BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – In recognition of National Novel Writing Month, the Main Library is hosting three writing seminars in November 2014. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun approach to creative writing. On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel.

From Fairy Tales ... To Children's Book Sales: The Magic of Writing for Kids with Gloria Rothstein will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. So you want to write a children's book. Where do you begin? Whether you're retelling a favorite fairy tale or looking for fresh new ways to write about familiar themes, find inspiration in this hands-on workshop. Have fun focusing on character, setting, and point of view, as you learn more about the kid's market and the stories that sell.

Gloria Rothstein is the author of Sheep Sleep (HarperCollins) and many more children's titles. She teaches writing workshops and has published credits with Children's Television Workshop, Harcourt, Holt, Houghton Mifflin, Macmillan, Random House, Scribner and others.

Jump Starting Your Creativity Interactive Seminar for National Novel Writing Month presented by Chris Jackson, Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University will be held on November 1, 2014, 1:30 to 2:30 pm.

Dr. Jackson will present tips on research, organizing and making characters come to life. Dr. Jackson will also have a bibliography of suggested writing books.

Dr. Chris Jackson teaches Creative Writing and Literature at Nova Southeastern University, where she is a Professor in the Division of Humanities. She tries to write SOMETHING (however awful) every day. Her most recent published book is The Tell-Tale Art: Poe in Modern Popular Culture (McFarland, 2012). Her current novel in progress is The Silent Daughter, about the Lizzie Borden case from the point of view of Lizzie's defense counsel. Since 2000, Chris has been a member of the Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter and currently serves on the FMWA board.

Writing Your Novel! No Excuses Allowed with Broward College Professor Vicky Santiesteban will take place on November 12, 2014, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Vicky Santiesteban is a tenured professor at Broward College where she has taught writing for over fifteen years. She earned her master's degree from the University of North Texas. A published author, Vicky's poetry and fiction have appeared in many national journals such as Alaska Quarterly Review, The Madison Review, and most recently, Archaeopteryx: The Newman Journal of Ideas.

In her role as educator, Vicky has guided literally thousands of students to find their own, distinct creative voices. She works to liberate writers from the blocks that stunt creative potential, breaking down the barriers of thinking and moving into feeling, intuitively journaling beyond the mask of identity and into the realm of infinity. Vicky Santiesteban believes creativity is our birthright, a lovely potential that resides within us all.

The Main Library is located at 100 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Hours are Monday, Thursday Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, Noon to 8 p.m. Call 954-357-7443 or visit www.broward.org/library for more information.