Calling All NANOWRIMO Partcipants! Celebrate National Novel Writing Month!

Have you wanted to write a novel but found the idea too daunting? Have you started out writing full of enthusiasm and given up after a few pages? Why not consider taking part in NANOWRIMO, National Novel Writing Month.

During November writers pledge to write a novel from beginning to end, getting the words down on paper, without worrying too much. They submit their finished work online and a computer counts the words. 50,000 words (175 pages) means it’s a novel. NANOWRIMO considers this approach a viable alternative to the painstaking way novels are usually written.

And because writing is such a lonely business, NANOWRIMO encourages writers to get together and write in the same place. The is involved with National Novel Writing Month as part of Come Write In! offering space, expertise, and the opportunity to meet other writers. 

During the countdown, as preparation to November, the writing month, the library will hold two writing workshops. Thursday, October 6 at 7 p.m. fiction writer and editor Tara Masih, of Andover, will follow a reading of her own work with a workshop on writing flash (very short) fiction. Nancy Parsons, of North Reading, will lead an afternoon workshop, Thursday, October 26 at 2 p.m., “Feeding Fiction: Using Your Memories to Nurture a Novel.” The library Events page provides more information.

In November the library will be offering writing time and space. Please watch for dates and times.

How successful is NANOWRIMO? Books that came out of NANOWRIMO projects include Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen and, newly published, The Night Circus,  by Erin Morgenstern. Morgenstern says she participated in NANOWRIMO for several years before finally completing The Night Circus.

If you are interested in getting involved in this creative phenomenon and/or to register for the workshops, please call 978-664-4942. 

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