THE VALLEY OFFERS SOME FUN AND SURPRISING WAYS TO LASSO YOUR MUSE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MONET AND MANET.

Draft a Novel in 30 Days
November is National Novel Writing Month, a time when aspiring novelists fire up their laptops and coffeemakers to crank out a dizzying 50,000 words in a month. You can write solo or sign up for Phoenix College’s online class, “Draft a Novel in 30 Days,” which guides you through the process. Look for a session next July, too.
Visit pc.maricopa.edu or nanowrimo.org.

Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School
This avant-garde program hosts events in 11 cities, including New York, London, Melbourne and – lo and behold – Phoenix. Nine-to-fivers of all skill levels stop by after work to practice life-drawing techniques. The models are sometimes nude and always outrageous, posing as everything from roller derby queens to drag queens to pinup girls. Dates and locations vary.
Visit myspace.com/antiartschool.

Trade at MADE
Even the most artistically challenged have a chance to feel good about their handi-work at MADE Art Boutique’s ongoing Trade at MADE series. About once a month, the store picks a theme and invites community members to make something and swap with one another. Past trades included mix CDs and homemade pies. Call 602-256-MADE or visit the store at 922 N. Fifth St., Phoenix.

Botanical Art and Illustration
The Desert Botanical Garden offers a variety of workshops for beginners and masters alike. This month, you can learn how to draw, watercolor or sketch the beautiful flowers and cactuses of the desert. And Gerald P. Hodge, an acclaimed scientific illustrator, will teach a special master class on silverpoint drawing November 7-9. Visit dbg.org or the garden at 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix.