They write with blinding speed, fuelled by untold gallons of coffee.

Gathered in cafes and late-night fast-food joints, hunched over laptops and iPads, they appear to be students, but most are not. They tap out page after page of text, all seeking to write the great Canadian novel, or at least the greatest novel possible within 30 days.

This is National Novel Writing Month B次元官网网址� NaNoWritMo for the initiated or just NaNo B次元官网网址� where the singular aim is to binge write what could pass for a novel with at least 50,000 words. There are no winners or losers in this event, just bragging rights and a declaration to the world that, B次元官网网址淵es, I have written a novel.B次元官网网址�

Michelle Sillars, for one, has nearly taken up residence at Moka House coffee shop on Hillside Avenue. A B次元官网网址渕unicipal liaisonB次元官网网址� for NaNo in Victoria for three years, the 23-year-old jewelry maker and three friends sit together at a bench table, each fleshing out their respective plot lines and characters one day into the challenge.

Based on registrations and online chatroom chatter, Sillars estimates 150 to 200 people in Victoria are participating in NaNo, from teens to seniors. With Sillars is Kali Larsen, a 21-year-old University of Victoria political science and religious studies student; Rachel Peterson, 43, an English tutor and freelance editor; and Josh MacLeod, 35, who works at a thrift shop.

Common among this disparate group is an almost obsessive love of writing and the enjoyment of easygoing camaraderie at the coffee shop. The NaNo challenge gives a deadline, structure and a peer network to make the concept of speed-writing a novel less daunting.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of people say they want to write a novel. NaNo is a kick in the pants to do that,B次元官网网址� says Larsen, who is crafting a science fiction story. B次元官网网址淚 definitely was somebody who said they wanted to be a novelist one day. I thought why not do it in a month?B次元官网网址�

Like any group, theyB次元官网网址檝e created their own lingo B次元官网网址� in VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 NaNo world youB次元官网网址檙e either a B次元官网网址減lotterB次元官网网址� or a B次元官网网址減antser.B次元官网网址� Participants either think ahead and plot their story out months ahead, or fly by the seat of their pants. Peterson says for her, being a plotter is a better path.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 in the outline stage. ItB次元官网网址檚 better than last year when I winged it and did 50,000 words, and the quality might not have been there,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his second try is more of a deliberate process. We all approach this differently.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he longer you do this, the emphasis turns from quantity to quality,B次元官网网址� Larsen remarked.

B次元官网网址淪ome say what matters is quantity, some say what matters is quality. Some never edit, some edit as they go,B次元官网网址� MacLeod added.

A group of writers in San Francisco started NaNo in 1999, which morphed into a non-profit educational operation that has spread around the world. Social media has helped connect writers and spread the word to make it a connected, communal event.

Although some professional writers might cringe at an event that measures the finish line at 50,000 words, the goal is to encourage people of any background to embrace literature and storytelling. The four sitting at the Moka House had little formal training, but a desire to be creative.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been writing since I was a little girl. I started at three years old dictating to my parents. When I was seven I wrote Sailor Moon stories and eventually as a teen original stories,B次元官网网址� Sillars said. B次元官网网址淲riting is something IB次元官网网址檝e always been interested in.B次元官网网址�

Peterson, a tutor and an editor, has the most experience with grammar and structure, but found the idea of writing an novel unnerving.

B次元官网网址淚 started as a little girl writing a diary and poems and doing extra assignments in high school,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut writing a novel was the one thing that scared me the most, it seemed big and overwhelming. I thought, IB次元官网网址檝e got to attack this.B次元官网网址�

Some, like MacLeod, donB次元官网网址檛 have a problem pumping out novel-length work. In the past  four or five years heB次元官网网址檚 written about 15 books worth of material during NaNo.

B次元官网网址淚 wrote short stories myself. Now IB次元官网网址檝e written far too many novels with NaNo. Some years its been two, three one year. I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 do that again,B次元官网网址� MacLeod said. B次元官网网址淭hey say you have to write a million words before you start writing good words.B次元官网网址�

runs until Nov. 30.