November is National Novel Writing Month (http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/dashboard), and participants are typing their fingers to the bone to reach 50,000 words by the end of the month. I know at least ten people besides me who are crazy enough to spend beautiful autumn days in the dark recesses of their offices or burrowed inside their favorite cafe charting the course of a new novel. My writing place of choice is my local Barnes & Noble bookstore. The cafe is huge, the lights are bright and wonderful double chocolate cookies and savory soups are here for the buying.
NaNoWriMo is more than just a supportive community for writers. It's 501 (c) (3) organization, The Office of Letters and Light, accepts donations that "help us bring free creative writing programs for kids and adults in over 500 cities and towns, 3,000 classrooms, and 200 libraries every year." http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/wheredonationsgo
The organization encourages children and teenagers to participate in its NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program, offering pep talks by Young Adult authors, creative writing workbooks, reward badges and certificates for those who achieve their writing goals. Once November is over, The Office of Letters and Light follows-up with post-event revision advice and information on creative writing events and contests.
Teachers can use the eight-week NaNoWriMo study curriculum for creative writing developed to the Common Core Language Arts standards, interact with other teachers in educators-only forums and access the Virtual Classroom on the NaNoWriMo website to enhance their writing classes. This year more than 3000 kits with buttons, stickers, posters and progress charts will be mailed to participating schools and up to 100 word processors will be loaned free of charge to schools in need.
Being a part of NaNoWriMo is not just a fun, focused and frantic way to jump-start that story percolating in your head. It's also about joining a diverse group of fantastic authors from around the globe who love writing and want to bring the joy of creativity to kids of all ages.
If you've signed up to participate in NaNoWriMo this year, please take a little break from your brilliant work-in-progress and consider donating to this great writing outreach program. Here's the link: https://store.lettersandlight.org/donations
Now get back to work!! ;-D