HAPPENING NOW // National Novel Writing Month

We know your secret. You're going to write the Great American Novel, aren't you? Maybe you've started a Word doc that's in a sad little folder called "Book," maybe a thin stack of papers sits next to the antique typewriter that inspired you. Well dust it off folks, it's not too late to jump on the NaNoWriMo (or National Novel Writing Month) bandwagon.

Organized by Oakland nonprofit the Office of Letters and Light, the premise is simple:

You have from November 1-30 to write 50,000 words. If you create an official NaNoWriMo profile, you can track your progress, interact with other masochists and get advice about writing. If you complete your 50,000 words, you'll get a certificate. That's all, nothing crazy or fancy, just something to get your brain churning.

More food for thought: Since NaNoWriMo began in 1999, 100 or so participants have had books published.

And to get personal for a quick sec: I'm participating this year because A.) I think if I chant "NaNoWriMo," really fast for long enough, I'll gain some sort of superpower, and B.) I started a novel about six years ago, and just keep rewriting the first 15 pages over and over. NaNoWriMo says you have to start from scratch, but I'm pretty happy with my 15 pages, so I'm going to build off them. So there; if I'm doing it, so can you.

What reason can you think of not to do it? Striving for 50,000 words is a great way to get out of editor mode and into mad creative genius mode. Besides, you've only lost three days, plenty of time to get right in there and start NoWri-ting.

--Layla Schlack