Local writers kick off National Novel Writing Month

“Ready, set, write!”

The clicking and clacking of frantically typing fingers filled the Root Cellar Cafe as a 15 minute “writing blast” commenced. This Sunday marked the first day of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and people from all different walks of life joined to get started on their novels.

The month-long contest has one objective: write a 50,000 word novel in 31 days.

Carrboro resident Meagan Voss organized the kickoff .

“It’s just a way to get people to focus, and get them to put words on the page,” Voss said.

Before starting the actual writing, Voss organized an exercise in order to get rid of the critical “inner editor” voice that stops most writers’ productivity. Writers drew their “inner editor” on a notecard, and then tore them up.

“They keep criticizing themselves when they’re writing, and you have to think about how the creation of art requires you to go back to that childlike innocence where you have no filter,” Voss said. “Getting people in that mindset and forcing them to just produce is one of the best things about NaNoWriMo.”

Voss has been involved with NaNoWriMo for six years. She said the event on Sunday was well-attended, with about twice as many people compared to last year.

Most writers on Sunday were from Chapel Hill and Carrboro, with a few UNC alumni. April Koch graduated from UNC in 2004.

“Our goal is to write 1,667 words a day, so we can get 50,000 words done in 31 days,” Koch said. “What we are doing here is encouraging each other to get started. When you are with other people, it makes doing something that is this challenging a lot easier.”

Koch, in her third year writing for NaNoWriMo, is writing a novel about dragons living secretly in modern times and interacting with humans. These dragons can also shape-shift into humans, so you never know when or if you are talking to a dragon.

“It’s kind of an adventure,” Koch said.

While she is starting her fantasy adventure novel, others are writing about completely different topics.

“My story is about abuse, and by that I mean the abuse of parents with their children,” said Ryan Smith, who graduated from UNC in 2015. “You have to be delicate with it, but at the same time it’s important. I heard recently somewhere that you should write the book you want to read, and that’s what I am doing.”

Smith has been taking part in the month-long event for eight years now and has completed his novel on time during four of those years.

“The other three years, I don’t think I even crossed four thousand words — I didn’t get very far at all,” Smith said. “I would get behind and wouldn’t write everyday and just give up.”

Still, Smith said he is determined to finish his novel in 30 days after starting at midnight last night.

@benalbano

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