NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, an annual challenge to write a 50,000-word novel entirely in the month of November. Its name belies its true nature, because the insanity is international in scope. There are local chapters all over the world, and this year there will be one in Northfield.
No prizes are awarded save the satisfaction of having a novel under one’s belt and ample slaps on the back from other NaNo participants.
Called NaNoWriMoNoFo, the Northfield chapter will meet regularly during November to conduct write-ins, a sort of cross between writing parties and stress support groups. Five Carleton students are part of the chapter, as well as one recent Carleton grad, one St. Olaf student, and one Northfield resident. Here is this year’s Carleton NaNo team:
• Margaret Taylor ’10
• Alex Day ’10
• Hannah Clemons ’10
• Kendra Strode ’10
• Avery Morrow ’10
NaNoWriMoNoFo had its official kickoff party last Sunday at Hogan Brothers. Students swapped novel ideas over sandwiches and Kristine Pratt, the area event coordinator, gave students advice and encouragement for the task ahead. An event coordinator is somebody who is nominally in charge of organizing write-ins and giving frazzled novelists encouragement. She also distributed prizes for Most- and Least-Organized Writer, a CD and a pamphlet on how to organize one’s writing, respectively.
The actual writing of the novels began November 1. To complete a 50,000-word novel in one month, a writer has to keep up a pace of 1,660 words a day. That is approximately eight double-spaced, typed pages. The five Carl students participating will have to fit this writing around their ordinary homework and the fact that the term ends November 21.
At the beginning of winter term there will be an update describing which Carleton students actually won the challenge.