Write at the Museum

The Nashua Historical Society is a NaNoWriMo Come Write In space for November 2023. Typewriter c. 1940s.

The first novel in the world is recognized as The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early eleventh century in Japan. Since then, novels have taken countless forms and cover myriad subjects and genres. The author recognized as the best-selling author to date is Agatha Christie, otherwise known as the “Queen of Mystery” and creator of such renowned protagonists as Poirot and Miss Marple. From the ubiquitous to the banned, novels have captivated imaginations for a millennium.

Dip pen and pen rest.

November is upon us, and with that, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). For anyone unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, it is an annual challenge to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November, an average of 1,667 words per day. NaNoWriMo provides writing resources online and an international community of writers. This year, the Nashua Historical Society has joined that community as a Come Write In space.

Collier's Cyclopedia of Social and Commercial Information by P. F. Collier, 1882.

In celebration of NaNoWriMo, the Nashua Historical Society is hosting Write at the Museum, a six-hour writing event where all writers, whether attempting their first short story, finishing their tenth book, or anywhere in between, are invited to write surrounded by our historic exhibits. Set up for a writing session in the Speare Museum next to a nineteenth-century fire engine; surrounded by turn-of-the-nineteenth-century photography, twentieth-century hats, or tools made by the company rumored to have made the axe used by Lizzie Borden; or even the in-progress World War II exhibit set to open in 2024. Writers are welcome to use a cyclopedia and dictionaries dating back to the nineteenth century. A temporary exhibit on writing and reading features Nashua authors, old books, and historic, rarely-seen writing artifacts from the collection. In addition, those interested in touring the historic Abbot-Spalding House and the bridal exhibit currently on view there may participate in a free tour in the morning. We hope that you will join us for some quality writing time in a unique environment where the ancient art of storytelling is brought to life.

Event Information:

Write at the Museum

When: Saturday, November 18, 2023, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm

Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum

5 Abbott Street, Nashua, NH

Food and drink are allowed in the Library (Nashua Manufacturing Company and Writing exhibits) and Dining Room (Hat exhibit).

For more information, please see the Nashua Historical Society’s Events page.

For more information about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), please visit the NaNoWriMo website at: https://nanowrimo.org/