Writing 50,000 words might sound like an incredible feat, but it will take only 30 days for people participating in National Novel Writing Month to write their 50,000-word novels.
        NaNoWriMo, which starts Nov. 1, is a worldwide event that brings both amateur and professional writers together, said William Hsu, co-municipal liaison of NaNoWriMo for Manhattan and associate professor of computing and information sciences.
    More than 100,000 people and 80 countries participate in the event, according to a press release.
        NaNoWriMo begins Nov. 1, and this year is the 10th anniversary of the event that was started in San Francisco by journalist Chris Baty and 20 of his friends, Hsu said.
        Hsu said the event allows people who lead busy lives to take the first step in writing a novel.
    “[NaNoWriMo is] for people who always wanted to do it but put it off for work and personal reasons,” Hsu said.
    In NaNoWriMo, there are no prizes or judging, except a word-count check. Participants can begin uploading their works to the NaNoWriMo Web site for the validation process, which ensures the story is long enough. About 18 percent of the participants complete the process and are deemed the “winners,” Hsu said.
    Hsu said about 200 Manhattan residents participate. As a municipal liaison, Hsu said he helps coordinate local activities, like a kick-off party, fundraising, pep talks, and a “Thank God It’s Over Party.”
    NaNowriMo has a laptop loaner program for people who need computers. Hsu said participants just have to pay for shipping and a refundable deposit.
    Hsu welcomed anyone to participate and said this event is a great way to learn about writing, and meet other aspiring writers around the community.
    “This is just something that helps give people a sense of community, a group of people to share the joys and challenges of writing their first novel together with, and also a way to give people pointers from experienced writers and other creative people,” Hsu said.
    For more information about NaNoWriMo, e-mail Hsu at banazir@gmail.com. To participate in the event, register at www.NaNoWriMo.org.