National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo 2023
NaNoWriMo Library Events
Getting Started
Books About Writing
Books by NaNoWriMo Authors

NaNoWriMo 2023

In 2023 we will be hosting our 15th NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month.) Every November, people all over the world attempt to write a 50,000-word novel by midnight, November 30. Participants sign up by creating free accounts at www.nanowrimo.org, the official site for National Novel Writing Month. There they can post their daily (or hourly, or second-by-second) word counts, display samples of their writing, or discuss their progress and even arrange local write-in events with other writers.

Attendance across all library programming for NaNoWriMo 2022, including in-person and ZOOM, was 53, with 20 unique attendees. It’s harder to know how many reached 50k in the multi-platform post-COVID environment, but everyone won by taking part, and the self-reported genres in which people wrote included Christmas/Holiday Romance, Crime Romance, Editing (Memoir), Fanfiction, Fanfiction Poetry, Fantasy, Horror/Thriller, Memoir, RomCom, Sci-Fi, “Self-Indulgent Personal Writing,” “Typographic Rescue Mission,” and Young Adult Fiction.

NaNoWriMo, and Other Writing-Related, Library Events

Last year the National Novel Writing Month organization resumed allowing in-person events under the NaNoWriMo banner.* However, attendance at our library’s Wednesday Night ZOOM sessions indicate that people want both. We look forward to seeing many of you both in person and via ZOOM this November. Date and time information for write-ins, contests and other tie-in events and programming are still being added.

First Day Frenzy Opening Write-In, Wed. Nov. 1 from 10:00 – 7:45 p.m.
All are invited to an all-day first day kickoff for National Novel Writing hosted by the library. Click here for more information.
Saturday All Day Write-Ins
The traditional Saturday write-ins, in person once more. Come when you can! Leave when you like! Weekend write-ins are your chance to meet local fellow novelists and write like crazy. Brainstorm, socialize and boost your word count with fellow writers of the North Shore.
- Saturday, November 4, 10:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- There will be no Sat. Nov. 11 write-in at the library as we will be closed for Veterans Day.
- Saturday, November 18, 10:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. This write-in will be in the upstairs Local History Room due to a prior booking in our Large Meeting Room.
- Saturday, November 25, 10:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday Night Zoom
Wednesday nights are for working on your novel! This special two-hour Zoom is designed for remote writing with your fellow disembodied writer heads. Communicate with nods or by using the Chat function, or call the on-call hosting librarian at 978-468-5577 x619.
- Wednesday, November 8, 5:30 – 7:45 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 15, 5:30 – 7:45 p.m.
- There will be no Wed. Nov. 22 Zoom as the library closes at 5:00 p.m. (and the librarian will probably be traveling!)
- Wednesday, November 29, 5:30 – 7:45 p.m.
Young Writers Story Writing Contest
Young writers ages 5 to 12 are invited to submit stories for a special story writing contest in November. The deadline for submitting stories is Sun. November 26 by midnight. Click here for rules and other information, and download the helpful Write-Your-Story Calendar. (This will be our 14th Young Writer’s Story Writing Contest! 21 children participated in last year’s 2022 contest. Read their stories here.)
Write The Hook Teen Writing Contest
This will be our third Write The Hook! Essex County teens grades 6 – 12 are invited to submit the beginning or “hook” to their stories for a chance at cash prizes and their winning submissions posted on the Informed Teens blog. The deadline for submitting is Sunday, December 31 by midnight. Click here for more information.
Adult Writing Contest: Flash Fiction
You choose the genre, you choose the subject. Just keep it short! Submit a story 1,200 words or less for our 2nd Adult Writing Contest. The deadline for submitting is Friday, December 15 by midnight. Click here for more information. (This will be our 2nd Adult Writing Contest! Last year’s theme was “Writing Your Memoir” and you can read the winning stories here.)

IMPORTANT! Are you a North Shore participant? Programs and events listed here are only those hosted, sponsored or promoted by our library. Join your region and visit your regional forum to to connect with all activities in the North Shore region. See Getting Started or call 978-468-5577 x620 to find out more.

Getting Started

If you are participating in National Novel Writing Month for the first time, the best way to start is by visiting the web site and creating a free account. If you would like to communicate with fellow writers, your next stop is the NaNoWriMo forums.

Forums include the Genre Lounges, Resources and Writing Support, and many other groups. (There is even a NaNo Rebels forum for those using November to write something like a memoir, script or non-fiction book instead!) Visit the Regional Lounges to hook up with authors from your local area.

Here are a few short cuts for Massachusetts participants:

Books About Writing

These are just a few of the many books on writing available from the Hamilton-Wenham Library. Don’t see your favorite title on there? Let us know! If you are looking at this list during or immediately before the month of November, many of these books will be checked out, but feel free to call 978-468-5577 and ask if the title you want is actually available (it may just be checked out to a display!) We can also bring books in from other libraries.

***Asterisked books were purchased as part of 2019’s 10 Year Anniversary extravaganza.

***Let’s Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, and Why You Should
Gaughran, David
070.59 GAU

Your Child’s Writing Life: How To Inspire Confidence, Creativity, and Skill At Every Age
Allyn, Pam
649.6 ALL/ parenting

***Writing Monsters: How To Craft Believably Terrifying Creatures To Enhance Your Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction
Athans, Philip
808.02 ATH

***Good Naked: Reflections On How To Write More, Write Better, and Be Happier
Cole, Joni B.
808.02 COL

***Take Off Your Pants! Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing
Hawker, Libbie
808.02 HAW

***How To Be a Writer In the E-Age: A Self-Help Guide
Hyde, Catherine Ryan
808.02 HYD

***DIY MFA
Pereira, Gabriela
808.02 PER

***Chance Particulars: A Writer’s Field Notebook for Travelers, Bloggers, Essayists, Memoirists, Novelists, Journalists, Adventurers, Naturalists, Sketchers, and Other Note-takers and Recorders of Life
Taber, Sara Mansfield
808.02 TAB

20 Master Plots and How To Build Them
Tobias, Ronald B.
808.02 TOB

***The Story grid: What Good Editors Know
Coyne, Shawn
808.027 COY

***Writing Voice: The Complete Guide To Creating a Presence On the Page and Engaging Readers
808.042 WRI

Books, Crooks and Counselors: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure
Budewitz, Leslie
808.066 BUD

***Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults
Klein, Cheryl B.
808.068 KLE

No Plot? No Problem! A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide To Writing a Novel In 30 Days
Baty, Chris
808.3 BAT

***The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing: Everything You Need To Know To Create & Sell Your Work
808.3 COM

Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots
Cook, William Wallace
808.3 COO

Writer’s Guide To Character Traits: Includes Profiles of Human Behaviors and Personality Types
Edelstein, Linda N.
808.3 EDE

Mastering the Process: From Idea to Novel
George, Elizabeth
808.3 GEO

Write Away: One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life
George, Elizabeth
808.3 GEO

So You Want To Write: How To Master the Craft of Fiction and the Personal Narrative
Piercy, Marge
808.3 PIE

Book In A Month: The Fool-proof System for Writing a Novel in 30 Days
Schmidt, Victoria Lynn
808.3 SCH

***Damn Fine Story: Mastering the Tools of a Powerful Narrative
Wendig, Chuck
808.3 WEN

You Can Write A Romance
Estrada, Rita Clay
808.385 EST

How To Write Science Fiction and Fantasy
Card, Orson Scott
808.387 CAR

You Can Write A Mystery
Roberts, Gillian
808.387 ROB

On Writing Horror, Revised Edition: A Handbook by The Horror Writers Association
Castle, Mort
808.3873 ON

***Ryan Higa’s How To Write Good
Higa, Ryan
Y B HIGA, RYAN

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
King, Stephen
B King, Stephen

Books at Hamilton-Wenham by NaNoWriMo Authors

It’s true, some NaNoWriMo novels have been published. Click here for a growing list of published authors. Below are some NaNoWriMo novels that our library actually owns. Check them out, and see what you think of the results!

The Compound
Bodeen, S. A.
Y Playaway BODEEN

The Oyster War: The True Story of a Small Farm, Big Politics, and the Future of Wilderness In America
Brennan, Summer
333.956 BRE

Take the Reins
Burkhart, Jessica
J BUR

The Art of Crash Landing
DeCarlo, Melissa
FIC. DECARLO

The Mosquito Hours
DeLorenzo, Melissa Corliss
Fic. DELORENZO

Body of Water
Dooley, Sarah
J DOO

Shelter of Leaves
Gay, Lenore H.
FIC. GAY

Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen
Gephart, Donna
J GEP

Bodies of Water
Greenwood, T.
Fic. GREENWOOD

The Hungry Season
Greenwood, T.
Fic. GREENWOOD

Flying Changes
Gruen, Sara
Fic. GRUEN

Water for Elephants
Gruen, Sara
Fic. GRUEN
and downloadable e-book and e-audio

Sure Signs of Crazy
Harrington, Karen
J HAR

Dark Tide
Haynes, Elizabeth
Fic. HAYNES

Into the Darkest Corner
Haynes, Elizabeth
Fic. HAYNES

Under a Silent Moon
Haynes, Elizabeth
M HAYNES

Shades of Milk and Honey
Kowal, Mary Robinette
Fic. KOWAL
and downloadable e-book

Tag, You’re Dead
Lane, J. C.
FIC. LANE

Cinder
Meyer, Marissa
Y MEY
and downloadable e-book and e-audio

Cress
Meyer, Marissa
Y MEY
and downloadable e-book and e-audio

Scarlet
Meyer, Marissa
Y MEY
and downloadable e-book and e-audio

The Night Circus
Morgenstern, Erin
Fic. MORGENSTERN
Also available as audio CD:
BCD/ MORGENSTERN
and downloadable e-book or e-audio

Anna and the French Kiss
Perkins, Stephanie
Y PER
and downloadable e-book

Isla and the Happily Ever After
Perkins, Stephanie
Y PER

Lola and the Boy Next Door
Perkins, Stephanie
Y PER
Also available as audio CD:
Y BCD PER
and downloadable e-book

Time Off for Good Behavior
Rich, Lani Diane
Fic. RICH

Fangirl
Rowell, Rainbow
Y ROW
and downloadable e-book and e-audio

The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Ryan, Carrie
Y RYA
and downloadable e-book