 "Photo: Lisle Alderton")
While it took Mark Twain more than seven years to complete his literary classic, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” a recent No. 1 New York Times best seller was written in just 30 days.
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen reached the Times’ coveted position in 2007 after she wrote the book during an event known as National Novel Writing Month.
The event is a writing marathon where participants write a 175-page, 50,000-word novel throughout November.
Last year, the event had about 119,000 participants nationwide, yielding 21,683 winners, which are those who complete their novel.
William Hsu, associate professor of computing and information sciences and the event’s municipal liaison for Manhattan, participated in his first writing month in 2004 at the request of his friends. Hsu said he has written every year since, with the exception of 2006.
As Manhattan’s liaison, Hsu coordinates online discussions and group meetings where writers share their work and help one another push through any writer’s blocks. Hsu will also plan a “Thank God It’s Over” party once the Nov. 30 midnight deadline has passed.
This year, 107 Manhattan area residents are taking part in the event, up from last year’s 80, Hsu said. However, the group meetings are more intimate, and so far the largest meeting has yielded eight attendees, Hsu said.
Jasmine Walgren, Junction City resident, decided to participate in 2007 after being invited by a friend. Walgren joined again in 2008, but did not complete the required word count.
“My decision to participate this year specifically stems from the sad fact that I did not win last year,” Walgren said. “I didn’t even make the halfway mark. So this year, it is my goal to beat my last year’s word count.”
While the novel’s volume is regulated, the content is not. Hsu said novel subjects and genres can vary from completely original works to fan fiction, a genre where writers expand or add a unique approach to existing storylines such as “Harry Potter” or anime-based shows.
Walgren said she decided to branch out from her traditional romance writing path.
“My piece for 2009 is a science-fiction/paranormal romance,” Walgren said. “I am infusing the Star Trek universe with a heaping dose of vampires and werewolves, and to keep close to my normal writing, the forbidden love between an immortal and a human ... similar to the ‘Twilight’ saga.”
John Lein, Fort Riley resident, joined the event for the first time this year. Lein decided to participate after talking with a friend with whom he had shared a short story.
“I decided it would be interesting to try because more often than not, when I try to write a novel or a play, I peter out and stall, leaving plenty of unfinished stories floating around on my laptop,” Lein said. “I thought I might be able to push myself to actually writing one in its entirety by sharing the experience with others.”
Although writers offer one another support, it is up to the participants to keep track of their progress. Hsu said his leadership role helps keep him up to date with his novel’s word count.
“I used to procrastinate until I was a liaison,” said Hsu, who is past his word count average at this time, while Walgren is up to about 25,000 words. The event’s total collective word count for 2009 was up to 1,252,122,668 Tuesday night.
As for the finished novels, Hsu said many writers get their works published, while others are satisfied with simply completing the task. Walgren said her goal for her novel is “simply to write it.”
“I have a few close friends interested in reading it, but it probably won’t go further than that,” Walgren said.
Lein said he would like to get input from a publishing company, but getting published is “a long way off.”
The event is open to anyone and new members are accepted up until its end-of-the-month deadline. For those writers who are on the fence about making such a large commitment, Hsu offered some advice:
“Novel writing is a one-day activity in the sense that ‘One day, I’ll do it.’ That day will never come if you don’t jump in and do it.”
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