36 Authors to Write a Novel in 6 Days

By Maryann Yin 

nllogo.JPGSeattle7Writers and Hugo House have come teamed up for a collaborative novel-writing marathon, “The Novel: Live!

Thirty-six authors including bestselling authors Erik Larson, Elizabeth George, Jamie Ford, and Nancy Rawles will each contribute to a novel constructed entirely over the course of a six-day period from October 11th to October 16th.

Themes, characters, and locations for the novel will be finalized on October 10th. Designated “Fairy God-author” Nancy Pearl will act as the writers’ supervisors throughout the writing process. At 10am on day one, Jennie Shortridge will preside over the computer setup at Hugo House’s cabaret stage for a two-hour writing shift. Garth Stein will take the final shift on the 16th, ending the project at 10 pm.

After Stein’s inputs his last word, the completed novel will be digitally published and available for reading on all eReader devices. Sales of this novel will be taken by Seattle7Writers and subsequently donated to various literacy non-profit organizations. Admission is free so the public can watch the writers work while taking advantage of Hugo House’s happy hour specials.


Here’s more from the release: “Through large screen projection at the Hugo House–a nonprofit center for writers and readers in Seattle, WA–along with live streaming online at www.thenovellive.org, and regular updates from authors on Facebook and Twitter, the novel will take shape before the very eyes of its live and virtual audience. Online users will be able to watch as the novel is written and edited, letter for letter, word for word, in a live text box, as well as through live video streaming of the authors direct from Hugo House.”