Welcome to FAWM!
FAWM is a small team dedicated to making new music, developing skills, and building creative community. Our flagship February Album Writing Month challenge has been going since 2004, and has helped create more than a quarter million songs by artists all over the world.
Use this help site to answer questions about the challenge, fawm.org features, or the community. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to ask in the FAWM forums in February, or email [email protected] for urgent matters.
What’s new in 2025
Based on fawmer feedback, we have several new updates to the FAWM experience!
The most notable are:
- This dedicated help site!
- Updates to our donation process
- A new custom player for FAWM-hosted demo recordings
- Improved home feed with progress bars and tabs
- Mute and block features for improved safety and privacy
- Clearer song and forum category filters
- Many more minor tweaks and easter eggs throughout!
Heads up!
Keep in mind that FAWM developers are volunteers, and these features are new, so there may still be bugs! Bear with us as we smooth out the edges.
Also, this help site is new and a work in progress, so expect updates in the coming weeks...
Frequently asked questions
What is FAWM all about?
Effectively there are three goals:
- To write 14 songs in 28 days
- To branch out and grow as a musician (whatever your level)
- To grow in a community of like-minded creatives
Who can participate?
Anyone with an internet connection and a desire to write songs!
There is an age requirement of 16 years and older. Participation is free, though donations are encouraged.
What counts as a song?
Pop songs, instrumentals, "sound art," sketches, whatever.
The goal is to be challenged and have fun—whatever that means to you. Let your muse fly free!
When can I start posting songs?
The FAWM website unlocks the ability to post songs posting midnight February 1 at the international date line (once it is February everywhere in the world!) You are of course free to start writing at midnight your local time.
How can I donate?
This year we are accepting donations at ko-fi.com/fawm
We made this change to accept a wider variety of payments methods, and more easily integrate with the FAWM website to unlock thank-you benefits automatically.
I donated, where are my rock hands and hosting?
If we couldn’t automatically link your donation to your FAWM profile, the moderators have a queue and will take care of it manually within 24 hours. Hang tight!
I donated, why did Ko-Fi send me a “Don’t miss your rewards from FAWM” email?
This may happen if you don’t have a Ko-Fi account (which is not required). So your gift is considered a “guest donation.” This has nothing to do with your FAWM thank-you benefits like "rock hands" or demo hosting.
We are in conversation with Ko-Fi about turning these emails off, and apologize for any confusion!
How long is the FAWM website up?
FAWM.ORG opens several days before February, and stays up for the first few weeks of March. That way, you can continue to listen and comment on music you missed during the month while you were too busy writing your own songs!
FAWM goes back into hibernation on March 15 for the remainder of the year.
What happens to my data afterward?
Each year FAWM is a completely new experience, so your songs, comments, and forum posts will be wiped clean for the following FAWM. Your profile and social connections (e.g., follows) persist from year to year, but everything else is deleted!
We strongly encourage you to revisit the website in early March to save comments, and other activities using the archive feature!