In an era where visual-literacy and computer-literacy are de rigour but appreciation for novels feels old-fashioned, it's nice to meet people online who share my obsession.
Today I updated my link to A Reader's Journal. This blogger, AKA Booklogged, recently ran a book giveaway contest which my new book blog buddy Lotus Reads won. What was the contest for? For the love of books.
Are Avid Readers Closet Writers?
Here's a question: How often do avid readers decide to write novels? If you've always been meaning to but never find the time, there is an organization dedicated to helping you "finish that novel" in November. It's called NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. Of course, if you can write a novel in a month; why not write one in 72 hours?
As crazy as it seems, I have a sticker on my computer that claims: "I survived the International 3-Day novel contest." I also have some nice notes from the contest judges. As a creative exercise, writing a book-length manuscript in three days is completely liberating because there is no time to censor yourself or agonize -- or sleep. Mine was about a flesh-eating ogress on a student exchange to the South of France. Like they say, you have to write what you know.
Interested? The annual 3-Day contest finished over the Labour Day weekend but NaNoWriMo startes in November...
Moore upcoming...
In the meantime, there's Halloween reading. I've just started Christopher Moore's comic fantasy: A Dirty Job. His protagonist, a hapless thrift shop owner, is coping poorly with the loss of his wife in childbirth and his new role as the Grim Reaper's newest helper...