Regional NSW - North (Mid North Coast, North Coast, Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands)

Yay for Northern Rivers! *bounce*

Big hello from Armidale. Somehow I'm going to try to win Nano this year as well as pass my law exam on the 17th. If I'm still sane by the 30th I may make it...

Hey tallblondie,

wow, has been almost a year already?

We must arrange another Coffs meet-up during Nano. I'm going to be at a wedding in Hervey Bay on the last weekend, but other than that, I should be around.

Diane

Diane

www.chickollage.com
The Chickollage Shop - www.cafepress.com/chickollage

Write-in/NaNo meet-up in Coffs Harbour:

I want to get the ball rolling early. If you are interested in participating in a write-in/meet-up in Coffs Harbour, please add a reply to this thread detailing preferred times in the week of Monday 16th November - Sunday 22nd November.

Last year four of us met at Cold Rock where we discussed our progress and writing in general.

"When one states that they are the 'picture of mental health', one wonders if they mean of the Picasso variety or the average 6yo..."

Sanity is for the uninspired.

At the moment, I'm on holidays from Wed 18 November and haven't made any plans other than to write, so I'd be free from 18 November to 22 November. (Won't be heading to Qld until 24th November).

Also I've noticed that the 1st November is a Sunday - wondering if we could arrange a kick-off meeting?

Diane

Diane

www.chickollage.com
The Chickollage Shop - www.cafepress.com/chickollage

Howdy all (again)

Weekends work for me. Like the idea of a Sunday kickoff in addition to a home-stretch get together. Always good to see people go from bright-eyed go-getters to near broken keyboard-slaves with thousand yard stares.

Matt

Hi Matt,

good to *see* you again.

I think there may be a few more Coffs people turning up, if I can drag them in here.

Hello to Armidale and the Northern Rivers writers!

So where is everyone at with their novel? Plotting, planning or just going to wing it?

Diane

www.chickollage.com
The Chickollage Shop - www.cafepress.com/chickollage

I have a loose plan to follow, but for the most part it's going to be a wait-and-see-what-happens kind of thing - which fits in the feel of the story anyway since my characters are living in extremely uncertain times. That's my excuse anyway. The real reason I'm not doing any more planning is that I am devoting October to doing as much uni work as possible so that I'll have more time in November to actually write *fingers crossed*.

Good plan, Erui. I gather you're studying at SCU. What are you studying?

Diane

www.chickollage.com
The Chickollage Shop - www.cafepress.com/chickollage

Hi Diane :)

Yes, I'm at SCU, studying accounting. By distance ed. though, so it fits in around work.

OK - a possible 1st November KOP/Write-in? I will be at the Brisbane KOP the day before, so I can share some highlights from that if anyone would be interested in listening. Afternoon would suit me.

I propose Saturday 21st or Sunday 22nd for a write-in/meet-up/encouragement.

Thoughts anyone?

"When one states that they are the 'picture of mental health', one wonders if they mean of the Picasso variety or the average 6yo..."

Sanity is for the uninspired.

both dates sound good to me.

Venue suggestion for the Write-in?

Diane

www.chickollage.com
The Chickollage Shop - www.cafepress.com/chickollage

Hi...I'm here...*waving madly*...coming to you live from the Northern Rivers.

While signing up this year may be Act of Insanity No. 2347, I'm looking forward to the challenge - not least, contending with my personal demon, Procrastination, while trying to do Nano, start up my online freelance business, and manage everyday life as a single mum of one! From a spectator's view, it could be quite entertaining! Watch for Day 17, when my head starts to spin.... ;)

I can't promise I'll spend much time in the forums, but I'll try to drop in some evenings. Looking forward to lots of lovely post-mortems with you all....

Hiya MsMagpie, good to see another Northern Rivers person! I also think that I might be slightly insane for attempting this after last year's failure and this year's busy work/study schedule, but by gosh it will definitely be fun!

Sorry guys,

Got to bail on this year. Decided to go to China for the hell of it. If I can make it, Ill try to come along to the kickoff between packing/visas. Would love to see you guys again.

Did we decide on a venue? Cold Rock's always good but a Sunday arvo beer with lunch sounds nice too. Greenhouse Tavern anyone?

Why not go to China for the hell of it? we'll miss you, Matt.

Greenhouse does sound like a good option.

Diane

www.chickollage.com
The Chickollage Shop - www.cafepress.com/chickollage

Am I here yet!!!!!! Good grief - why does everything have to be so complicated - LOL

Jenn

jenn&co
www.jennjmcleod.blogspot.com
www.wagtailcottage.com.au Genuine Dog-Friendly B&B - Coffs Harbour

Hey Jenn,

good to see you here.

So, tallblondie - any decisions on Sunday? I'm happy to wait now that November is suddenly upon us!

Diane

www.chickollage.com
The Chickollage Shop - www.cafepress.com/chickollage

Hi Eriu,

I'm just outside Lismore, so we're practically neighbours!?

Did I say I was looking forward to the challenge? The reality that Sunday marks the start of NaNo '09 has just hit like the proverbial ton of bricks, and now I'm really questioning my sanity. Oh, well... Even if I only make a start at this novel that has been lurking around my subconscious it will be a good thing. ;) I signed up several times in the early Noughties, but got almost exactly nowhere. I know this year will be a very different beast.

What are you studying? At SCU? I'm starting a BA in Writing/Media there next year...really looking forward to it. I only deferred it about 20-odd years ago...heheh.

Do you have your Nano all plotted out, or are you flying by the seat of your pants?

After travelling to Brissy and back all in one day yesterday, I'm going to say no to meeting today. Tired.

I think we should just go with a write-in / meet-up on Saturday 21st.

Cold Rock worked well last time, and I think around 4pm should mean that most people should be able to come - even those who may want to travel in from surrounding areas.

"When one states that they are the 'picture of mental health', one wonders if they mean of the Picasso variety or the average 6yo..."

Sanity is for the uninspired.

Ok, tallblondie.

will put Nov 21st Cold Rock 4pm in my diary.

Looking forward to it.

Well I wrote 442 words at 2 this morning, have one dead body and plan to kill another 3 before the day is out.

May the word fairy visit you all!

Diane

www.chickollage.com
The Chickollage Shop - www.cafepress.com/chickollage

greetings group. sorry for the quiet. wife just gave birth to a new little novelist last saturday so our world has been a little chaotic. that the FSM for chromic insomnia. about 2000 words down and more to come. have fun. keep plenty of finger liniment close by

Baz

I'm in Coffs too, so would love to meet up with other fellow NaNos.
I'm not working regularly at the moment, so I'm happy to meet up with others during the week OR on weekends. I would really like to meet up with other not just to talk about writing, but also to DO some writing.
Anyone else belong to the Australian Writers Marketplace online? They have writing races every Tuesday night, which I find really motivating - post at the beginning of the race what you're working on that night, then write, then an hour later you post again at the end of the "race". It's amazing how much you can get done when you know others are doing it at the same time as you.
Can't believe it's 1st Nov already! When did that happen? Better get cracking I suppose.
Robyn
P.S. Congrats again on the new little novellist, Baz.

Rhiyahn

hey Baz,

congrats on your new little novelist. Good to see you back here.

Rhiyahn, I haven't joined in on the AWM writing races though might do Tuesday. I run writing sprints with my RWAus buddies. This year we are testing them out on twitter, because if we do them in the chat room, we get lost in the chatting between sprints. so if you want to follow them on twitter, follow http://www.twitter.com/RWAus.

Also highly recommend the desktop version of Write or Die http://www.writeordie.drwicked.com

Would be great to have a meeting with all the Coffs people, and I'm happy to be writing at the meeting.

Diane

www.chickollage.com
The Chickollage Shop - www.cafepress.com/chickollage

Hey MsMagpie,

I'm studying accounting (at SCU) - BA in Writing/Philosophy was my first degree (at Uof Newcastle), really really interesting, hopefully your course will be great too!

As for plotting vs winging it, I'll be doing a bit of both. Got a vague outline and characters but anything could happen (and I hope it does, my outline is boring so far!). How bout you?

Hope you (and everyone else here) has had a good first day!

P.S I've added you as a buddie :D

HEY COFFS PEOPLE!
I'm from Bello, but whatever.
And I can probably make the 21/11 Cold Rock meet-up, even though I'll still be at school then...
Soyeah, keep me posted on meet-ups :)

Hi Northern Rivers and Coffs People...

I live an hour and a half west of Lismore...first go at this Nanowrimo and hoping it can stop me from being so self critical...no probs writing the words so far but if it's anything like my usual way i'll get a few thousand into it and decide it's all crap and should ditch it all...so my challenge is just to get to the 50 000 and feel like there's a beginning, middle and end. Hoping like crazy that this kind of deadline will help me cross the finish line without pressing the delete button!

Good to know you're all out there but doubt I'll manage a get together in the flesh

Cheers
Bush Girl

Don't you dare push that delete button BUSH GIRL.
Heard a great piece of advice lately from Aussie author and writing teacher Kim Wilkins.

Keep writing ... regardless. You can't edit nothing.

It's my writing mantra at the moment. And it seems totally appropriate for NaNo.

Cheers,

Robyn

Rhiyahn

Oh, excellent! I'm not alone in hailing from Armidale, or having exams smack in the middle of the month. Phew.

Hey, all. I'm Noc, I'm a fresher at UNE in Armidale and I feel like shooting myself for not thinking ahead. I just get so excited about writing, you know? 'Course you do. And this is the first year I've had the guts to sit up and NaNo, so I guess I'm not gonna let a little thing like my exams, or moving back home once the term ends, get in my way!

Anyway, like I said, I'm a NaNoNoob and not only that, but I'm apparently ambitious - or have ants in my pants, either way - because I'm chowing down on not one but two NaNos my first year out of the gate, one solo and one co-authored through google docs. Let's hope my eyes aren't too big for my belly, huh!

(...oh man what have I done IS IT TOO LATE TO RUN AWAY FROM NANO SCREAMING?)

Check out my NaNo adventures at Blogspot or follow me on Twitter!

It's never too late to run away screaming, but I find it's far better to run at it full tilt instead :-) I've had no clear idea of where my story is going, not until I've sat down at the screen. I've had a few vague ideas of supernatural/religious horror, and it has started off in some muddy trench during some unknown war. It's taken 4 days but I've finally gotten around to blowing up my (current) main character. We'll see where that takes him.

Good luck in your exams and the writing! I'm heading towards the end of a Law degree, hoping to finish next year.