also mail a check to:
The Office of Letters and Light
3354 Adeline Street
Berkeley, CA 94703 USA
Make your check/money order payable to The Office of Letters and Light. For more info about paying by check, visit the FAQs on the website.
There’s also an online shop.
A search at irs.gov (which I highly recommend any time you are considering making a donation) confirms that the Office of Letters and Light is on the IRS list of charitable organizations as a public charity. Again, as with Texas Wildfire Relief, when you search, use the official name of the organization and not the subsidiaries or commonly used names.
For tax tips to keep in mind when making charitable gifts, check out this prior post.
