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| “Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month.” |
National
Novel Writing Month Powers Up with Half a Million Writers
In its 15th year, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
expects a historic 500,000 writers to join the largest writing event in the
world. The challenge? To write 50,000 words of a novel in the 30 days of
November. Half a million people on all seven continents (including one very
chilly writer at Antarctica's McMurdo Station)
will set aside the time to write their stories this November.
Through the Young Writers Program, NaNoWriMo will also provide
free resources and curriculum to more than 80,000 students and educators in 2,000
classrooms around the world. Additionally, 692 volunteer Municipal Liaisons
will host write-ins and events in 500 regions around the world.
NaNoWriMo is an unbeatable way to write the first draft of a
novel because it’s such a powerful antidote to that horrible foe of creativity:
self-doubt,” said Grant Faulkner, Executive Director. “NaNoWriMo is a
rollicking conversation about all aspects of writing, and an invitation to dare
to do what seems impossible. As many NaNoWriMo writers have discovered, the best
way to learn to write a novel is by simply plunging in to write a novel.”
NaNoWriMo 2013: New and Powered Up NaNoWriMo version 2013
boots up as an 8 bit adventure that encourages writers to "Power Up Your
Story. Power Up Your Voice." This year's art comes courtesy of Jake
Fleming, co-founder of Piasa Games. NaNoWriMo 2013 also offers a newly designed
website. "We've redesigned our site to be more intuitive for both new and
experienced users: it will guide them through the entire NaNoWriMo journey from
start to finish. We've also integrated a responsive layout for phones and
tablets, so writers can be inspired anywhere,” says Chris Angotti, Director of
Programs.
The 2013 Published Author Line Up
An incredible line up of authors will support
writers participating in NaNoWriMo with letters full of wisdom and
encouragement. These Pep Talkers includes James Patterson,Lev Grossman, and
Rainbow Rowell, who wrote the first draft of her criticallyacclaimed YA novel,Fangirl,
during NaNoWriMo 2012.
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NaNoWriMo 2013 will also have five published authors take
over its Twitter account as NaNoWriMo Coaches, answering questions and cheering
on participants as they write, including Jason Hough, author of the New York Times
bestseller The Darwin Elevator, first drafted during NaNoWriMo.
Expanded Programs
For the first time, Come Write In, a program that offers
free resources and support to literacy related spaces, will expand beyond
libraries and bookstores. Three hundred and ninety spaces, including cafes and community
centers (and even an American style pizza restaurant in Japan),
will become local beacons for creative writing through
NaNoWriMo
.
Debbie Millman, president of the design division at Sterling
Brands, returns to run "30 Covers, 30 Days", which challenges
designers to create a book cover for a participant's novel in progress in 24
hours. A celebration of the collaboration between design and writing, this
program will inspire authors and provide prints for an Art of NaNoWriMo event
in winter 2014.
National Novel Writing Month is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that
believes stories matter. Through our programs, including the Young Writers
Program, the Come Write In program, and Camp NaNoWriMo,
we work hard to empower and encourage vibrant creativity around the world.
To learn more and to sign up go to http://nanowrimo.org/about. You will be glad you did.
