This November, all month long, wordsmiths across the world will put pen to paper and fingers to keyboards as they participate in National Novel Writing Month.
The Jasper Municipal Library is getting in on the action, hosting several events throughout the month in an attempt to bring brave participants together.
NaNoWriMo is an Internet writing challenge that tasks participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel from Nov. 1–30. The idea is to get people’s creative juices flowing, and keep them motivated throughout the novel-writing process.
There’s no expectation that a polished product will result, instead, NaNoWriMo’s focus is just getting word onto the page, encouraging writers to finish their first draft and edit it later.
In celebration of NaNoWriMo, every Tuesday the library will host Come Write In nights. The evening drop-in sessions will be open to any and all novelists, giving them a chance to “come into the library and have the opportunity to write in more of a group experience [and] share some fellowship and community,” explained the library’s programmer, Kim Felteau.
“It’s drop in—not structured or formal—and it’s just a chance to build community between the writers, and talk about what they’re doing.”
Felteau said that along with the Tuesday drop-ins, the library will also host several free writing workshops during the month, to keep writers inspired, and hopefully help them hone their craft.
One of the workshops takes place tonight, Nov.6, from 7–9 p.m. and is on “earthing” with Paula Klassen. Later this month, Nov. 18, Niki Wilson will also offer her wisdom in a free workshop.
Felteau said there will likely be more workshops scattered throughout the month, and encouraged participants in NaNoWriMo to check in with the library often.
“We’re fun here, so it’s a good opportunity for everyone,” Felteau said.
Trevor Nichols
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