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The Young Writers Program is a place for teens, toddlers, and everyone in between to develop writing skills, work on creative projects, form supportive communities, and (most importantly and totally crazily) write novels.

So, beginning Monday, September 25, all of you who turned 18 on or before June 30, 2017 will graduate into "alumni." Don't worry—you'll still be able to access your YWP account, and you can even keep working on your novels if you want! They're not going anywhere. But, you won't be able to start new novels or participate in classrooms or the forums.

• Why are you doing this to me???
  
  It's all in our Terms and Conditions.

• Nooooo! What will I do with all my sudden free time?????
  
  Oh, don't worry about that, soon-to-be alum. You don't need to have any! Just head on over to our big sister site, nanowrimo.org, and start an account there. It's just like YWP, but a little taller and wordier.

• How will I find all my YWP friends?????
  
  Once you get your nanowrimo.org account, check out the YWP Alumni forum. There, you'll be able to reconnect with anyone you knew over here on the YWP website.

• I'm 18 or older but participating in the Young Writers Program with my high school class! Do I have to become an alum?
  
  Actually, no! If you're participating with a high school classroom teacher, you can keep your Young Writer status. Just email us at YWP@nanowrimo.org letting us know your situation.

• I *whispers* lied about my age. I'm not really 18 I just wanted to seem cool what do I do help!
  
  Oh dear. Well, email us at YWP@nanowrimo.org letting us know your situation and we'll set things right. And save the lies for your fiction!

If you have any questions or want to share any departing words of wisdom, head over to the "Graduating from the YWP" forum here on the YWP site. 

It's been a long, strange journey, my wizened Wrimos. We're going to miss you! 

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