BELLOWS FALLS — November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo for short), and the Rockingham Free Public Library will be hold programs for teens and adults who are trying to meet the program's goal: writing an entire novel (50,000 words) in one month, starting Nov. 1.
More than 250,000 people around the world are setting out to become novelists this month during the international event, which launched in 1999 in San Francisco with 21 participants.
Although NaNoWriMo emphasizes creativity and adventure over creating a literary masterpiece, more than 90 novels begun during NaNoWriMo have subsequently been published, including Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, both New York Times bestsellers.
The Youth Department is taking part in the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program, which allows the NaNoWriMo 17-and-under participants to set reasonable, yet challenging, individual word-count goals.
Young writers of any age are welcome to participate. Youth will sign up at the library and online. Then they will set their respective word-count goals.
Throughout November, young writers are invited to stop by the library for write-ins every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in the Youth Department for inspiration, challenges, and programs about writing.
For adults, the library will have a NaNoWriMo Read-Out on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m. Those who have completed novels will have the chance to read excerpts in front of an audience.
During the month of November, the library offers a quiet room to write and focus.
Adults interested in forming a writing group may call the library at 802-463-4270.