Students write novels during November

For those with “write a book” on their bucket list, November will mark another year of National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo.

Carlson Library will be celebrating NaNoWriMo throughout November with a series of write-ins and a celebration for writers at the beginning of December.

Ruth Jacobs, library media technical assistant 2 and a host for this year’s UT NaNoWriMo, said the write-ins are mainly opportunities for writers to get together.

“These are not writing classes, just time and space with like-minded people in which to unleash your imagination,” Jacobs said.

The only thing participants need to bring to the write-ins is a laptop if they have one, or a pen and paper.

“For those who are timid about others reading their work, there is no need to worry,” Jacobs said. “You may share with the world or keep your novel totally private, the choice is yours.”

NaNoWriMo was started in 1999 by writer Chris Baty in California. He said on the official website about 140 people joined in on the first event.

That number has grown to 310,095 people in 595 regions on six continents, according to Jacobs.

Carlson Library first got involved in NaNoWriMo in 2013.

“I had attended a conference in July and heard about NaNoWriMo for the first time,” Jacobs said. “It piqued my interest so much that I asked my director if we could host NaNoWriMo in the library.”

Last year was Jacobs’ first time hosting and writing in NaNoWriMo.

“I did finish my word count, but have not done any editing,” Jacobs said. “This year I feel I have a better understanding of the process and potential pitfalls, so hopefully I will be more motivated to see the editing phase through.”

The word count goal participants are encouraged to reach is 50,000 words, or 1,600 words per day.

“Simply completing a goal like this can be very gratifying and good for the self-esteem,” said Lucy Duhon, library faculty department chair.

NaNoWriMo kicked off Oct. 28 with an informational meeting where attendees were shown how to sign up — something that anyone can still do. Jacobs said the host’s job during NaNoWriMo is to provide support and encouragement, offer tips and tricks and try to make everyone comfortable.

“Our most visible time is during the informational meeting,” Jacobs said. “Other than that, we pretty much step out of the way and let people write.”

Lisa Meyer, also a library media technical assistant 2 and committee member with Jacobs, said her first experience was frustrating for a few unforeseen reasons: her laptop broke down, so she could only work on her writing from campus or on pen and paper.

“Since I already felt doomed, my perfectionism kicked in, which is a quick way to kill creativity,” Meyer said.

Meyer’s advice to participants is to wait to edit until NaNoWriMo is over and not to expect a “perfect” process.

This is Meyer’s second time participating as both a committee member and writer.

Duhon said that many published novels got their start at NaNoWriMo. “Carlson Library recently acquired some, but it’s hard to keep them on the shelves,” she said.

Among the books in Carlson library is “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen, a novel about a 90-year-old man looking back on his memories of working in the circus.

“It may seem odd, but a synergy develops when people are writing together in the same room,” Jacobs said. “It is quiet except for the tapping of keys, yet the creativity in the room is almost tangible.”

Duhon said that the NaNoWriMo committee is hoping to have an instructor from one of the academic departments on campus join them for a special guest session.

“This would be someone who has ‘been there,’” Duhon said. “Someone who has actually published a creative work and who can offer insight and advice to students about the reality of completing a novel and seeing it through to publication.”

Duhon said the members of the NaNoWriMo committee don’t want UT students to neglect their schoolwork while participating and that writing has to come after all other obligations.

“The main point of NaNoWriMo is to teach aspiring writers that in order to complete a novel, you have to set aside time to write every day,” Duhon said. “Even if that is first thing in the morning before you leave for school.”

Jacobs said she believes we all have a desire to create, and writing is an art form that takes only your time and effort.

“You don’t need any expensive tools or equipment,” Jacobs said. “Just your imagination.”

Ben Stroud, assistant professor in the department of English at UT and author of “Byzantium: Stories,” said NaNoWriMo can give students writing practice to build on.

“One of the most important aspects of writing is simply sitting down and doing it,” Stroud said. “NaNoWriMo gives you an occasion to do just that.”

Stroud’s advice to participants is to “think about how you can use the schedule you start here going forward.”

“NaNoWriMo can be a way to jump-start your writing,” he said. “A way for you to figure out how to write regularly around your normal life and then take that forward into the months and years that follow if writing is something you’re serious about.”

Meyer said she is surprised to discover how fun it is to wait all year for NaNoWriMo to “nurture her fantasy of becoming a successful and respected and deeply interesting novelist while becoming independently wealthy, rich and famous and living off the royalties while hiding away in a mountain cave producing her next epic work.”

“Your story has value, even if you write it only for yourself,” Jacobs said. “It should be written before it fades away.”