Admit it, you’ve got a great idea for a book. Next comes the hard part: putting it on the page. A local coffee shop/bookstore is here to help.
The Tome Bookstore in Mt. Washington wants to empower you to rise to the challenge of becoming a novelist as a part of NaNoWriMo 2022 by offering writing workshops, along with providing space to work on your novel (ideally over a pastry and a few cups of coffee from the shop).
National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, began in 1999 as a challenge to aspiring novelists: write 50,000 words for a novel in the thirty days of November. NaNoWriMo is more than just an abstract goal-oriented mass creative endeavor, it’s a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to those who want to empower themselves through the art of writing.
Opened in April of this year by local best-selling sci-fi author J.M. Clark, The Tome Bookstore has made its name in the community for being a place to not only pick up your next favorite book, but also to enjoy a cup of coffee and interact with other creatives. Hosting poetry readings, book signings, children’s story times, book clubs and even Dungeon & Dragons tabletop gaming sessions, writing workshops are a natural extension of the owner’s talent as a storyteller.
“Our goal is to provide a safe and welcoming space for people to come together and share their love of the written word,” Clark said in a release. “We strive to create a community that celebrates the joy of reading and writing, and we are proud to be able to offer such a diverse range of programming. So, whether you’re a seasoned writer looking for some tips or a budding novelist in need of some inspiration, we hope you’ll stop by and join us!”
NaNoWriMo exists as a way of turning the often lonely pursuit of writing into a community event. Sometimes it’s easier to reach your goals, especially writing, if there’s a sense of accountability to fellow writers and readers. The goal for participants is to write 50,000 words – the average word count for a short novel. There’s no pressure to complete everything within the month, but you should finish the novel’s first draft if you can. What to do with the story after that is up to you.
For a schedule of all of events hosted at The Tome Bookstore and more, visit thetomebookstore.com.
To learn more about getting involved in this year’s NaNoWriMo, visit nanowrimo.org.
The Tome Bookstore is located at 2123 Beechmont Ave., Mt. Washington.
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This article appears in Jul 27 – Aug 9, 2022.