It's the infamous self-introduction questionnaire of pointless random information.
Why?
Because we've got to get back into the habit of 'filler' somehow... ;)
Copy and paste the questions into a reply and go...
(quoting seems to be broken... *goes to poke someone with a pointy stick*)
=====================
Name/Handle:
Hometown:
Gender/Age (optional):
Years Done Nano:
Years Won Nano:
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano:
Technology / Method of Writing:
Genre:
Title (if known):
Favorite Self-Bribery Food:
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please):
Favorite Music to Write To:
Favorite Place to Write:
Favorite Procrastination Method:
Best Nano Moment:
Worst Nano Moment:
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above):
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano:
Script Frenzy Veteran: Y/N
Suggestion for the Co-MLs:
ADD A QUESTION:
----------
Some of us are fragile
Some of us have snapped
Some of us are watching
Some of us are trapped
Some of us are wounded
Some of us have strayed
Some of us are striving
Some of us have not been paid...
Martyn Joseph - "Some Of Us" (Deep Blue, 2005)
50,009 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2007 - 23 11
Name/Handle: Stefany/Absinthe_
Hometown: Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): Female/17
Years Done Nano: 0 (as of now)
Years Won Nano: N/A
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: None... yet.
Technology / Method of Writing: Paper, laptop.
Genre: Urban fantasy
Title (if known): Unknown as of right now
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Black Cherry Vanila Coke
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Art!
Favorite Music to Write To: Anything, really.. I don't know if I have a favourite.
Favorite Place to Write: In public.
Favorite Procrastination Method: Playing Ragnarok Online.
Best Nano Moment: N/A
Worst Nano Moment: Trying to figure out an idea!
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): N/A
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Ringette, trying to start up a GLBT group at school
Script Frenzy Veteran: N
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Um.. keep up the great work?
ADD A QUESTION: How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one?
50,252 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 07 38
Name/Handle: daen wiser
Hometown: Winkler
Gender/Age (optional): Female/35
Years Done Nano: this is my 3rd
Years Won Nano: 2 so far
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: four, I think
Technology / Method of Writing: laptop, with occasional excursions on whatever paper I can find in my purse
Genre: screwball paranormal romance - probably. I might end up doing a mystery or a fantasy, depending on which way my muse leads. I've got four possible plots currently a-boiling.
Title (if known): depends on the plot
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: chocolate
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): comparing my count to my writing buddies
Favorite Music to Write To: silence
Favorite Place to Write: in my armchair - as long as I can keep the cats off my keyboard
Favorite Procrastination Method: reading
Best Nano Moment: opening the package from lulu.com and pulling out my 2006 NaNo in real book binding.
Worst Nano Moment: realizing I was out of plot and 3 000 words short of the big 50.
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): I can't think of one, offhand
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: reading, knitting, singing
Script Frenzy Veteran: N
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: I'll be a Pembina Valley deputy ML if you'd like.
I believe there was another question along the lines of "Do you have a plot yet?" (I'm sorry that I didn't take proper note of it when I was reading the forum.) As I said earlier, I have four different plot ideas simmering, and I'm always open to something entirely new popping up at the last minute. That's what happened last year, and I had a lot of fun with it.
ADD A QUESTION: Do you have cats? (I'm always interested to check out the cats and writers linkage.) I, myself, have two.
51,402 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 11 23
Name/Handle: Evangeline22
Hometown: Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): F/32
Years Done Nano: 0
Years Won Nano: N/A
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: 0
Technology / Method of Writing: laptop, coptic bound blank books that I make and tote around with me as idea books
Genre: middle grade fantasty
Title (if known): TBA
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: chocolate
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): allowing myself time to be lazy
Favorite Music to Write To: silence
Favorite Place to Write: on my chaise with laptop on lap
Favorite Procrastination Method: posting on forums (!), and puttering around on the net
Best Nano Moment: N/A
Worst Nano Moment: N/A
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): N/A
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: reading, making books, volunteering at my children's school
Script Frenzy Veteran: Y/N N
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Too new to have any
ADD A QUESTION: What drew you to Nano in the first place? I have always wanted to write a novel, but am an insanely self critical procrastinator, who had pretty well given up on writing...so the whole Nano spiel was like a direct appeal to my old self that used to take such joy in writing, before I got so bogged down with self-doubt, and the business of parenthood.
I had 2 ideas brewing for Nano, but have now committed to one.
No cats, but only because my sister and children have allergies. We used to have 3.
50,021 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 13 11
Name/Handle: Dana/ywg_dana (gruberman on LJ)
Hometown: Winnipeg (more or less)
Gender/Age (optional): Male, 34
Years Done Nano: This will be number 5
Years Won Nano: This year will be win number 5 :)
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: 4 or 5, I think
Technology / Method of Writing: laptop
Genre: General fiction, or LitFic if my writing is good enough :P
Title (if known): I've never actually given any of my NaNos titles!
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Cookies
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Don't really have one
Favorite Music to Write To: I'll just listen to my iPod on random. My music taste is eclectic enough that it's probably more accurate to say I don't have a music taste.
Favorite Place to Write: During NaNoWriMo, I seem to be most productive writing in a group in a coffee shop
Favorite Procrastination Method: The Internet and my DS
Best Nano Moment: Probably about 2/3 through my very first one when I realized I was writing the longest piece of fiction I'd ever produced.
Worst Nano Moment: I haven't had a bad NaNo moment!
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above):
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: reading, yoga, climbing, hobby coding
Script Frenzy Veteran: Y/N: nope
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: I'm sure you guys will do great!
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one? I usually decide what I want to do fairly quickly, but then from about the middle of September through the third week of November I'll be plagued with other ideas that I'd like to write about.
Do I have any cats? Nope, but I have an adorable bunny rabbit!
What drew you to Nano in the first place? A friend suggested it to me and I thought, "Hmmm! Neat!" I *finally* just this year convinced that friend to take part :)
My question: Do you have any writing-related superstitions? (I'm curious about this because a lot of NaNoWriMo-ers seem to be intensely superstitious people)
16,688 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 13 22
Name/Handle: Karen/cdn-jazz
Hometown: Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): F/19
Years Done Nano: 0
Years Won Nano: 0
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: 1
Technology / Method of Writing: by hand (since I don't have a laptop ... yet)
Genre: romance, family-issues, tragedy.
Title (if known): The Untitled Work of Wonders (ha ha, kidding)
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Dark Organic Chocolate
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): lurking on Facebook
Favorite Music to Write To: James Blunt, KT Tunstall, Fall Out Boy, and this tango music I found somewhere.
Favorite Place to Write: anywhere I can see people
Favorite Procrastination Method: doing laundry, homework
Best Nano Moment: joining!
Worst Nano Moment: not discovering it until this year
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): n/a
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: I'm a Girl Guide Leader (for Sparks, who are 5&6 years old), playing piano, shoe shopping, and ... is a boyfriend a hobby?
Script Frenzy Veteran: undecided
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: none
ADD A QUESTION:
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one? Three. Or four. And then I'll probably use the first one anyway.
Do I have any cats? No, but I'm begging for a dog.
What drew you to Nano in the first place? They say you can't edit, and that's scary, so I'm doing it.
Do you have any writing-related superstitions? I don't think so ... no doubt I'll have one by the end of this!
Where do you get the most inspiration? Me, I'm all about the people. I tend to watch them a lot, and they're kind of interesting after a while. (Wow, do I ever sound like a stalker! Ha ha.)
50,093 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 15 28
Name/Handle: Brock/shnoz_shnoz
Hometown: Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): Male/17
Years Done Nano: this is my third
Years Won Nano: won last year
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: 1, kinda
Technology / Method of Writing: clunky old desktop
Genre: not really sure... literary, maybe, for a change?
Title (if known): haven't a clue
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: ice cream
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): sleeping
Favorite Music to Write To: jazz or classical stuff (eg. Django Reinhardt, Tchaikovsky)
Favorite Place to Write: I love to write outdoors, but that necessitates doing it by hand...
Favorite Procrastination Method: playing music
Best Nano Moment: actually finishing last year!
Worst Nano Moment: Crashing & burning at the halfway point my first year
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): trying to explain nano to my german exchange partner last year... he couldn't really understand why I was doing it
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Playing double/electric bass, playing tennis, hanging out with friends, teaching swimming
Script Frenzy Veteran: Nope
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: you guys are fantastic
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one: ugh. My past two years I've started writing without actually having an idea. It was fun.
Do you have cats: nope. A little dog who would get its butt kicked by any self-respecting cat, but...
What drew you to Nano in the first place: I got a little "reminder" email in October '05, and couldn't remember asking for one. But I tried it for the heck of it.
Do you have any writing-related superstitions: by nature I'm not a very superstitious person. So no.
Where do you get the most inspiration: Nature. You'd be amazed how many of my story ideas came to me while I was sitting in the backyard, staring blankly at the trees.
ADD A QUESTION: In what manner are you employed? Are you a student, a chartered accountant, an encylopaedia salesperson...
30,136 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 15 58
=====================
Name/Handle: HeartWeaver
Hometown: Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): too darned old
Years Done Nano: 2 completed (3rd this year)
Years Won Nano: 1
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: I am co-municipal liaison... any one I can get my hands on LOL
Technology / Method of Writing: Laptop
Genre: random... fantasy/murder/animal fantasy
Title (if known): ?? what plot
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: chocolate
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): stationary
Favorite Music to Write To: Evanescence
Favorite Place to Write: Library
Favorite Procrastination Method: gaming
Best Nano Moment: completing 50,000 words the first time
Worst Nano Moment: my novel based around a cat... he went to sleep and my novel stopped at 25,000 words
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): accident with a bendy straw & random llamas
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Ness food bank, gaming, photography, beading, reading etc
Script Frenzy Veteran: Y/N n
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Actually my suggestion is to anyone who wants to step up and become an ML in the other areas of Manitoba Like Thomspon (thanks dear) and Pembina Valley (e-mail erin to become a full liasion) and bear with me while I try and do my own novel and help cheer you on to yours!
848 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 13 52
Name/Handle: BrennaW
Hometown: Thunder Bay, though I suppose I've now adopted Winnipeg as my hometown. Living here can do that to you.
Gender/Age (optional): female, 24
Years Done Nano: This is my second time through the ringer.
Years Won Nano: None. Stalled out last year part way in.
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: possibly 1
Technology / Method of Writing: laptop, paper, back of my notebook at work when nobody's looking
Genre: I don't know yet. The title walked into my head, but since I don't know where the character is heading, it could be any genre.
Title (if known): The Journies of Solomon King
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: chocolate
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): watching movies
Favorite Music to Write To: movie soundtracks (Robin Hood, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, etc.)
Favorite Place to Write: I don't know that I've found it yet. Maybe that's why I didn't finish last year? I guess for now, curled up on the couch.
Favorite Procrastination Method: gaming, playing with my cats, baking goodies!
Best Nano Moment: signing up again this year with the will to finish this time!
Worst Nano Moment: totally giving up last year.. real life sucks
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): realizing that my attempt at decent fantasy ficiton was quickly filling up with romantic filler..ack!
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Ukrainian dancing..ummm.. do I get out of the house that little? Gardening, baking. I love to travel. That must be a hobby. Also a volunteer for occasional science-y type stuff like the Manitoba Science Fair. I have a LOT of hobbies that I want to start. I'm just a fantastic procrastinator!
Script Frenzy Veteran: nope
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: none at the moment. Maybe if I make it out to a write-in this year I'll have something for you.
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one: this year and last, just one
Do you have cats: *sigh* Yes. Two. However, what with the Humane society having a clearance sale on cats before they move to their new facility, it sounds like we might be gaining a third this weekend. That is necessary though, since the first two are named Athos and Aramis *g*
What drew you to Nano in the first place: I read about it online and decided to give it a go. I've always wanted to write a novel, so here's my chance to get motivated!
Do you have any writing-related superstitions: I tend to be fairly superstitious about some things, but so far, I haven't come up with anything during my writing binges. I think though that once I get more into it, I'll be finding it necessary to not stop writing in the middle of a chapter or something. Yeah, that sounds good.
Where do you get the most inspiration: Instrumental/orchestral music. I've done short bits of writing before that have been highly influenced by the music I was listening to at the time. Also, traveling. Seeing the world really opens your eyes to a lot of things.
In what manner are you employed? Are you a student, a chartered accountant, an encylopaedia salesperson...: I'm an aerospace engineer, working in the composite materials industry. If you want to know more, please ask, but for now I'm not going to add more description because it can get confusing *g* Basically, I play with fibres and glues, and it's a great deal of fun. If it were up to me though, I'd be a professional student.
ADD A QUESTION: What do your friends/family think of your attempt to write a novel during NaNo?
848 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 13 53
Name/Handle: BrennaW
Hometown: Thunder Bay, though I suppose I've now adopted Winnipeg as my hometown. Living here can do that to you.
Gender/Age (optional): female, 24
Years Done Nano: This is my second time through the ringer.
Years Won Nano: None. Stalled out last year part way in.
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: possibly 1
Technology / Method of Writing: laptop, paper, back of my notebook at work when nobody's looking
Genre: I don't know yet. The title walked into my head, but since I don't know where the character is heading, it could be any genre.
Title (if known): The Journies of Solomon King
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: chocolate
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): watching movies
Favorite Music to Write To: movie soundtracks (Robin Hood, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, etc.)
Favorite Place to Write: I don't know that I've found it yet. Maybe that's why I didn't finish last year? I guess for now, curled up on the couch.
Favorite Procrastination Method: gaming, playing with my cats, baking goodies!
Best Nano Moment: signing up again this year with the will to finish this time!
Worst Nano Moment: totally giving up last year.. real life sucks
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): realizing that my attempt at decent fantasy ficiton was quickly filling up with romantic filler..ack!
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Ukrainian dancing..ummm.. do I get out of the house that little? I love to travel. That must be a hobby. Also a volunteer for occasional science-y type stuff like the Manitoba Science Fair.
Script Frenzy Veteran: nope
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: none at the moment. Maybe if I make it out to a write-in this year I'll have something for you.
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one: this year and last, just one
Do you have cats: *sigh* Yes. Two. However, what with the Humane society having a clearance sale on cats before they move to their new facility, it sounds like we might be gaining a third this weekend. That is necessary though, since the first two are named Athos and Aramis *g*
What drew you to Nano in the first place: I read about it online and decided to give it a go. I've always wanted to write a novel, so here's my chance to get motivated!
Do you have any writing-related superstitions: I tend to be fairly superstitious about some things, but so far, I haven't come up with anything during my writing binges. I think though that once I get more into it, I'll be finding it necessary to not stop writing in the middle of a chapter or something. Yeah, that sounds good.
Where do you get the most inspiration: Instrumental/orchestral music. I've done short bits of writing before that have been highly influenced by the music I was listening to at the time. Also, traveling. Seeing the world really opens your eyes to a lot of things.
In what manner are you employed? Are you a student, a chartered accountant, an encylopaedia salesperson...: I'm an aerospace engineer, working in the composite materials industry. If you want to know more, please ask, but for now I'm not going to add more description because it can get confusing *g* Basically, I play with fibres and glues, and it's a great deal of fun. If it were up to me though, I'd be a professional student.
ADD A QUESTION: What do your friends/family think of your attempt to write a novel during NaNo?
8,080 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 16 04
Name/Handle: Angel Negra
Hometown: Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): Female/26
Years Done Nano: 0
Years Won Nano: 0
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: Ironically, I just finished dragging my best friend into this.
Technology / Method of Writing: My laptop.
Genre: Sci Fi.
Title (if known): Legacy
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Pepsi, nature's perfect food.
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Sleep.
Favorite Music to Write To: Depends on my mood. Can be techno, metal, pop, rock, alternative...
Favorite Place to Write: My computer desk.
Favorite Procrastination Method: Reading stuff by others.
Best Nano Moment: n/a
Worst Nano Moment: n/a
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): n/a
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Reading, playing in Photoshop
Script Frenzy Veteran: Y/N - Nope.
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: None, I'm too new to have any suggestions. :)
0 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 16 51
Name/Handle: Killaurey
Hometown: Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): Female/22
Years Done Nano: Um... including this year? 5.
Years Won Nano: 1.
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: 0.
Technology / Method of Writing: Desktop computer/Alphasmart
Genre: Fantasy
Title (if known): The Forgotten Girl
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Mini-Eggs
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Bathroom breaks?
Favorite Music to Write To: Cirque du Soleil, Cascada, LeAnn Rimes
Favorite Place to Write: On my bed.
Favorite Procrastination Method: Reading
Best Nano Moment: Winning last year.
Worst Nano Moment: Failing my second year with less than 10k done.
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): Rereading what I wrote?
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Reading, drawing, gaming.
Script Frenzy Veteran: N
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: ... keep up the good work?
50,179 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 22 26
Name/Handle: Adam/irenicbright
Hometown: Athens, GA (Hopefully I'll be spending the winter in Winnipeg with my girlfriend)
Gender/Age (optional): Male/19
Years Done Nano: 0
Years Won Nano: 0
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: 0
Technology / Method of Writing: Laptop
Genre: SciFi
Title (if known): Waiting for the Singularity (tentative title)
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Gummy Worms
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Allowing myself to do whatever silliness comes to mind.
Favorite Music to Write To: Electronica ( Mmm, tasty machine music)
Favorite Place to Write: At home
Favorite Procrastination Method: Hitting the show next page button in the Stumble Upon addon for Firefox.
Best Nano Moment: Stumbling upon the nanowrimo.org website.
Worst Nano Moment: Every time I think about not being able to edit is a bad moment. I'm wildly over critical of my work.
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): Nothing really amusing has happened yet. *sad face*
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Outside of a lot of reading, I've pretty much been a bum since my plane landed in Winnipeg. I'd love to do some volunteer work, but I don't have a car or much expendable money for bus fare. *the sad face continues*
---
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one: I had toyed around with about 4 ideas before maybe settling on my current one.
What drew you to Nano in the first place: I came to Winnipeg with the intention to write, but I didn't have any ideas for how to motivate myself until I stumbled upon Nano in late September. With the community and deadline that Nano provides I'm hoping to find the energy to pursue my literary ambitions.
Do you have cats: I have one cat back in Georgia. I miss her so much!
Do you have any writing-related superstitions: None.
Where do you get the most inspiration: Science literature.
In what manner are you employed: I don't have a permit and can't legally work in Canada. So I'm living off a combination of my savings and money from home. I had been a student for a short while before I became confused as to what it was I really wanted and dropped out. Prior to that I worked in a bio-chem lab at the University of Georgia.
---
My question:
Outside of NaNo, have you done much writing in your life?
I tried to write a novel when I was 13 and managed to get around 20-30 pages out before I became too critical of what I was doing and quit. Since then I've gone in and out of writing phases, but I never stuck to anything very long.
0 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2007 - 12 33
Name/Handle: Stacey/gardengnome7
Hometown: Brandon
Gender/Age (optional): Female, 31 (yikes.)
Years Done Nano: 6 ('02-present)
Years Won Nano:2 ('02, '06)
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: I think there's 3. There may also be way more than that. I have no idea as I've kept Nano pretty quiet this year.
Technology / Method of Writing: My brand-spanking new iMac... sooooo beautiful. I'll be using http://hogbaysoftware.com/products/writeroom (Write Room) to do the actual writing in.
Genre: Probably dystiopic fiction with a bit of comedy thrown in.
Title (if known): Haven't a clue... although I did use that as a title a few years back, I really have no idea this year.
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Right now, I'm addicted to chocolate caramel rice cakes. I will, however, be stocking up on chocolate-covered espresso beans and Halloween candy on Nov. 1.
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Hmm... sleep?
Favorite Music to Write To: Alternative/Canadian Indie
Favorite Place to Write: Home. Although, with my new job and my boss taking part this year (hey, Becky!), work may turn into my favourite place.
Favorite Procrastination Method: Hahahahahahahahah... favourite... I am a professional procrastinator. Seriously, though, watching British comedies.
Best Nano Moment: Beating a friend of mine last year. We had a bet - whomever didn't finish their novel first took the other to dinner. The whole thing - the bet, the dinner, the whole challenge - meant a lot on many, many levels.
Worst Nano Moment: Not finishing in '03, '04 or '05
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): I don't think I've had a 'funniest' moment... lots of odd ones, but no funny ones.
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: I don't really have 'hobbies'... I just do 'stuff'.
Script Frenzy Veteran: Sadly, no. Wanted to, but a wedding/finding a new job/moving back from BC took precedent.
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Hmm... about all I can come up with is stick it out, and that's based on the experience I had last year trying to help organize stuff in Brandon. So very frustrating...
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one: Usually only one. They usually come at the oddest moments. As of today, I have no idea what I'm going to write about and I'm not worried one bit.
What drew you to Nano in the first place: I don't remember. I know that a couple of friends had taken part in '01, but it didn't strike me as something I wanted to do. But I think that I've stuck around for the last 5 years because it's fun. Sheer and utter fun.
Do you have cats: Yes and no. There's a cat in my apartment that's not mine. And 'my' cat lives at my sister's.
Do you have any writing-related superstitions: No.
Where do you get the most inspiration: Random, everyday things.
In what manner are you employed: During the week, I'm an assistant editor at a military newspaper. On weekends, I'm a cook.
ADD A QUESTION: Are you one of those types to outline and get every detail organized before Nov. 1 or can you sit down and start typing preparation-free?
0 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2007 - 17 16
Name/Handle: Dave/Dagfari
Hometown: Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): Male, 19
Years Done Nano: 0
Years Won Nano: 0
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: none
Technology / Method of Writing: My new laptop. I may or may not use a special writing program like DarkRoom.
Genre: Short stories. OH MY GOD A NOVEL WHAT DO I DO
Title (if known): The Plague, perhaps.
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Right now, green tea with roasted rice. Maybe in the future I will graduate to coffee and cigarettes.
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Being done, looking back on the other stories I've written.
Favorite Music to Write To: Ambient? Dave Matthews? I dunno.
Favorite Place to Write: A "Dark, Musty" Corner of U of W's Library.
Favorite Procrastination Method: Gaming, no contest. Second; internets.
Best Nano Moment: Deciding to write this year.
Worst Nano Moment: Can't say I've had one
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): none
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: I work and play all day. I write for the Uniter, the U of W's student newspaper. I write for 2600, and I'm starting my own newspaper on the side for Native Students. whoo.
Script Frenzy Veteran: No, can't say I know what that is.
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Phone for get-togethers?
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one: Not just NaNo, but all my writing is skin-of-the-teeth. Perhaps that's why I'm so bad at stories that are longer than 10 pages.
What drew you to Nano in the first place: My friend Janine Brown.
Do you have cats?: Yes, I have two. Mittens and Domino. Mittens adores me and sleeps with me at night.
Do you have any writing-related superstitions: Can't say I do, beyond the coffee-a-cigarette-and-walk-around-the-block cure for writer's block.
Where do you get the most inspiration: MY BRAIN *squiggles*
In what manner are you employed: I'm a full-time student, working 16 hours a week at Convergys. Going in for an interview for a position with the Library at the U of W on Tuesday.
Are you one of those types to outline and get every detail organized before Nov. 1 or can you sit down and start typing preparation-free?: I learned a few months ago that if I write without any preparation beforehand, I can't make a coherent plot last more than 10 pages. So, I follow the "Episodes" method: mark down 100-130 numbers, and start writing events. Each event is about 500 words, and they flow together. Then, I write episode by episode. Let's see if it works.
50,404 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2007 - 17 32
Name/Handle: Kat/Fuin_elda
Hometown: Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): F/21
Years Done Nano: 1
Years Won Nano: 1
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: 0
Technology / Method of Writing: stick in the dirt... Okay not that bad, notebook and pen then transferred onto computer normally am attempting to either get a io pen or whatever they are called or scrounge a laptop.
Genre: Fanatsy
Title (if known): Betrayal
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Chocolate or Micky D's disgusting I know
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Ummmm Clothing
Favorite Music to Write To: I have a complete batch of Adiemus CDs that are quite suiting for my story
Favorite Place to Write: At the Write ins I get more work done there
Favorite Procrastination Method: Watching movies
Best Nano Moment: The ending of my first novel... I think everyone could tell at the write in that I'd finished
Worst Nano Moment: The lameness of same ending. UBt of course it's so lame it rocks. I mean a horse is a god of death bwhahahahahahaha
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): See above
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Art and films
Script Frenzy Veteran: No wanted to but didn't have time
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: more sugar in the bribe I mean welcome bags *g*
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one: I have a thousand ideas, only a few of which that I think I can manage 50K in a month...
What drew you to Nano in the first place:I honestly do not remember I stumbled upon it randomly
Do you have cats: Yes they are all out on the farm though all 9 of them. Wehre they will not die of starvation due to Nano
Do you have any writing-related superstitions: No.
Where do you get the most inspiration: Sword fighting Class martial arts, and nature
In what manner are you employed: I am a permitee of IATSE
Are you one of those types to outline and get every detail organized before Nov. 1 or can you sit down and start typing preparation-free? Um I start randomly writing, that's how the last one ended with a horse as the god of death...
ADD A QUESTION: Realistic names or Crazy names?
55,387 / 50,000
Oct 25, 2007 - 19 20
I guess I ought to answer..
---------------
Name/Handle: Betty / bpunkert (BBS: "Shadowsinger")
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB (Creighton, SK)
Gender/Age (optional): F/33
Years Done Nano: 4
Years Won Nano: 4
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: I am the ML. If you're breathing and you speak English, you're fair game. :) Really? Laurie, Cliff and Alex, Susan, Heather, Eadie, Daniel and Holly, and Anne-Marie... I think that's it. So... nine? (Hez, did I forget anyone? PM me.)
Technology / Method of Writing: Palm T3 and keyboard (the trusty M515 died a horrible, unseemly cracked-screen death) and my laptop on occasion.
Genre: Damnfino. No, really - I don't have *any* idea what I'm writing. I'm leaning to fantasy because I haven't tried that yet.
Title (if known): *blork* *shrug* Not yet.
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Forbidden Flavors Chocolate Mint Coffee, halloween bars, cherry Nibs
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Electronics or game stuff at the end after I've finished. (Oooh, look, they have Neverwinter Nights 2 on sale... *sibling hits on head* Grph.) (eBay... oooh, eBay... *sibling hits on head* *grph*)
Favorite Music to Write To: The Karmic Jukebox. I burn 15-20 CDs pretty much at random to my Palm or my MP3 player. A lot of classical, movie soundtracks, anime scores (Yoko Kanno rocks), obscure folk music, industrial - my story tends to take on the overtones of whatever I end up with, whether that's White Zombie or Autorickshaw. (Note: Sesame Street music when writing the big climactic scene with the villain results in peculiar dialog.)
Favorite Place to Write: Out. I have too many shinies at home. Library, Starbucks, Old Spaghetti Factory, Pastry Castle...
Favorite Procrastination Method: Gaming, then Internet, then reading...
Best Nano Moment: Finishing Jackal and actually having an ending to something I'd started that made sense.
Worst Nano Moment: The very first time I tried Nano, I got ten thousand words in, hated my premise, hated my characters, hated everything about the story and somehow slogged through with forty thousand more words of total dreck.
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): This is a toss-up between sitting and reading erotica aloud with my sister in Starbucks last year while writing Leaf and Tree or the first year incident where I had absolutely NOTHING to write about, so I wrote a ten thousand word scene where my character basically played the three hour Living Greyhawk module I'd spent most of the afternoon at, and somehow it still worked.
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: OVRC Volunteer Assistant Instructor, Winnipeg Harvest / Ness Avenue Baptist Food Bank / Spirit's Call Choir, 'church stuff', gaming (video and pen and paper), reading, singing, drumming, Web design stuff
Script Frenzy Veteran: No interest in a screen play. I could write one, but I didn't have an idea worth the trouble.
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Note to self: Heather is cut off from stationery shopping. **grin**
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one: II have a lot of ideas that drift through my head over the course of the year, some of which get filed in the 'maybe I could make a story out of that' bin, but most of the time it's more or less 'sit down at the typewriter, open the cages, and see what the little voices tell me'.
What drew you to Nano in the first place: Short version: Forward Motion. Slightly longer version: I had just been released from my employer of seven years and wasn't having much luck on the job hunt when I tripped over the idea in a Forward Motion forum. I was already depressed, so I thought maybe writing something for fun might give me a sense of purpose at a time when I was feeling pretty despondent and untethered. "How hard can this be?"
Do you have cats: *cat looks up and meows* She disagrees on who owns whom, but I guess you could say so.
Do you have any writing-related superstitions: I don't think so. I wouldn't be the right one to ask, since I wouldn't notice.
Where do you get the most inspiration: Nature, other people's behavior, other people's writing, daydreaming
In what manner are you employed: I am a data entry administrative assistant at Motor Coach Industries. In English, this means I sit and type numbers in Excel forty hours a week. This requires approximately the creativity level of boiled (ergo, dead) yeast. Hence, Nanowrimo - elsewise I think my soul would shrivel into a ball. :)
Are you one of those types to outline and get every detail organized before Nov. 1 or can you sit down and start typing preparation-free? Um, see above about being the ML. *laughing hysterically* I don't have enough time to actually plan the WRITING part. Besides, I was one of those kids who wrote the essay first and then developed the outline to match. If I have to work that hard at a story, I don't want to write it any more.
Realistic names or crazy names? This depends on the genre. I do tend to lean towards more 'normal' names just because unless you do an enormous amount of worldbuilding, eccentric names have a tendency to drop the reader out of the story.
ADD A QUESTION:
Have you been published?
The Uniter, The Projector, a few letters to the Editor and some random Web page stuff, but nothing with an ISBN or an actual paycheque involved in it. :) Nothing FICTIONAL, anyway; I've done stuff in the line of various jobs, but that's different.
-Bets-
==========
Yay. Post editing seems to work. And quoting. (Well, there's a button for it...)
-----------------
If you could meet one living author, who would it be and why?:
Ken Wilber. Maybe it will make more sense in person. :)
May the Lord help me finish?:
The Lord's got nothing to do with it. It's all about the wordcount. :)
Is writing your hobby, or your career path?:
Hobby. I trained for it to be a career path but that is... not shaping up as I had hoped it might.
Are you worried, or have you ever worried, that your plot will exceed your 50,000 words? What will you do?:
Keep writing. 50k is a minimum. Eventually the voices in my head will run down.
Can I get a triple venti, extra drizzle, caramel macciato?:
Legs, fun, oh, and here's my takeout mug, Athena... *laughs*
What do you do when you have writer's block?:
Play a video game or read for an hour or so. Just knocking the brain cells differently can help. I've also been known to shamelessly abuse plot randomizers and character generators.
Does this get any easier the more years you've been here?:
Yes, and no. You tend to expect more of yourself the longer you do it but once you get through that first 'ohmygod' experience, the writing process gets easier. You've done it once, you know the ground rules, that sort of thing.
How do you prepare yourself for long periods of writing?: Do you need to sit a certain way or have a certain beverage etc?
Coffee. Music. Stretch. Snackfood (I'm great at micromotivating: one dark chocolate M&M per 100 words does wonders for churning out something, ANYTHING, when the voices fall silent.)
Word diarrhea. Fantastic word count booster or a menace to good novelists everywhere?:
Yes and no. While it may not be useable in the story right then, sometimes verbal diarrhea can help shift the tone of a scene you're having trouble writing or help you see an unusual solution to a plotting problem. And there's nothing that says it might not be great in another story. Can it be distracting? Yes.
How on earth do people have time to write 50,000 words, have a life, and keep up with forums and NaNo related gatherings?:
In very small chunks. I write in fifteen minute bursts throughout the day most of the month with the odd longer session as time allows. I can usually make half an hour a day and try not to let myself get more than 3000 words (about what I can bang out in a dedicated two hour session) at any point. I make a point of writing OUTSIDE my home where there are fewer distractions as well, which makes a difference.
Why is the Sky blue?:
It's not. It's black with a big white shiny and a few white speckles in it.
Are you in complete control of your characters' conduct and emotion all the time, or do they develop into separate entities/personae in your head (which may or may not include popping up at random moments and commenting on your life)?:
I write to keep the voices at bay. Some people say this as a form of humor. In my case, there's a grain of truth to it. The harder I control my characters, the crummier my story is. Generally when they get to the point where the author has no idea what is going on and is just trying not to roll the bus into a ditch, the story is fabulous. Your mileage may vary.
What is the absolute best advice a NaNo veteran can give a first timer that hasn't already been suggested/directed by NaNo itself?:
Go outside. It sounds a bit silly, but especially with the time change coming so late this year, it's possible to become a complete hermit, and that's not good for you. Make sure you get some sunshine and fresh air on a regular basis.
Have you ever finished writing something really long and realized that you wish you'd taken the plot in a different direction, scrapped half of it, and started again?:
Nano Cardinal Rule # 23: Scrap nothing. If it sucks, kill everyone off or have the whole thing be a bad dream and keep writing from there. Never start over. Never erase. Just keep plugging. Editing is later. Writing is now.
Do people sometimes wonder if they're totally crazy for attempting this?
*holds up antidepressants and sedatives* As the resident self-proclaimed 'heavily medicated for your safety' person, I was crazy in more ways than I think the question was intended. Being able to write without boundaries or expectations is actually a gift that reconnects me to what I live, which helps keep me sane. :)
Do you like telling people about your plot, or prefer to keep it to yourself?
If I have a plot I'm excited about, I do. Right now, I'm devoid of a clue what I'll be writing about. :(
-Bets-
1,908 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2007 - 15 23
Name/Handle: Alex/ metalfoot
Hometown: Winkler
Gender/Age (optional): M /31
Years Done Nano: 2
Years Won Nano: 1
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: not sure. Possibly a couple.
Technology / Method of Writing: Laptop, with the world's best writing tool-- yWriter!
Genre: Sports fiction
Title (if known): Dreams on Ice (Vol. 2 of the Turner Trilogy)
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: something sugary
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): I don't really do the self-bribery thing.
Favorite Music to Write To: silence / classical music
Favorite Place to Write: 1027 or a quiet place at home
Favorite Procrastination Method: real life
Best Nano Moment: Realizing that in order to pad out my word count with my novel, all I have to do is insert a game play-by-play. Instant 2000-3000 words, no effort.
Worst Nano Moment: real life utterly derailing me in 2005
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): not sure.
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Commodore 64 geekery, web site geek for several organizations I'm involved in, curling, watching sports, spending time with my wife and child
Script Frenzy Veteran: N
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Please can we have a Winkler Write-In again this year?
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one: Usually a bunch, but last year I tripped on the trilogy idea, which instantly solved THAT problem.
What drew you to Nano in the first place: A friend of mine mentioned it and it sounded like fun.
Do you have cats: no
Do you have any writing-related superstitions: no
Where do you get the most inspiration: life itself!
In what manner are you employed: clergy. I fall into a long line of writers in that sense. Think Swift, Sterne, Donne, etc. Those are my models.
Are you one of those types to outline and get every detail organized before Nov. 1 or can you sit down and start typing preparation-free? I just let it fly.
Realistic names or crazy names? realistic
Have you been published? Yes. I have been published in a literary journal (a real one, that paid!) in Ontario, several non-paying literary journals, and most recently had a short essay published in a theological journal.
NEW QUESTION: If you could meet one living author, who would it be and why?
I'd like to meet Alexander McCall Smith, simply to congratulate him on his ability to spin a wonderful story with such depth of character.
50,476 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2007 - 19 06
Name/Handle: lydiA!
Hometown: New York City..yet somehow, I find myself in Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): Female, 20
Years Done Nano: 0
Years Won Nano: See above..
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: none
Technology / Method of Writing: My laptop
Genre: I'm not sure yet
Title (if known): no clue..
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: sour gummy worms..Brite Crawlers, if you will..
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Clicking the Stumble button in Firefox
Favorite Music to Write To: techno, trance, classical
Favorite Place to Write: anywhere
Favorite Procrastination Method: See self-bribery mechanism above.
Best Nano Moment: When my boyfriend asked me if I had considered signing up for Nano.
Worst Nano Moment: When my boyfriend asked me if I had considered signing up for Nano.
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): I've not yet had a funny moment. Or maybe it was when I hid behind the couch a few minutes before signing up...
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: I always find myself volunteering to work with children when I have the time. I used to tutor elementary school kids in reading and math. I also volunteered with Choices Youth Program here in Winnipeg working with so-called at risk youth. But now that I'm so busy with school, I just like to read in my spare time...I pretty much read non-stop.
Script Frenzy Veteran: I have no idea what this is..
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Bring double chocolate chip cookies.. =D
0 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2007 - 19 30
Name/Handle: Brett/brettruls(yes i know rules is has an e but this dates to when i was 8)
Hometown: Winterpeg
Gender/Age (optional): Male/16
Years Done Nano: 0 ...
Years Won Nano: look up^^
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: None yet
Technology / Method of Writing: Paper pencil and, a computer
Genre: Fantasy mostly medieval
Title (if known): Nope
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Anything around
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): :O there is more then food, Oh ya, ... a drink, then i would have to say ... a Jones soda
Favorite Music to Write To: None
Favorite Place to Write: During class
Favorite Procrastination Method: Anything on a computer
Best Nano Moment: Signing up
Worst Nano Moment: Signing up
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above):
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano:
Script Frenzy Veteran: N
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Keep up the good work
ADD A QUESTION: May the lord help me finish? ops that's a prayer
548 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 22 59
Name/Handle: Andrew/Chaos Hippy
Hometown: Winnipeg, yo
Gender/Age (optional): Male, 23
Years Done Nano: 2005, 2006
Years Won Nano: 2006
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: Somewhere between 1 and 4. I'm not sure how many will actually give me credit, and one is a maybe
Technology / Method of Writing: These newfangled thinking engines are a damn sight easier to write on than a clunkety ol' typewriter, ain't they martha?
Genre: Fantasy with a twinge or two of horror
Title (if known): Legends of the Four, Part 1: The Irresistable Consumption and Part 2: The Impossible Redemption
(working titles) OR Devil's Dance, Part 2
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Reese Bites (ohhhh those little balls of peanut-butter-chocolatey sin.....)
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Pride
Favorite Music to Write To: European heavy metal, a la Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation, Therion, etc.
Favorite Place to Write: The loft at the Park Theatre
Favorite Procrastination Method: Online tomfoolery, vastly important girlfriend-time
Best Nano Moment: First victory, 2006
Worst Nano Moment: Stalling out at 25k in 2005
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): The Sons of Darwin
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: I be a gamer, yo. Also, I muchly love the comicses, and action movies, and pretending I'm suave and sophisitacted
Script Frenzy Veteran: N
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Keep on truckin'
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one?: Ideas sort of come at random, so it can be anything from a winner on the first try, or a myriad of ideas passing through my skull at lightspeed. It sort of depends on my state of mind, and sometimes on how much I've had to drink.
Do you have cats?: I have two cats and one little monster that looks like a cat but is probably actually some scion of the devil
What drew you to Nano in the first place?: Was invited by a friend, and drawn in by the awesome
Do you have any writing-related superstitions?: If the sun sets before 6pm on the Ides of March and rises before 4am on Candlemas, then all of my work will be carried away by the Black Pelican
Where do you get the most inspiration?: Most of it really comes out of nowhere, but I tend to rely a lot on heroic and mythic archetypes, and get a surprising amount of inspiration from the music I listen to.
In what manner are you employed?: I am employed twofold: I work at 7-11 as little as I can possibly get away with, and make most of my money at the Park Theatre Movie Cafe (mentioned above, plug plug), where I am a DVD guy, general cleaner-upper and most recently an occasional bartender. Also, I am a first-year university student, studying Anthropology at the U of W.
What do your friends/family think of your attempt to write a novel during NaNo?: Well, my mom's participating, so her opinion is rather clear. My friends are either all for it or considering it themselves. My girlfriend is concerned about it affecting my school work, but is otherwise supportive.
Outside of NaNo, have you done much writing in your life?: Not nearly enough.
Are you one of those types to outline and get every detail organized before Nov. 1 or can you sit down and start typing preparation-free?: I can never have every detail organized, because they're always changing. Really, writing is an organic process for me, though I find that for my best stories, I have most of all of a story locked in my head in some sort of protonarrative form before I begin. The writing is just to turn it into words.
Realistic names or Crazy names?: Realistic names as often as possible, crazy names if needed. I don't really go with crazy names though. Even the unorthodox names I use either still have a place in modern baby-naming books or else have a specific necessary context outside of the norm but within a naming convention established somewhere in history/mythology.
Have you been published?: No, but that's my own fault for not actually finishing anything.
If you could meet one living author, who would it be and why?: Oh God, one? Probably Neil Gaiman. I'd love to get some writing tips from him.
May the lord help me finish?: No. Ask Xenu.
NEW QUESTION: Is writing your hobby, or your career path?: Aiming for career path
50,425 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 12 24
Name/Handle: Kimberly Hruba
Hometown: Duluth, MN and currently living in Warroad,MN which is on the border, and we get Canadian TV and we eat Canadian foods and Winnipeg is the closest "big" city (and Grand Forks is not a "city"), and my husband isn't even American, which reminds me, I faithfully watched the U20 World Cup and cheered for the Czechs (my hubbie's nationality) and we really do like Canada.
Gender/Age (optional): Female/32
Years Done Nano: newbie
Years Won Nano: 0
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: 0
Technology / Method of Writing: Standing w/ laptop on the counter while kids play around my ankles.
Genre: I could say "Chick Lit", but I know that will make some people cringe, so I'm sticking with the nebulous "Mainstream Fiction".
Title (if known): nothing witty has come to mind yet...
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: chocolate, hello!
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): When I finish I can send it to all of my friends and family.
Favorite Music to Write To: Anything without lyrics, but considering I have 3 small children, silence is best.
Favorite Place to Write: In my b.k. years (before kids), sitting in the coffeeshop; now, any quiet spot I can find.
Favorite Procrastination Method: Suddenly taking an interest in the organization and beautification of my home, deciding NOW is the time I'm going to start exercising and fantasizing about doing talk show interviews. (How can I pick just one?)
Best Nano Moment: Remembering 2 weeks ago that I heard a show about Nanowrimo in 2005 on MN Public Radio.
Worst Nano Moment: none yet...stay tuned!
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): Everything about Nano is funny.
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano:
I participate in Women of Today, doing projects for the community. I used to volunteer for AFS (exchange student program) but am taking a break from that. I really like knitting and I read, of course, although not voraciously and occassional spurts of fitness.
Script Frenzy Veteran: Nope. Although, I have to say, when I think about my story idea, it comes to me in dialogue and scene setting more than in prose.
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: So far so good. I liked the suggestion of bringing cookies. You can never go wrong with the four Cs: cookies, chocolate, candy, cake.
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one?:
This season only one. I have a small collection of ideas that I've been storing up and I finally get to pick one now. Yeehaw! To celebrate, I chose a lighter theme instead of vampires and stalking ex-postal employees.
Do you have cats?:
NO! We almost got one this summer and during the time we were processing the whole cat-thing, 3 cats were killed on the road next to our house. Isn't that sad?
What drew you to Nano in the first place?: My recollection of an MPR program that I heard 2 years ago.
Do you have any writing-related superstitions?:
If I listen to music with lyrics I recognize, I will morph my work to accompany the song. So, I wonder what would happen if I listened to songs in languages I don't know? Would the morphing still occur on a subconscious level??? Most likely my characters would develop accents and start inserting foreign words into their speech.
Where do you get the most inspiration?:
From life and reflection. For example, once I wasn't very happy with my husband and I started imagining a plot where a young woman with a couple of kids suddenly becomes widowed and she has to figure out how to go on living. Wow, that sounds quite disturbing...
In what manner are you employed?:
I am a SAHM, which is a fandangled way of saying "Stay-at-home Mom". This is a respectable job in itself, but when you have to put it on a questionnaire, sounds really lame. In my former life I taught English in the Czech Republic.
What do your friends/family think of your attempt to write a novel during NaNo?:
Friends look forward to getting the blow-by-blow report on this crazy new adventure. My husband is much more ok with it now than when I had a bad case of Wanna-write about 5 years ago. As long as I don't become an alcoholic, a druggie or wear all black, I'm in the clear.
Outside of NaNo, have you done much writing in your life?: Only journals and "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. Oh, and a few articles here and there.
Are you one of those types to outline and get every detail organized before Nov. 1 or can you sit down and start typing preparation-free?:
If it's a 5-paragraph essay, than I write an outline, otherwise I'm usually the wing-it type. I like the thinking that you have to let the story lead you.
Realistic names or Crazy names?: Realistic names, definitely. Crazy names just sound hokey. Having said that, I am sympathetic towards the creation of unique names to illustrate a point, for ex. Cruella De Vil.
Have you been published?: Not in the literary published-a-book sense. Does having my thesis bound count?
If you could meet one living author, who would it be and why?: Margaret Atwood. She is funny and clever. Now here's a woman who can ask challenging questions, push the envelope and still make you laugh.
May the lord help me finish?: Try "Hail, Mary full of grace...." and it's sure to happen!
Is writing your hobby, or your career path? At this point, it's better to say it's a hobby. Writing being a career path is a fantasy which, god-willing and interest holding, may one day become a reality.
NEW QUESTION: Are you worried, or have you ever worried, that your plot will exceed your 50,000 words? What will you do?
7,156 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 16 52
Name/Handle: Winona/ and do I really have to choose one? I have too many.
Hometown: Winterpeg
Gender/Age (optional): Female/17
Years Done Nano: last year
Years Won Nano: none (I didn't finish)
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: 1, so far
Technology / Method of Writing: Computer is necessary when you can't read your own printing. (only sometimes)
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, depends on the mood I'm in.
Title (if known): N/A
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Chips
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): I barely use any self-bribery mechanisms... but if I had to guess it would be to actually leave the house. (^.^) Maybe do logarithms.
Favorite Music to Write To: My music is on random, and whatever comes on gets either changed, or it stays.
Favorite Place to Write: anytime
Favorite Procrastination Method: POTC Online and other MMORPGs(^.^)
Best Nano Moment: Signing up
Worst Nano Moment: the waiting
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): when my story took a wrong turn last year... poker for people's lives?
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Acting, playing MMORPGs (^.^), math and science.
Script Frenzy Veteran: Not yet
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Keep up the good work (^.^)
ADD A QUESTION: Can I get a triple venti, extra drizzle, caramel macciato? Oh crap this isn't Starbucks... *runs off to go get a triple venti, extra drizzle, caramel macciato*
50,104 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 21 49
Name: Kaeren Anderson. Handle: Astreja K. Odinsdóttir.
Hometown: Winnipeg.
Gender/Age (optional): Female, turned 50 this summer.
Years Done Nano: 2005, 2006
Years Won Nano: 2005, 2006
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: Unknown. (May have inspired a few people from various Internet forums.)
Technology / Method of Writing: Note-taking on digital voice recorder or on paper, followed by several hours of intense typing at my desk. Have been known to write at work on my lunch hour and e-mail it to myself.
Genre: Humour, generally. First year was mystery+humour; then came science fiction/fantasy+historical+humour. Not sure what's going to transpire this year.
Title (if known): No title yet. All I know so far is that it involves a high school reunion.
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: A glass of red wine or a snoot of brandy, and some chips.
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Having something new and spectacularly absurd to post in the Novel Excerpt section of my profile.
Favorite Music to Write To: Modern jazz.
Favorite Place to Write: My study. Between midnight and five in the morning, preferably.
Favorite Procrastination Method: Wandering out to various 'Net fora in search of a good argument. Or even a mediocre argument. Or even just to get hopping mad about the topic-of-the-day.
Best Nano Moment: The race to the wire on November 30, 2005. (I made 50K with an hour and a half to spare)
Worst Nano Moment: Earlier in November 2005 -- Trying to finish renovations on my study so that I could set up my own computer rather than bumming CPU cycles off other family members.
Funniest Nano Moment: 2006 -- One very small Chinese dragon versus malevolent washroom automation during a science fiction convention.
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: I study violin and clarinet, practice Shotokan karate, and attend a writers' group.
Script Frenzy Veteran: Yes, but I didn't get into the groove. I spent far too much time poking away at the script formatting, and not nearly enough actually writing. I'll try again next year.
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Nice, big, high-profile "Us crazy NaNo folks are over there-->" posters to raise local NaNo awareness.
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one? I play with two or three possible concepts and usually go with the one that gives me the most latitude. Sometimes the other concepts show up as sub-themes.
Do you have cats? Yes. Eight of them, in fact. They're all insane, but in eight different ways.
What drew you to NaNo in the first place? My daughter started doing NaNo in 2004.
Do you have any writing-related superstitions? I try to avoid iterations of the verb "to be" lest I be pummeled about the head and shoulders by the Passive Voice Faerie. (*whack* Ouch!) And I like it if at least one of my previous characters wanders into the new story.
Where do you get the most inspiration? My initial writing tends to be stream-of-consciousness, just going with the first phrases that pop into my head. If I make it through the first paragraph it creates a vector that leads into something else, and by the end of the first couple of pages I'm headed somewhere. Usually somewhere I never expected to go.
When I get stuck on logistics, I brainstorm with family and friends. And I do requests. If someone comes up with an interesting concept or character and I can fit it in, it shows up sooner rather than later.
When I'm really, really stuck: Over the years, my household has developed its own weird little mythology replete with unlikely characters, such as stuffed toys made "Real". When in doubt, I sigh heavily and ask one of our virtual presences for input.
When I'm really, really, extremely stuck: I do the most ludicrous plot deviation I can dream up, and run with that for a while.
In what manner are you employed? Medical transcriptionist and occasional handywoman. I planted a garden of irises and fixed some concrete this very afternoon.
What do your friends/family think of your attempt to write a novel during NaNo? Everyone is quite supportive... Frequently, cups of tea and other treats show up at my desk unbidden. I try to actually commune with real live people in November, lest I drive myself and them insane.
Outside of NaNo, have you done much writing in your life? I've been writing in fits and starts since I was about seven years old. I've finished a novel before... Twice (Three times, if you count the movie script from college.) Still not happy with it, although I may salvage a few of the characters. I've also written songs, poems, computer technical stuff, college-level papers, letters to the editor, fan fiction, and large quantities of discussion board commentary on Life, the Universe and Everything.
Are you one of those types to outline and get every detail organized before Nov. 1 or can you sit down and start typing preparation-free? Not much of a stickler for details. I'd rather just wing it, although I try to keep an eye out for continuity problems.
Realistic names or Crazy names? Mostly realistic, unless the character is eccentric or unless I'm dealing with an other-worldly scenario. One of this year's proposed characters has an odd name, but it suits her. I try to use different letters of the alphabet for different characters -- You won't see Mike, Maria, Mel and Myra in the same story.
Have you been published? Nearly a decade ago, I co-authored a Dragonlance fanfic called "Feeding the Fish" and had it published in an online 'zine. Some years before that, a publisher showed interest in the most recent incarnation of my pre-NaNo novel; no sale, unfortunately.
If you could meet one living author, who would it be and why? Terry Pratchett, or "Pterry" as he's sometimes called by Discworld fans. He's got some wonderful characters set in a world that's both utterly absurd and vividly consistent, and his writing is extremely funny.
Is writing your hobby, or your career path? I'd like it to be my career path and am working in that direction.
Are you worried, or have you ever worried, that your plot will exceed your 50,000 words? What will you do? Not a problem. Last year's story is still under construction, well after passing 50,000. It ain't over till it's over.
259 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 23 59
Name/Handle:
Jonah/Pretty much whatever comes to mind when I'm thinking of a name.
Hometown:
Winnipeg.
Gender/Age (optional):
Male/20.
Years Done Nano:
This is my second.
Years Won Nano:
My goal this year is to break the 700 or so words I actually got around to finishing last year.
So, no.
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano:
Mentioned it to one friend but I'm not sure if he's doing it or not.
Technology / Method of Writing:
Computer.
Genre:
Ehh... Action Horror Comedy I guess.
Title (if known):
The Startling Stories Of Our Grandiose Cursed World. (tentative title)
Favorite Self-Bribery Food:
Can't think of anything in particular. I should probably consider this whole self bribery thing.
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please):
See Self-Bribery Food.
Favorite Music to Write To:
At risk of revealing my not so secret status as a gigantic nerd, videogame/anime music.
Favorite Place to Write:
Home.
Favorite Procrastination Method:
The Internet.
Best Nano Moment:
Actually getting a chapter written.
Worst Nano Moment:
Never posting the chapter or finishing much beyond that chapter.
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above):
Posting a preview of the chapter and then never posting the chapter.
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano:
Videogames, anime/cartoons, manga/comics, reading, drawing, writing.
Script Frenzy Veteran:
...N, I think.
Suggestion for the Co-MLs:
Sorry, I'm exceedingly stupid when it comes to getting what abbreviations mean.
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one?
A surprisingly low amount this time.
Do you have cats?
Used to have one when I was a kid, but it died.
What drew you to Nano in the first place?
Some friends were talking about it on the internet.
Do you have any writing-related superstitions?
Nothing writing-related.
Where do you get the most inspiration?
Junji Ito, Hirohiko Araki, Terry Pratchett and Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket.
I have the weirdest inspirations ever.
In what manner are you employed?
Unemployed student.
What do your friends/family think of your attempt to write a novel during NaNo?
Haven't told my mom yet having just decided to do it now in the middle of the night. Told one of my friends about it before I had made up my mind though and he thought it was pretty cool.
Outside of NaNo, have you done much writing in your life?
I'm a horrible procrastinator, so not nearly as much as I'd like.
Are you one of those types to outline and get every detail organized before Nov. 1 or can you sit down and start typing preparation-free?
I do under the delusion that it'll help me write faster. Needless to say it hasn't been met with much success.
Realistic names or Crazy names?
Araki convinced me that the crazy names are the best ones.
Have you been published?
Nope.
If you could meet one living author, who would it be and why?
Terry Pratchett.
May the lord help me finish?
Sure.
Is writing your hobby, or your career path?
A bit of a hobby, might be a career path but I'm more interested in comics.
Are you worried, or have you ever worried, that your plot will exceed your 50,000 words? What will you do?
...hahaha, no.
Can I get a triple venti, extra drizzle, caramel macciato?
Why not.
New Question: What do you do when you have writer's block?
I usually go read other stuff until I hopefully get an idea. Taking my mind off it for a bit helps sometimes.
51,729 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2007 - 04 40
Name/Handle:
Jodi Lee
Hometown:
Miami
Gender/Age (optional):
Female/35
Years Done Nano:
Third year in.
Years Won Nano:
2005
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano:
None this year.
Technology / Method of Writing:
Computer.
Genre:
slipstream
Title (if known):
I dunno yet.
Favorite Self-Bribery Food:
Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please):
I'll peruse the FP Grove catalogue and order something.
Favorite Music to Write To:
Depends on what I'm writing and when.
Favorite Place to Write:
My office.
Favorite Procrastination Method:
Work.
Best Nano Moment:
Finishing in 2005.
Worst Nano Moment:
Realizing I was an hour too late to verify last year...gee thanks Mom.. ;) LOL
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above):
Attempting to write two of 'em last year, then realizing they were crossing the pages.
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano:
Reading, editing.
Script Frenzy Veteran:
Uh, no.
Suggestion for the Co-MLs:
How many NaNoWriMo story ideas do you think you come up with before finding one?
A lot.
Do you have cats?
Yep - one adult and two kittens.
What drew you to Nano in the first place?
A former co-worker mentioned it.
Do you have any writing-related superstitions?
Yeah, but there's nothing I can do about it now. It involves NeoPets and a certain arrangement around the computer. Unfortunately, the siamese ran off with most of them...
Where do you get the most inspiration?
Life. I seriously enjoy putting real life people into rather icky situations.
In what manner are you employed?
I'm an editor for Apex Publications and Lachesis Publishing/LBF Books as well as running a freelance editing site.
What do your friends/family think of your attempt to write a novel during NaNo?
Friends think I'm crazy, but understand. Family wonders why I bother to do it if I'm not competing for cash or publication at the end. They don't understand. ;)
Outside of NaNo, have you done much writing in your life?
Yes.
Are you one of those types to outline and get every detail organized before Nov. 1 or can you sit down and start typing preparation-free?
Outline? Nah...that ruins the flow of the story for me.
Realistic names or Crazy names?
Depends on what I'm working on.
Have you been published?
Yes.
If you could meet one living author, who would it be and why?
This is a painful question, there is no one author... Stephen King to apologize for signing his guestbook daily while he was in the hospital after the accident. William F. Nolan to apologize for the muck-up I did of the interview. Michael Laimo to do his interview in person. Scott Nicholson so I can worship at his feet. ;)
May the lord help me finish?
If that helps you - sure.
Is writing your hobby, or your career path?
Both.
Are you worried, or have you ever worried, that your plot will exceed your 50,000 words? What will you do?
No - if it goes over, it goes over.
Can I get a triple venti, extra drizzle, caramel macciato?
If you must.
What do you do when you have writer's block?
Moan, whine and complain to my friends, drink copious amounts of caffeinated beverages, rent horror movies like Dark Half and Secret Window - then accept it.
New Question: Does this get any easier the more years you've been here?
52,464 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2007 - 08 53
=====================
Name/Handle: Randilin
Hometown: Winnipeg
Gender/Age (optional): m / 32
Years Done Nano: 1
Years Won Nano: 0
Number of Friends Recruited Into Nano: None, am not that mean
Technology / Method of Writing: Lap top, Desk top, This year I will be using a thinstall of Microsofts Onenote. I've installed it on to a USB flash drive so I can plug it in to any computer and run it.
Genre: Sci-fi, Fantasy, Contempory adventure/fantasy
Title (if known): Mythhunters (Is the current working title
Favorite Self-Bribery Food: Chocolate
Favorite Self-Bribery Mechanism Other Than Food (PG-13, please): Shopping
Favorite Music to Write To: Power 97
Favorite Place to Write: Some place reasonable quiet.
Favorite Procrastination Method: The Internet, Wii, TV
Best Nano Moment: Completing my word goal for the first day of writting last year
Worst Nano Moment: Only completing the first night
Funniest Nano Moment (if not above): None Yet
Hobbies / Volunteering Outside Nano: Far far to numerous to list.
Script Frenzy Veteran: Y/N No
Suggestion for the Co-MLs: Sleep more
ADD A QUESTION: I ask to many questions anyays