Think you can write 50,000 words of a novel in just 30 days? Each November, an average of 300,000 people worldwide participate in the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge and race to complete their novels before the month is up. This year, you can try your hand at this famous writing challenge by celebrating NaNoWriMo with the Northbrook Public Library.
NaNoWriMo is for anyone who enjoys writing, whether you are a beginner or have participated in NaNoWriMo for several years. The NaNoWriMo community exists largely online, but many community groups spring up each November to help bring writers together for this annual challenge. Last year, 849 libraries, bookstores, and community centers welcomed NaNoWriMo participants to weekly write-ins and other fun events to help participants reach their writing goal. The Northbrook Public Library is excited to join that list in 2015.
“The Library is not only about connecting people with information, but also giving people the opportunity to create and make new things,” said Director Kate Hall. “[NaNoWriMo] does just that. Plus, it’s a natural fit: people can come and create something that could eventually end up on our shelves.”
The Library will be celebrating National Novel Writing Month with weekly Write-Ins every Sunday in November, offering snacks, writing games, and comradery at each event to help NaNoWriMo participants reach their 50,000 word goal. For each NaNoWriMo event you attend at the Library, you’ll be entered to win a special NaNoWriMo-themed gift basket. Here’s when you can write with the Library:
NaNoWriMo Kick Off Party
Sunday, November 1
2-4pm, Civic Room
Register online or by phone.
Weekly Write-Ins
Sundays, November 8-29
2-4pm, Civic Room
No registration required!
“I’m hoping NaNoWriMo will be an opportunity to encourage people that have always wanted to write, but have never taken the time to do it,” saidHall. “Our weekly write-ins will give people a more structured writing environment so they have others around to help them reach their goals.”
In addition to these weekly events, the Library will have several helpful books on display that offer tips and guidance for writers, as well as a display of fiction books that were first drafted during National Novel Writing Month.
This is the first year the Library has actively participated in NaNoWriMo, but it isn’t a first for the Library’s director, who has been a NaNoWriMo participant a number of times.
“When I first did NaNoWriMo a couple years ago, it was a dare to myself, to see if I could complete the challenge. I found that [NaNoWriMo] was a lot of fun, and hard work,” said Hall. “But I got to meet people from all over the country who were working to do the same thing I was at the same time. There’s something incredibly powerful about that.”
NaNoWriMo weekly write-ins at the Library are open to all community members and do not require registration. Registration is required for the NaNoWriMo Kickoff Party. For more information, please call 847-272-6224 or visit the Library's website. To learn more about National Novel Writing Month, visit www.nanowrimo.org.
