Difference between revisions of "Frequently asked questions"
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''[[Press Release 2013-09-01]]''
 
''[[Press Release 2013-09-01]]''
 
== Have you ever dreamed of writing a novel?  ==
 
== Have you ever dreamed of writing a novel?  ==
 +
Every year people around the world take the plunge and become an author during the month of November. Maybe you've heard of National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo), the free, annual challenge that takes place every November, where writers and would-be novelists strive to start, write and complete their 50,000+ word novel in just 30 days. Last year over six hundred and fifty thousand people worldwide took up the challenge. Bolstered by online forums and local events, participants had fun along the way. 148 of the 546 regional participants completed their novels.
  
−
November is National Novel Writing Month, a free annual event helping to motivate writers to start and complete a 50,000 word novel in thirty days. In 2012, 341,375 participants attempted to write their own novels; 38,438 of them (11%) succeeded in their quests. In our region of Naperville, that represents the many cities and suburbs west of Chicago, 67 of the 100 people who posted in our regional forum succeeded in finishing their novels.
+
The Naperville region of NaNoWriMo, representing the cities and suburbs west of Chicago, has partnered with area libraries to offer four preparatory workshops. The first one of these will be 7-9 pm, Thursday, October 2nd at the Aurora Public Library. In this first workshop, “The Stone Soup Method to NaNoWriMo Success,” Tim Yao and Kaden Patrick will help you explore some of the essential ingredients of any successful novel: plot, narrative, setting, and a good ending. Bring pen and paper or your laptop to this interactive session.
  
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The fun begins Saturday, September 28th, 2-4 pm at the Warrenville Public Library, which will be hosting a two hour preparatory workshop ("Hit the Ground Running", presented by Todd Hogan) to give people enough time to successfully prepare for their November writing marathon. NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaisons will be on hand to answer your questions. This year we will be offering a total of four preparatory workshops:
+
The other three workshops, all in October and at the Nichols and 95th Street Libraries in Naperville, are: "Genres - Tropes and Cliches," by Frank Dahlman (October 4th, 1-3 pm, Nichols Library); "Telling Your Story," is led by author Todd Hogan. (October 11th, 1-3 pm, 95th Street Library); and “Surviving NaNoWriMo With Your Sanity (Mostly) Intact” by Jen Moore (October 18th, 1-3 pm, Nichols Library).
 +
 
 +
The October 4th preparatory workshop at the Nichols Library will focus on genre and the creative process. Frank Dahlman will lead this workshop and talk about key characteristic and common tropes found in the most commonly read genres, discussing what works, and identifying common clichés to avoid. After this brief discussion the members will brainstorm a possible plot line in the genre of their choosing. This workshop is sure to get the creativity well filled in preparation for NaNoWriMo
 +
 
 +
The October 11th workshop at the 95th Street library will be led by Todd Hogan. Todd will be discussing NaNoWriMo's goal of 50,000 words in 30 days, finding your story, overcoming challenges in telling your story, and miscellaneous ideas. Participants should bring paper, pen and/or other writing devices and a willingness to explore some personal ideas. There will be time for questions and discussion during the presentation.
 +
 
 +
The final preparatory workshop will be October 18th at the Nichols library.  In this preparatory workshop for NaNoWriMo, Jen Moore (NaNo record: 2 wins, 4 spectacular failures) will talk about ways to prepare yourself for this epic endeavor. You’ll determine your goals, establish your support strategies, and psych yourself up for the challenge ahead. Bring all your last-minute panic - and leave it behind when the session’s over.  
 +
 
 +
The Naperville region of NaNoWriMo is partnering with many area libraries to offer write-in events in November for people to use to work on their novel while others around them are working on theirs. These libraries include: Aurora (the Main branch and Eola Road branch), Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Downers Grove, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Indian Prairie, Naperville (Nichols Library and the 95th Street Library), Warrenville, Wheaton, and Woodridge. For more information see the [[Library Crawl 2014]] page.
 +
 
 +
There will also be a pot-luck kick-off lunch Saturday, October 25th from 11:45am - 3pm. For more information, see http://naperwrimo.org.
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
−
  | "Hit the Ground Running" by Todd Hogan
+
  | "The Stone Soup Method for NaNoWriMo Success" by Tim Yao and Kaden Patrick
−
  | Saturday, September 28, 2-4 pm  
+
  | Thursday, Oct 2nd, 7-9 pm
−
  | Warrenville Public Library
+
  | Aurora Public Library
 
  |-  
 
  |-  
−
  | "Characters are Story" by Katherine Lato
+
  | "Genres - Tropes and Cliches" by Frank Dahlman
−
  | Saturday, October 5, 1-3 pm
+
  | Saturday, October 4th, 1-3 pm
 
  | Nichols Library, Naperville
 
  | Nichols Library, Naperville
 
  |-
 
  |-
−
  | "Writing Styles - Structure, Plot and Mechanics" by Roger Lubeck
+
  | "Telling Your Story" by Todd Hogan
−
  | Saturday, October 12, 1-3 pm
+
  | Saturday, October 11, 1-3 pm
 
  | 95th Street Library, Naperville
 
  | 95th Street Library, Naperville
 
  |-
 
  |-
−
  | "Keeping your readers engaged" by Frank Dahlman
+
  | "Surviving NaNoWriMo with your Sanity (Mostly) Intact" by Jen Moore
−
  | Saturday, October 19, 1-3 pm
+
  | Saturday, October 18, 1-3 pm
 
  | Nichols Library, Naperville
 
  | Nichols Library, Naperville
 
  |}
 
  |}
  
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Bring a dish to share and come celebrate the start of NaNoWriMo at our '''pot-luck lunch kick-off party October 26th''' at the Naperville Municipal Center (11:45 am-3 pm, rooms BC).
+
All participants and their friends and family are welcome to attend the TGIO party December 6th at the Naperville Municipal Center. Come visit http://naperwrimo.org for '''[[2014 Events|more detailed event information]]'''. Fulfill your dream of becoming a novelist. See http://www.nanowrimo.org and send your questions to '''mliaisons -AT- naperwrimo.org'''.
−
 
 
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Starting midnight November 1st, you can begin the actual novel writing. The Nichols and 95th Street Libraries will host write-in events 1:30-4:30 pm on Sundays in November (Nov 3 and 17 at Nichols; Nov 10 and 24 at 95th Street). There will also be [http://naperwrimo.org/events write-ins throughout the month], including ones at the Warrenville Public Library, Woodridge Public Library, Carol Stream Public Library, Downers Grove Public Library and Lombard Public Library.
 
  
−
All participants and their friends and family are welcome to attend the TGIO party December 8th at the Naperville Municipal Center. Come visit http://naperwrimo.org for '''[[2013 Events|more detailed event information]]'''. Fulfill your dream of becoming a novelist. See http://www.nanowrimo.org and send your questions to '''mliaisons -AT- naperwrimo.org'''.
 
 
= Frequently Asked Questions =
 
= Frequently Asked Questions =
  

Revision as of 14:53, 9 September 2014

[edit]

Press Release 2013-09-01

Have you ever dreamed of writing a novel?

Every year people around the world take the plunge and become an author during the month of November. Maybe you've heard of National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo), the free, annual challenge that takes place every November, where writers and would-be novelists strive to start, write and complete their 50,000+ word novel in just 30 days. Last year over six hundred and fifty thousand people worldwide took up the challenge. Bolstered by online forums and local events, participants had fun along the way. 148 of the 546 regional participants completed their novels.

The Naperville region of NaNoWriMo, representing the cities and suburbs west of Chicago, has partnered with area libraries to offer four preparatory workshops. The first one of these will be 7-9 pm, Thursday, October 2nd at the Aurora Public Library. In this first workshop, “The Stone Soup Method to NaNoWriMo Success,” Tim Yao and Kaden Patrick will help you explore some of the essential ingredients of any successful novel: plot, narrative, setting, and a good ending. Bring pen and paper or your laptop to this interactive session.

The other three workshops, all in October and at the Nichols and 95th Street Libraries in Naperville, are: "Genres - Tropes and Cliches," by Frank Dahlman (October 4th, 1-3 pm, Nichols Library); "Telling Your Story," is led by author Todd Hogan. (October 11th, 1-3 pm, 95th Street Library); and “Surviving NaNoWriMo With Your Sanity (Mostly) Intact” by Jen Moore (October 18th, 1-3 pm, Nichols Library).

The October 4th preparatory workshop at the Nichols Library will focus on genre and the creative process. Frank Dahlman will lead this workshop and talk about key characteristic and common tropes found in the most commonly read genres, discussing what works, and identifying common clichés to avoid. After this brief discussion the members will brainstorm a possible plot line in the genre of their choosing. This workshop is sure to get the creativity well filled in preparation for NaNoWriMo

The October 11th workshop at the 95th Street library will be led by Todd Hogan. Todd will be discussing NaNoWriMo's goal of 50,000 words in 30 days, finding your story, overcoming challenges in telling your story, and miscellaneous ideas. Participants should bring paper, pen and/or other writing devices and a willingness to explore some personal ideas. There will be time for questions and discussion during the presentation.

The final preparatory workshop will be October 18th at the Nichols library. In this preparatory workshop for NaNoWriMo, Jen Moore (NaNo record: 2 wins, 4 spectacular failures) will talk about ways to prepare yourself for this epic endeavor. You’ll determine your goals, establish your support strategies, and psych yourself up for the challenge ahead. Bring all your last-minute panic - and leave it behind when the session’s over.

The Naperville region of NaNoWriMo is partnering with many area libraries to offer write-in events in November for people to use to work on their novel while others around them are working on theirs. These libraries include: Aurora (the Main branch and Eola Road branch), Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Downers Grove, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Indian Prairie, Naperville (Nichols Library and the 95th Street Library), Warrenville, Wheaton, and Woodridge. For more information see the Library Crawl 2014 page.

There will also be a pot-luck kick-off lunch Saturday, October 25th from 11:45am - 3pm. For more information, see http://naperwrimo.org.

"The Stone Soup Method for NaNoWriMo Success" by Tim Yao and Kaden Patrick Thursday, Oct 2nd, 7-9 pm Aurora Public Library
"Genres - Tropes and Cliches" by Frank Dahlman Saturday, October 4th, 1-3 pm Nichols Library, Naperville
"Telling Your Story" by Todd Hogan Saturday, October 11, 1-3 pm 95th Street Library, Naperville
"Surviving NaNoWriMo with your Sanity (Mostly) Intact" by Jen Moore Saturday, October 18, 1-3 pm Nichols Library, Naperville

All participants and their friends and family are welcome to attend the TGIO party December 6th at the Naperville Municipal Center. Come visit http://naperwrimo.org for more detailed event information. Fulfill your dream of becoming a novelist. See http://www.nanowrimo.org and send your questions to mliaisons -AT- naperwrimo.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does this cost?
A: Absolutely nothing is required. Donations to cover the nanowrimo.org website and administrative costs are accepted but are not necessary.

Q: What do the winners get?
A: A PDF file proclaiming them NaNoWriMo winners if they manage to complete at least 50,000 words in 30 days. More importantly, the happiness of completing at least 50,0000 words of a novel.

Q: Where can I find out more information about the local events?
A: Check out the 2013 Events page for detailed information about the local events.

Q: 50,000 words in 30 days seems foolhardy...
A: Actually, it turns out to be roughly 1,670 words per day, which turns out to be manageable. There are some exceptionally prolific writers who produce four times that amount... but many just barely get over the hump. The NaNoWriMo website and online discussion forums provide a lot of support; and we are organizing some weekly meetings locally for participants to use for writing and discussing their work.

Q: Do I have to publish my novel?
A: No. Some participants share their novels with other participants for critiquing; a few participants have had their NaNoWriMo novels published. There are no requirements here.

Q: What about my privacy?
A: While you do have to provide an e-mail address in order to register, the NaNoWriMo forums give participants fine control over what information is made available to others. E-mail address and identity information can be concealed and the NaNoWriMo team has a strong privacy policy. E-mail addresses are not shared or sold and you have to explicitly sign up to receive e-mail announcements from the NaNo team during November.

Q: How do I sign up?
A: Sign-ups can be done through the http://www.nanowrimo.org website. The NaNoWriMo contest proper begins at 12:01 midnight November 1st.

Q: Who coordinates things for the Chicago Western Suburbs region?
A: We (Tim Yao, Katherine Lato and Frank Dahlman) are volunteer municipal liaisons for the Chicago Western Suburbs region of NaNoWriMo (Illinois::Naperville). We are enthusiastic participants of previous NaNo's who want to help others find the joy of completion that we've found. We organize the kick-off writing session, weekly writing sessions and the TGIO party at the end.

Q: Say I join the region, what do I do next?
A: If you haven't already done so, please come to our regional forum and post a note introducing yourself to the other participants. You can say something about who you are and what you are writing.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at mliaisons -AT- naperwrimo.org

hipster PDA

The hipster PDA is a cool, retro-low tech solution to information management. One uses a collection of blank and written 3x5 index cards bound with a binder clip or collected in a special carrier to jot down notes. Here are some pertinent links:

NaNoWriMo hipsterPDAs can be found at http://hipsterpda.naperwrimo.org

Which Novel Writing Books are Recommended?

See Book_Recommendations

What other resources are there?

Glad you asked. We have a Useful_references_for_writers page where there are a lot of links collected!

What about navigational aids for the nanowrimo site?

You might like the Reference desk forum index page (that does filtering and sorting)

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