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<img width="128" height="128" src="cid:image004.png@01DB303B.D314A1B0" align="left" hspace="12" id="img-c317760b-03a4-4c0b-a857-aa7016e1d5e8"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Each year in November many writers participate in a national effort to write 50,000
words, a novel-length manuscript, in one month. Setting such an impressive goal and then achieving it takes time, dedication, and focus. The
<a href="https://www.mel.org/welcome" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
Michigan <span class="SpellE">eLibrary</span> (MeL)</a> can help achieve it.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt">"<a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=52961fc4-58ed-33b7-842b-45098b9d8f72" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Ready, Set Write!</a>" In
<a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspub&AN=edp62346&site=pfi-live" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<i>Scholastic Math</i></a> from <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-mat" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
MAS Complete</a> provides some mathematical facts about participation. Since 2024 is the 25<sup>th</sup> Anniversary, it’s interesting to look at how the numbers have trended over the years. From different types of writing to how many authors end up formally
publishing their work, you can do the math to see what is possible in 30 short days.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt">How do people make time to write so much in one month? In "<a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=5957dae4-01cb-38a9-8292-8af7c580b902" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Making
Time for NaNoWriMo</a>" in <a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspub&AN=edp69136&site=pfi-live" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<i>Voices from the Middle</i></a> from <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-eue" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
Education Source</a>, Katherine Sokolowski provides tips she uses to get her students writing such as starting early and creating a special time for writing. The best part of the article is the student reflections about the impact of taking on the novel writing
challenge.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Why would anyone want to write a full novel in one short month? Dana Sachs, a long-time participant in writing a novel in November, describes her reasons in "<a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=7c1b1d99-7568-3b8a-ba04-515c24e7ba74" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Doing
50,000 Words in 30 Days</a>" in <a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspub&AN=edp58918&site=pfi-live" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<i>Publishers Weekly</i></a> from <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-mat" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
MAS Complete</a>. Those who have always wanted to write a novel but have hesitated to start might be encouraged by her advice to, “. . . ignore our incapacitating inner critic and keep going.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Not sure where to start? In the <a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspub&AN=edp58918&site=pfi-live" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<i>Publishers Weekly</i></a> article "<span class="SpellE"><a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=bae53d42-2ab7-3f02-bf8d-ecbf11da7c27" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Pantser or Planner?</a></span>"
Sassafras Lowrey describes two ways to approach writing a novel: being a planner and having an outline or writing by the seat of your pants without a specific plan in mind. The idea is to begin—no matter which method—and develop as a writer from wherever you
start. </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Those needing inspiration can turn to <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebscoprofile-lrc" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
Literary Reference Source</a> which includes poems, short stories, novels, and articles and essays of literary criticism. The
<a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebscoprofile-ebooks" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
MeL eBooks</a> can provide how-to books such as <a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=f3e03063-2b6f-36ee-bf6c-cff88824f667" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<i>Writing Fantastic Fiction</i></a>, <a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=0721cf3b-6faa-323d-89d4-7fa6e87b691d" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<i>Writing a Comic Book</i></a>, <a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=574adbbf-934e-3145-8018-dce5324d7832" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<i>Descriptive Writing</i></a>, and <a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=fde43a2c-06f7-3dca-8f0c-7a7b9c881f1e" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<i>Deeper Writing: Quick Writes and Mentor Texts to Illuminate New Possibilities</i></a>.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt">With the <a href="https://www.mel.org/az.php" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
MeL <span class="SpellE">eResources</span></a> and some creative thinking, libraries can help patrons achieve their goals to write a whole novel. To get started, use ideas from "<a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=adb95282-0f2d-3725-8a87-23b9447d8c73" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">A
Novel in 30 Days</a>" from <a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspub&AN=edp3941&site=pfi-live" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<i>American Libraries</i></a> and "<a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=46051ff4-0fb2-39ab-963f-892acac42417" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">NaNoWriMo at Your Library</a>" from
<a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspub&AN=edp45875&site=pfi-live" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<i>Library Journal</i></a> which share programming tips such as creating writing spaces, holding workshops, and offering peer support to writers. </span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">If you have any MeL
<span class="SpellE">eResources</span> questions or issues, contact </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="mailto:melerhelp@mcls.org" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><b><span style="background: white; color: blue;">melerhelp@mcls.org</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">
for help.</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Brought to you by
<b>Laura Warren-Gross</b> from the MeL Team. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Want more information on MeL?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">
Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs, visit</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://mel.org/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><span style="background: white; color: rgb(41, 84, 209);">http://mel.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">,
or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><span style="background: white; color: rgb(41, 84, 209);">GovDelivery</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.
We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">MeL <span class="SpellE">eResources</span> are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>
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<a name="_MailAutoSig"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Laura Warren-Gross</span></b></a><span style=""><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"></span></span></p>
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<span style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);">MeL Engagement Specialist for Public Libraries</span></span><span style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"> </span></span><span style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><br>
</span></span><span style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Midwest Collaborative for Library Services <br>
517-481-2022 </span></span><span style=""><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"></span></span></p>
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<span style=""><u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">warren-grossl@mcls.org</span></u></span><span style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"></span></span></p>
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