Oh, gosh. It’s, uh, like a week until November 1. Where does the time go? Seems like we were in this same boat just 52 scant weeks ago.

OK. Deep breath. We got this.

Kickoff This Saturday

Sing it with me: “Are you ready for some kickoff?”

Join us on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Allendale Township Library for our annual kickoff celebration. No cost to attend; light snacks will be provided.

Here’s what’s in store for you at kickoff:

• Get the seasonal low-down from your trusty MLs
• Obtain your goodie bags instead of forcing poor Mel to mail them to you
• Get points for the Points Quest (What’s that? Ha! You’ll find out soon enough.)
• Connect with old friends; meet some new friends
• Get help with last-minute planning

This Week’s Prep Event

On the evening of Wednesday, October 25, we’ll assemble for “The Pearls and Perils of Dialogue, Setting, and Action.” Every good story balances speech — both internal and external — against action, within a defined place-and-time that, in itself, functions as a character.

In this session, Jason will lead a half-hour reflection about what works and what doesn’t: why some speech sings while other speech sounds cliched; what editors assess regarding the voice of inner dialogue; why the rule for descriptions is “just enough but not too much;” how to narrate complex action; and why you should let your readers tend to their own Story-Gardens.

After the reflection, attendees will workshop solutions to each other’s questions or challenges fine-tuning speech, setting, and description.

The session occurs from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jason’s Books and Coffee, located at 1590 44th St. SW, Wyoming, 49509. There’s no cost to attend and no expectation that you’ll purchase any books or coffee from the bookstore. Light snacks and beverages will be available for free.

Because of some unplanned family stuff, the doors may not open until around 6 p.m. or so. Please bear with me!

This session is in-person only. If you’re planning to attend and either need or can offer a ride for others, please pop into our Discord server.

Reminders, Updates, & Opportunities

A few other things:

• If you haven’t yet taken the regional survey, now’s the time. The survey helps us plan for gaps in the in-person planning as well as offering all of you lovely people the chance to request a goodie bag if you can’t attend the in-person Kickoff event. 
• This year, the Day of Knockout Noveling will be held on Saturday, Nov. 11. (I think the regional survey still had last year’s date attached — oops.) More about DOKN to come.
• Subscribe to the blog! Our blog is the “source and summit” of the region’s news alerts and official messages. Given how many who don’t participate are subscribed to our region on the NaNoWriMo page, it’s quite likely that soon, we’ll stop double-posting these messages as NaNo Mails.

Have a tip, resource, or opportunity to share with the region? Let us know by dropping a note through our Contact Us page.