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Article in Adult Nonfiction, Young Adult Nonfiction, Poetry category.

NaNoWriMo at JMRL

NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month, and takes place annually from November 1-30. During this time, writers can challenge themselves to write a novel (50,000 words or more) before the month is through. On their website, writers can register for NaNoWriMo and have access to lots of great resources including coaches, reminders, word counts, and more, and can also get in touch with their local writing communities. Below, check out some of the books NaNoWriMo.org recommends for getting you through your 30-day novel!

NaNoWriMo Events at JMRL

• Come Write In: A NaNoWriMo Workspace

Every Tuesday in November (November 3, 10, 17, & 24) from 6-8pm at the Central Library

Drop in to the Madison for a quiet space to work on your NaNoWriMo challenge. Light refreshments and coffee will be served! No registration is required.

• NaNoWriMo Kickoff Party

Monday, November 2 at 6-8pm at the Northside Library

Celebrate the beginning of the NaNoWriMo challenge by picking up writing prompts and exercises, worksheets, and other writing resources while enjoying light refreshments. Dive right into your novel while you’re here, or just relax and connect with other writers. No registration is required.

• NaNoWriMo Wrap-Up Celebration

Tuesday, December 1 at 6-8pm at the Northside Library

Now that NaNoWriMo is over and you’ve lived to tell the tale, ease back into real life by celebrating the end of the month with other WriMos. Stop by to swap stories about your successes and failures, enjoy treats, and relax without worrying about your word count. All NaNoWriMo participants are welcome, regardless of the final status of your novel. No registration is required.

Books We Love: A Reading List from NaNoWriMo.org

See this list on their website here.

• The Artful Edit: On the Practice of Editing Yourself by Susan Bell

• The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How to Write It, Sell It, and Market It... Successfully! by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry

070.52 Eckstut

• The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

153.35 Cameron

• Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

808.02 Bradbury

• The Author's Toolkit: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Book by Mary Embree

808.02 Embree

• Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg

808.02 Goldberg

• On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

808.02 King and 92 King, Stephen

• Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

808.02 Lamott

• You’ve Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams by Elizabeth Sims

808.02 Sims

Writing Groups at JMRL

You can also find us on Meetup.com

For Adults

• Creative Writing at Central Library

Meets 3rd Wednesdays of the month unless otherwise noted (please see the current schedule).

Come explore a world of creative writing with activities and prompts to get your creativity flowing. Feel free to share your work in this non-judgmental environment. Registration requested: please e-mail acox@jmrl.org or call 979.7151 x4.

• Writing Critique at Central Library

Meets 2nd and 4th Wednesdays unless otherwise noted (please see the current schedule).

Improve your writing by getting feedback from your peers. Participants will bring copies of work previously written to share with peers, and will help constructively critique others work as well. No registration necessary. For more inquiries, contact Abby at acox@jmrl.org or call 979.7151 x4.

For Teens

• Musings: A Teen Writer’s Workshop at Crozet Library

First Tuesdays at 6:30pm (please see the current schedule for specific dates).

Join other teen writers every month to stretch the imagination with new techniques and diverse prompts that will inspire your creative writing process. Feel free to bring any of your writing with you and receive helpful feedback. Grades 7-12. Registration recommended. Drop-ins are always welcome.

Writing Resources:

Below you’ll find some writing resources that you can use to help inspire your writing:

Books and Materials at JMRL

• Write That Book Already: The Tough Love You Need to Get Published Now by Sam Barry and Kathi Kamen Goldmark

808.02 Barry

• The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation into the Writing Life by Julia Cameron

808.02 Cameron

A great way to become inspired to write by the author of The Artist’s Way. Includes advice on writing, and prompts to get you started.

• Writing Your Way: Creating a Writing Process That Works for You by Don Fry

808.02 Fry

Find your own process of writing to find a style that works for you, allowing you more creativity and productivity.

• You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: The Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction from Memoir to Literary Journalism and Everything in Between by Lee Gutkind

808.02 Gutkind

• So, You Wanna Be a Writer? by Vicki Hambleton and Cathleen Greenwood

808.02 Hambleton

Although geared toward teen authors, this book covers a lot of topics on writing in a short book, which also includes some great writing prompts.

• Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write by Victoria Hanley

808.02 Hanley

Not just for teens, this book is a great introduction to writing, from how to free your imagination to how to form characters, realistic settings, and understand plotting.

• On Writing: Advice for Those Who Write to Publish (Or Would Like to) by George V. Higgins

808.02 Higgins

• Rip the Page: Adventures in Creative Writing by Karen Benke

808.042 Benke

A great way to think outside of the box and just start writing. Good for teens through adults.

• How to Write Short: Word Craft for Fast Times by Roy Peter Clark

808.042 Clark

If you want your writing to be more concise, or just prefer short forms of writing, this book has great exercises and advice on improving it.

• Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir by Beth Kephart

808.066 Kephart

Exercises to get you thinking about writing your memoir.

• The Poetry Home Repair Manual: Practical Advice for Beginning Poets by Ted Kooser

808.1 Kooser

Good for beginners, this books offers great advice and inspiration on writing poetry.

• Essentials of Screenwriting: The Art, Craft, and Business of Film and Television Writing by Richard Walter

808.23 Walter

UCLA Professor Richard Walter goes over what goes into a good screenplay, including chapters on dialogue, character, plotting, format, and script sales.

• Kicking in the Wall and A Year of Writing Dangerously by Barbara Abercrombie

808.3 Abercrombie

Both books have plenty of prompts and creative exercises that work for the creative fiction and nonfiction writing alike.

• Beyond the First Draft: The Art of Fiction by John Casey

808.3 Casey

• Write Away: One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life by Elizabeth George

808.3 George

Famed mystery writer Elizabeth George gives her take on the writing process and writing tips that she offers to students in her creative writing classes.

• Write Your Novel in a Month: How to Complete the First Draft in 30 Days and What to Do Next by Jeff Gerke

808.3 Gerke

• Novelist’s Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes by Raymond Obstfeld

808.3 Obstfeld

Learn how to make scenes memorable by using point of view, character and theme focus, how to structure a scene, and use setting to make your scene feel believable.

• The Writer’s Digest Handbook of Novel Writing by editors of Writer’s Digest

808.3 Writer’s

A great handbook for general novel writing, with chapters by well-known authors.

• The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms by Mark Strand and Eavan Boland

821.08 Making

A great collection of poetic forms with a background to each form, and examples of each, in addition to poetic devices commonly used in poetry,

• Writer’s Digest Magazine is available online with Zinio and at Central and Gordon Avenue Library.

Check out current and back issues of Writer’s Digest magazine electronically to your mobile device using Zinio and your JMRL Library Card. Or come into the Central or Gordon Avenue Library to read the most current issue, and bring home the back issues for later!

Also see: Books for Teen Writers

Great Websites for Writing Prompts

Publishing Resources

Resources that cover self-publishing and traditional publishing.

• The Fine Print of Self-Publishing: A Primer on Contracts, Printing Costs, Royalties, Distribution, E-Books, and Marketing by Mark Levine

• Publishing E-Books for Dummies by Ali Luke

070.573 Luke

Learn how to publish, market, and sell your own e-book.

• The Indie Author Guide: Self-publishing strategies anyone can use by April L. Hamilton

070.593 Hamilton

This guide takes you through each step of self-publishing, from e-books to print on demand.

• The Author Training Manual by Nina Amir

808.02 Amir

A great book that covers how to develop marketable ideas for books as well as how to prepare books that publishers will be interested in and how to self-publish effectively.

• An Insider’s Guide to Publishing by David Comfort

808.02 Comfort

An inside look at the publishing industry that will help aspiring authors navigate the pitfalls that many aspiring authors have navigated. Learn how to work with agents, publishers, and critics, deal with rejection and success, and navigate traditional and self-publishing.

• Writer’s Market Guide to Getting Published by the editors of Writer’s Digest

808.02 Writer's

Information about market trends; guidelines to writing fiction, nonfiction or scripts that sell; marketing and self-promotion strategies; looking at self-publishing options; contract negotiation tips.

Publishing Market Resources

Note: Some items may not circulate. Check description in catalog to see if book is available for in-library use or for check-out. If “R” comes before call number, that indicates it is in the non-circulating reference collection.

• Guide to Literary Agents by the editors of Writer’s Digest

070.52 Guide

• Writer’s Market by the editors of Writer’s Digest

029.6 Writer’s and R 029.6 Writer’s

• Poet’s Market by the editors of Writer’s Digest

070.5 Poet’s

• Songwriter’s Market ed. of Writer’s Digest
• Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market by the editors of Writer’s Digest
• Novel and Short Story Writer's Market by the editors of Writer’s Digest

808 Novel