Who ARE you people? (intro thread)

Hey gang-

I couldn't make the kick-offs, but I'd love to know who my fellow NaNos are...

I'll start off...

This is my fourth NaNoWriMo; I originally discovered the awesomeness that is the Office of Letters and Light while living in Dublin, Ireland on a professional rotation with my wife. This year I'm a "fellow traveller", working on a B draft of last year's work, "The Living". Strictly within the rule? Who knows...it worked for The Nigh Circus...take a look at Erin Morgenstern's pep talk from last year. I'm looking forward to revisiting my characters as they travel around Ireland in search of meaning, Guinness, and themselves...

So...

To quote the Alice's Caterpillar...

"Who are YOU??"

I'm Anne, and this is my fifth NaNo -- and my first post-college. Time will tell if that'll help or hurt, haha. I'm currently applying for grad school and working a job I don't really like, so I guess I'll get all my frustration out on the pages. My characters are in for a trip this year, I think! This year's novel is an urban fantasy about a struggling pub that suddenly becomes a doorway between reality and the fey, and the trials and tribulations that affect the owner and her new, supernatural patrons. I'm having a lot of fun so far!

Hi, this is the first time I've posted on the forum...!

This is my third go on NaNoWriMo and I did the June session of Camp NaNoWriMo as well. I'm not entirely sure where I heard about NaNo but probably from an old Twitter friend and I thought it'd be just the push I need.

I write on my laptop but I prefer writing on paper. Maybe this year I'll make it to a Write-In, I keep meaning to go. :(

I'm writing with completely new characters and a different genre and so far it is going well.

However, tomorrow is another day!

Hello all! My name is Chris, and this is my second go-around for NaNoWriMo.

The main fire under my butt is how soundly I was defeated last year - a meager 9000 words! I feel really strongly about the characters I developed, though, so I'm basically attempting a reboot, a do-over. A second chance!

And there is no Skyrim equivalent being released halfway through the month this time, so no novel-ending distractions this time.

Hi, I did (and won) NaNo in 2005 when I was living in NYC. I attempted in 2008 when I was living in INdia, but got distracted by travel. So I am trying it again this year. The big difference is now I have two little kids- so if I succeed it will either be a real caffeine-fueled miracle or a case of really bad neglect.

Hello - this is my 4th NaNoWriMo (but only won two of the three beforehand). I heard about it from a friend who bailed the first week her first attempt 4 years ago. It's going to be a challenge meeting it this time around, because life of commitments this first half of the month, so I plan on having crunch time the last 2 weeks to crank it all out then, although I'm making the stabs here and there beforehand. My novel this year is set in a Conference with all the quirky relations and under currents that platform is allowing to develop... Not really quite sure what genre to call it - part of - maybe "realistic fiction" for those who live in you know places where odd folks are the normative reality :).
I plan on making most of the Panera meet-ups and if I can possibly some of the others as well.

Hey all, I'm Tom. I write things. When I realize that it's November. Luckily last night, I did, and almost completely caught up on my word count. It's something to keep me occupied when I'm working grave shift at the hotels.

I'm trying to keep about 16 balls in the air right about now, including but not limited to: starting my own small business selling paintings and postcard designs (ToteStreetStudios.com), being on-call as a desk clerk, volunteering at SPCA (KITTENS), working on costuming to join the Rocky Horror Midnight Showing Bawdy Caste, volunteering to help Noisebridge hackerspace streamline their member shelves situation, getting an internship with SFAC, working with Lending Circles at the LGBT Center, and a lot of other neat things. So naturally, when I realized I could be doing yet another thing to exhaust me and eat up some time, I jumped on it.

My book is an extended analogy of the modern lives of trans folk in the city, using a random genetic mutation that gives people tails as the metaphor. Considering I was homeless in the shelter system a year ago, have firsthand experience with domestic abuse, social estrangement and harassment from none other than our city's fine paramedics, among other things, I feel qualified to write on this topic. Yes I am trans, just to get that awkward question out of the way. Ultimately I would like this story to be one of triumph, as the story of my life currently is.

I believe with hard work, commitment, and just a little clever business savvy, you can accomplish anything. Hope to meet y'all on Thursday nights!

Howdy err'body,
My name is Evan (seriously, it's not Jay, that's just a stage/pen name). This here would be my first crack at NaNo, though I've wanted to do it for a few years now. I've literally had novels of most existing genres bounce around my head at one point or another, but the one that wouldn't leave me alone as of September-ish was... well, it basically started with a song, and a world. I was listening to In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 by Coheed and Cambria when I had this idea in my head of a fantasy world, on a Tolkien-esqe scale in terms of size and style, except in a post apocalyptic parallel Earth where there is still the knowledge of things like guns (though they are all hand-made) and such. I know sci-fantasy is overdone, and the whole idea might sound a little tired by this point, but it will not leave my head alone and so I'm trying to get it out and make it sound as good as I possibly can.

I'll be at the Monday write-in tomorrow, so see you all there!

Hi everyone! I'm Tiffany, and this is my second NaNoWriMo. I attempted it last year (managed about 38K), but couldn't finish after I had surgery on the 28th. (A bit of advice: if you are so loopy on narcotics that you fall asleep while walking to the bathroom and subsequently trip and fall, you should not be writing.)

I usually write scifi/fantasy, but for this year's NaNoWriMo I'm writing a literary fiction novel about the three children of a photographer coping with his death. I'm basically guaranteeing that I'm going to be sad, depressed, and moody all month. At least my friend-and-sometimes-editor says it's good for my growth as a writer?

I plan to head out to some write-ins, so I hope to meet some of you there! I'll be the one sporting a husky hat :)

Hi Everyone! I'm Kim, and this i my second NaNo. Like Chris, I hope this year's attempt is a redemption of my (even more meager) 6700 odd words from last year. I think I remember starting late and losing the wind in my sales by the second week.

This year, I'm going for more of a young adult novel. I'm not sure if I'm doing this successfully, but I spent the last year really enjoying YA books for their profound simplicity. (And mind you, I am on the book end of my "twentysomethings".) I basically started out with a strong image and persistent voice of an 11-year-old character who befriends the owner of an antique shop and comes to own a "magical" midcentury typewriter. The plan is, as she begins to write, she starts to notice things become reality. Eventually there will be a twist - not so much to call it "magical realism" because I don't enjoy novels like that personally. I'm not sure how I plan to execute this idea really, since I've only had the general idea and the characters are saying what they will for now (not necessarily "doing" anything).

So far, it's been quite an enjoyable ride. I've done my "happy dance" more nights than last year. Speaking of which, I'm happy to report that in my first four days alone, I have surpassed last year's word count. WOO HOO!! Hoping to make some of the Panera write-ins since it has nice ambiance.

Write on, NaNos!

Hello fellow writers! I am Sara, a total noob on here. A good friend of mine does NaNoWriMo in NYC and posts about it every year and I'm always jealous. With the gracious blessing of my hubby, I am making my first attempt and I feel like I'm not doing too bad since I really started writing on Saturday (Days 1 & 2 were spent on development). I actually haven't really written anything since HS so this is a big step for me.

When I'm not writing I am a superhero. Well, I am totally a superhero if you consider superheroes to be the people who help others buy and sell used homes. Superhero is way cooler sounding than used home sales girl.

My book? Well, I'm glad you asked! Have you ever wondered how awesome it would be if the star of a major sports team fell in love with an average girl who's short, has cellulite, and uses her brains to get ahead in the world instead of her non-existent looks? No? Me neither (*palm face*). Yes, I'm writing a chick-lit book and thanks to the adoption threads on here, I've been able to flush out something I think will be worth reading. At least I hope so.

I look forward to meeting some of you at the write-ins as most of my friends have just confirmed I am the biggest geek they know for undertaking this challenge. I have a desire to be surrounded by my people. I wish you all the best of luck and may the words be with you!

Hi, my name is Rob. I recently moved to the bay area from vancouver, canada. This is my 7th year nanoing. My first win was in '07 and i've won every year since except last year. Hopefully this year I will make a comeback. I mostly write science fiction/fantasy.

I'm fascinated by an idea of having a low-tech universe, but where space travel is possible. Most authors do this by mixing in fantastical elements, but i'm trying to achieve something else, where it's apparent to the reader what the real science is but not necessarily to the characters in the novel. Work in bits of space opera, shakespeare, a touch of the prestige, and see what happens. It'll probably turn out horribly, but hey, you never know until you try!

Hi Everyone,

I'm Amber, or angel, or Kat, or any of a dozen other names depending on where I am. By day I'm a full time mobile games tester for one of the biggest companies in the world. By night, on weekends and any free time that I might possibly try to claim I'm a writer, household manager, researcher, gamer and mother to my husband, 2 cats, 4 chinchillas, bearded dragon and a tank full of fish.

I chose a crazy year to do my first NaNo, I'm mid promotion. I'm recovering from a car accident that left me with a nasty back injury. And somewhere in there I'm trying to write a series of short stories with my best friend and keep him from going crazy. Still, it seems like the perfect time and I'm loving every minute of it. I've been in the bay area my entire life but I'm always looking to meet more people. Weekdays I'm in Palo Alto. Weekends are split between San Jose and South San Francisco. Let me know if you ever want to grab a cup of coffee and write for a bit. ^^

~A

I am Preeva, aka Palmpeebs, and I host a Write In at my congregation at 4161 Alma Street from 10-12 on Thursday mornings. Someone besides me showed up today! Woot!

Hi, I'm Elizabeth. This is my first year doing NaNoWriMo. I found out about it on Halloween on Ilona Andrews' website. They mentioned something about an event in Texas, where they live, and I was curious about it. Once I looked it up, I was hooked. I really wanted to write a book this year but had major motivation problems, so this seemed like a great idea. I am a total pantster -- I had a vague idea of what to write beforehand but it's just coming as it comes. I'm not all that sure where it's going -- in fact, I don't have a title or synopsis. All I know is that it is going to be a romance novel set in a science fiction/fantasy world. The twist to this experience is that my daughter is doing it to, so we are helping each other out, when we are not in direct competition. Hopefully we both win. Hope to see you on the Thursday morning write ins -- I forgot this morning but I plan to come next week.

Wow, you are all some pretty cool folks! If you keep reading this thread but haven't introduced yourself yet, c'mon in, the water (AND the ink) is fine!

Hi, I'm Richard. This is my fifth NaNoWriMo, and, I hope, my fourth win. I didn't win my first year, when I stumbled across Chris Baty's No Plot? No Problem! at Barnes & Noble on November 11, 2008, which spurred me to go home and join that very night. I wrote about 16K that year, but I've come back every year since, and have had a blast doing it.

I'm a teacher of fifth grade students in a public elementary school in San Francisco. A majority of my students are writing this year, which makes me very happy and very proud. The Young Writers Program really works!

I haven't made any write-ins this year. Was gone on an overnight field trip for the meet-and-greet, and I've been busy with report cards and parent-teacher conferences. I might make one - maybe. So, thought I'd introduce myself here, since I may not see any of you in person this year. It's a pleasure writing with you all, even if only virtually.

Well, I didn't make it to any of the write-ins this year and, as a matter of fact, just surfaced to validate my word count. How lame am I??

This is my second NaNo and I've had a blast each time (maybe I'm crazier than I thought). But apparently I need the EXCUSE of having the NaNo commitment in order to drop work tasks and make more time for my books. Hey, whatever works, right?

Hope you're all still breathing!