My National Novel Writing Month project has a word count of 40,110, which puts me right on track to get to 50,000 words on November 30. This is only about the third day all month that I've been on track, but now that we're near the end, I'm pretty confident that I can complete it.

One of the reasons for my confidence is that I still have two more write-ins left. A big part of the fun of NaNoWriMo is that it takes what would normally be a lonely activity and makes it a social one. I have surprised myself by making more use of the in-person social opportunities than I have the NaNoWriMo forums. The forums are a bit overwhelming, especially when I'm already performing the overwhelming task of writing a 50,000 word novel in a month. But the write-ins have been a guaranteed way for me to get a lot of words written and to commiserate with people who have similar problems to mine (I keep running out of plot!).

From the first time I heard of NaNoWriMo, I have thought that libraries would be a good place for write-ins. Nearly all of the St. Louis area write-ins happen at restaurants. The only exceptions that I have noted are one person's apartment and a church basement. The restaurants have some advantages--easily available food and drinks, table space, reasonably comfortable chairs. But there's also a built-in disadvantage. We all feel obligated to buy a little something since were taking up so much space for so long. Libraries could provide the tables and chairs while allowing but not obligating the presence of food and drinks.

The most effective way for a library to become involved in the local write-in scene is to have one or more staff members participate in NaNoWriMo. Then, they could set up write-ins at the library the way the rest of us would set one up at a local coffee shop.

Barring employee participation, a library would want to contact the Municipal Liason. Volunteers in each region take the responsibility to be the ML -- a liason between regional participants and the NaNoWriMo organization. The MLs answer questions, provide encouragement, and set up at least one weekly write-in. The ML Contact Form has a drop-down box with all the regions that have Municipal Liasons. Early in December might be a good time to contact the ML of your region. Right now, they are madly trying to complete their own NaNoWriMo project while encouraging everyone else in their region to do the same. By early December, they might be willing to have a conversation with a library staff member about how the library could help with next year's NaNoWriMo.     #    (0) comments

2008-11-17

Dewey, the Library Cat

I'm enjoying Vicki Myron, librarian and author of Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, on today's Diane Rehm Show. Play-back of the entire show is available on the website. Meryl Streep will be playing Vicki Myron in the movie!     #    (1) comments

June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 June 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.