November is National Novel Writing Month (often abbreviated as NaNoWriMo). If you’ve always wanted to write a novel, but didn’t have the courage to do it, here is your chance! Here’s the basics: throughout November, people sign up on the NaNoWriMo webpage to accept this challenge. Then from Nov 1 through Nov 30, their goal is to write a 175 page (50,000 word) novel. This is a national effort, so nobody’s alone.  The NaNoWriMo website acts as a support network, connecting writers through forums, resources, and peptalks (given by acclaimed writers like Philip Pullman!).

One of the main ideas behind the project is this: don’t worry about quality, focus on quantity (the revision and tune-up process comes later, maybe in December?). Their webpage states “The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.”

This year they’ve added a Young Writers Program component to their usual challenge: “our Young Writers Program allows participants who are 17 years old and younger to set reasonable, yet challenging, word-count goals.”

You may be wondering if any good novels actually come out of this crazy rushed process.  Actually, there have been quite a few published novels, and even one New York Times #1 Bestseller. Here are just a few (links go to the DCPL catalog):

• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• Self Storage by Gayle Brandeis
• Daughter of the Bride by Francesca Segre

And here are some books at the library that may help you while writing your first novel:

• No Plot? No Problem! a low stress, high velocity guide to writing a novel in 30 days by Chris Baty
• Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
• Elements of Style by Strunk and White

Good luck!  You’ll need it.

1. November is National Novel Writing Month!
2. Choose Your Own Adventure–Or Just Write It!
3. Find Full Text Books Online!
4. Recommended Reading for Children and Teens
5. Happy Thanksgiving!