Get ready ... get set ... WRITE!

In one week, writers of all ages will take on the ultimate challenge: to write a 50,000 word novel in one month.

National Novel Writing Month is an internet-based creative writing project that encourages anyone who has ever thought of writing a book to use the 30 days of November to accomplish that goal. Participation is easy. Just sign up on their website before November 1 and you'll receive notifications of local writing meet-ups, pep talks from well-known authors, tips for beating writer's block, etc. throughout the challenge.

The Library is a great NaNoWriMo resource. We have plenty of space for you to write, nonfiction titles about writing, databases and other research materials for the fine details pertinent to your story, and published books that started as NaNoWriMo novels to inspire you. These include:

• The Beautiful Land by Alan Averill
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruenwater
• The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough
• Wool by Hugh Howey
• Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
• The Compound by S. A. Bodeen
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Each one of these writers started with a dream. NaNoWriMo gave them the incentive they needed to get the first draft of their dream on paper/a computer screen. There's no reason why the next author on this list can't be you! As Toni Morrison once said, "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

Happy writing!