November is National Novel Writing Month, so pick up a pen and join other writers in Hawaii and around the world in turning out 50,000 words in 30 days.

NaNoWriMo, as it is known, started in San Francisco in July 1999, when 21 people banded together to start the novel-writing process. Since then, the monthlong push has evolved into a part block party, part literary marathon.

Nationally, 431,626 people participated in NaNoWriMo in 2015, including 1,012 bookstores, libraries and community centers that opened their doors for “write-ins.” The nonprofit program came to Hawaii more than 10 years ago. Last year, 215 people participated on Oahu, showing up at write-ins held in coffee shops and restaurants around town.

Writers who post their 50,000 words by the end of November are listed on the NaNoWriMo website.

Gail Baugniet, a member of the writing group Sisters in Crime Hawaii, said she is setting a goal of writing 2,000 words per day to carry her to the 50,000 total.

“Some days I’m lucky to add 600 words to my count, while on a few exceptional days, I’ll write 4,000 to 5,000,” she said. “As long as my count keeps moving toward the final goal, I’m satisfied.”

Baugniet completed two novels in her Pepper Bibeau mystery series during NaNoWriMos in 2012 and 2014. Her projects from 2013, 2015 and 2016 are in various stages of editing, she said.

For updates and information on local events, visit nanowrimo.org.

Sisters in Crime Hawaii meets monthly to support published and aspiring authors; call 683-9481.