Another year, another set of aspiring writers! So we need a thread where everyone can post something about themselves and we can all get to know each other. As one of the Municipal Liaison's for Wellington, I'll start.
I'm angrysunbird (lowercase is important) which is somewhat redundant as in my experience sunbirds (small nectar drinking birds not unlike Tuis - and be sure to fit them into your stories for extra wordcount goodness) are always angry. My real name is Duncan and this is my second year as one of the MLs for NZ. I also was a co-ML in Sydney in 2006. I've been doing this since 2003 and have won every single year since then, having done Nanowrimo in Cheshire, San Francisco, Sydney and Wellington in that time (and planned an as yet unwritten novel while in the rainforests of Uganda. Lots of monkeys were involved, both in the novel and the forests). I am also now in a writing group in Wellington that actually has published authors, so I guess that means the pressure is on. I tend to write sci-fi, although last year I tried my hand at a romance novel, and it was the worst thing I ever wrote. I think I'll try something different again this year, but planning has never been my strong point.
----------
2003: St Augustine's Chickens (w)
2004: Arcanagencia (w)
2005: The Exile War (w)
2006: The Exile's Return (w)
2007: The March Beyond Progress (w)
2008: The Monarchs of Paradise (w)
2009: Displacement
15,876 / 50,000
Okt 3, 2009 - 23 11
I'm Anna, I live in Wellington and this will be my fourth attempt and hopefully my second win. I have gone the opposite route to most people with last year's (steampunk young adult) - realised it needed to be much shorter and am working on editing it into a Novella which I plan to self publish as an ebook sometime next year. I've published a number of short stories in various (web)zines. I'm going for something approximating magic realism this year, but not too sure on the details - I'm planning to plan (see what I did there?) in more detail than I usually do, which isn't saying much., but hey, that's what October's for.
----------blog | twitter<
39,951 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 01 47
Hi, I'm Mo (Maureen) and I live on the northern Coromandel Peninsula with my husband, who is also a writer and poet. This will be my third NaNo. The first year (07) I failed miserably, but I was a winner last year, and hope to win again this time around.
Not sure yet whether I am going to continue with the novel I started for last year's NaNo, which I had hoped to finish on SoCNoC. I'm almost 150,000 words in now, and thinking that what I continued with SoCNoC is now definitely at least half of book two! So I might soldier on with that and hope to get well onto my way with book three. The novel(s) is/are spec-fic sci-fi parallel universe-type thingys and I've been really enjoying working on the story so far :-)
On the other hand, I might just give the ongoing novel(s) a rest for a month and start something completely different..... I'll let you know after November 1st.
Good luck everyone!
Mo
----------Life is like ripe Camembert. When it's good enough to eat and you pick it up it runs through your fingers...
26,002 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 03 46
Hi
I'm Linda - a recent transplant from Cape Town (South Africa) to Wellington, NZ - arrived in January and am here to stay! I work fulltime (I'm an RN) and have a teenage daughter who'll be in the midst of end-of-year exams - so November will be FUN!
This will be my fourth NaNo - crashed and burned on Day Three of 2005, skipped 2006, then won 2007 and 2008. I've spent most of this year settling into our new life in Wellington and as a result, have done very little writing. I have absolutely NO idea what I'm going to write about this year - I'm thinking that maybe writing way outside my usual comfort zones might be a good thing ... might take me back to when I first fell in love with writing and every word felt like magic ...
I'm also really looking forward to meeting the Welly writers! I miss my old writing group back in SA, so it'll be great to connect with some local writers here in the city.
Lin
----------"The first draft of anything is shit. "
Ernest Hemingway
41,371 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 08 30
Real name: Gareth Owen Reynolds
----------Age:28
Participant since 2004 and since attending meet-ups in 2005 I've won each year.
ML for Christchurch for the second year, since we lost AJKiwi to Wellington :(
I'm about to head to a boring labour job that I only do to pay the bills so you don't all get the mass of text I might otherwise have left.
ML duties again...
I may need to be more disciplined about writing every day this year. 10,000 word days aren't a good idea.
58,795 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 15 13
Howdy! I'm Rikku. (That isn't actually my real name, but I kinda wish it was. Even if I stole it from a Final Fantasy character ...)
Last year, I won, but I ran out of plot halfway through and had to resort to throwing my characters into increasingly absurd situations. This year, I'm making a whole bunch of characters. I figure this'll mean that, when I run out of one person's story, I can give a carefree laugh and move on to the next. Either that, or I'll have too much story to handle. Guess we'll find out?
Whatever happens, I can't wait to do this stupid mad crazy thing, with all you wonderful, brave, somewhat foolhardy folk. Good luck to y'all.
... I wish I was in a writing group in Wellington that actually has published authors. Or in Wellington at all, f'r that matter ...
14,056 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 14 56
hey all!
i'm lucy from down in dunedin & i'm really looking forward to my second nanowrimo this year. C': i had a lot of fun working on last year's one, but unfortunately i came down with glandular fever halfway through november so i didn't have much energy to do anything. hopefully this year will go off with less of a hitch though, as i have a few ideas knocking around in my head and am keen to get started on them. i'm not sure how many other dunedin wrimos there are, but i know a few other friends at otago uni are attempting this, so i hope we can get a giant wordcount this year. :D
24,469 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 15 39
Hey Y'all
I'm Dana and I'm just a lowly student here in Christchurch. Its my first year attempting this - I finished my first novel last year and though perhaps something like this could kick start my discipline a little more. Here's hoping anyways.
40,010 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 16 06
I'm Matt from Christchurch, back for my third year. Looking forward to it… might see if I can actually finish the story, rather than just the 50k, this time.
43,010 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 18 03
I'm Kelly, I'm in CHCH and this is my second year. That totally sounds like some sort of self help meeting intro. I am the queen of procrastination and love deadlines - weird much? I do well under pressure. Last year I started late and then messed around until there were only 12 days to go and with people telling me I'd never make it (my best incentive to make it!) I wrote 45k and finished just before midnight on the 30th.
Such fun. This year, I plan to do around 2500 words a day. Will I? Probably not, but I have a goal! Loved this place though, you guys were awesome inspirers. x
17,539 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 18 56
Hi everyone :-D I'm Fran and this is my third NaNo, my first in Chch. I am not yet sure what I'll be writing, but I'm determined to not do any crazy word days this time (last year I didn't really start til day 10, but swept passed 50k with days to spare). I won't be doing much else during Nov unless I can find someone willing to employ a pregnant lady for the summer, so my plan is to do NaNo in the morn and then edit my work in the afternoon so I have a final product that isn't burn material.
----------Looking forward to meeting some Chch writers :-)
"Art is never finished, only abandoned." ~ Leonardo Da Vinci
41,850 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 03
Hi All,
I am in Auckland, been here a year since I moved for work. This is my first year attempting Nano. Hoping I will get to the word count by the end of Nov, but i guess we'll see. Got an idea and basic plot, which is coming along ok at the moment. Any other writers doing this in Auckland?
60,048 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 03
Kia Ora :)
This is my first nano, and I'm looking forward to it. I think the pressure and the deadline will be good for me, finishing stories is something I'm terrible at, oh that and I edit like mad and sometimes get too hung up about what's not working and loose the flow of what I was supposed to be writing.
So, November is going to be fun. It's cool to see so many other Kiwi's participating!
----------Long live me and long live anarchy!
- Drunkard, for whom the bell tolls...
50,109 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 24
G'day all
I'm Dave from Invercargill (which my user sidebar thingy would hint to be a closely guarded secret) and have done it a couple of times before (signature line, ditto). Biggest problem with my writing has always been almost total lack of originality (anyone who gets hold of my previous attempts at this will probably be able to guess half of my favourite writers just from who I've been pinching ideas off...) As the name may also imply I'm somewhat middle-aged (if you're at `varsity then I'm probably your parents' generation) and not inclined to travel much, although I did make it up to Dunedin for a post-nanowrimo dead dog party last year.
----------2006 - Title: "Awakenings"; Genre: Horror; Words: 50,000+.
2007 - Didn't take part.
2008 - Title: "From The City Of Demons". Genre: Fantasy. Words: 50,000+.
2009 - Title "Thief". Genre: Steampunk. Words: Not nearly enough.
7,654 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 42
I'm fordy from the middle of the South Island (Oxford). 1st NaNo 2006 (winner) then last two years in writer's rehab, now I've fallen off the wagon and am back, ready to get stoned on more words than most people can handle in a year. Also got an adult son and daughter both giving NaNo a go this year; so it's obviously some sort of hereditary insanity, from which men in white coats ought to save us. As they used to say, you don't have to be mad to be here, but it certainly helps.
Good luck everyone!
80,047 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 55
Hey Guys,
----------My name is Jess, and i'm from CHCH, this will be my second nano, and hopefully my second win.
I'm a very music centered person so my novel's are based around songs. Last year, my novel - '30 songs to say I [love/hate/love] you' ended up over 70k so for this years novel - 'It's only love' (spot prize for anyone who knows the rest of that lyric) I'm aiming for 100k. Fingers crossed, and yes i know i have no life, my boyfriend's probably going to kill me over november.
08 - 30 Songs To Say I [Love/Hate/Love] You - Win
09 - It's Only Love
40,315 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 03 10
Hiya everyone!
----------Well my name's Arnia (as you can see, my username is exceptionally original), and 2009 is to be my third year of writing madness! I won both 2007 and 2008 (though for some reason my profile aint letting me select more than one year... Help?) and hopefully *putting on my positive-determined-hat* this will be my third win! : ) Anyone who knows me personally knows that this is the time of year where I literally drive everyone around me mental with my crazy enthusiasm for NaNoWriMo, as well as driving myself crazIER with the fact that I have school exams right around the corner, clashing with my novel time. However, fingers crossed, I'll manage like last year and please both my teachers and myself!
I used to write mainly historical fantasy, but over the past couple of years I've been a bit all-over-the-place and my stories have also ranged from horror to sci-fi to romance and a hundred other directions. My secret pride and joy is actually my 2008 WriMo novel which is an odd story that doesn't quite fall under the title of any one genre and includes a wayward teenager, several previous lives and a main character who could to many people just seem like a dead pervert/stalker. Nevertheless, I've worked on it for the past year, tweaking and 'perfecting' this and that; what can I say? I'm in love. : )
This year I am, for the first time, totally unsure as to what on earth I'm going to write about. But I don't feel worried; I have been travelling and living off excitement for much of the past year and have grown to love unpredictability and impulsiveness.
Away from writing, I am a keen environmentalist, peacewisher, traveller, moon-bather and none-stop talker when something inspires me.
I'm ready to set my imagination loose and force my fingers to keep typing through the exhilerating November nights!
Good luck to everyone! =)
P.S. I ALWAYS write too much, as is obvious...
2007 ---> 'The Golden Prophecy' - Fantasy
2008 ---> 'The Colour Red' - Other?
2009 ---> 'Trouble with Identity' - Um, unsure...
Writing ~ the best way to talk without being interrupted. ; )
♥ "The pen is the tongue of the mind..."
13,411 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 05 44
@Arnia - have you tried holding done Ctrl while you select multiple ones? (or command if you're a Mac user)
I'm Michal, this is my third year. Last year was my first win, thanks to an epic effort on the last day after some encouragement from fellow Christchurch WriMos.
This year my exams are really early (I've already had 2 of the 4 and all my assignments have been handed in in the past couple of days). I'm hopeful that not having to study will help my NaNo abilities.
To any new folk, or just those who haven't been social in past years, I really encourage you to get along to meetups if you can. It's a great way to meet others who understand if you talk about your characters as if they were real, and who will egg you on in your quest for NaNo greatness.
Have a great October, I'll meet some of you next month!
22,009 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 14 56
Hello, people!
I'm 20. a student, and in Wellington. This is my 3rd year doing NaNo, and I won both in '07 and '08. Looking forward to November immensely - NaNo's become one of the highlights of my year :-) Exams finish on November 7th, so hopefully I'll hit the ground running immediately thereafter.... but knowing me, I'll put everything off till the final week!
No clue what I'm going to be writing about, either. Last year I started one novel, got 13,000 words in, then scrapped it and started a second which I took through till the end. Hopefully I'm a little more organised this year!
118,049 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 16 09
Hi everyone
I'm attempting my 8th NaNoWriMo this year, which would tend to explain why I can't quite imagine a NaNoless November anymore. Some of these novels I even look back on with fondness, though there are a few that are fit only for the rubbish bin. I suppose it's the achievement that counts.
This time I even already have a glimmer of an idea which is seeming to get bigger rather than smaller as time goes by (always a good thing to my way of thinking). I'm even attempting to plan and maybe even research for this one. I did some research last year, but only enough to thwart the creative process rather than help it overly much. Hopefully this year it'll be better!
----------..... Aaaaaaarrgggh!
22,009 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 18 04
@ ratesjul
And you've won every year! I am in awe.
226,389 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 18 16
Okay, here is my forth attempt at posting. Hopefully the forum won't give me a silly database message again.
EDIT: Success!
Hello, I'm Christine *waves*
This will be my third Nano. I just won in 2007 on the last day but reached 50k fairly early on last year (by the seventh, if memory serves). Whatever it was that was poking me on last year has been largely dormant the last year, almost depressingly so. Hopefully this November is going to give me a nice solid kick in the behind for writing.
As for what I'm writing... it will be something to do with fantasy or sci-fi. I kinda want to do something more romancy than in the past too because I've always had trouble with it... but don't ask me to be specific.
Anyway... I've mentioned this before but I'll be in Auckland for at least the first half of the month so if there are any meet ups up here I'll be keen to attend and then I'll be back home in Wellington for at least some of the second half and seeing all you lovely people again.
And I AM going to have a t-shirt that says 'Weapon of Mass Novelisation' if its the last thing I do other than reach 200,000 words again.
*slautes*
----------Over and Out
=D
35,914 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 21 18
@ Christini - not only did you manage to write 200,000 words but you did it while doing your exams. I always wondered how you did in those exams.
----------2003: St Augustine's Chickens (w)
2004: Arcanagencia (w)
2005: The Exile War (w)
2006: The Exile's Return (w)
2007: The March Beyond Progress (w)
2008: The Monarchs of Paradise (w)
2009: Displacement
58,795 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 22 21
@Christini
Two ... hundred ... thousand ... words.
Hmm.
... Me and my measly 50k are going to go sulk in the corner now. xD
40,315 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 22 43
@mikethegirl - Okay, I'm feeling incredibly dim and technically-challenged! Thanks very much for that - it now says both years I've done NaNo. : )
----------& I'm one of the previously anti-social people from Chch, but this year I vow to be heaps more involved - would love to meet fellow writers.
See all you people in Chch in November!
& thanks again, Mike!
2007 ---> 'The Golden Prophecy' - Fantasy
2008 ---> 'The Colour Red' - Other?
2009 ---> 'Trouble with Identity' - Um, unsure...
Writing ~ the best way to talk without being interrupted. ; )
♥ "The pen is the tongue of the mind..."
2,205 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 23 32
hello, I'm deanna!
i'm a teacher in whakatane and this will be my first year doing nanowrimo. very exciting.
0 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 05 49
Hello, I'm Jewelia. I'm from Kaikoura and this will be my first attempt.
----------Not exactly sure of a plot outline yet for my story but I have a rough idea of what it will be about finally, I've been giving it thought for the last month.
I'd like to consider myself something of a writer but I've never writen a 50,000 word story before and definatly not in one month so I have no idea how it will turn out, especially juggling high school at the same time. I usually write general/teenage fiction stuff which is so full of stupid plot twists that it frys peoples brains but recently I've been trying to branch out a bit more and I'm really confident that what I write will be very different.
I've tried getting some friends/people at school into this but no one seems to be interested in writing much, especially if it's 50,000 words and my english teacher rejected the idea as soon as I brought it up even though some people could have done the junior version of it where you choose your own word count so I guess I'm on my own.
Don't suppose there's anyone else from Kaiks giving it a try?
118,049 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 12 11
@ aljay574
I didn't say I wasn't insane!!
----------(And, secretly, one year I couldn't pick which story to go with, so I did them both)
..... Aaaaaaarrgggh!
52,841 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 15 12
@ ratesjul
Two stories is my plan for this year - glad to know it's an achievable feat!
This is my second NaNo and I'm planning to use it as a way to dump all the story and character ideas I've had in my head since age 19 but which just became so overdeveloped I wouldn't know where to start. I figure I'm about to leave my teen years and all the associated story ideas behind so it's best to get them all out and see if there's any spark of gems.
The meets were really helpful last year and I'm saddened to see no Auckland ML this year, I hope we can organize meets regardless!
118,049 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 16 38
@ Rosey
I remember you from last year. We were the handwriting brigade! :)
I'm still secretly hoping that GameCat is still around and volunteers. Otherwise, well, I suck at organising events and meetings and things, but I'm sure the whole "show up at the library cafe" option could still work. And this year I even have a computer! (touch wood). (In case it wasn't obvious, I'm avoiding putting myself in that role).
Last year was the first year I attended any meetups (part of one in Sydney doesn't count), but I think I'll miss them if they're not there.
----------..... Aaaaaaarrgggh!
44,604 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 17 53
Heya!
----------I'm Talia (not my real name). This will be my third year of NaNo, hopefully my second success. Last year I learned that planning characters isn't enough for my so at least I learnt from my failure... Anyway, have a new world to play in and more of a plot this time so we will see how we go... I also second Mike's urging to attend meetings, they're a great place to get encouragement particularly near the end... There's always someone further behind than you and usually someone way ahead of you so there's both kinds of motivators!