In July 1999, 21 non-novelists gathered in San Francisco, each of them determined to crank out a novel in the span of one month. Though this first attempt at “noveling” received a small turnout, the practice quickly became an annual and eventually national tradition.

Today, November marks National Novel Writing Month.

In honor of this month, the Daily Bruin will take a week to explore literature and its influence on the UCLA campus.

The Daily Bruin’s Book Week kicks off today. In our News section, you’ll find a feature on a group of students meeting for write-ins in Café 451 this month.

Daily Bruin Radio’s “Long Story Short” will feature a literature-themed program tonight. Among the guests lined up are UCLA alumni Anne Koch, author of “It’s All About the Story: Composing a Life in Books,” and children’s author Derek Taylor Kent.

As the week goes on, the Arts and Entertainment section will offer a glimpse into various avenues of literature. Explore the lives of bibliophiles on Tuesday. Examine the growing popularity of e-readers on Wednesday. On Thursday, discover which novels were found most influential by UCLA professors and read about successful UCLA writers on Friday.

On Wednesday, Opinion columnist Brittany Chu will cover the benefits she sees in creative writing, and the Daily Bruin’s Video department will provide a window into the life of a UCLA librarian.

In our newest venture, the Daily Bruin is also launching a forum for creative writers on campus this week.

Each week, the Arts and Entertainment section will call on the UCLA community for submissions of a particular genre, such as poetry or short story, and on a specific topic related to our news coverage. Selected submissions will be published in the paper later in the week. More detailed information on this project will be provided in Tuesday’s paper.

As we begin to showcase a selection of students’ creative work and shed light on literature’s influence on campus, we hope to re-emphasize the importance of literature in general.

Indulging in a good book has benefits outside of the classroom. There are many ways in which you can get lost in literature at UCLA. If you consider yourself a bit of a bookworm, be sure to take advantage of the frequent book sales at Ackerman patio and the Charles E. Young Research Library or take part in one of the clubs advocating literacy.

If you enjoy writing, you can get involved with one of the creative writing clubs on campus or join other students in observing National Novel Writing Month.

National Novel Writing Month and Book Week will come and pass, but we hope the importance of literature and the desire to consume and create it, lasts year-round.