1. Open the closest book to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, and turn to page 56.
2. Write out the fifth sentence, along with the following two to five sentences.
3. Pass this along to five blog friends. (What kind of meme would this be if you didn’t require the (un)willing participation of others?)

At this time, there are approximately 18 books within arm’s reach (yes, literally), but the absolute closest book to me at the moment is Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King.

Opening the book…turning to page 56…aha…here we are…(I’m going to count from the first complete sentence, just so we’re clear)

Well, not often, since at the very least it risks literary transparency. (sentence 5)

If you have an overriding dramatic mood for the scene that doesn’t really belong to any of your characters, then you might want to try this approach. The key element in Hoffman’s scene is the way the two sisters’ lives collide at this moment, and for that to work, Hoffman needs to create a genuine sense of what each sister’s life is truly like. She can’t do this from a single point of view, since at this stage in the story each sister seriously misunderstands the other. She can’t write brief, separate scenes from the two points of view, since that wouldn’t let her build to the climax of Jimmy’s body. She has to jump from head to head. (sentences 6-10)

By the way, if you are a NaNoWriMo participant and you intend to continue working on your novel, then I highly recommend Self Editing for Fiction Writers as a companion to No Plot? No Problem! (read review)–it picks up right where that book leaves off. And while I’m on the topic of shamelessly recommending books for NaNo participants, grab a copy of James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure, which will help you flesh out your novel’s arc and transform a languid plot into an enthralling one.

Now it’s time to recruit some participants. I think I’m going to play it safe like Jace, while also subscribing to the spirit by tagging a few people and hoping they do it.

• Ms. Bookish, I’m positive you probably have some tantalizing piece of literature sitting right next to you at the moment.
• Brie, I’m equally positive that you have something just as tantalizing sitting by you at the moment. (By the way, love the new design.)
• Jackie, if not for tantalizing reading, then surely there is something interesting in all the word’s various definitions.

And anyone else who wishes to participate. It’s a party and everyone’s invited. Feel free to leave a comment to get some link love.