Greetings from Your SF ML & Roll Call

Hi Kenne,

I'm Jane, first time "official" NaNoWriMo participant. I did complete a 52,000 word first draft, in June of this year, after reading Chris' book. I look forward to having access to the NaNoWriMo camaraderie during November.

My job starts to get really busy during this time of year, so it will be an extra challenge to write, work and try and get out to participate as well.

I'm looking forward to it, though.

Jane

Wow October already! another NaNo in just 3 weeks! Whee!

sorry to be just getting around to introducing myself but the site has been soooooo sloooooowwww, this is the first time I've been able to get into the regional posts...

These regional groups are great. Last year the 'official' local write-ins were kinda far from where I live, so I didn't attend many.

BUT I did meet another NaNo writer closer to my neighborhood, and we had our own mini-write ins at a cafe in the Marina, cheered each other on past the 50K finish line -- and decided to partner up for Script Frenzy.
She moved back to Ireland, so our write-ins were via Skype instead of in the Marina, but we did it!
We also formed our own production company, developed stories for 4 more movie projects, and just started a new screenplay, which we're aiming to finish in November.

So, I figured Hey, why not write a novel at the same time!?!?

what the heck, it's just more words.... ;-)

Deb Mc.
San Francisco

Hey Kenne! Well you know who I am. :-) But for anyone who doesn't, I'm Shannon, I did (and won) NaNo for the first time last year, and I'm totally looking forward to doing it again! (In fact Kenne and I were neck-and-neck last year for finishing first in SF...we hit 50K on the same day, but alas, he got there a few hours before me.)

I've been working hard on my plot outline, thinking about the opening scene, and grumbling grumpily at this slow site...it is better today, this is my first time in the forums.

Can't wait to get started writing!

Hi, This is my first time signing up for NaNo writing and my first time writing anything outside of school essays. I don't know that I can write anything, but I wanted to at least give it "the old college try" so to speak.

-yvonne

Hi

I'm Linda and this is my first NaNo.

I'm going to be writing 'on the move' . I'll be starting the month in Adelaide South Australia, driving 3,000 Kms to visit family near Sydney and then flying to San Francisco in the middle of the month. It's a good thing I quit my job.

Hope to keep in touch with a few Bay area writers during my travels and maybe even cross the finish line while I am there

Cheers

Linda

Hi!

I'm Felicity, this is my first NaNo as well. I am busily plotting and researching, and have managed to convince a friend in SF to sign up with me! Hurrah. I am excited, though feeling a little crazy, as beginning December 1 I am going to be taking a month off work/leaving to visit a friend in the United Arab Emirates... which means November is going to be a bit busy. At least this will get me through the last few weeks of work!

Felicity

Hi, My name is Sarah and I am also a first timer. Although I live in Ashland, Oregon I am looking to connect with Bay Area writers as my Mother lives in SF and I love the city. I am planning on taking part in some of the SF events during the month. How does one become a Nano "winner" is it simply by reaching the 50K mark or is it by getting there first? Is it an individual win or do groups "win" as well? I have many projects and I believe in opening the floodgates. I feel a tsunami of creativity coming.

Blessings to everyone,
Sarah

Hey Kenne, Shannon and Deb! Nice to "see" you again. And how wonderful that SF is going to have so many newbies! You guys are going to LOVE it. Do try to go to the write ins or start your own; they are incredibly helpful and Kenne is a very supportive and encouraging ML.
This is my third year of Nano and hopefully will be my second time winning. I kept on with last year's novel until January when I figured out there was NO WAY I was going to be able to have it in good enough shape to make that Lulu offer deadline. Then I went back to the novel I had been working on prior to Nano and worked diligently on that for the next 10 months. I started a writers group and got good feedback on it. I'll be taking a break from that novel in order to do Nano, which will also give me some perspective on it as well.
I have no plot and no characters as of yet. Huh, bit of a problem;-) I'm probably going to stick with the setting of my last novel because I did soooooo much research for it that I don't want to waste that. And also I'm still in that head space and kind of like being there.

With Anticipation (Lisa)

2005 "Two Truths and a Lie" literary fiction
2006 "Slipping the Tracks" literary fiction (Winner)
2006 "Exit, Pursued by Bear" literary fiction (Non Nano Novel)
2007 "?"

Current writing soundtrack: "The History Boys"

BTW, Kenne? Can we get more Nano stickers and buttons this year? Pleeeease?

With Anticipation

Hey, I'm Silvio and this is my first time to participate. I'm very excited and I hope we can have write ins in my favorite cafe on 17th and Sanchez, Cafe "H". They have 6 desktop computers that can be used and also wireless access. So I hope that we can meet there and play together.

Heya,
I'm Kristy and this is my first NaNo as well! I am very, very excited to get going already! I've been looking forward to this for a few months now and haven't really firmed up any plot plans or whatnot, but I work the best under pressure.
I hope to see some of you at the meetups and am for sure planning on the event on Nov 17th.

Good luck to all!

Hi Sarah, welcome aboard!

While everyone who participates is a "winner" for having done so, the official definition of "winning" NaNoWriMo is that you individually have written 50,000 words on a freshly-started work of fiction between the first second and last second of November.

I'm being a bit legalese there... the things that are usually excluded from the category of a Nano novel include:

• Non-fiction. You can fictionalize your autobiography or your research dissertation on gravity and toasters, but novels are usually fiction.
• Continued works. Sequels and prequels are okay. Starting up at word 50001 on last year's novel, or continuing a novel you started earlier, are not really in the scope of NaNoWrimo (although you're encouraged to write year round of course).

If you finish and "upload" your novel before the end of November 2007, and the word-counting robots agree that it's at least 50000 words, you win. Sure, there are word wars, and hugs and tiny daggers for people who finish early, but NaNoWriMo doesn't care if you finish on November 3 or November 30. (You can only validate on or after the 25th for technologically-oriented reasons. And you shouldn't wait till the last minute on the 30th, because the servers might crash and stress you out.)

Oh yeah, one other thing I'd advise, while you're getting started... you may decide 700 or 7000 words into your novel to quit and start something brand new. That's okay. Most famous and probably all unfamous authors have done it before. But remember that for Nanowrimo, as long as the words were written during November local time THE WORDS COUNT. The easy way to deal with this restart is to just put a line in your document and start from there. The more interesting way is to fold the fragment into your new project. A character has a flashback, or is telling a friend or enemy or police officer a story, or something like that.

Hello,

I'm Gloria and this is my first Nano. I am one of those with a busy life, but I am hoping I can pull this off.

Cafe H is a great location for me . It's a great cafe to work in.

Hope to attend some of the events...

Hey!

My name is Kelly and this is my first NaNo WriMo event. I'm really psyched about this concept - I totally need a good kick in the pants to get moving. Anyone else in the Lower Haight? Bean There cafe is a sweet place to write...

Cheers to Nov 1st!

k

Hello all. :)

My name is Kelly and this is my first NaNo (kwalk, sorry I stole your life - it's not intentional I swear!). I'm really pumped up for Nano, though my mood is sorta swinging between excitement and "ohmigod what did I just sign myself up for?"

For right now at least, i'm in the excited! mood. :)

Gloria!!!

Welcome! Of course you can pull this off!

Lisa:-))

With Anticipation

2005 "Two Truths and a Lie" literary fiction
2006 "Slipping the Tracks" literary fiction (Winner)
2006 "Exit, Pursued by Bear" literary fiction (Non Nano novel)
2007 "??" literary fiction

Hello Again,

I totally promise that once Nano gets here, I'll be a responsive ML. I'm excited to have some newcomers, and I hope to see as many veterans as possible. New people, be on the lookout for a veteran buddy. It's a great way to get involved and find support through the month that is Nano. The way the buddy system works is that you either post that you're looking for a buddy, or if you see a veteran nano'er that you think would be cool to pester, then just message them and ask them if they want a buddy. Buddies are like support buddies, someone that you can email on a regular basis to see how the word count is going and stay motivated.

I'm always open for more places for the write-ins, so Cafe H is a good spot to start. Before the first of November, I intend to have a schedule of where all the write-ins are happening. So, if you want one in your area, then suggest it. All we need to make sure of is that the location can hold about 5 to 10 writers, whether there's electrical support for the laptops, and it would be a good idea to ask the owners of the facility if they would mind having a group of quiet (or sometimes not so quiet) writers swooping in on their location for a couple of hours. If you ask, they'll normally say that's fine, but also make sure to check with them to find out if one night is better than the other (for example, if they're having an open mic night, then not a good idea for us to try and have a write-in that night).

Any other questions, feel free to ask them here (where I have lots of knowledgable nano'ers that will know the answer (Hi Lisa and Rob!)). Or you can email me directly. Again, welcome, and let's have fun.

Hi All!

I'm Susan - back for the third time. Last year I wasn't working and this year all I do is work. Should be interesting... I convinced my brother (in LA) to participate again. There is nothing like a little sibling rivalry to keep the word count moving.

I worked on last year's novel on and off over the past year - and I have a long way to go. And I need another trip to Spain (for research, of course.)

Glad to be back and I look forward to seeing everyone at the write-ins. Anyone planning a 'first minute' write-in?

Susan

2005: A Collision of Destinies
2006: Spanish Light
2007: (?)

LISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hurrah Hooray!!!

I'm on the right page now

You're a winner--you never mentioned that when you got me interested

Now I can feel really really pressured!!!!!!!!

Gloria:-)) to you too!!

Peter here. First timer. Looking forward to the experience, and to possibly meeting the rest of those crazy enough to give this a try.

We're doing one down here in Santa Clara... and yes, one year I drove down from the Western Addition for it, on a work night.

Might be possible to do one at a Mels or something like that.

I just ordered Nano swag, so the answer is YES! :)

Hey Everyone!

I participated in NaNo for the first time last year and had a great time of it, so I thought I'd give it a go again, though this time I'll be pumping out my 50000 across the span of the country. The first few days I'll be in Vermont, helping my family finish moving, then traversing the states to Salt Lake City where I'll be for ten days or so before continuing on to San Francisco (GT, baby) about midway through the month. So though I won't be kicking it off with you guys, I can't wait to meet some of you during the second half!

Adam Z.

Just checking in for the third year. No plot and no characters yet, but that's what November is for. Looking forward to the launch party. December 1st looks very far away, but hope springs eternal, they say.

Yo-
I'm another first time nano. I'm a student at SFSU, so we'll see how well I can balance work, school, nano, and girlfriend.

Hey,

I'm Adam, an MFA student at California College of the Arts (CCA) and second-time participant. Didn't quite make it last year (35,000 before being derailed), but I'm currently working with an illustrator to adapt what I wrote into a graphic novel, so I guess it was pretty beneficial.

Thinking of using my thesis as a starting point for this year's NaNo. I know it disqualifies me to "win", but hey, I've got a deadline. Looking forward to losing my mind with you all.

-Adam

Hi, I'm Sara. This will be my second year participating.
Although I finished last year I seriously considered not participating again because I couldn't even look at what I wrote by the time I was done, I was so sick of it and unhappy with the quality or lack thereof. I literally just opened the file again for the first time last week-- and well, yes, it's garbage, but the writing isn't entirely terrible and the plot rips right along. So that's something.
I'm back, however, because I have a project I really want to get started on. I may not push quite so hard this year-- I'm not sure finishing really matters to me so much as getting some serious work done on a draft this time around. But this is the best way I know to keep motivated and moving.
I am sort of breaking the rules, I should note-- my current project is somewhat "memoir"-based. But I fully intend to fictionalize and play around with it, and, well, its my novel, dammit.

Look forward to meeting some of you at write-ins.

My name's dominica and this is my first NaNo. I'm excited about November and the collective immersion in novel writing -- kind of like a literary Ramadan.......I have a few ideas kicking around, but nothing like an outline, though I have a character that's been kicking around for the last few months. . I'm pysched about the idea of wringing my dreams and daliy life for material (put through a few dimenstional twists of course), though I imagine that could get a desparate edge to it.....but I like intensity. I have two teenage sons so I figure I'll put their existential angst to good use, let it contribute to my word count rather than stress and grey hairs. I'm up for write-ins and any NaNo events. I live in Bernal Heights.

Hi everyone,

I'm wutho, and this will be my first NaNo. I'm turning 40 a couple of weeks after completion, and winning would be a great present to myself. It already feels overwhelming, but exhilarating too.

I'm re-arranging my schedule to come out to the Olive on Saturday. I'm looking forward to meeting folks and learning what type of genius-crazy works to make a novel fit into a month and how I can get some of that happening for me as well.

Tally-ho!

wutho

Hey all!

I'm Ivymere (or Jennifer if you want to know my real name) and this will be my 3rd actual year doing Nano (although I'm still wavering on whether to do it or not) only because last year was a very half-hearted attempt to work on this contest :p. My first year was back in '04 and it was glorious. The whole experience was wonderiffical!

I'm based in Hawaii right now, born and raised. However, I wanted to jump in here for a bit because I am missing the Nano season in San Francisco by only one month! I'm moving to SF at the end of December (so soon!) and I'm incredibly excited. I'm also very excited about the fact that I am probably doing Nanowrimo in SF next year! :D So I'm a tad bit early but I'm getting a head start ;).

Good luck, all!

Aloha,
Ivymere