Contact: Terri Waggoner
Public Information Officer
terriw@cityofpflugerville.com
512-990-6115

Pflugerville Community Library challenges residents to write a novel for National Novel Writing Month

The City of Pflugerville Community Library celebrates National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo, with a series of activities to inspire local novelists to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. 

NaNoWriMo is a nonprofit literary crusade that encourages aspiring novelists all over the world to write a 50,000 word novel in a month with more than 150,000 writers from more than 90 countries participating in the largest writing contest in the world.

The Pflugerville Community Library is hosting several events as part of this non-profit literary effort. On Wednesday, October 21 at 7 pm the library hosts a panel of previous NaNoWriMo participants who will share their insider tips for planning your novel before November 1 and tips to survive the month. Aspiring novelists are invited to the Pflugerville Community Library for a NaNoWriMo Launch Party on Sunday, November 1, from 1 pm to 6 pm, to receive a NaNoWriMo goodie bag, play writing games, and start writing novels.  

"The 50,000 word challenge has a wonderful way of opening up your imagination and unleashing creative potential like nothing else," says NaNoWriMo founder and Program Director (and ten-time NaNoWriMo winner) Christ Baty. "When you write for quantity instead of quality, you end up getting both. Also, it's a great excuse for not doing any dishes for a month."

Throughout the month, the Library will host write-ins on Thursday, November 12, Thursday, November 19, and Tuesday, November 24, from 6 pm to 8 pm. "We've got outlets, wi-fi, and a pencil sharpener, so whether you prefer to compose your novel on your laptop or with a good old number 2 pencil, the Pflugerville Community Library has the resources you need," Library Director Kathy Freiheit said.

In its first year, NaNoWriMo had just 21 participants. In 2008, more than 120,000 people took part in the free challenge, making it the largest writing contest in the world. While the event stresses fun and creative exploration over publication, more than 30 NaNoWriMo novelists have had their NaNo-novels published, including Sarah Gruen, whose New York Times #1 Best Seller, Water for Elephants began as a NaNoWriMo novel.

Finally, on Tuesday, December 1, from 6 pm to 8 pm. the library will host a NaNoWriMo Wrap Party with refreshments, a raffle drawing, novel sharing, and prizes for winners who reach the 50,000 word novel mark.

In addition to these great events, writing resources will be on display at the library throughout the month of November including a word-count tracker, so novelists can stay on pace to write 50,000 words in 30 days. For more information on National Novel Writing Month, please visit the NaNoWriMo website at www.NaNoWriMo.org, or contact Emily Bristow at lazymle@gmail.com or call the library at 512-251-9185. The library is open 10 am to 9 pm Monday through Thursday; 10 am to 6 pm Fridays; 10 am to 4 pm Saturdays; and 1 pm to 6 pm Sundays.              
###