{"id":414200,"date":"2024-09-06T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=414200"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"November-is-National-Novel-Writing-Month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/November-is-National-Novel-Writing-Month\/","title":{"rendered":"November is National Novel Writing Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

National Novel Writing Month is November. It\u2019s not too late or too early to start thinking about the book you want to write. September is a perfect month to ease into writing mode. The best way to do that is to read. As best-selling author Stephen King said, \u201cIf you want to be a writer you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll write a lot in November, but now is the time to read a lot,\u201d said NaNoWriMo\u2019s Jane Mack.<\/p>\n

1. Select your genre<\/p>\n

You can read indiscriminately, but if you want to prepare for NaNoWriMo, I suggest that you first select your genre. What do you want to write? Contemporary fiction? Historical fiction? Romance? Detective mystery? Literary fiction? Women\u2019s fiction? Science fiction? Young adult? Mid-grade? Thriller? Cozy mystery? Steam punk? Fantasy? Novels come in a wide assortment of genres. Don\u2019t be overwhelmed! They\u2019re all good if they fit your fancy. Just choose.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t want to write a novel, you can still choose your preferred genre, because NaNoWriMo is flexible\u2014you can write a memoir. Or history. Or biography. Or even a how-to book. While the NaNoWriMo focus is primarily on fiction, if you want to write non-fiction, September is a good month to read that too!<\/p>\n

2. Select books and read<\/p>\n

You can find books in any of these genres at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, if you don\u2019t already have a \u201cto-be-read\u201d shelf at home. So having selected your genre, go select your books. Don\u2019t worry about finding the right book. Or the best. Instead, follow the advice of American great, William Faulkner, who said, \u201cRead, read, read. Read everything-trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read!\u201d Get several books in your genre.<\/p>\n

And start reading.<\/p>\n

3. Discuss and analyze<\/p>\n

But to prepare for NaNoWriMo and writing your own book, it\u2019s not enough to absorb by osmosis from the books you read. It helps to discuss them with others. To analyze them with an eye toward what you liked and what you didn\u2019t like. Not everyone enjoys the same cup of tea. What may be a popular trope could be something you despise when you\u2019re reading that genre.<\/p>\n

The important part is to figure out not only mechanics about novels that work well, and get inspiration from reading, but to seriously think about what you like and don\u2019t like. What you want to bring to the page and how you can do that in the best way for you.<\/p>\n

Want to talk about the books you\u2019ve read? \u201cI will be at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library on the Saturdays that they\u2019re open (Sept. 7 and 21). Please plan on coming and chatting,\u201d said Mack.<\/p>\n

Writing your story is important to all of us. Your story matters. Sue Monk Kidd, author, says \u201cStories have to be told or they die. And when they die, we can\u2019t remember who we are or why we\u2019re here.\u201d Stories help us survive through adversity. They act as beacons of light. They raise questions, big or small, that help us explore our inner world and our outer existence. You have a story to tell. Now is the time to start! Join me at the JKPL on Saturdays, and let\u2019s talk books and writing. (PR)<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n


NaNoWriMo logo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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