What is NaNoWriMo?
NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. During the month of November, participants have 30 days to write a 50,000 word novel of their choosing. It is a wild, freeing exercise in creativity that boasts great rewards for participants.
How Do I Sign Up?
When you’ve decided to join us for the writing frenzy, it’s time to register and pledge your efforts to write 50,000 words (or as much as you can) during the month of November. Start by heading over to www.nanowrimo.org and looking at the website. It’ll give you more of an overview than this little page can of what this event is all about. Once you are registered, start filling out your information about you and your novel. What are you writing about during those 30 days? Science fiction, romance, mystery, memoir? The choice is yours!
Participating at the Library
Once you are all set on the website, be sure to come join us for NaNoWriMo events at the Vicksburg District Library! We are having hybrid events this year, so you can join us on Zoom or in the library’s Heritage Room. If you’re participating online, you can also join Discord chat for text-based conversation and timed writing sprints to build up your word count.
Need help getting started with Zoom, Discord, or the NaNoWriMo website? Schedule a tech help appointment with Laura by email or by calling 649-1648.
You can also stop by the library to put your name on our noveling progress chart and pick up a sticker and a NaNoWriMo button.
Scheduled Events (Click the link to join on Zoom or Discord)
- Wednesday, October 26 @ 6:30 – 7:45pm (Zoom only) – Socialize with other participants, talk about your plans, brainstorm, learn how to use Zoom and Discord technology
- Wednesday, November 2 @ 6:30 – 7:45pm (Virtual & In person) – Kickoff party! Join us in the Heritage Room or on Zoom for conversation until 7:15. If you’re online, then hop on Discord chat for timed writing sprints, the best way to get words in a hurry.
- Wednesday, November 9 @ 6:30 – 7:45pm (Virtual & In person) – Write-In! Join us in the Heritage Room or on Zoom for a check-in, conversation, brainstorming, and of course, writing time. If you’re online, you can also hop on Discord chat for timed writing sprints, the best way to get words in a hurry.
- Wednesday, November 16 @ 6:30 – 7:45pm (Virtual & In person) – Write-In! Join us in the Heritage Room or on Zoom for a check-in, conversation, brainstorming, and of course, writing time. If you’re online, you can also hop on Discord chat for timed writing sprints, the best way to get words in a hurry.
- Wednesday, November 23 @ 6:30 – 7:45pm (Virtual & In person) – Write-In! Join us in the Heritage Room or on Zoom for a check-in, conversation, brainstorming, and of course, writing time. If you’re online, you can also hop on Discord chat for timed writing sprints, the best way to get words in a hurry.
- Wednesday, November 30 @ 6:30 – 7:45pm (Virtual & In person) – Celebrate your victory, squeeze in those last 1,667 (or 16,667, no judgment!) words, or commiserate with other writers if you couldn’t reach 50K this year. We’ll meet in the Heritage Room and on Zoom and Discord.
Library Prizes
The Vicksburg District Library will also be giving out special prizes to those who verify their 50K+ word counts with them. What will you get?
- A certificate of achievement from the Vicksburg District Library!
- Your photo taken for the library website’s Hall of Fame!
All of this is in addition to the prizes you can collect from National Novel Writing Month when you complete the challenge!
So Will You Do It?
We hope you join us for a lot of fun this November, as we are hoping to turn National Novel Writing Month into a yearly event with the Vicksburg District Library. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Laura, Circulation and Reference Librarian, who has participated in the event since 2006.