Lulu and NaNoWriMo Team Up As Authors Prepare for Massive Creative Writing Project

Lulu’s LetsGoWrimos.com and The Wrimo Accelerator reward authors with a free manuscript review, hardcover copy of their book and comprehensive author accelerator package

Lulu has teamed up with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), the nonprofit organization responsible for organizing the massive creative writing project, to help authors participating in NaNoWriMo fulfill their goal of writing a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Nearly 500,000 people are expected to participate in NaNoWriMo and its Young Writers Program this year.

To provide full support to NaNoWriMo participants, Lulu has launched LetsGoWrimos.com, home of The Wrimo Accelerator, which empowers authors with useful tips and insights from the global writing community. By signing up for The Wrimo Accelerator, each author receives a free manuscript review from The Book Genome Project and a hardcover proof of their book. Created for and available exclusively to the NaNoWriMo audience, the manuscript review provides a clear and intuitive look into what kind of book the author has written by revealing characteristics of the author's writing that make it unique and citing famous books similar to their novel.

At the conclusion of NaNoWriMo, ten authors will be selected to receive The Wrimo Accelerator, a comprehensive package including:

• A media event in New York City at Book Expo America 2014
• Distribution to major bookstores and eReaders
• A marketing and publicity plan, with online and printed promotional materials provided
• Promotion of the author’s work via social media, the press and crowdfunding powered by Pubslush
• Promotional copies in paperback and hardcover
• Cover design and formatting for eBook, paperback and hardcover formats

“We believe that everyone has a story to tell, and that everyone’s story matters, and the proof of that is the hundreds of thousands of people who will passionately write novels during this year’s NaNoWriMo, the largest writing event in the history of the world,” said Grant Faulkner, executive director of NaNoWriMo. “By working with Lulu and The Wrimo Accelerator, we’ll be able to not only engage these authors during the writing process, but also extend their experience beyond November as they continue their writing and publishing journey.”

“By working with NaNoWriMo, and launching LetsGoWrimos.com and The Wrimo Accelerator, we’re turning ideas from the startup world, big data and the social conversation into something that will deliver tremendous value for all participants,” said Arik Abel, director of online marketing at Lulu. “Regardless of whether they reach their goal of writing 50,000 words or not, the experience is designed to fast-track each participant from writer or storyteller to successful author in an engaging and valuable way. The ten Wrimos selected for The Wrimo Accelerator package are in for an incredible ride!”

To learn more about The Wrimo Accelerator and to get started, please visit LetsGoWrimos.com.

Erika Brooks

Lulu.com

ebrooks@lulu.com

919-447-3305

About Lulu

Since 2002, Lulu has enabled authors in more than 225 countries and territories to self-publish nearly two million publications. Our industry-leading tools and global community help authors hone their craft and publish printed books or eBooks for free, then sell them around the world via multiple channels. At Lulu, authors are in control, owning the rights to their works, setting their own price and keeping up to 90 percent of their book profits. Lulu is also the innovative engine that powers Picture.com, which lets individuals and businesses celebrate and enrich relationships by creating custom photo books, calendars and more.

About NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that takes a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 p.m. on November 30. Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought fleetingly about writing a novel. Through NaNoWriMo—as well as our Young Writers Program, the Come Write In program, and Camp NaNoWriMo—we work hard to empower and encourage that vibrant creativity around the world. We can’t do it without writers like you.