Spring Break
National novel writing month kicks off
Stephanie Daniels
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
Students like English freshman Autumn Christian won't just be doing homework through the month of November; she and about 30 other students will be striving to write a 50,000-word novel.
Nov. 1 marks the first day of National Novel Writing Month - commonly referred to as NaNoWriMo - which is a nationwide event designed to encourage writers to write 50,000-word fiction novels by midnight on Nov. 30.
One NT group will kick off a contest today at Willis Library to get writers ready for the month to come.
Kristin Boyett, an employee in the Willis multimedia lab, is the coordinator of the group and said she is excited to start this year's contest.
"We have these kinds of events every week to get people to participate," Boyett said. "People can help each other out and read others' stories."
Boyett has participated in the writing month for five years and been the group's coordinator for three years.
"I've always had a lot of fun with it," she said. "I have always found it easier if other people participated with me."
So far, 35 people have committed to be a part of the kick-off party.
Christian said she will be attending for her fourth time.
"I have about six novels on my computer right now," she said.
The meeting will provide students with a survival kit for the month with a cheat sheet showing how many words per day the members should be writing to keep up with the Nov. 30 deadline. The members will also to hear a pep talk from a NaNoWriMo survivor to give the new members a sense of direction to writing their first novels.
"Members need to write throughout the month, not just when we meet once a week to get their 50,000 words," Boyett said.
Boyett's NaNoWriMo stories have spanned from a story about pirates to a girl who goes crazy to another in which her character was snatched off back in time, while Christian likes to write dark fiction novels.
The group will have a "Thank God It's Over" party on Dec. 1 to end the writing month, where prizes will be given and members can relax after writing their novels.
Boyett said joining the group is free and open to everyone; all you one has to do is be willing to write.
The kick-off party will begin at 5:30 p.m. today in the Cyber Café at Willis Library.
"Anyone who wants to write a novel can join," Boyett said. "As long as its fiction and novelish."
Nov. 1 marks the first day of National Novel Writing Month - commonly referred to as NaNoWriMo - which is a nationwide event designed to encourage writers to write 50,000-word fiction novels by midnight on Nov. 30.
One NT group will kick off a contest today at Willis Library to get writers ready for the month to come.
Kristin Boyett, an employee in the Willis multimedia lab, is the coordinator of the group and said she is excited to start this year's contest.
"We have these kinds of events every week to get people to participate," Boyett said. "People can help each other out and read others' stories."
Boyett has participated in the writing month for five years and been the group's coordinator for three years.
"I've always had a lot of fun with it," she said. "I have always found it easier if other people participated with me."
So far, 35 people have committed to be a part of the kick-off party.
Christian said she will be attending for her fourth time.
"I have about six novels on my computer right now," she said.
The meeting will provide students with a survival kit for the month with a cheat sheet showing how many words per day the members should be writing to keep up with the Nov. 30 deadline. The members will also to hear a pep talk from a NaNoWriMo survivor to give the new members a sense of direction to writing their first novels.
"Members need to write throughout the month, not just when we meet once a week to get their 50,000 words," Boyett said.
Boyett's NaNoWriMo stories have spanned from a story about pirates to a girl who goes crazy to another in which her character was snatched off back in time, while Christian likes to write dark fiction novels.
The group will have a "Thank God It's Over" party on Dec. 1 to end the writing month, where prizes will be given and members can relax after writing their novels.
Boyett said joining the group is free and open to everyone; all you one has to do is be willing to write.
The kick-off party will begin at 5:30 p.m. today in the Cyber Café at Willis Library.
"Anyone who wants to write a novel can join," Boyett said. "As long as its fiction and novelish."
Be the first to comment on this story