Admit it, you have a great book idea. Then comes the hard part: putting it on the page. A local cafe/bookstore is there to help.
Tome Bookstore in Mt. Washington wants to empower you to take on the challenge of becoming a novelist as part of NaNoWriMo 2022 by offering writing workshops, as well as a space to work on your novel (ideally on a pastry shop and a few cups of coffee from the store).
National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, began in 1999 as a challenge for aspiring novelists to write 50,000 words for a novel within thirty days of November. NaNoWriMo is more than just an abstract purpose-driven mass creative enterprise, it’s a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to those who want to empower themselves through the art of writing. .
Opened in April this year by local bestselling science fiction author JM Clark, The Tome Bookstore has made a name for itself in the community for being a place not only to buy your next favorite book, but also to enjoy a cup of coffee and interact with other creatives. Hosting poetry readings, book signings, children’s storytimes, book clubs, and even Dungeon & Dragons tabletop gaming sessions, the writing workshops are a natural extension of the owner’s storytelling talent.
“Our goal is to provide a safe and welcoming space for people to come together and share their love of writing,” Clark said in a statement. “We strive to create a community that celebrates the joy of reading and writing, and we’re proud to be able to offer such diverse programming. So whether you’re a seasoned writer looking for advice or a budding novelist in need some inspiration, we hope you’ll join us!”
NaNoWriMo exists as a way to turn the often solitary pursuit of writing into a community event. Sometimes it’s easier to achieve your goals, especially writing, if there’s a sense of accountability to other writers and readers. The goal for entrants is to write 50,000 words – the average word count for a short novel. There’s no pressure to finish everything within a month, but you should finish the first draft of the novel if you can. What to do with the story after that is up to you.
For a calendar of all the events held at The Tome Bookstore and more, visit thetomebookstore.com.
To learn more about participating in this year’s NaNoWriMo, visit nanowrimo.org.
The Tome Bookstore is located at 2123 Beechmont Ave., Mt. Washington.