Writer's paradise

Recent IU graduate Kit Willihnganz has been creating stories for as long as she can remember, dictating her tales to her family until she could write for herself. She has written nine novels -- finishing her first at age 14 -- as well as many short stories. So when a friend from school mentioned a Web-based event called National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, Willinhganz decided to give it a shot.\n"Writing came natural to me. It was what I was supposed to be doing," she said. "I think (NaNoWriMo) is an especially good thing for me, since I just finished my last novel. I'm ready to throw quality and publishing to the wind."\nWillihnganz is not alone. Every November since 1999, a growing number of people around the world have frantically typed 50,000 words, in hopes of achieving what many people can only dream of -- writing a a novel.\nMost of the authors aren't professionals and many have never written anything more substantial than essays for a class. Most aren't bestseller-list quality. Some participants claim their work is not even worthy of human consumption and refuse to even allow family and friends to read their work.\nBut to participate in NaNoWriMo, none of that matters. "No Plot? No Problem!" claims a promotional poster. And it's true: the only prerequisites for the novels are to write 50,000 words or approximately 175 typed pages, and do it between 12:01 a.m. Nov. 1 and 11:59 p.m. Nov. 30. That figures to approximately 1,667 words per day.\nLast year, about 14,000 budding writers participated, with over 2,100 of them meeting their 50,000 word goal within the month. At the end of November, novelists send their manuscripts via e-mail to the National Novel Writing Month Web site to verify the final word count. Everyone who has met the 50,000 word goal receives an official "Winner" Web icon and a downloadable certificate. The real prize, according to www.nanowrimo.org, is "the self-satisfaction that comes with pulling off such a great, creative feat." \nNaNoWriMo was started on the Internet by a few people near San Francisco, Calif. Through its five years of existence it has grown into an international event. Mainly through word of mouth and Internet live journals, the number of novel writers has grown from six in 1999 to an estimated 4,000 this year. People from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as numerous foreign countries, partake in the experience of penning a novel.\nThe thousands of zealous novelists are able to meet one another and discuss the delights and burdens of their massive endeavor at the forums on the Web site, which plays host to places to discuss pretty much everything associated with the frantic writing of a novel, including how to reach 50,000 words, what music to listen to while writing and even "How to Procrastinate Effectively." A forum for posts not relating to novel-writing also exists, with discussions about movies, books, games and anything else the writers are interested in. Specific area-centered regional lounges offer opportunities to meet and discuss the upcoming novels and plan meetings.\nOne of these regional lounges brings together individuals from in and around Bloomington. IU alumna Denise Roe serves as Bloomington's municipal liaison. A second-year participant in NaNoWriMo, Roe organizes weekly meetings for the city's participants and advertises the events. \nBloomington's novelists generally meet Tuesday nights at locations decided on the message boards the week before. \n"It's like a support group for all the craziness," Roe said.\nAt the meetings, attendees discuss aspects of writing a novel, including plots, character development, advice on novel writing and tips for their stories. They also unwind by talking about anything else that they're interested in, ranging from school and work to leisure time activities. \n"It's crazy and it's fun," Roe said. "It creates a sense of community."\nAlthough almost everyone discovered NaNoWriMo either through word of mouth or on the Internet, their reasons for writing vary.\n"I'm ambitious," said IU junior Stephanie Morris. "I thought, 'I could write a novel in a month.' And it sounded like an interesting thing to do."\n"I have nothing better to do," quipped IU staff member Sam Pollauf. "I think it will be a good time. I like to write, but I've never written anything this lengthy. It's my first time."\nBut the lure of writing their own novel outweighs the inexperience of most participants.\n"Before NaNoWriMo, I had only written journal entries," Roe said. "But it was crazy enough I had to do it. I said, 'Why not?' When else are you going to have time to write a novel?"\nSome NaNoWriMo participants in Bloomington, like Roe, have been geared up for their month-long literary experience since they completed their novels last year. \nRoe has had a lot of time to draw up her plot outline and character sketches. This year, she plans to tell the tale of a serial killer who murders by poisoning toothpaste.\nOthers just stumbled upon the opportunity a few weeks ago. \n"I don't have a plot yet," Morris said. "I should have it before November."\nDespite their varied stages of preparedness for next month, all the participants seem to feel the same sense of excitement toward the task at hand. \n"I really can't wait to get started," said Emily Hurford, an IU continuing studies student. "It's going to be crazy."\nHowever, other emotions also play a factor for participants.\n"I'm anxious to start," Roe admitted. "And I'm nervous. I know I can do it, but I want to make (my novel) more interesting (than last year) so I can show it to other people."\nHowever, the stress of writing an entire novel in a relatively short amount of time seems to be relieved somewhat by the low-key attitude about plot or lack thereof.\n"It's fun," Roe said. "You don't have to worry about it being bad, because it will be."\nSince the central goal of NaNoWriMo is to write for pleasure, not quality, plots often take an interesting twist or two.\n"If the ninja cabbages have to save your story, so be it. It's a lot of fun," Hurford said.\nThe Bloomington NaNoWriMo crew seem anxious to involve everyone they can in the fun and festivities of the event.\n"People should do it," Willihnganz said. "They'll be surprised by their own ability."\nRoe encourages everyone to join the thousands of other authors participating in NaNoWriMo.\n"Anybody can do it," Roe said. "So many people want to write a novel, but no one does it. This is just a kick in that direction."\nInterested participants may sign up at www.nanowrimo.org throughout November.\n-- Contact staff writer Jenny Kobiela at jkobiela@indiana.edu.