NEHS students to write an entire book in 30 days
By Jessica Ercolino, Staff Writer
PLUMSTED Jessica Sparano could be the next J.K Rowling. Deanna Heer’s poetry may soon be on par with Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s. And Andrew Sanns’ writing might touch on themes slightly reminiscent of Bram Stoker.
These New Egypt students and some of their classmates are joining more than 100,000 people worldwide working to become novelists in just one month’s time.
National Novel Writing Month, which kicked off midnight of Nov. 1, is a nonprofit literary project created in 1999 by a small group of people in San Francisco. Eight years later, “NaNoWriMo” is inspiring thousands of authors of all ages to write a 50,000-word novel by Nov. 30.
The 12 students from New Egypt High School and New Egypt Middle School are a part of the Teen Advisory Board of Ocean County Library’s Plumsted Branch. The students volunteer at the library for community service hours, hold board meetings once a month and create literary programs and events for teenagers, according to Rachel LaVoie-Dohn, teen services provider at the Plumsted branch.
Jessica, whom Ms. LaVoie-Dohn credits with getting the students involved in NaNoWriMo, participated in the project last year. She wrote 80,337 words as part of her novel with the working-title “Freedom on the Horizon.” This year, she’s set her sights even higher.
”My ultimate goal is 100,000 words,” said the 15-year-old at TAB’s NaNoWriMo kickoff party Nov. 1. “I’ve planned obsessively for this. I made a 13-page outline.”
Lauren Cowell, 15, also participated in last year’s NaNoWriMo, but wasn’t able to make the 50,000-word goal set by NanoWriMo creators. Jessica’s success last year has motivated Lauren to give the literary project another try.
The first-time participants in the group are hoping to reach 50,000 words by the end of the month, but they have their concerns, especially with finding a story focus.
Tenth-grader R.J. Bell said he is drawing inspiration from a dream he had. Andrew, 16, is planning on incorporating vampires into his novel, but said he does not have a specific plot line. Deanna, who prides herself on poetry, said she feels comfortable creating characters and events, but that finding a plot for a novel is difficult.
Others are concerned about the 30-day deadline. Eighth-grader Caroline Arzt said she’s worried she might be too busy.
”I have school, drama, work,” she said. “There are literally not enough hours left in the day, and it’s sad when a 13-year-old is saying that.”
Ms. LaVoie-Dohn, who jokingly told Caroline that that feeling doesn’t subside with age, is also looking to pen her novel during November.
”I’d at least like to get something down on paper,” she said. “The kids are so busy with school, but if they’re going to do it, I can at least try.”
Though NaNoWriMo is already under way, the site is still open for latecomers interested in joining. Participants who successfully upload 50,000 words to the NaNoWriMo Web site, www.nanowrimo.org, by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 30 “win” the challenge and receive a certificate. The site urges participants to eschew editing and rewriting and “build without tearing down.”
Rachel Geiger, 13, said NaNoWriMo is a great way to build her imagination.
”It’s a fun way to express ourselves and write a novel,” she said. “Normally we would just procrastinate, but because there’s a deadline, we have a goal to reach.”