We now interrupt your regular Saturday programming for a special writing/fun/feel good post.

This November will be my 10th National Novel Writing Month. Last year, I shared a little about why I do NaNoWriMo; this year, I want to go deeper into why I support the organization behind it.

Wait, what? There’s an organization that runs NaNoWriMo? Yes, an event this size (the largest literary contest in the world, with well over a quarter of a million participants every year) needs a support system. Meet the Office of Letters and Light, the 501(c)3 that runs NaNoWriMo and two other awesome writing events.

Any organization that inspires people to write is one I can get behind 100%. Showing kids and adults that they’re capable of doing big, scary things–things they never thought possible? Totally worthy endeavor.

Now, I know most of you aren’t in a position to give in this manner, and that’s fine. However, there is something else you can do, something that will actually make more of an impact than anything I’ve done. Chase is holding a contest called Chase Community Giving that runs through September 19. A number of charities are in the running to receive a portion of $5,000,000 , with the winner getting $250,000.

Here’s what OLL Community Liaison Sarah Mackey said in a recent email:

This would literally change the way we operate. It would let us plan for the future rather than just playing catch up on the past. It would mean a strong, secure foundation for us to grow and expand and bring the joys of novel-writing even further out into the world.

It’s a game-changer. Which is why we’re pulling out all the stops in asking for help.

So I’m pulling out the stops along with them. Please click on the link above, like the Facebook page (You can unlike it later!), and select NaNoWriMo and the Office of Letters and Light as one of your two charities. Then, if you are so inclined, share the link with others so they can vote too. Let’s keep those 300,000 adults and children writing and happy for years to come.