book
beat
A At midnight on November 1, a month-long marathon begins. Participation in
this race, however, doesn’t require good run-
novel ning shoes and months of conditioning.
Instead it demands a relentless commitment
to writing.
The goal of this event, called National
idea Novel Writing Month (or NaNo WriMo by the
initiated), is to finish a 50,000-word novel in
30 days. If writing an entire novel in a month
sounds daunting, then the contest is working.
“You take this sprawling, daunting, intimidating task and you basically shove it into
this absolutely impossibly short time frame,
and I think that that somehow renders it
manageable,” Chris Baty, 32, a freelance writer
from Oakland, California, and National
Novel Writing Month founder, explained to
The Washington Post. “Your inner editor is
just, like, ‘This can’t be done. I’m gonna go
someplace else.’ Which then leaves this raw,
throbbing imagination.”
ARTVILLE
Baty feels that tapping into one’s creative
muse is much more important than the quality of the novel at the end of the month. He
says completing the task builds a bridge back
to the creative side of the brain, which he
believes will benefit participants in all areas of
“Our novels, despite their lives.
National Novel Writing Month began in
our questionable 1993 when Baty, inspired by Peet’s Coffee (a
motives and pitiful Bay Area favorite of coffee lovers), conceived
the idea of writing a novel in a month and
experience, came out convinced 21 others to give it try. Although
OK. Not great. But difficult, the shared experience caught on. Each year since, the number of participants
not horrible either.” (known as “wrimos”) multiplies. And, with the addition of the event’s Web site, which osts a laptop-computer loan program, it has
CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
Talk about a
good read
“BOOK PEOPLE ARE the best people
ever,” says Costco member Laine Keneller.
The Granite Bay, California, resident, a
project analyst for the University of
California at Davis, ought to know: She’s
one of them.
Keneller says she’s always been a reader.
That love evolved into book collecting, and
she now boasts a collection numbering 600.
Wanting to share the excitement of book
collecting with others, Keneller began toying with the idea of a game. After 10 years,
she completed Booktastic, a cross between
CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
WILL PE TERSON
Laine Keneller’s game, Booktastic, is
about book collecting and conversations.
Member Contest
See
Oprah
live
WIN A CHANCE to attend a tap- Entries must be received or years or older to enter.
ing of The Oprah Winfrey Show postmarked by midnight, Winners will be notified by
in Chicago and receive an auto- October 1, 2005. mail. One entry per person.
graphed copy of Void where prohibited. Winner is responsible for
Live Your Best Employees of Costco and Harpo applicable federal, state and
Life: A Treasury Productions and their families local taxes.
of Wisdom, Wit, are not eligible. Must be 18
Advice, Interviews, and Winner selection and prize: The winner incomplete, illegible, damaged, misdirected
Inspiration from will be selected through a random drawing or postage-due entries. Participants waive
O, The Oprah and notified in October 2005. The prize is all claims against Costco and sponsors for
Magazine. two ( 2) round-trip coach air fares from the injuries, damage or losses related to the
nearest U. S. major airport, ground trans- contest and prize. The decision of the
To enter, portation in Chicago between airport and judges is final. No substitutions or transfer
print your lodging, two nights’ hotel accommodation of prize except at the sole discretion of the
name, mem- at the Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel in sponsors. Winner will be required to sign
bership number, address Chicago—based on availability, or compara- and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and
ble accommodations—and two ( 2) tickets to Liability Release within 14 days of receipt.
and daytime phone number on a attend a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Failure to return the release will result
postcard or letter and send it to: Winner will be responsible for expenses not in disqualification.
MAT THE W ROLS TON
Live Your Best Life, P.O. Box specified, including meals, gratuities, non- For the name of the prize winner and
34088, Seattle, WA 98124-1088, specified transportation and personal items. the answer to the question, send a self-The prize package has an approximate value addressed stamped envelope to Oprah
or fax it to (425) 313-6718. of $1,620.00. Show Contest, c/o The Costco Connection,
No purchase is necessary. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, P. O. Box 34088, Seattle, WA 98124-1088.
