By Victoria Wicks
The month of November is time to go to work for would-be novelists across the nation. It’s National Novel Writing Month, called NaNoWriMo for short. Groups in South Dakota are gearing up to encourage each other while they attempt to write fifty-thousand words in thirty days.
Laura Floyd has written a novel every year for four years, and she’s been the statewide coordinator for three. She says she has helpers—she calls them minions—in various locations in South Dakota.
She says there aren’t any monetary prizes for this exercise, but there’s no cost to participate either.
“If you have your novel validated on the website, you get to print out a certificate that says ‘I did this,’ and you can buy yourself a T-shirt that says ‘I did this,’ and that’s what you win—you win the satisfaction of having completed the challenge,” Floyd says.
The stories don’t have to be polished. The goal is just to get from “Once Upon a Time” to “Happily Ever After” by midnight on November 30.
Participants set up a profile page on the NaNoWriMo website, where they can chat with other writers and track their own progress. On the last day, writers enter their novels to validate the word count.
During this month, November writers get together in person to write, compare progress, and keep the commitment going.
A Message from Laura Floyd:
Welcome to your weekly update on who is having kick-off parties where. :) We've got nearly all the details by now, but if you don't see your area listed below and would still like to have a kick off party, let me know! There's still plenty of time. You'll notice that some folks are having kick-offs before November begins, and some are combining the kick-off with the very first write-in on the first. Both options sound like great times, so be sure to support your local minion by showing up if you can. :)
The next brainstorming workshop in Rapid City is Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 5 p.m., in the Helen Hoyt room at the downtown public library.
SIOUX FALLS Kick-Off Party!
Monday, October 29th, from 7:00-8:30pm
Dunn Bros Coffee (http://siouxfalls.dunnbros.com/)
5320 E Arrowhead Parkway, Sioux Falls, SD 57110
Hosted by Sioux Falls Minion, Kelly S. (KellySchuknecht)
WATERTOWN Kick-Off Party!
Monday, October 29th, from 7:00-8:30pm
Watertown Library
160 6th Street NE, Watertown 57201
(map can be found here on their site: http://watweb.sdln.net/contact.html)
Munchies: You may bring your own drinks as long as they have a lids.
Hosted by Watertown Minion, Lindsay G.
YANKTON Kick-Off Party!
Thursday, November 1, from 7:00 - 9:00
Ben's Brewing in the Copper Room
http://www.facebook.com/bensbrewing?ref=nfindex.php
222 W 3rd
Hosted by Yankton Minion, Emily V. (DonElda)
**Please note: this event is being held at a drinking establishment that does not admit patrons under the age of 21. If you are under 21, please don't fret! We'll try very hard to arrange some write-ins later during the month that you can attend.
BROOKINGS Kick-Off Party!
Thursday, November 1st from 5:00 - 10:00pm
Cottonwood Coffee on Main Ave.
Hosted by Brookings Minion, Jacob C.
Jacob says: I'll buy coffee for the first 10 people to show up for the NaNoWriMo party. It's the first day of WriMo, so be prepared to write, but I'll jazz it up with some games and prizes!
MADISON Kick-Off Party!
Details forthcoming
Hosted by Madison Minion, Anthonee E.
I'll send another reminder note as party dates approach. In the meanwhile, feel free to stop by the NaNo Forums and start some conversations about your plans http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/regions/usa-south-dakota or drop by the Facebook page to sign up for alerts and announcements to be sent out the day before every event http://www.facebook.com/SouthDakotaNaNoWriMo .
Links to Victoria Wicks's 2010 series of Dakota Digests on November Novel Writing Month:
http://www.sdpb.org/newsite/shows.aspx?MediaID=58702&Parmtype=RADIO&ParmAccessLevel=sdpb-all
http://www.sdpb.org/newsite/shows.aspx?MediaID=58736&Parmtype=RADIO&ParmAccessLevel=sdpb-all
http://www.sdpb.org/newsite/shows.aspx?MediaID=58759&Parmtype=RADIO&ParmAccessLevel=sdpb-all