The largest writing event in the world – NaNoWriMo – returns to Bellingham next month, and the Bellingham Public Library is providing dozens of events for beginning and veteran NaNo participants.
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), when people around the globe write toward a common goal: 50,000 words in 30 days. Valuing enthusiasm, determination and a deadline, this worldwide writing venture provides inspiration for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel. The Bellingham Public Library is offering a series of meet-ups, writing sessions and author events for local NaNoWriMo participants, offering chances to meet other writers, share their progress, and celebrate the joy of writing.
Join us for our Kickoff event on November 1, and come back for events throughout the month. All NaNoWriMo events held in the SkillShare space on the main floor of the Central Library throughout November:
Kickoff and Come Write In Session
Sunday November 1, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Get started on day one at our Kickoff and Come Write In writing session.
Come Write In Sessions
Sundays, November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesdays, November 4, 18, 25, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Fridays, November 6, 13, 20, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
“Come Write In” sessions are opportunities for local participants to meet up and work toward their writing goal side-by-side, meet other authors and hear about their adventures in writing and with NaNoWriMo.
Local Author Spotlight: Vanessa Blackburn
Friday, November 6, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Monday, November 9, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 22, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Vanessa Blackburn has more than 20 years of professional writing and publishing experience in the journalism and public relations fields, and through NaNoWriMo she has challenged herself to branch out into fiction. Vanessa is a winner of last year’s NaNo, and she plans to continue this year by working on the second book in her futuristic fiction trilogy. She has found that using her non-fiction skills in observation, dialogue and description transfer well to creating realistic characters and settings, and the key to NaNo is to write every single day and edit later! She’s excited to get going again this year with the craziness that is NaNo. Come down to SkillShare and join her in working toward that goal!
Local Author Spotlight: Cory Skerry
Wednesday, November 18, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Cory Skerry is a published short story author who indulges in at least one for-fun novel every NaNoWriMo since 2003. He meddles with (and peddles) art supplies, reads short story submissions for Tor.com, and is the Art Director for Nightmare Magazine. When he dies he’d like science to put his brain into a giant octopus body, with which he promises to be very responsible and not even slightly shipwrecky. Pinky swear. Come prepared to write and hear about Cory’s past experiences with NaNoWriMo and the world of writing!
Local Author Spotlight: Thom Carnell
Saturday, November 28, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Thom Carnell will share his experience as a published writer and offer a Q&A session and writing tips. Thom Carnell’s fiction has been featured in CARPE NOCTEM Magazine, the horror anthology, BLOODY CARNIVAL from Pill Hill Press, and in his debut novel NO FLESH SHALL BE SPARED. As a journalist, his interviews and profiles can be found in CARPE NOCTEM Magazine (for which he served as Head Writer and Creative Consultant), FANGORIA Magazine, Dread Central.com and Twitchfilm.com.
Documentaries Featuring the Lives of Writers
Wednesday, November 4, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Monday, November 9, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Monday, November 23, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The library will be showing documentaries at these times featuring the lives of selected writers. Please join us in SkillShare to watch and learn more about the featured authors. Please contact Jenni at jjohnson@cob.org or 778-7217 to find out which films will be showing.
For more information about all NaNoWriMo events at the Bellingham Public Library, contact Jenni at jjohnson@cob.org or 360-778-7217.