Jordan Beck | Daily Press Escanaba Public Library Director Carolyn Stacey prepares for National Novel Writing Month with a stack of books on fiction writing Monday. Various activities related to this program — in which writers challenge themselves to write a 50,000-word novel in one month — will be offered at the Escanaba Public Library throughout November.

ESCANABA — Local writers will have an opportunity to challenge themselves this November by participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Various NaNoWriMo-related activities will be offered at the Escanaba Public Library throughout the month.

According to the annual program’s official website (located at nanowrimo.org), NaNoWriMo “is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.” On Nov. 1, people taking part in NaNoWriMo will start writing with the goal of finishing a 50,000-word novel by midnight on Nov. 30.

Escanaba Public Library Director Carolyn Stacey said 2018 is not the first year the library has been involved with NaNoWriMo.

“We have participated on a casual basis in the past, but this year, we’re putting more of an emphasis on the program,” she said.

The Escanaba Public Library’s NaNoWriMo-related events will begin with a kick-off party on Nov. 1, starting at 7 p.m. Bay College Writing Instructor Nanci Love will be present at this event.

According to Love, she will be able to provide information to both experienced writers and beginners during the kick-off party. People in the latter category will be able to ask Love how they can get started with their novel.

“I’m (going to) bring some tips and tricks,” she said. These will include writing prompts and information on developing characters.

Love said she will be able to offer advice to more advanced writers on their plans for the month.

“Sometimes it just helps … to have somebody to talk to about spots in your story that are giving you trouble,” she said.

Additionally, the kick-off party will serve as an opportunity for NaNoWriMo participants to share ideas and support each other.

“It’ll be a chance for writers to connect,” Stacey said.

On almost every Thursday for the rest of November (with the exception of Thanksgiving), “write-ins” will be held at the library from 6 to 8 p.m. Stacey said these will give NaNoWriMo participants a dedicated time to write and meet up with other people involved with the program.

“(It’s) just a time for writers to come together and support one another,” she said.

The library will have laptops available for write-in attendees. Other resources — including books on fiction writing — will be made available, as well.

“(There’s) lots of resources to support writers,” Stacey said.

During the library’s final write-in, which will take place on Nov. 29, Stacey said a “TGIO (Thank God It’s Over) Party” will be held.

“This is basically a celebration for the people who have taken up the challenge,” she said. During the party, NaNoWriMo participants who completed their novels will be able to enter a drawing for prizes. Writers will also be invited to read from what they wrote in November.

Stacey said she and other members of the Escanaba Public Library’s staff are looking forward to NaNoWriMo.

“We think it’s going to be fun,” she said.