National Novel Writing Month starts in November. The first 10 local writers who sign up can get a free Writer’s Emergency Kit at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library (JKPL).

            NaNoWriMo? WHAT is that? You ask. It’s a personal challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.

            WHY? We need to preserve our stories, our cultures, our experiences to share with family, friends, and posterity. Diverse voices help preserve historical authenticity. We miss the voices of our ancestors and have mostly colonial accounts of local history. We don’t want that for our future generations. Every story matters—whether memoir /true or fiction based on the writer’s imagination and experiences. And it’s fun.

            WHO? NaNoWriMo is open to writers age 13 and older, although those under age 18 are encouraged to sign up at the Young Writers Program instead, so they can set a lower word count goal more suited to their writing age. But this is not just a student program—NaNoWriMo is especially for adult writers.

            WHEN? Sign up now and write in November. We hope to have write-ins locally. Get more information at www.marianaswritersmovement.org

            WHERE? Sign up is done online at www.nanowrimo.org . If you need help, you can do this at the JKPL computer lab.

            HOW? It’s free. You write in any language of your choice. You use your computer or other device or write by hand. It’s fun! And you claim your free Writer’s Emergency Kit at the JKPL by showing your log-in or by signing up there.

            If you get stuck or need inspiration at any point before, during or after NaNoWriMo, you’ll have the emergency kit to help! Join us. Sign up to write your novel in November. And follow along at the Marianas Writers Movement website.