10.27.2023

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Today’s Forecast

35º | Cloudy | 15% chance of sleet | Sunrise 7:28 a.m. | Sunset 4:39 p.m.

A novel idea - writing one

Would-be Madison novelists, take note: National Novel Writing Month is nearly here

You have sense and sensibility to be a novelist, just like Jane Austen was. | Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

Perhaps there’s a Jane Austen scribbling away right now by the arboretum, a Toni Morrison in Monona, or a John Steinbeck in Sunset Hills. Perhaps it’s you, or you’ve always had thoughts that it could be you.

This month, you can make those thoughts a reality. November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and we’re here to tell you that you can do it. Just take some of these ideas and come December, you can say you’re a novelist.

🤔 Act 1 - The Set Up

NaNoWriMo is a nonprofit organization that promotes creative writing around the world. Its flagship program encourages bibliophiles to attempt to write a 50,000-word manuscript during the month of November.

A few NaNoWriMo books you may recognize:

Sara Gruen’s “Water for Elephants”
Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus”
Hugh Howey’s “Wool”

How do you go about writing a novel? Literary agents have some ideas, and City Editor Jonathan recommends reading Stephen King’s “On Writing” and Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird.”

😠 Act 2 - Confrontation

Now, there’s rising action. There’s confrontation. Where do you go to write this novel of yours and how do you keep yourself motivated to finish it?

Madison Public Library | Libraries like writers. Visit one of the library’s nine locations, find yourself a cozy spot, check out some of their writing resources, and start cracking on your tome.

UW-Madison | The UW-Madison Writing Center, Program in Creative Writing, and Madison Writing Assistance are offering a variety of resources to fellow writers on campus and in the Madison community. Get some encouragement, attend an event, and keep writing.

Meetup | There are others like you out there. Join the Writers of Madison meetup group to find coming NaNoWriMo events, like one this evening.

😃 Act 3 - Resolution

Now, there’s a climax. There’s the denouement (a book nerdy word for resolution).

You’ve finished the Great American Novel. Get yourself a cocktail at Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè and browse the bookshelves knowing that, perhaps, your work will be there sometime soon.

Asked

What type of novel would you write?

A. History
B. Fiction
C. Romance
D. Mystery
E. Other

Let us know

Events

Friday, Oct. 27

The Deliciouser - Autumn in New York | Friday, Oct. 27 | 6:15-8:15 p.m. | The Deliciouser, 931 East Main St., Madison | $95 | Join team Deliciouser for a culinary trek across the Big Apple including Chinatown dumplings and Little Italy clams.
Christina P | Friday, Oct. 27-Saturday, Oct. 28 | 10 p.m. | Comedy on State, 202 State St., Madison | $29 | From her popular podcast “Your Mom’s House” and her Netflix special “Mom Genes.”

Saturday, Oct. 28

Full Moon Night Hike | Saturday, Oct. 28 | 6:30-8 p.m. | UW-Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Hwy., Madison | Free | Perfect during Halloween season, step out into the wild with naturalists at the arboretum.
The Roast of Batman | Saturday, Oct. 28 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Breese Stevens Field, 917 E. Mifflin St., Madison | $5-$15 | Come prepared for some scathing takedowns by the likes of Batman, Catwoman, and, yes, Elon Musk.

Sunday, Oct. 29

Wisconsin Brass Quintet - Faculty Ensemble Series | Sunday, Oct. 29 | 2 p.m. | Hamel Music Center, 740 University Ave., Madison | $15 | A horn toot for the Wisconsin Brass Quintet. They’re celebrating their 50th anniversary.

Monday, Oct. 30

Teejop and Beyond: Survive & Thrive | Monday, Oct. 30 | 6:30 p.m. | Pinney Library, 204 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison | Free | Tim Decorah has battled anxiety his whole life, hear how he’s been able to face those challenges.
Concert Post 1318 VFW Band | Monday, Oct. 30 | 7-8 p.m. | VFW Post 7591, 301 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison | Free | Celebrate the 60th anniversary of VFW Post 7591 with toe-tapping tunes, all with a festive Halloween feel.

Friday, Nov. 10

Majestic Brahms | Friday, Nov. 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Overture Center, 201 State St., Madison | $19-$95 | Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra’s 23/24 Masterworks Season kicks off with award-winning guest pianist Maxim Lando making his debut in Capitol Theatre.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Family

Bring the fun indoors this winter with Madison Public Library

a group of kids dance during a play session at Pinney Library

A snapshot of the Creative Movement and Dance for Little Ones class with the Isthmus Dance Collective at Pinney Library. | Photo by @epinigis; courtesy of Isthmus Dance Collective

Just because cooler weather is finally here doesn’t mean you still can’t have fun — not if the Madison Public Library has anything to do with it.

With your library card, you can:

Sign up for free streaming service Kanopy and enjoy 30,000+ family-friendly TV shows, movies, and documentaries, while snuggled up under a blanket. Bonus: Explore the Fright Fest collection for Halloween.
Use the Libby App to read eBooks, listen to audiobooks, or browse magazines — all from home.
Don’t let bad weather keep your kids from playing. Visit one of the library’s creative play spaces, come to a program, or stop by for a storytime.

8+ more library perks

News Notes

Development

Imagine a new library and community space in northeast Madison. It’s now closer to reality. The city’s Imagination Center at Reindahl Park is ready for the next step in the construction process. The public is invited to offer input on Monday, Nov. 6. (City of Madison)

Film

David Zucker, director and writer of “Airplane!,” (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s finest work) as well as the creator of “The Naked Gun” franchise, will be at the Madison Central Library on Oct. 30 to talk about and sign copies of his new book, “Surely You Can’t Be Serious.” (Cap Times)

Edu

From graduation rates to degrees conferred, the Badgers have had a banner year. UW-Madison’s 2022-23 academic year had the highest four-year graduation rate (75.5%), the highest six-year graduation rate (89.3%), and the most degrees ever conferred.

Development

The financial issues are now history. The State Building Commission gave final unanimous approval for the Wisconsin Historical Society’s coming five-story, 100,000-sqft History Center downtown. Construction is expected to begin in 2024 with completion in about two years. (Wisconsin State Journal)

Arts

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art will be looking for a new director. After three years at the helm, Christina Brungardt is leaving for a new position at a cultural organization in Texas. (Cap Times)

Sports

Wisconsin Badgers football 2024 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets start at $399. Next season’s opponents at home include Alabama, Penn State, and a new entry to the Big Ten Conference, the Oregon Ducks.

Environment

Despite howls from hunters and farmers, the Wisconsin DNR approved a new wolf management plan that doesn’t include a specific wolf population goal. The original wolf management plan, created in 1999, capped wolves at 350. There are now around 1,000 that reside in the state. (PBS Wisconsin)

Arts

American Players Theatre recently announced its 2024 season. Make a play to drive over to Spring Green to see such works as “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and the world premiere of Michael Hollinger’s “The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool.”

Home

Wisconsin will receive $101 million in federal funds to help households with home energy costs. As a continuing part of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, it will positively affect around 200,000 households statewide. Find out if you qualify for assistance. (Fox47)

Community

Looking to support local? Start right here: with the 608today news team. We live, work, and play all things Madison so we can bring you the kind of news you actually care about. Directly support us by becoming a 608today member — you’ll keep this free newsletter hitting inboxes.

Finance

Hedonova outperforming S&P 500 by over 200%

Graph showing that since late-2019, Hedonova has outperformed the S&P 500 by more than 200%.

Since late-2019, Hedonova has outperformed the S&P 500 by more than 200%. | Graphic provided by Hedonova

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This SEC-regulated fund has captured the spotlight, securing the best multi-strategy hedge fund award at the 2023 Hedgeweek European Awards.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Jonathan

From the editor

Greetings! This is my first newsletter for 608today. I’m excited to further explore the people and places that make this place great. You’ll find me at a brewery, or a hockey game, or trying curling for the first time.

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