The Cauldron Cafe

So glad to see you up Rain. I remember this group from last year and since I'm writing witches this year, I was hoping I could lurk and pick brains.

Hey! Good to see you up so early ^_^

Every NaNo is the best NaNo ever!

Gee, my name sounds masculine. I'm actually a woman.

2007: Sick Bacchus (won!)
2008: Nocturne (won!)
2009: Like a Drug

I'm ready for the magic of NaNo . . . just as soon as I get better on my revisions for my 2006 NaNo and resist the lure of rewriting 2005's NaNo with a new, exciting vampire heroine.

Don't write badly, write madly.

WOOT!!! We're back!
Hi everyone!!
I'll be ready as soon as I can figure out which of the four ideas I have floating around in my head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted ~~John Lennon

Hi! *proffers cups of yummy Sumatran coffee to the room* I'm so excited for it to be NaNo season again.

"What I need is a strong drink & a peer group!" - Ford Prefect

aim - lumatam, ym - lollypop1407
http://fast-paced-fiction.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/Lollypop1407

Oh yay, we're back! Just let me bash my half-formed plots around a bit until they coalesce into something usable, and I'll be good to go. In the meantime, let's get a head start on the whole unhealthy-eating part of NaNo!

*hands around obscenely-chocolate-filled brownies*

2006: Incendara [lost]
2007: Fairytale [lost again]
2008: Red Skies at Morning [3 for 3]
2009:???

Tickled to see so many of you looking for our open door already. The energy in the Cafe is strong. We are already well on our way to seeing that pretty purple bar.

Unhealthy Nano foods are always welcome. It's like Yule... it only comes once a year so indulge a little. Not to mention what the chocolate can do to the creative endorphins. :-D And who can live without caffeine for those late-night write ins.

Speaking of write ins... I will be looking at my calendar today and setting on-line write ins. If you have YIM, you can join me in a conference room there. If not, all you'll be asked to do is let me know you're participating so I can track your before and after wordcounts as posted to the forum. More about that later so watch here for details. The sooner you can have the dates on your calendar, the better you can prepare your personal schedule AROUND the write ins... not vice versa.

I'm also putting together the goody bags for this year. I have a definite theme this year, not just a hodge podge of goodies.

Off to enjoy the early morning storm.

Creative Blessings - Rain
~Don't get it right--Get it Written! ~
bog--> http://cauldroncafe.blogspot.com
twitter--> http://www.twitter.com/mynanofriends

I've settled on an idea...maybe...it could change between now and then. But still going to work on character development and try to figure out a plot....

I haven't even decided on my NaNo food this year....Pixy Stix are always a given. LOL

Rain: Am looking forward to the online write-ins!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted ~~John Lennon

Hi everyone!!! All set for the insanity... now all I need is a plot......

(shameless bump)

I did settle on an idea, but I've changed my mind again. I bet this will be like '05, I bounced back and forth between two novels....only thing that didn't change in the two novels was the characters....

Oh well, I'll figure it out.

I think.

I hope.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted ~~John Lennon

You're doing better than I am, Gypsy. I've got three, real broad stroke ideas & no clue which'd pan out best. lol

"What I need is a strong drink & a peer group!" - Ford Prefect

aim - lumatam, ym - lollypop1407
http://fast-paced-fiction.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/Lollypop1407

Bristow

But But...

I JUST came up with ANOTHER idea while watching TV with the youngest child!

*writes it down*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted ~~John Lennon

Hey all

I'm at the Ozark Creative Writers conference this weekend. Getting some really good information. Needing to touch up the make up, change clothes and head out to dinner. Hoping to snag a spot at the table with the agent.

Will check in later. Keep the chatter going and the cauldron on low

Creative Blessings - Rain
~Don't get it right--Get it Written! ~
bog--> http://cauldroncafe.blogspot.com
twitter--> http://www.twitter.com/mynanofriends

Trying to get lots of outdoor projects done so can curl up in November with computer to write - still need idea, but hey there's like still a couple of weeks left right? :-)

Yeah Eeshul. Glad you were able to join us again. I love seeing familiar faces right along with the new ones.

That's one of the things I love about the Ozark Creative Writers conference. I see writing buddies I don't see more than 1 or 2 times a year while meeting new friends. It's always a great time, even if the elements seemed to think we needed wet and cold this year. I'm not sure what that was about but I'm putting my request for next year in right now. LOL

I'm with the MuseOnline conference this week but will try to check in by the weekend with our Write-In on-line schedule. I can tell you this... You are going to want to participate in the write-ins. I have some awesome prizes. Keep in mind, Nano has already scheduled a virtual Write In for Nov. 22nd. Mark it on your calendar in big red letters and I"ll be back soon with the rest of the dates.

Creative Blessings - Rain
~Don't get it right--Get it Written! ~
bog--> http://cauldroncafe.blogspot.com
twitter--> http://www.twitter.com/mynanofriends

Just a quick good morning. It's raining here in Springfield MO. Way too early in the year for this. It feels more like November.

I'll be back home tonight and plan to have write-in dates finalized by end of the week.

How's everyone doing on their Nano prep? Do you prep? How and how much?

Let's chatter while we can.

Creative Blessings - Rain
~Don't get it right--Get it Written! ~
bog--> http://cauldroncafe.blogspot.com
twitter--> http://www.twitter.com/mynanofriends

Usually when I prep I always flesh out my two main characters. When I flesh out the characters, it's fairly detailed....personalities (done by astrological signs), backgrounds, likes and dislikes, not just the basics...so by the time it's time to write, I know my characters almost as well as I know myself.
As far as plot goes, I usually have three, maybe four ideas floating around. Most of the time, it's just the opening scene and I just write and see where the characters take the story themselves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted ~~John Lennon

It seems to work well for you, Gypsy. :-)

Not to put any pressure on you or anything, but I got something in the mail yesterday - ordered special. So you might want to make sure you hit that 50k hehehe :::: rubbing palms together and sporting a wicked grin ::::

As to my method.... I am a plotter. I have my main characters and my secondary characters. I also have a brief paragraph for each chapter from each of the 2 MC's POV. Part of my 'voice' is that both the H/H each get to tell their side or give their interpretation of a scene. I let the scene be led by the character having the most to gain/lose. But then later we get to hear the other character''s take or thoughts on the situation.

And of course it's a romance so my H/H get to ride off into the sunset - well, stand at the corral fence and watch the beautiful TX sun set. :-)

Creative Blessings - Rain
~Don't get it right--Get it Written! ~
bog--> http://cauldroncafe.blogspot.com
twitter--> http://www.twitter.com/mynanofriends

Character #1 is almost worked out....I just need to figure what she does for a living.

Character #2 is being a "shady character"....he's standing in the shadows and won't show his face. .oOo(mumbles something about stubborn males)

Rain would know my thinly disguised setting ...a place where routes 34 and 78 intersect..LOL

I have my music this year selected.....Stevie Nicks...the Enchanted box set. I love Rockapella too, but can't seem to write to them, I spend too much time singing along. LOL

So that's my question....

If you write to music....what music gives you the most inspiration? What music can you NOT write to?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted ~~John Lennon

Yea! So glad the Cauldron Cafe is open again!

Checking in from Denver here. Best to all the writers!

Muses Daughter

Music for me depends on the book. For Jayson's Range I'll be listening to CDs from a lot of my friends in the Texas music movement. You can search for any of them... Mike Blakely, W. C. Jameson, Buddy Case and the late Chris LeDoux to name a few.

When writing Gangster's Lady I'm listening to Blues from the 20's and 30's. I like to know what my characters were listening to. I basically, let my characters tell me what they want to listen to and go from there.

Creative Blessings - Rain
~Don't get it right--Get it Written! ~
bog--> http://cauldroncafe.blogspot.com
twitter--> http://www.twitter.com/mynanofriends

Another return customer! Yeah!!!

Welcome back Muses Daughter. Glad to see you.

I've managed to catch a bit of a cold so may not be on for a day or two. Please make everyone feel welcome and I'll be back ASAP

Creative Blessings - Rain
~Don't get it right--Get it Written! ~
bog--> http://cauldroncafe.blogspot.com
twitter--> http://www.twitter.com/mynanofriends

Oh dear! Well, here, take a cup of the Cafe's famous soup with you, ring the bell if you need anything else. We can always send up some tea.

I'll have a cup of cocoa myself, it's been a little chilly here. I've been warming up with some outlining and brain storming.

Welcome to all.

MD

Feel better soonest Rain!!!!

Cocoa...sounds good...been chilly here too. I found a new General Foods International Coffee I like....Mocha Cafe I think it is....tastes just like Cocoa. It's my new favorite...and I've been drinking Cafe Francais for years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted ~~John Lennon

Just saying hi for another year. Right now I have one project I planned to tackle and one that I may need to tackle instead depending on outcome from a publisher. I'm sort of hoping to have the publisher upset my standing Nano plans, because it would be good news.

Marie

ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com

Checking in...a very busy year for the grouchmuffins, so if I'm spotty here, it's just because I'm about to kick our little baby grouch out of the nest. She starts art school right after Christmas! So...that is AWESOME in a way...and very sad in another. It will certainly be different...except I'm taking a class next semester too to minimize the empty-nest feeling. =)

BEST OF LUCK to everyone here this NaNo!!

Take precious care,
grouchie

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Cheri in Peoria
2004-2009 winner

Hello people

I'm a new WriMo from germany, participating here for the first time. I have nothing to do at the moment, so I thought I'd explore the world of the NaNo forum a bit...and now, I'm here, excited and ready to write.

greetings, vulture

NaNo 2009: Seine Freunde

Congratulations, Marie! Please keep us informed about your journey, tales of success do inspire!

Welcome back to the Cauldron Cafe!

MD

Good luck, Grouchie. Congratulations on successful child rearing, I always say if you can get them to 18, alive and not incarcerated you deserve recognition, maybe a medal. If you've gotten them successfully through H.S. all the better and if they are actually on their way into college or gainful employment, wow.

Sounds like your little grouchie has your creativity if she's off to art school. Nice job.

Good luck with your nano-ing with all that going on! Be sure and stop by for a cuppa when you're ready for a break.

MD

Welcome, Vulture glad you could stop by.

Good luck with Nano!

MD