I've heard some of these questions in the past couple of weeks, so I thought it might be helpful to answer them here in the forums.

Write-ins are events where people go to a place to work on their novels. They bring their laptops, tablets or pen & paper notebooks and write individually. Sometimes (especially at the ones that the MLs are hosting in Naperville, Lombard and Glen Ellyn but also at some of the Library hosted ones like Warrenville, Indian Prairie, Plainfield, etc) there will be a facilitator who will run word wars and other motivational activities.

Word wars are timed writing sprints. Everyone focuses for a set time (say 13, 17 or 21 minutes) and writes solidly on their novels. Sometimes there are little prizes (I have little library cat sculptures) as an added incentive. There are variations like the Box of Doom where people draw from the Box (it's not a purse, Melissa! ;-) ) a stick with a word count target they have to try to meet (with chocolate as a reward for those who meet the target).

There are Huzzah Balls: each writer has a goal they want to accomplish during the write-in (a word count milestone, a character they want to kill off or a scene they want to write). If/when they succeed, they shout "Huzzah!" and everyone applauds their achievement.

You can host your own write-ins too. See the Guide to Hosting Write-ins. Write-ins events are posted on our calendar (see naperwrimo.org/events).

--Tim

Question about the library crawl...

I'vecollected maybe a half dozen of those wonderful little library cards so far, and can't wait to pop them in for the raffle at the TGIO party! But today someone stamped, dated, and initialed it before giving it to me. That's the first time that's happened. Are we supposed to get proof for each card? And if so, will that disqualify my non-stamped cards?

Just checking, since it's my first year and still figuring everything out (obviously).

~Kiela (^_^)

As far as I am aware, there is no standard about having cards signed or dated at the Library Crawl (though it might be useful to do next year; something to consider). All the cards you've received thus far are valid. So no worries. --Tim

*Whew!* thanks.

I'll just consider this one a special editionbonus, then! (^_^)

~Kiela