Hi, this is writerdude, your Municipal Liaison for the Santa Barbara/Central Coast (partial) region. Big whoop. It's a self-appointed post. What it means is that I'm here to answer your questions to the best of my ability and to make your NaNoWriMo experience the best it can be, however you define that. I'm here to help . . . (NOT the infamous "one of the world's biggest lies"--"I'm from the government, and I'm here to help.")
Wow! 173 people affiliated as of October 15! I'm impressed! I don't think we topped 100 last year.
So here we are, another year, another NaNoWriMo--at least for some of us. I'm a veteran; been through every excuse and tried almost every means of attack; drunk way too much coffee and endured far too much frustration. So am I "writing it off"--heck no, I'm fired up to try it again!
I expected far more procrastination, and I've been doing a lot of it myself. Rest assured, there will be a kickoff party (one of the few mandatory duties of Muncipal Liaisons (Liaisoni?), and I hope to get some events that people want--write-ins (where we gather to share trials, tribulations, and shared experiences--but mostly to write in the company of others who are similarly insanely engaged), encouragement of various sorts, message boards, likely the now-legendary weekend contest with the group from Oshkosh, WI, and others . . . you get the drift. All kinds of things to keep us all motivated, in whatever way works best. (I draw the line at making you breakfast in bed, even if that would free an hour of your time to write. . . but maybe you can find a writing partner who will volunteer! You never know; we're a strange and accommodating lot.)
Keep those posts coming, early and often. Don't be shy about expressing how you'd like to see NaNoWriMo proceed, or with your questions, or with your whining and self-pity. Been there, done that; it's all good.
If I could write as easily and expansively on my novel as I do on the boards, I'd probably get much much closer to that so-far-elusive 50,000-word goal. I have a new plan of attack this year, so I'm raring to go. You'll see a lot of me here, on the boards, and I hope in person, at the "live" events. I'm always available by NaNoMail or personal e-mail.
So let me know you're out there; say hi, let me know what you'd like to see.
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"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."
--Samuel Beckett
