Since I’m traveling today, it seems like the right time to tell you about my next trip coming up next month. Plus this is also about NaNoWriMo, and that’s only five weeks away!

Ten years ago, I supported NaNo by being a rabid participant–everyone knew I was writing and knew I loved NaNo. Five years ago, I became the  Municipal Liaison* for my city. I support the event and organization by inspiring my local Wrimos to keep on writing.

But NaNoWriMo doesn’t run on good vibes alone. As my income has improved, I’ve started donating money as well as time. This year, I’m going to the  Night of Writing Dangerously in San Francisco.  I’ve wanted to attend this annual write-a-thon and fundraiser for years, but I always lacked either the vacation time or the cash necessary for the donation. This year, I was one of the first people to RSVP, along with another person from my region.

Why do I want to do this? The Night of Writing Dangerously is like taking a shot of pure NaNoWriMo. It’s a room full of 200 writers, all typing away furiously at our novels. There’s a special bell you can ring if you pass 50,000 words at the event. There’s a candy buffet that is truly legendary. Food! Swag! Amazing fun!

But more than all that, the Night of Writing Dangerously is a way for me to give back to NaNo (and its parent organization, the Office of Letters and Light). Every year, these literary rock stars put together an event that inspires people to write, to read, and to think they are capable of impossible things. Writing snobs say NaNo’s approach of valuing quantity over quality is the wrong way to write a book, and it certainly doesn’t work for everyone. However, for a growing number of people it is a magical event that can truly change lives.

If you’re not going to the write-a-thon, but you want to support the event, here’s my Stayclassy page.

And stay tuned for awesome pictures from San Francisco!

*Municipal Liaisons are local coordinator, planning events for nearby Wrimos and cheering people on in the forums.