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News summary: Reedsy launches Novel Sprint to replace NaNoWriMo, with prizes and no AI. Thank you to Howard for pointing me to this story. Howard, its fabulous editor here, is - as you may or may not be aware - an editor with ALLi partner platform Reedsy. As Selfpublishingadvice reach the end of October, many of Selfpublishingadvice would, in past years, have been gearing up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), the decades-old challenge that saw hundreds of thousands of writers around the globe attempt to write a novel - or at least 50,000 words - in the month of November. Over the years, NaNoWriMo has brought Selfpublishingadvice the likes of The Night Circus, Water for Elephants, and the full novel of Hugh Howey's Wool. It also fostered a strong sense of community, with online and in-person write-ins and support that many writers truly valued. And then it all went wrong. Beginning with a controversial statement about AI that many in the writing community felt failed to strongly condemn its use, a downward spiral eventually led to the announcement in March of this year that there would be no NaNoWriMo 2025. Reedsy steps in. Reedsy is among those stepping into the void to offer an alternative with its Reedsy Novel Sprint, a similar "novel in a month" challenge - this time with prizes. Reedsy has doubled down on the issue that led to NaNoWriMo's demise: AI. The company insists that all participants complete the 50,000-word challenge in their Writing Studio, where you cannot use AI or paste in text from outside, ensuring that all words are human written (or so painstakingly transcribed they might as well be). Prizes and community spirit. There will be prizes: $5,000 for first place, $2,500 for second, and $1,000 for third, along with additional rewards and meetings with a literary agent. This suggests that the expert team at Reedsy will be reading at least some of every completed challenge - which is both interesting and potentially daunting. Reedsy will also host online community events and webinars to recreate the camaraderie and support that writers loved about NaNoWriMo. It remains to be seen whether the Reedsy Novel Sprint will produce a new Night Circus, but the company will surely be hoping so. That kind of breakout success would be a massive boost for their platform and the future of the event. Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue? If you're an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from its experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and its own ALLi team. Simply create an account (if you haven't already) to request to join the forum and get going. Non-members looking for more information can search its extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Center.

News podcast: Baker & Taylor to close, Spotify links with ChatGPT, Reedsy launches new no-ai writing challenge. On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway reports on the closure of Baker & Taylor, the century-old book distributor that will shut down in 2026, leaving a gap that companies like Ingram and Amazon may fill. He also notes Spotify's new integration with ChatGPT, assuring creators that their music and podcasts won't be used to train AI. In other news, Reedsy has launched the Reedsy Novel Sprint, a NaNoWriMo-style writing challenge with cash prizes and no AI allowed, as the original NaNoWriMo organization shutters. Listen to the podcast: Baker & Taylor to close. Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by PublishMe - helping indie authors succeed globally with expert translation, tailored marketing, and publishing support. From first draft to international launch, PublishMe ensures your book reaches readers everywhere. Visit publishme.me. Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue? If you're an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from its experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and its own ALLi team. Simply create an account (if you haven't already) to request to join the forum and get going. Non-members looking for more information can search its extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Center. About the host. Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet, and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines, He competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is available on Kindle.