From the Come Write In Stacks: A Stone Soup Library Crawl

Our Come Write In program provides libraries, bookstores, and other neighborhood hubs the resources to build and support a local writing community. We dig through the stacks to bring you our favorite stories, from setting to inspirational challenge:

The Setting: The Carol Stream Public Library first started doing write-ins in 2010. I knew about NaNoWriMo from being a participant before I became a librarian. Our first write-in actually didn’t go well; I made the mistake of scheduling it during a Bears game, thinking writers weren’t likely to be sports fans. Now I know that is not the case in the Chicago area!

The next year, I connected with the Naperville regional Municipal Liaisons and had a much better turnout. I noticed the Wrimos were making plans to go to another local library after our write-in, and that’s how I got the idea for a Library Crawl. I thought it would be a great way for local libraries and Naperville NaNoWriMo to cross-promote our programs.

The Plot: The Naperville MLs and Wrimos have been amazing. I wouldn’t have been able to put this Library Crawl together without their help. It was their idea to do a “Stone Soup” theme, with each library assigned a vegetable.

It’s exciting how many libraries wanted to participate; we have write-ins planned at 16 locations. Some of the libraries have never hosted write-ins before, and the Library Crawl gave them the encouragement to give NaNoWriMo a try.

The Characters: It’s amazing to see a room full of people, from tweens to retirees, writing just for the sake of writing. The community connection it creates makes NaNoWriMo a natural fit for libraries. We usually have one or two patrons who have never heard of NaNoWriMo show up. They’re able to connect with Naperville NaNoWriMo, which has a year-round writing group. 

As a working mom, I understand how important it is to have a place to write, free of distraction. It’s a lot less tempting to surf the Internet when you know you might get caught by the person sitting next to you. Also, it’s fun to imagine that the next undiscovered best-selling author might be in the same room, typing away, and I could say I knew her back when she was just starting out.

The Dare: Write a scene based on this sentence: “The stone soup had unintended consequences.”

Sarah Kovac is an Adult Services Reference Librarian at the Carol Stream Public Library and has been hosting write-ins for the past five years. She is the organizer of the first Naperwrimo Library Crawl. She lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband and son.