Life after NaNo Seniors http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830 ruwth I am trying again to post something about this subject on the December and Beyond and Life After NaNoWrimo forums. I tried to post something here about seniors but my post was moved to the NaNo Age Group forums. I am posting here to connect with the December and Beyond crowd. Are there seniors here in the Life Ater NaNowrimo forum? Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:35:39 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_924337 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_924337 Catana I'm a senior, and I know at least a few others hang around. The 50+ forum usually goes pretty dead, though, so I post in the more active ones, like this one. Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:10:55 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_924532 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_924532 Zookeeper Ditto here. The 50+ forum after Nano is kind of like a vacation resort after all the summer people have gone home. In 10 days, I'll be 58. And I'm kind of peeved about it, too. My plan was to be a famous novelist before I was 30. Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:54:17 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_925619 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_925619 ruwth Hello! Thanks for joining me here! How is your life after NaNo going right now? I am totally excited about the changes that have taken place in my writing. Silencing the internal editor has done wonders for me. Writing is fun again! ~ ~ ~ ruwth ~ ~ ~ Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:45:11 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_927127 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_927127 ruwth Thanks for joining me in Life ater NaNo land! I thought it might be a good idea to stake a place for Seniors in December and Beyond. Life after NaNo seemed a good place to start. My writing goal is to become a successful freelance writer. I had hoped to make faster progress but I haven't so I just keep moving . . . and hope that I am moving TOWARD that goal! LOL Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:52:55 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_927137 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_927137 Angelynx Hello! I'm lazy (and my hands are still tired!) so I'm pasting part of a post I just wrote for the "what have you learned from NaNo" thread: --best of all: that it doesn't end here. I love CreateSpace's publishing offer. I'm determined to edit and finish my NaNovel by the end of June and self publish, and before this year is out I'll be holding my very own book in my hands. That has been my dream all my life (I'm 56), but I've never dared to approach a "real" publisher; now i can achieve my dream my own way. And it'll all be because of NaNoWriMo. *hugs NaNo staff* Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:20:59 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_927364 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_927364 Mother Goose Hi all! I'm 54, just finishing my first WriMo novel. I'm excited about finishing the project and then editing, and I'd like to find some beta readers (and be one myself) to help finish off the process. It's always fun to talk to other people my age - so YEAH. Let's hang out here. Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:59:46 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_927446 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_927446 Catana I'm still decompressing. I keep opening the files of the two pieces I was working on before NaNo, and then they just sit there. Instead, I've spent most of every day reading. But I'm determined to get back to work this weekend. I have a short story to finish, and I'm trying to get last year's novel ready to publish on Smashwords before the end of the year. Not sure I'll make it, though. Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:24:15 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_927515 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_927515 Meglet I read somewhereaboutthenano forums closing down during the year. True? I also would love to keep hearing from fellow writing seniors. ESP as I go into the research and edit and actually write mode. Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:16:19 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_928080 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_928080 Catana The forums are open year-round. They slow down a lot after NaNo, then pick up again during Camp NaNoWriMo, then slow down to almost nothing. They're shut down just before NaNo each year for a wipe and reset. Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:32:39 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_928343 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_928343 Kopiluwak I usually only hang out in the Smoking Pen - a gathering place for the 50+ group to chat, try out story ideas, test run characters, and such. We often engage in interactive storytelling with our characters and ourselves (I'm not very good at this part, mostly I stay myself and let the others play with my characters). There's usually several sub-threads going on, and people can pick and choose which subthread they want to follow (one or all or start their own!). Everyone's welcome, even if they aren't over 50 yet, but most of us are over 50 (I'm 66). It was in the Age Group 50+ Forum (and before that in the 40+ forum, and before that in the Geezers Thread), and now, apparently, it's in the RPG Forum...The Smoking Pen has been around since 2003, so it's been moved around a lot. We set up a Facebook group this year so we could easily interact all year long since the Age 50+ forum usually dies sometime in December. You're welcome to join us there, and then back here for Camp NaNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo. If you have a Facebook account, just search for "Smoking Pen" and ask to join. At least the Facebook group won't move around, so it should be easy to find. [removed] Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:51:08 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_930191 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_930191 Angelynx I've been a regular in the FB group and everyone there seems in agreement that it should continue, so we can definitely hang out there whatever this forum does. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:00:53 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931341 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931341 Angelynx Oh sorry, I was thinking of my regional FB group. I haven't visited the Smoking Pen one, will go look for it now. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:02:33 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931343 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931343 Kopiluwak If your region has a FB, that is always an excellent alternative for the rest of the year! Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:58:50 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931433 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931433 ruwth I did NaNo as a Rebel. I am not sure what I will do with the CreateSpace's offer. My goal is to write articles/essays as a freelance writer. My NaNo experience was suppose to be me wrting 50K worth of articles. That is not what happened. Here are my NaNo results: [removed] This is a blog where I am keeping a record of my efforts, progress and lack thereof: [removed] Neither of these items are open to the general public but I have included the passkey in these links. As I read your post, I can feel the joy at having your own book in your hand. :-) ~ ~ ~ ruwth ~ ~ ~ Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:25:36 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931523 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931523 ruwth I noticed that you have had some short stories published. Eight of them! That is exciting to me. How long have you been writing and when did you get the first story published? Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:30:27 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931535 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931535 ruwth I want to hold on to what I have gained from NaNo. I didn't write yesterday. There was one day during NaNo that I was not able to write. There is a difference now than in my pre-NaNo days. Now, I am chomping at the bit. I want to write! I didn't necessarily feel that way before NaNo. My internal editor's voice was so loud before that it took me HOURS to write a short paragraph about myself as an introduction on ChristianMingle (a Christian singles site). My brother was the one who had talked me into joining that group and he was NOT PATIENT with me when it took me so very long to put a few words together. LOL But NOW . . . this is almost my first going back to my writing, editing and revising. It sounds like you know what you are doing in this area. It is great to hear about your novel from last year! What is Smashwords? Is the end of the year something necessary for them or a goal you have set for yourself? [removed] Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:41:00 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931557 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931557 ruwth I have a place that I hang out: [removed] It is a great community of writers and I love it there. That link will take you to my public portfolio. Since I want to become a freelance writer, I should probably give a give a bit more thought to what folks will find there. My primary reason for being a part of that community is to improve as a writer. It was folks from there that inspired me to join NaNo as a Rebel. Sadly, a limiting factor in my writing life is an out-of-date/broken down computer and dial-up internet. I can't do Facebook on my home computer. It locks it up every time. But for the rest of the folks, here is a working link to the group that you mention: [removed] At least, I hope it works! LOL Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:53:06 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931574 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931574 Catana Smashwords is a self-publishing site that distributes your ebook to retailers like Sony and Barnes &amp; Noble's Pubit. The end of the year isn't a particular goal. I've been serializing the short story on my Live Journal blog and had some trouble continuing the plot. Then I put it aside for NaNo. I've been working on last year's novel for a couple of months and also put that aside during November. December is the goal, but basically, I just want to get one more novel published while the after-Christmas market is active. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:25:49 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931635 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931635 Catana Kopiluwak, until you mentioned Facebook, I was ready to make a note to look at the Smoking Pen, which I hardly ever do. I despise Facebook, so that leaves me out. I'll stick with the NaNo forums as long as they're active enough. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:29:18 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931645 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_931645 Mother Goose I've been writing since 2 minutes after I learned to read. I've been telling stories even longer. But I never tried to get published until about 10 years ago. I've written two really good novels for YA readers concerning growing up with gay or lesbian parents. Between them they've been rejected easily over 100 times. Well, that got me to wondering if perhaps, just maybe, I might not have any talent. Now, grant you, I've been a paid professional storyteller for years, and many of the stories I told were my own, so they couldn't have been too bad. But still, I was becoming quite concerned that these excellent stories wouldn't sell. So I decided to test my skills. I found Calls for Submissions listings online for Lesbian erotica. I wrote a bunch of stories (each anthology has a theme, so you want to be sure your story fits the theme) and sent them out. In 2006 and 2007 I sold eight stories, had seven published, and one of the anthologies I was in won a Lambda Award. OK - I'm salable. But I'm still having trouble marketing these two books. I think because they center not on gay kids, but straight kids with gay parents, the mainstream media doesn't see the point, or they're afraid it's too controversial a topic. Either way - I've been handed a ten foot pole and told to stick it. Unfortunately the printing houses that bought my short stories are not in the Children's Literature business (surprised?). So I've decided to self publish, and I'm going the ebook and POD route through Amazon and Create Space. The marketing will be up to me, and I have none at the moment, so that will be my NEXT big challenge. But for now I have to finish the story, get it edited, beta read, edited again, and then up online. And I'm setting myself a personal goal of having them up by February 1st. Wish me luck! And good luck with your project as well! Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:22:03 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_932056 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_932056 Dragonchilde As I explained in your moved thread, if you wish to meet with a certain age group, you really do need to post in the age group forum for that age group. I know things are slower, but that doesn't mean that the rules of the forum change. This is not a forum for meeting with certain age groups. You would find that those forums would not get quite as slow if you would actually post in them. I know it's frustrating, but we have certain subject matters. The rules don't change because the event is over; we will continue to move threads to the most appropriate forum if that's where they belong, even if they are slower. From the The Codes of Conduct (which you agreed to when you signed up for your account): [quote]Do observe the forum subjects Since there are so many participants and so many different conversations, we’ve divided the forums up into different lounges. Please pick an appropriate lounge to post in, and only post the same item in one area. Duplicate threads will be deleted. Comments that are posted in the wrong forum may be moved to a place where they’ll find better conversation-mates.[/quote] I will move this thread over there, rather than closing it, even though there is a duplicate thread there, so that the conversation here is not lost. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:34:32 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_933007 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_933007 RutaBaker I'm a loyal year 'round visitor to this forum. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:15:28 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_933233 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_933233 dancingfool so People... it sounds like if we want to stay connected with other 50+ (and you're not comfortable with the FB route) maybe the best thing to do is pick one of the approved 50+ threads, and use that as our home base. I don't like the word Geezer, but I suppose that the Geezer Clubhouse is the logical place. And I think as long as we don't create new threads, we can stay there, in the 50+ forum. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:15:25 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_933535 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_933535 Dichotomy6958 You are certainly welcome to start new threads here in the 50+ age group forum (so long as they don't duplicate an existing topic). What you may not have noticed is that this particular thread started out in the Life After NaNo forum and was moved here because its target audience was for a specific age group (seniors). Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:19:16 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_936237 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_936237 ruwth Hello to others who joined me on this thread. The forum December and Beyond is promoted on the Dashboard so I thought it was the best place to connect with folks after December. I have been told that the rules are that you can not have an age-related thread on that forum no matter what. So this thread has also been moved back to the Age Group forum. Also, at the start of NaNoWriMo, I send a message to the folks in charge and asked if it was okay to post a link to my things on Writing.Com. Writing.Com actively supports NaNoWriMo by encouraging folks to get involved. It was all the NaNoWriMo activity on Writing.Com that brought me to NaNo in the first place. Well, even though my link had been looked at and I have been given permission to use it, I was just told that posting those links was against the rules. The links in this thread have been removed. Less that a third of my posts contained a link to my portfolio at Writing.Com. I don't think that was doing anything that broke the rules. This has not proved a fun place for me to hang out so I am going to limit my involvement here. If anyone wants to talk to me, you can send me an email message and I will get back with you. I am feeling sad and disgruntled this morning. I am not sure what the big deal was about not having this thread in the Life after NaNo area but obviously having this thread here in this forum is more important than having this writer here at this site. :-( Take care everyone . . . and keep writing . . . I will. ~ ~ ~ ruwth ~ ~ ~ Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:29:03 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_936250 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_936250 Catana I don't understand why your links were removed. After all, until this year, we had sigs that contained links to our writing, including our blogs. There hasn't been any statement that sigs won't be restored with the rest of the features that never showed up this year. I wonder if the person who removed them is new to NaNo moderation. You probably shouldn't have bothered to ask permission. If nobody complained, it might not have been an issue at all. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:47:32 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_936423 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_936423 Zookeeper Banning links must be a new rule. In the past, I've posted links, and they were left alone. For that matter, though, I've seen links in posts this year, so I don't know why the 50+ forum doesn't allow links. Why aren't geezers allowed to have links? Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:58:38 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_939225 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_939225 Dragonchilde [quote=Zookeeper] Banning links must be a new rule. In the past, I've posted links, and they were left alone. For that matter, though, I've seen links in posts this year, so I don't know why the 50+ forum doesn't allow links. Why aren't geezers allowed to have links? [/quote] Links are allowed. What's not allowed is self-promotional stuff. We have a forum for that. If you want to promote an off-site personal project, <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/marketing-self-promotion-and-stuff-for-sale" rel="nofollow">this is the place to do it</a>. We've had more self-promotional stuff outside of that forum this year because of the lack of signatures. When they're back, you'll be able to advertise stuff in them again. In the mean time, regular forum rules apply. If you see promotional links elsewhere, that's not because it's allowed, that's because I haven't seen it yet. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:07:47 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_941792 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_941792 Dragonchilde [quote=Catana] I don't understand why your links were removed. After all, until this year, we had sigs that contained links to our writing, including our blogs. There hasn't been any statement that sigs won't be restored with the rest of the features that never showed up this year. I wonder if the person who removed them is new to NaNo moderation. You probably shouldn't have bothered to ask permission. If nobody complained, it might not have been an issue at all. [/quote] Links in signatures are fine. However, as you noted, we don't have signatures this year; they're coming, but the rules have not changed in the mean time. When a person makes multiple links to their own personal projects, they're removed. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:10:44 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_941803 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_941803 dancingfool lol.. people, you heard it here, first.. our Dragonchilde may have eyes in the back of her head, but even so, that only gives her 4 eyes .. so she still can't see everything at once! (sorry, couldn't resist) Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:16:28 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_942061 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_942061 Dragonchilde [quote=dancingfool] lol.. people, you heard it here, first.. our Dragonchilde may have eyes in the back of her head, but even so, that only gives her 4 eyes .. so she still can't see everything at once! (sorry, couldn't resist) [/quote] *giggles* Lord, don't I know it. I try to be omnipresent... but it doesn't quite work. ;) Don't tell anyone! Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:17:49 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_943553 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_943553 ClearVibe So. What got in the way? Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:54:53 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_953743 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_953743 ClearVibe Did you find the Smoking Pen on FB? My search did not come up with it. Blessings, Ann Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:34:25 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_953977 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_953977 Kat Gentian {{No one will know - who pays attention to us geezers anyway? ;-) }} Appreciate the work you do here for us! Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:39:54 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_959550 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/46830?page=1#forum_thread_comment_959550