nanowrimo · nanowrimo quick facts started by a group of friends in 1999. grew from 21 participants...

NaNoWriMo

1) Read the information in this packet.

2) Show page 3 to a parent or guardian so that they can learn about

NaNoWriMo.

3) Use page 7 to pick a goal.

4) Fill out page 8 and CAREFULLY tear it out. Return that page to Mrs.

Baker in the library by or before Wednesday, October 29.

BTW—it’s

pronounced

“Nah No RY

Mo”, not

“REE Mo”.

Hello, Novelist!

Here it is, almost November, and you've decided to join over 100,000 people around the world next month who are brave and crazy enough to write a novel in 30 days.

We know what you're thinking. You're thinking: Writing a novel sounds pretty cool. After all, when I'm done I can spend the rest of my life bragging about how I wrote a novel in a month. But still, isn't novel writing for, well, novelists?

The answer, our friends, is no! Anyone can write a novel. You don't even have to know how to write a novel to write a novel. You just have to have a few ideas, some paper, and a pen. It's as easy as that.

If you don’t have any ideas about what to write next month, don’t worry. We've put together an awesome workbook to spark your imagination before NaNoWriMo (you'll receive it by the end of the week if you turn in this packet on time -- you don't HAVE to do it, but it can be very helpful!). We'll walk you through creating awesome characters and settings. We'll show you how to create conflict, outline your plot, and write dialogue that will strike the deepest envy in writers the world over. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, we will be right by your side throughout NaNoWriMo with dares that will help you boost your word count, create plot twists, and get to know your characters better than you might want to.

Before you embark on your noveling adventure, we want you to know that whatever your word count at the end of November, you are extraordinary just for giving this a shot.

Good luck, from all of us here at NaNoWriMo. May your words be many, your imagination be awakened, and your adventure be out of this world!

Dear Parents and Family Members,

This November, your child will be taking part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). He or she will

be joining over 300,000 writers all around the world! This is a fun, innovative creative writing event where

the challenge is the complete the first draft of an entire novel in just 30 days. I've often said that it's like a

sports season or a marathon — even recess — for writers!

The noveling season begins November 1 and ends by midnight, November 30.

Adult participants in this program write 50,000 words during the event, but children under the age of 17

choose their own age-appropriate goal and are supported through some motivational activities at school.

We'll have a progress chart (complete with stickers!), "NaNoWriMo Mail," goodies, and an end-of-event

celebration/awards ceremony (you’re invited!).

There is an online component to this program available at http://ywp.nanowrimo.org — it can be very

helpful, and is a fun community of young writers, but it is not a required component of our program at LSMS.

There are no mandatory meetings or fees, but there will be several opportunities for participants to

collaborate and share.

I have participated in NaNoWriMo, as a writer and as a facilitator, for about a decade and am a big believer

in its benefits for young writers. It helps them build valuable skills in project planning and time management

as well as willpower and, of course, composition.

I'm very proud and excited to welcome your child as a participant in the 2014 LSMS NaNoWriMo Young

Writers Program! If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with me at

[email protected].

Enthusiastically,

Kate Baker

LSMS NaNoWriMo Facilitator

P.S. Have YOU always said “one day maybe I’ll write a novel”? This might be that day! NaNoWriMo is challenging with all of

the demands of an adult life, but definitely doable and SO rewarding. And nothing motivates a writer (like your child) like

a Writing Buddy and maybe a little friendly competition with a family member! I strongly recommend that adult

participants get a free account at www.nanowrimo.org and take advantage of the progress-tracking features there. If you

attach your profile to the Boise/Treasure Valley municipal area, you will be invited to some terrific community events like

Write-Ins with friendly area writers (and your child can go with you and see what real writers in the community do). It’s

immensely powerful and a great way to meet interesting, awesome people and have some support in writing your story.

NaNoWriMo Quick Facts Started by a group of friends in 1999.

Grew from 21 participants in 1999 to almost half a million participants in 2013.

The Young Writers’ Program started in 2005 to allow younger writers a chance to participate.

Adults have to write 50,000 (or more) words. Children under the age of 17 can pick a goal based

on their grade level (grade level x 1,000 words) and their abilities/amount of spare time.

There is an online community where you can create an account and interact with other student

writers. This is completely optional and should only be done with your parents’ permission.

NaNoWriMo has produced MANY published books! You can see a complete list online at

http://nanowrimo.org/published-wrimos but some of the NaNoWriMo books/authors you may

have heard of include Cinder (Marissa Meyer), The Compound (S. A. Bodeen), Water for

Elephants (Sara Gruen), The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern), The Forest of Hands and Teeth

(Carrie Ryan), Fangirl (Rainbow Rowell), Anna and the French Kiss (Stephanie Perkins), Being

Henry David (Cal Armistead), Spookygirl: Paranormal Investigator (Jill Baguchinsky) and Sure

Signs of Crazy (Karen Harrington). Yep — the first draft of each of these books was written in

thirty days during National Novel Writing Month!

National Novel Writing Month is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Berkeley, California. Its mission statement:

“National Novel Writing Month organizes events where children and adults find the inspiration, encouragement, and structure they

need to achieve their creative potential. Our programs are web-enabled challenges with vibrant real-world components, designed

to foster self-expression while building community on local and global levels.”

Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is the point?

A: Lots of people say that “one day” they’ll write a novel, but days turn into months that turn into years, and next thing you know you are old and never wrote your story! NaNoWriMo gives you a forced deadline, breaks it into easy-to-do chunks, and adds the element of prizes and competition to make it fun. It’s a great way to motivate yourself into writing down a first draft of a novel.

Q: How do I win?

A: NaNoWriMo is like a marathon — where everyone who finishes wins — not a race where only the fastest runner wins. To win, you just need to meet your goal. That is, you need to write at least as many words as you challenged yourself to write, within 30 days.

Q: How does Mrs. Baker know if I’ve won or passed a milestone?

A: There will be a “mailbox” system in the library and you’ll need to check your mail and turn in Writing Updates. They only take a minute to fill out, and you should do one every 1-3 days so that Mrs. Baker knows how you are doing and whether you’ve earned any goodies!

Q: What do I win?

A: There will be little goodies for different milestones (for example, passing your halfway point). At the end, we’ll have a party and awards ceremony to recognize the writers. If you meet your goal you’ll have the opportunity to have your novel printed up and shared in the library.

Q: Who will read my novel?

A: Anyone you want to read your work can! But you are not required to turn it in to anyone.

Q: Can I write with a partner?

A: Not really. Each person needs to have his or her own goal and his or her own novel. But you can definitely have a Writing Buddy who writes alongside you and keeps you on track!

Q: Do I have to type my novel?

A: No. BUT there are benefits to typing it. The first one is that your computer will count your words for you! Otherwise you will have to count your words by hand. The second one is that if you meet your goal and want your story to be printed up, you’ll have to type up your novel first.

Q: Can I start early?

A: No! That would be cheating. :)

Q: Can I have extra time?

A: Nope… once it is December, NaNoWriMo is over and you can’t count any more words. BUT you can definitely keep writing if you haven’t reached “THE END” yet!

Pep Talks from Real Authors Every year, famous authors support NaNoWriMo participants by writing and sharing great

pep talks to motivate you as you write! The 2014 lineup of Pep Talk authors includes:

TAMORA PIERCE VERONICA ROTH BRANDON SANDERSON

Author of TONS of books

including the Song of the

Lioness series, The

Immortals series, the

Protector of the Small

series, and MANY more!

Author of the

Divergent series!

Author of Mistborn,

Steelheart, The

Rithmatist, the Alcatraz

series, and many other

series and novels!

JIM BUTCHER KAMI GARCIA CHUCK WENDIG

Author of Mrs. Baker’s

favorite series, The

Dresden Files, and The

Codex Alera series!

Co-author of the

Beautiful Creatures series;

author of Unbreakable

and Unmarked!

Author of Blackbirds,

Double Dead, and

Dinocalypse Now.

These pep talks, along with other goodies, will be distributed

to your NaNoWriMo Mailbox throughout the month!

Choosing Your Goal The first major decision you have to make is how big you want your goal to be.

Although you CAN change your goal, it is better NOT to. So choose carefully!

Look at the charts below to help you pick a goal. These are just suggestions — you can have any goal you want, as long as it meets your minimum requirements for your grade.

(I STRONGLY recommend that you do not choose a goal higher than 50,000 words, though!)

6th Grade Goal Suggestions



Very Busy Sorta Busy Too Much Spare Time!

Slow Writer

6,000 words

about 22 doublespaced pages

or ¾ of a page per day

8,000 words


or almost 1 page per day

10,000 words


or just over 1 page per day

Average Writer

8,000 words



11,000 words


or 1⅓ pages per day

14,000 words


or 1⅔ pages per day

Fast Writer

10,000 words



14,000 words



18,000 words


or just over 2 pages per day


Slow Writer

7,000 words


or ⅘ of a page per day

9,000 words



11,000 words



Average Writer

9,000 words



12,000 words


or about 1½ pages per day

16,000 words


or almost 2 pages per day

Fast Writer

11,000 words



16,000 words


or almost 2 pages per day

21,000 words




Slow Writer

8,000 words



10,000 words



12,000 words



Average Writer

10,000 words



14,000 words



18,000 words



Fast Writer

12,000 words



18,000 words



24,000 words


or 2⅘ pages per day

Please write neatly so we don’t misspell your name when we copy it down!

Name Grade

English/Language Arts Teacher

Advisory Teacher

Email (if you have one)

Look at page 7 of this packet and use it to

help you pick a goal. Please do not pick a

goal higher than 50,000 words.

Need help? Talk to Mrs. Baker (librarian).

The table to the right shows the minimum

goal you are allowed to pick; you can choose

a higher goal if you are a fast writer!

Remember, you have only 30 days to meet your goal — and Thanksgiving is this month.

Set a goal you can achieve without sacrificing sleep, schoolwork, & family/friend time.

My goal is to write words in 30 days.

Lowell Scott Advisor: Mrs. Baker (librarian)

[email protected]

National Website: http://ywp.nanowrimo.org

RETURN THIS FORM BY WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 AT 4 PM

WHAT

GRADE ARE

YOU IN?

MINIMUM

GOAL

TOTAL PAGE

EQUIVALENT

(size 12, double

spaced)

WORDS

PER DAY

(FOR 30 DAYS)

6 6,000 words About 20 200

7 7,000 words About 24 233

8 8,000 words About 27 267

Recom-

mended 20,000 words 667 About 70

Adults 50,000 words About 160 1,667

Tear our this page and give it to Mrs. Baker in the

library by Wednesday, October 29 , no later than 4 PM.

nanowrimo · nanowrimo quick facts started by a group of friends in 1999. grew from 21 participants...

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