Another Bestselling NaNo-Novel!
Well, folks, it’s happened again. A published NaNo-novel has made it onto the New York Times Bestseller list. Number five in fiction overall, and number two on the hardcover list. The book in question? The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.
I have to admit, I was wary of this book. Compare anything to Harry Potter and my hackles immediately raise. Violently. That being said, I did pick it up the day it came out, and was rather pleased with what I found inside. It’s a wonderfully immersive romp, full of magical sights and sounds and, above all, the circus. Morgenstern is a master of description, and brings the circus to life in every way.
I had the pleasure of attending a reading of The Night Circus at The Booksmith earlier this month and, I have to say, it was one of the more interesting readings I’ve been to. There were magicians! And juggling! And streamers! It was almost like being at a real circus. But in a bookstore. Morgenstern became a Wrimo in 2008. In the talk she gave at The Booksmith, she mentioned NaNo, and credited the program with allowing her to just simply write. It warms the cockles of our hearts to hear that we are succeeding in our mission. (In case you have ever been curious, cockles are mollusks. And here at OLL, we actually do have them in our chests.)
This is an inspiring tale for all NaNo authors. It reminds us that yes, you can actually come up with something of decent quality in a month’s time. It might not be a finished novel—but it can become one.
I have been thinking about publication a lot in my own life, as well. One of my assignments for school is a personal essay exploring my history with and thoughts towards novel writing, NaNo in particular, and the idea of being “a novelist” by different definitions.
Tell me, Wrimos—how many of you write with the intent of publication? Is the NYT Bestsellers list what you are aiming for, or is NaNo a personal journey, just writing for your own pleasure? Also, if any of you have read The Night Circus, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
– Paige
Photo courtesy of The Booksmith
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