November is the traditional time for National Novel Writing Month, referred to in writers’ circles as NaNoWriMo. The idea is for writers to whack out a whole 50,000 word novel in just a 30-day month.
Thursday, November 3, I’ll be meeting with other writers at 3 Cups Coffeehouse in Astoria, from 3 to 5 p.m. We’ll be encouraging each other’s work and commiserating on the difficulties (let’s call them “challenges”) that arise while trying to compose an average of 1,667 words a day.
Last April, I set about writing my first novel. My goal was to write at least 1,000 words a day. Some days I wrote more, some days less, but in 51 days I had the first draft finished—62,500 words. After letting it rest for a couple weeks, I added another 11,000 words in 10 days. The manuscript, a cozy mystery novel, is now out looking for an agent for representation.
Meanwhile, I’m slowly working on the storyboard outline for the second one, in amongst a month full of bazaars and booksignings for the tomes I already have out. I’ve discovered that my home office can only hold so many boxes of books, and at bazaars, I also get to chat with the reading public.
Thursday, though, it’s all about novel writing. Whether you’re one of those openly working away at it, or are merely curious and want to see what it’s all about, please join us for some stimulating (and inspiring!) conversation. All writers, or wanna be writers, most welcome!