National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is an annual literary marathon that involves writing 50,000 words during the month of November. The idea behind this insane sounding challenge is to pack away the biggest foils many writers and would-be writers struggle with - procrastination and self-criticism. Chris Baty, author of No Plot? No Problem! and the mad genius behind NaNoWriMo, kicked off the event in 1999 when he discovered the power of a breakneck deadline to stick to a writing habit.
Municipal Liaisons, local volunteers like Aimee Johnson, act as regional chapter heads and organize local events. One such event is the Kick-Off party, where local participants gather to meet and greet before NaNoWriMo actually starts. It's a chance to have questions answered, know your Municipal Liaison, get important dates for your region, play games, plot your novel, and pick up your Official NaNoWriMo Swag. This year it will be held at The Plus on Barstow Street, Eau Claire on Sunday, October 29 from 2 pm - 4 pm.
Write-ins are staple events held throughout November. Participants gather to work on their novels as a group. It’s a perfect way to boost your word count by writing alongside your fellow WriMos. The combined energy of a room full of writers is a powerful thing - harness some of that for your own novel writing success. Dates and times can be found at your regional page on NaNoWriMo.org.
Night Of Writing Dangerously is a fundraising, mega write-in! This is the only NaNoWriMo event that you have to pay to attend but it's for a good cause. The money goes to NaNoWriMo that in turn funds literacy programs. We will have word-sprints, contests, and a candy potluck. You don't want to miss out on the fun. It will be held on Friday, November 17 from 10 pm - 2 am, location to be determined. Register with Aimee Johnson at writingdrunk@gmail.com
The Wrap-Up Party is held after the event ends and allows participants to celebrate the end of our writing marathon, congratulate, commiserate, play games, and get the chance to talk about our future novel plans. We will meet at The Pub Bar and Grill in Action City on Sunday, December 3 from 1 pm - 3 pm.
To stay on top of the word count goal participants have to write 1,667 words a day, or about 3 pages. The benefits include a permission slip to put writing at the top of your to-do list, living out the fantasy of being a "real" writer, if only for 30 days, and discovering that a few stolen minutes to work on your novel quickly add up into pages and chapters that might not normally have been written without such a motivator. So turn off your inner editor, sign up at NaNoWriMo.org, and come join us this November.