What happens when a group of writers get together in November?

Magic. That’s what happens.

Last Saturday, our intrepid WWG writers braved the inevitable bite of Minnesota’s November winds, to congregate by a roaring fire at Waconia Library. We welcomed some new members to our group and commenced sharing the fruits of our writing labors. Some of us found inspiration in last meeting’s writing prompt, a flash fiction endeavor. Some of us are seeking accomplishment in the challenges presented by another National Novel Writing Month, starting new projects and doggedly working toward a shiny 50,000-word finish line by November 30th. Others are following our pens into the depths of our imaginations, wherever inspiration takes us.

But we are all writing. The most important thing.

In addition to sharing our words, we discussed some exciting author-related developments on our radar:

MN Writes MN Reads

At our meeting, we discussed some exciting new opportunities presented to local writers, courtesy of the Carver County Library System. Through CCL’s new initiative, MN Writes MN Reads, local authors will have the opportunity to share their work with reading audiences across the county, state, and potentially the nation, with full support of library resources and access to library readership platforms! For more information about this exciting opportunity, follow this link to the MN Writes MN Reads page on the Carver County Library website.

National Novel Writing Month

The group also discussed the phenomenon that is National Novel Writing Month, and ways to participate even if the thought of “competing” or “winning” isn’t as appealing as simply finishing writing the book of your heart. Even if you don’t create an official author profile and officially compete, one way to commit to NaNoWriMo’s core principle – (their motto is “The World Needs Your Novel”) – is to commit to writing every day. Have a writing buddy to encourage your progress and hold you accountable? Even better! In tandem with official NaNoWriMo activities, members of WWG will be getting together for “write-ins” during the month of November.

To kick things into gear, Yours Truly is organizing TWO unofficial write-ins for WWG and Carver County NaNo participants (and any other motivated writers): this Thursday, November 9th; AND this Friday, November 10th. Both write-ins will commence at 7:00pm at the Mocha Monkey, the same location as our regular 3rd Sunday meetings (please note: these write-ins are in an unofficial capacity; no rooms are reserved, so table space will be first-come first-serve). Come if you can, stay as long as you like (or until the baristas kick us out). Stories will be discovered! Plots will be plotted! Words will be written!

Waconia Writers Group members: Inspired to organize or host a write-in? Email the group by responding on our private Gmail thread!

Want to learn more about NaNo? Visit the official National Novel Writing Month website.

NEXT OFFICIAL WWG MEETING:

Sunday, November 19th. 4:30pm. Mocha Monkey.

WRITING PROMPT: Write a story using the words: Flung, Circle, Tarnished, Caustic, Twilight, and Cake.

HAPPY WRITING!