For those who have been dying to tell their story and release the novel within, here is yet another opportunity to start cranking out prose. November is National Novel Writing Month and the King County Library System for a third year is hosting programs to facilitate literary aspirations.
What started out as the pursuits of 21 people gathered in San Francisco in 1999, the National Novel Writing Month event has turned into a phenomenon with 200,530 participants last year who wrote more than 2 billion words.
The challenge is on from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, when writers and those attempting to be writers pledge to write 50,000 words by the end of the month.
Writers must start from scratch and there are no judges or prizes.
It is as its creators call it “a wonderful way of opening up your imagination and unleashing creativity,” said Chris Baty, NaNoWriMo founder and executive director (and 12-time NaNoWriMo winner), in a release. “When you write for quantity instead of quality, you end up getting both. Also, it’s a great excuse for not doing any dishes for a month.”
Last year KCLS had 290 people in attendance at 20 programs throughout the system, although not every library hosted an event.
“Because there was a lot of interest in writing workshops several years ago, which we were holding around the system at various times of the year, I thought it would be great to tie into the biggest writing series in the world held in November: NaNoWriMo,” wrote Deborah Schneider, public programing coordinator for KCLS, in an email.
The Renton Highlands Library branch is hosting an event Saturday (Nov. 12) in support of the month.
Mary Buckham, the co-author of “Break Into Fiction: 11 Steps to Building a Story that Sells,” will present on how to create a road map for a novel.
She will help those interested in learning the difference between literary and commercial fiction plots, what a character-driven plot means, how to craft one and other tricks of the trade.
The workshop is called “Plotting: From Beginning to End in Easy Steps!” and is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH EVENTS
“Plotting: From Beginning to End in Easy Steps!”
WHAT: Writing workshop and information
WHEN: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Nov. 12
WHERE: Renton Highlands Library, 2902 N.E. 12th St. in Renton
COST: Free
MORE INFO: 425-277-1831.
“Playing God: Creating Memorable Characters”
WHAT: Writing workshop and information
WHEN: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Nov. 15
WHERE: Covington Library, 27100 164th Ave. S.E. in Covington
COST: Free
MORE INFO: 253-630-8761
“Techniques to Bring Your Novel Writing to Life”
WHAT: Writing workshop and information
WHEN: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Nov. 22
WHERE: Covington Library, 27100 164th Ave. S.E. in Covington
COST: Free
MORE INFO: www.kcls.org/covington/ or call 253-630-8761
“Power Editing”
WHAT: Writing workshop and information
WHEN: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Nov. 29
WHERE: Covington Library, 27100 164th Ave. S.E. in Covington
COST: Free
MORE INFO: www.kcls.org/covington/ or call 253-630-8761
