Four days from the beginning of NaNo... Do you know where *your* plot is?
Yeah, I didn't think so.
In any case, I am Epros, a nineteen-year-old girl-type thing. For those of you who were here last year, you may remember me as the new ML for Wiscelsewhere, and I also moderate the "Reaching 50,000!" forum. A little bit about me... I started participating in NaNo in 2005 when I was living in Peoria, IL, having no freaking clue what I was doing. All of my main characters in that NaNovel died, but I won.
After moving to Milwaukee in 2006 and contributing my winning wordcount to their region in both '06 and '07, I decided to go to college in Platteville. I also decided to sign up to be an ML for Wisconsin: Elsewhere in 2008, which meant that I had no idea who I was looking for when it came to recruiting people as a freshman on a college campus. We had a good turnout and I learned some things about being a local ML as well as reigning over such a large region at the same time. Mainly that I would prefer to just reign over Platteville, but because I don't yet have my own local region, I would like to say that all of you guys have my undivided attention. If you ever want to talk to me, just shoot me a PM or an e-mail. I have the aggressive notification turned on, so YOU HAVE A PM OMGOMGOMG!!!! will be blasted across every single page. Hooray. Also, feel free to add me as a writing buddy so we can cheer each other on during the NaNo season. Just PM me to tell me that you added me, or else I won't have any idea that you did.
Note: To those in Platteville, either PM me for meeting details or check out this thread: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3283359 More information on write-ins will be made available as the month goes on and we are able to mesh schedules together to find openings.
A little bit about us as a region. We encompass all of Wisconsin aside from the Milwaukee, Madison, and Eau Claire areas. This means that there are vast, vast differences in locations. Probably ranging from half an hour drive to seven or eight hours, though if you want some local support, you should always try posting a topic on the forum with the town you live in and surrounding towns included in the title. There are many examples already in this forum. You never know who you might find. Another good idea would be to set up meetings in your own town, putting fliers up and writing your meeting information on them so that prospective NaNoers will know what's going on.
I will be sitting in the AIM chat room "WiscElsewhere" as much as I can during the month of November. This basically means whenever my computer is on, which is a lot. :P Please come if you would like to talk, participate in word wars, cheer on other NaNoers attempting crazy goals, you get the picture. This was not a very popular option last year, though I'd like it to be.
Last but certainly not least, a good friend of mine, Zhie (the new ML for Milwaukee/Waukesha, although she has been the active "ML" for the southern Milwaukee suburb area ever since I met her), has issued a friendly challenge that I simply could not refuse. Once NaNo has ended, we will compare our region's numbers, more than likely dividing by the numbers in our respective regions (we have just over 700 as I'm writing this and Zhie's region has nearly 600) to see what the average NaNoer wrote. Whichever region has a higher average wins! There's no prize other than self-satisfaction, but hey, that's all you get from NaNo, and you're still here, aren't you?
Zhie's rather amusing thread declaring war on us in the M&W forum: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3327485
More stats:
Wrimos in United States :: Wisconsin :: Elsewhere
* There are 162 Wrimos in this region (active and homed) - 28% are new to NaNoWriMo
* 4.32% of Wrimos in this region have donated 200.00 so far (thank you!)
Wrimos in United States :: Wisconsin :: Milwaukee & Waukesha
* There are 171 Wrimos in this region (active and homed) - 38% are new to NaNoWriMo
* 0.00% of Wrimos in this region have donated so far
I figure we'll also be competing to see whose region has the most when it comes to donations. May I encourage you to give as much as you can to those who provide such a tremendous service to us? (If you are unable, don't feel too bad about it.)
So that this thread isn't completely dead before the first person even replies, please feel free to introduce and tell us a little about yourself, where you hail from, whatever the heck you're going to write about, etc. Have fun and good luck! :)
If you need to get ahold of me, my IM information is as follows.
AIM: Either Lingerie Soldier or Jailbreak Spoon
MSN/Hotmail: kougathelonewolf@otakumail.com (in my defense, I haven't changed it since I was in eighth grade, haha.)
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2009: As of yet, untitled [24,096/50,000]
38,473 / 50,000
Okt 27, 2009 - 21 30
Glad to see you back, Epros!
You already know me.
For the benefit of everyone else: My name is Wendy. My user name is ladyslvr. I also have another account at user name Perk. I'm prone to posting from either of them without much discrimination. I'm an English Instructor at UW Platteville and have been participating in NaNo since 2004, with three wins, one loss, and one year off. The reason for the dual accounts is that I offer NaNo to my students and I need a way to keep track of them that doesn't interfere with my actual NaNo life.
I have no idea what I'm going to write about. This is not new. One of these years, I'll start the month with a detailed outline and a clear plot. But not this year. Usually I go in to the month with little more than a concept or (as was the case two and five years ago) a title, and see what happens. So far, I've been very pleased with the results. But, if anyone has a spare plot or title laying around, I'm always interested in taking in a look.
Good luck to everyone.
Wendy
----------___
2004 - "Ordinary Man" (32k)
2005 - Had a baby girl, 11/29
2006 - "To Make Believe" (Winner)
2007 - "Faceless" (Winner)
2008 - "In Decision" (Winner)
52,704 / 50,000
Okt 27, 2009 - 22 25
My name is Valerie, user name peninmastershand. This is my first ever NaNo, and I am excited to be here. I am from Green Bay, and have been working hard on writing.com with an October prep challenge for NaNo. It was quite fun, and I am ready to attach my fingers to my keyboard for November.
My book is a man vs. nature historical fiction novel set in the 1930s. It looks to be very interesting.
I am employed full time, though I am on vacation this week as I get final preparations taken care of. I am far from being a teenager. I am in fact a grandmother, and though I have been writing most of my life, I only have an article to my credit so far in an online magazine.
I am so looking forward to this challenge. The challenge for me will not be whether I can write 50,000 words in 30 days, but whether I can write 50,000 words in 30 days with a full time job. I have my time mapped out, so we'll see what happens as of the first.
Good luck to everyone.
52,704 / 50,000
Okt 27, 2009 - 22 30
Epros, I have added you as a writing buddy.
24,096 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 00 13
peninmastershand: I added you back, thanks. :) Good luck this year. I wouldn't fret so much about having a full-time job and doing NaNo, just as long as you pace yourself. If you need me to be your personal cheerleader, I am available
for a small feeat any time during November. Just shoot me a PM or an IM, and that goes for all of you Elsewherely people.Wendy, it's about time I got on this post, huh? Maybe this year I'll send out more than one regional email.
One of these years, I'll start the month with a detailed outline and a clear plot.
----------HAHAHA. HAHA. HA. Oh wait, you weren't joking. :P
2009: As of yet, untitled [24,096/50,000]
6,491 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 07 17
Hi. I'm a first-time NaNo participant and new resident of Wisconsin. I'm teaching English at Nicolet Tech College in Rhinelander.
For those of you who are students, faculty, or staff at K-12 schools or colleges/universities, have you informed your colleagues that you are participating in NaNo and/or invited them to join you? I was thinking of doing that but am not sure I want to expose myself quite so blatantly. On the other hand, it might help me keep my nose to the NaNo grindstone.
Michele
38,473 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 10 44
Michele,
My colleagues all know. Or, at least, I've told them. Based on the number who have *no idea what I'm talking about* every year when NaNo rolls around, I suspect most of them aren't listening.
But, I have a flyer on my office door. I talk about the endeavor openly in the halls. In the past, I've put flyers in the department mailboxes. Last year, my classes' efforts paved the way for an article in the school paper. And I'm quite pushy about trying to get colleagues to join me, though so far I've been flatly denied by almost everyone. So ... take that for what it's worth.
The first year of NaNo is the hardest since it's all so foreign. But it's also the most worthwhile. See you in the Winner's Circle!
Wendy
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2004 - "Ordinary Man" (32k)
2005 - Had a baby girl, 11/29
2006 - "To Make Believe" (Winner)
2007 - "Faceless" (Winner)
2008 - "In Decision" (Winner)
6,753 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 11 06
'Lo. I'm Jordan, otherwise known as Errohneos. I live on the coast of the wonderful (-ly polluted) Lake Winnebago. I'm also a Fond du Lac High School senior.
This is my second year of Nano, and hopefully my second consecutive win. My story is a series of short stories that make sense if you read them separately, or together in a novel-type fashion.
----------Feel my strength. My power. My wrath. Do not despair! You weren't that important anyways.
~
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I'm 50 pictures away from winning this damn thing!
52,704 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 11 21
I have been working very hard with NaNo prep on writing.com, and only have the final draft to do. My fingers are itching to start writing, but I also have a few more chores to get out of the way before the great and awesome day arrives. I tried this on my own a year or two ago, and ran out of idea at 46,000. There was also no prep work ahead of time, so this time I'm part of the challenge, not on my own, and I'm prepared 100%.
I've also taken vacation this last week to get all the household stuff out of the way, and informed my son and grandson who live with me that I am unavailable for November, and check in with me in December.
I'm ready.
52,704 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 11 22
I have been working very hard with NaNo prep on writing.com, and only have the final draft to do. My fingers are itching to start writing, but I also have a few more chores to get out of the way before the great and awesome day arrives. I tried this on my own a year or two ago, and ran out of idea at 46,000. There was also no prep work ahead of time, so this time I'm part of the challenge, not on my own, and I'm prepared 100%.
I've also taken vacation this last week to get all the household stuff out of the way, and informed my son and grandson who live with me that I am unavailable for November, and check in with me in December.
I'm ready.
40,000 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 19 43
Hi
My name is Sarah on here known as Parmelde Lorntiere or just Parmelde. This is my third year doing nano and I am suuuuuuuuuupppppppperrrrrrrr excited! I'm originally from around Milwaukee, but am going to college at La Crosse so I'm going to be here for at least four if not five future Nanos. I don't really have a plot, but I write better without one. I do have a title though which is amazing because the last two years I haven't had one. Even after I finished I didn't title them. I dragged my two best friends into this last year. They're both doing it this year and we're all at different colleges so a lot of IM, phonecalls, Facebook, and email messages will be exchanged. If anyone else is by La Crosse and would want to meet up I would love to. Can't wait for Sunday!
31,792 / 50,000
Nov 1, 2009 - 22 52
Hey I'm Shannon aka Rikuron (but you can see that from my post can;t you? oh well) . Those who know me better simply refer to me as the crazy one. This is my third year attempting NaNo- first time under this name. Like parmelde- who also happens to be my bff number A- I am also from the Milwaukee area originally but I am currently in pursuit of higher learning (mainly how to fly, teleportation, and the like, however my uni insists that I am in fact studying wildlife ecology, pre-veterinary medicine, and Spanish. ) at UW Stevens Point. Unfortunately there are few revealed Nano-ers here, except my roomie since I ruthlessly converted her. If there are any Pointers out there, we have chocolate and we're willing to share. (we also have gummi bears which means you can't resist now). As for what I'm writing about.... eh heh. Well I have the beginning of a plot which is more than I can say for last year, but overall The Letters is about 6 friends in their senior year of college, and it is about hope when life is royally screwed up. Anyway, I must return now, to my previously scheduled craziness. I bid you adieu.
31,792 / 50,000
Nov 1, 2009 - 22 55
oh also, if you wish to contact me, add me as a buddy, or email me: smartepants09@yahoo.com
during November, it's safe to say that I'm probably on the computer as much as physically possible, so if you need a ranting board, feel free to send me a pm.
38,560 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 12 49
hi I'm Brie and I'm an alcoholic -oh wait, wrong room. my nano name is briemarie, yeah pretty dull there, but it makes it easy to remember. I'm from Baraboo, and I'm surprised that there aren't more people from Boo. I try converting my friends, but apparently they all have real lives to attend to. I just don't get it. This will be my third nano, although I have a new baby girl at home, so we'll see how far I actually get. I've won the last two years. My novel is an urban fantasy and so far all I've got is the vaguest idea of what is going on, so lets cross our fingers that it will come together before the end of the month.
Good luck everyone!! Feel free to add me as your buddy, it makes me work harder when I'm behind.
And Epros, I added you as my buddy.
I don't drink, but I do love chocolate, and hit Target yesterday for some sale Halloween candy!
40,125 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 08 57
I've been lax in my foruming this year. (Not that I'm ever all that active... but yeah... So time to introduce myself.
I'm Rana, though nowadays I actually go by my real name (Leighann) at times. ^_^; This is my eighth year doing this, and hopefully going to be my eighth year "finishing." (In quotes because I think I've actually completed two of the seven stories I've hit 50,000 words on... My stories run long. ^_^; ) I even dragged my mother into it these last two years (she's deli217, though you'll probably never see her doing anything in the forums).
I'm in Appleton and may look into meeting up with people if I can later in the month... though I'm pretty much broke, which really limits my options.
Not sure what else to really say, so I'll leave it at that. Good luck to everyone! (Even though we're already a couple of days in, it never hurts to have a little more luck...)
----------~Rana
^_^;
43,809 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 11 34
Hey friends. I didn't know how I should introduce myself: as my pen name (Ishmael K.E. Winston) or my actual name (Kaleb).
I am 23 years old and I live in Green Bay. I have always wanted to be a WriMo. It's not that I never had the time; it's always been that I didn't think anyone cared what I wrote about. I now see that that doesn't matter. I have many, many stort ideas (a western set in Wyoming, a story about two people who meet on the Internet, a novel about a girl who thinks she sold her soul to the devil), but my novel this year (You Can't Say Dallas Doesn't Love You) is based on a true story that happened to me in the summer of 2007. Only the names and places have been changed; everything else is my account of what actually happened.
This is my first time and I am super-psyched to be here. I'll be sure to add some of you as writing buddies. I just wish, I guess, that Green Bay had its own region (or at least that Eau Claire didn't...lol). Happy noveling or as I always say on AllPoetry.com, pen on!
----------All my friends are brown and red...
24,096 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 18 24
I like Ishmael, lol. In any case, I got a PM earlier about contacting those in the Green Bay area. There's a thread that lists two write-ins, from what I understand, and I highly suggest you check those out.
If one of you wants to be the ML next NaNo for a Green Bay area, you should talk to Lindsey Grant sometime next year. We need more Wisconsin regions, yay.
----------2009: As of yet, untitled [24,096/50,000]
52,704 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 20 50
I will be. I'm off on Monday's so if I can do it I'm going to. I can only hope they have computers there that I can use as I don't have a laptop. I may have to scribble if nothing else.
52,704 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 20 54
We need more Wisconsin interest. My region posts from Wisconsin are next to nothing compared to another region I have on tap for interest in possible workshops and conferences. Haven't heard anything about those, but there seems to be more scribblers in MN than in any other region I have on my board. So if there are Wisconsin scribblers, it would be nice to know you're out there.
9,736 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 21 52
Hi, I'm from Lake Geneva and this is my first NaNo and I'm really excited to be here. I've not written anything this long before, but I've been meaning to knock out a novel so here goes. I've had a story rolling around in my head for a few years with nothing to show for it but a main character and a setting so the rest will come out of my fingers this month or so help me.
52,704 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 22 21
Welcome to NaNo. I'm glad to meet anyone from Wisconsin. The way you write is the way I usually write. I put my fingers on the keyboard and start just like you. This is also my first NaNo, and I'm excited about it. In the last month I prepared my outline and draft, character templates so I would know my characters before I started. So my book is coming along good now.