November is NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month (NoNoWriMo) was established in 1999 and is a nonprofit organization that believes stories matter. On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought fleetingly about writing a novel. Want to join in? Signing up is easy (and free). If you want to support the nonprofit that runs the project check out the Donation Station and Store.

Over 250 NaNoWriMo novels have been traditionally published. They include Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, Hugh Howey’s Wool, Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, Jason Hough’s The Darwin Elevator, and Marissa Meyer’s Cinder. See a full list of NaNoWriMo published authors.

Each year, authors offer encouraging pep talks to participants. The 2014 author mentors are Veronica Roth, Tamora Pierce, Brandon Sanderson, Chuck Wendig, Kami Garcia, and Jim Butcher.

During NaNoWriMo 2013: 

• 310,095 participants started the month as auto mechanics, out-of-work actors, and middle school English teachers. They walked away novelists.
• 651 volunteer Municipal Liaisons guided 595 regions on six continents.
• 89,500 students and educators created worlds through the Young Writers Program.
• 650 libraries opened their doors to novelists through the Come Write In program.

During November 2014 Book Notes will publish a series of posts featuring New Hampshire participants in this international creative writing event. Look for new posts in the series on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Note: Image Courtesy of National Novel Writing Month.