USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

[Sticky] RISING STAR

tedboone — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:31:33 +0000

In addition to the Top Ten list I post every day, I'm also going to post a daily "Rising Star." This is the person that climbed the most in the rankings from one day to the next. If there's a tie, I pick the person closer to the top.

First time doing this, we'll see how it goes!

Rising Stars
From 11/24 to 11/25:
Clarity. Up 9, to Rank 26!
Gwethalyn. Up 8, to Rank 21!
iriedanym. Up 6, to Rank 9!
psgrout. Up 6, to Rank 15!
saratune. Up 5, to Rank WINNER!
annaphase. Up 4, to Rank 2!
Kaimatten. Up 4, to Rank 3!
Desari89. Up 4, to Rank 4!
emglass39. Up 4, to Rank 5!
aspenj. Up 4, to Rank 6!
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

[Sticky] TOP TEN

tedboone — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:09:43 +0000

Back by popular demand, our Top Ten Wordsmiths!

Here's how this works: every morning, I run a kludge of a program that digs through XML data on the site and tries to determine your current wordcount. The program runs slowly (particularly when the site is slow) and sometimes it hiccups. So if I get the results wrong one day, don't panic! We'll correct the results the next day.

Top Ten is for fun, only. If you're looking for another Lawrencian to challenge to a word war, this list is a good place to start!

Without further ado, your Top Ten!

[STARTING 11/13, IF LAWRENCE ISN'T YOUR HOME REGION, YOU WON'T APPEAR ON THE LIST!]

As of 11/25, 9AM:
marele86: 67566 words. WINNER!
davedehetre: 66178 words. WINNER!
cobaltika: 64257 words. WINNER!
jessibean: 63205 words. WINNER!
kansasauthor: 54507 words. WINNER!
wayne_klick: 53901 words. WINNER!
dancer66: 53547 words. WINNER!
Farrohciousness: 52216 words. WINNER!
Jason Arnett: 50316 words. WINNER!
shadow-hostage: 50298 words. WINNER!
saratune: 50210 words. WINNER!
fandango12: 50128 words. WINNER!
tedboone: 50110 words. WINNER!
Keith_Martin: 50094 words. WINNER!
joswill: 50059 words. WINNER!

1. mustBcrazy: 48561 words.(up 3)
2. annaphase: 46072 words.(up 4)
3. Kaimatten: 44949 words.(up 4)
4. Desari89: 44835 words.(up 4)
5. emglass39: 44050 words.(up 4)
6. aspenj: 42511 words.(up 4)
7. dianne_the_geek: 41675 words.(up 4)
8. aaobuttons: 41263 words.(up 4)
9. iriedanym: 40649 words.(up 6)
10. pikkukani: 40223 words.(up 4)

11. klarc.knt: 40054 words.(up 2)
12. nitzan: 39125 words.(up 4)
13. spelcstr: 39070 words.(up 4)
14. gr33ngirl40: 36809 words.(up 4)
15. psgrout: 35769 words.(up 6)
16. Alexjboyer: 34548 words.(up 4)
17. simbelmyne21: 34349 words.(up 2)
18. ElementalAtBest: 31087 words.(up 4)
19. manicmamawrites: 27232 words.(up 4)
20. ThemHooligans: 27152 words.(up 4)
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

[Sticky] WEEK 4: Best 24-Hour Word Count

tedboone — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:39:04 +0000

1. Pick ONE 24-Hour timeslot during Week 3 (ending 11:59:59pm Saturday, November 28th).
2. Write as many words as you can during those 24 hours.
3. Post your word count result for those 24 hours.

Best result wins!

Note: this challenge is based on the honor system. I trust my wrimos to stick to the 24-hour limit and post an accurate word count number. Please don't cheat! It makes it less fun for everyone!

Good luck!
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

[Sticky] WEEK 4: Best One-Hour Word Count

tedboone — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:36:49 +0000

1. Write as many words as you can during a one hour period.
2. Post your result.
3. Rinse and repeat! You are welcome to try as many times as there are hours in the week

Best result posted before 11:59:59pm Saturday, November 28th wins!

Note: this challenge is based on the honor system. I trust my wrimos to stick to the one-hour limit and post an accurate word count number. Please don't cheat! It makes it less fun for everyone!

Good luck!

EDIT: Great tools for helping you with sprinting:
Write or Die, by Dr. Wicked
Minute Timer for Windows
Online Timer

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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

[Sticky] Thank Goodness It's Over Party!

tedboone — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:18:03 +0000

We're going to have our TGIO gathering at Old Chicago on Thursday, December 3rd at 7pm.

Everyone is welcome, regardless of whether or not you officially "win" NaNoWriMo 2009. Friends and family are also welcome! If you're loved ones are wondering what the bleep you've been doing all month, bring them along! They still won't understand after they meet the rest of us, but the puzzled looks on their faces will provide great entertainment for your fellow wrimos!

If you're planning on attending, please RSVP via the link below so that we can confirm with Old Chicago how many people we'll be hosting.

TGIO RSVP

Hope to see all of you there!

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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Clash of the Titans

tedboone — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:17:14 +0000

Sara, prepare to be beaten:

Lawrence WriMos: Guess what day of the month I surpass my co-ML in word count. Closest guess wins.

You can guess that I'll never catch her, but:
1. You'd be wrong.
2. I will hate you forever and cross you off my fruitcake gift list for the holidays this year.

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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

finishing target

davedehetre — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:15:57 +0000

So, your book's finished? Or is it? At 50K, some of us look at what we have and think: 'well, this isn't a book yet'.

So, this is a thread for people who've crested 50K. Post what you think your final length is. Your 'real' winning point.
.
.
.

I'll start: I want to hit 80K before the end of the month.
.
.
.
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Winning Word Count Validator is ON!

tedboone — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:09:54 +0000

Go to My NaNoWriMo, Edit Novel Info, copy and paste your novel, and voila! You can officially be a winner, as of...9 minutes ago!
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Donation Day!

tedboone — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:26 +0000

Today is the day!

Don't have a halo yet? Go donate $10 and get yourself one! They're warm and glowy, perfect for nasty November weather like today.

Already have a halo? Pimp it out with an additional donation! I'm going to add some cool neon highlights and a sound system to mine. You can never have too much bling on your halo.

If you're having fun with NaNoWriMo this year, please consider dropping a few dollars their way. It goes to an amazing charitable cause.

Hope to see more halos on the forums later today!

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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Post your favorite sentence(s)

tedboone — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:03:04 +0000

Feel free to post as many as you want, as they arise.

I have two so far:
Hidden deep within the shadows of her hood, Sister Sonya’s single eye glimmered. The color of the frozen sky, her glare pierced Max like a sliver of ice, demanding a better answer.

And:
Relieved, Max reached up and took her father’s hand. His warm, rough grip felt like home on her skin.
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Super-duper cool book video

tedboone — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:08:54 +0000

Two minutes long, work-safe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_jyXJTlrH0
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Why bridge the cool moments?

tedboone — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:30:21 +0000

Reposted from the sci-fi forum:
http://io9.com/5409660/how-do-you-bridge-the-gap-between-two-cool-moment...

A good read.
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Gotta love these book covers!

tedboone — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:15:46 +0000

We can only hope that our future publications will look this amazing!

http://io9.com/5409616/cheesiest-and-most-inappropriate-book-covers-of-a...
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

What's the weirdest thing that's happened in your story this year?

tedboone — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:56:28 +0000

What's the oddest, strangest, most bizarre event in your 2009 NaNoNovel?

I'm currently writing a scene where my MC is being chased by a glowing herd of hopping plants. Good stuff!
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

A huge, heartfelt thank you to the Lawrence WriMos

tedboone — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:02:52 +0000

After reading some of the absolute horror stories posted on the Municipal Liaison forums, I have nothing but love for my Lawrencian writing brethren. I always knew that we had a special group of people that participated in NaNo. But compared to some of the awful drama that some regions have to contend with, Sara & I get to operate in an ML's paradise.

Thanks to all of you. This is a fantastic group, and I love my job during November.
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

It's a work in progress OR Working Sideways

ThemHooligans — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:33:24 +0000

Today, unexpectedly, one of my main characters changed genders, sexualities and possibly ethnicity. This is largely a surprise on my part.

ITT, tell us what weird things your characters have done unexpectedly while you've been writing. You don't have to include only things that have gone wonky this year, you can use stories from past years as well. Show us how pear-shaped novels can become!
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_________
2007: Hotaru (unfinished)
2008: WoWNoWriMo (won!)
2009: Ghedflaeg

USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

WEEK 3: Best One-Hour Word Count

tedboone — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:24:06 +0000

1. Write as many words as you can during a one hour period.
2. Post your result.
3. Rinse and repeat! You are welcome to try as many times as there are hours in the week

Best result posted before 11:59:59pm Saturday, November 21st wins!

Note: this challenge is based on the honor system. I trust my wrimos to stick to the one-hour limit and post an accurate word count number. Please don't cheat! It makes it less fun for everyone!

Good luck!

EDIT: Great tools for helping you with sprinting:
Write or Die, by Dr. Wicked
Minute Timer for Windows
Online Timer

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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Java Break Wall Writing!

jessibean — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:17:41 +0000

So Sara and I were having a little private write-in tonight just the two of us cause I needed a good cheering up after a rough day and our co-ML is great at that kind of thing :D

We were sitting in the Writing Room at Java Break, and we came up with a FABULOUS idea.

On Sunday, after the write-in, Sara and I are going to march our way down to Java Break, markers in hand, and scribble a line from our novels on the wall, and sign them "NaNo 2009". So we leave a little bit of our novel behind.

There's a few spots on the wall where there'll be plenty of room for a bunch of us to write a line down!

So does anyone want to join Sara and I in our great Java Break infiltration Sunday afternoon?
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2004: Eversnow • 2005: Aeternum Vale • 2006: Scala Caeli
2007: Fortune Favors the Bold • 2008: To the Stars

USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

WEEK 3: Best 24-Hour Word Count

tedboone — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:21:01 +0000

1. Pick ONE 24-Hour timeslot during Week 3 (ending 11:59:59pm Saturday, November 21st).
2. Write as many words as you can during those 24 hours.
3. Post your word count result for those 24 hours.

Best result wins!

Note: this challenge is based on the honor system. I trust my wrimos to stick to the 24-hour limit and post an accurate word count number. Please don't cheat! It makes it less fun for everyone!

Good luck!
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Pick your NaNo2009 Theme Song!

tedboone — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:47:53 +0000

You only get to choose ONE SONG! People that post more than one song will suffer a 10,000 word penalty, and a sound beating from the stuffed marmot.

My song (which has NOTHING to do with my story, it just makes me smile when I hear it):
Fireflies, by Owl City
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Additional write-ins

saratune — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:21:36 +0000

Hey all.

I know we already have our Sunday write-ins locked in for November, but I was thinking of holding additional write-ins on an evening during the week.

Does anyone have a specific night of the week that works for them? I was thinking maybe Thursday or Friday at like, 6 or 7 to 9 or 10. It would be open, too, so if you couldn't get there until later or had to leave early, that'd be fine. I also thought we might try a different venue, so we aren't taxing Mirth two days a week. I was thinking maybe Borders or Java Break, but I am open to other suggestions!

You all are welcome to set up your own additional write-ins as well, just post here in the forums to let people know time and place.

If nobody has a preference, I will go ahead and put what works best for me on the calendar and everyone will be welcome to join me.

Thanks guys!
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

I need some ideas!

saratune — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:28:01 +0000

So, my protagonist is now a "superhero." Or at least, she has some superhuman-like abilities. She has decided that she can't show off her newly acquired skills at work (she is a cop) because it will draw attention to herself in a bad way. Already people are talking suspiciously about some of the things she's done.

So she's decided to do some vigilante work in her off hours. But now I need some ideas for crimes she can thwart.

I've been looking through Darwin Awards, but I'm not having much luck!

I am kind of stumped, so I'm taking any and all suggestions.

In fact, I might even make this a dare for myself. If you make a suggestion here, I HAVE to use it.

So, hit me with your best shot!
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Your Last Sentence

Jason Arnett — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:40:55 +0000

This was a topic that Ted brought up last year, and mine came to me last night, so I thought I'd share:

"How's the morning sickness?"
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USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

Teh Gauntlet iz Thrown! A Word War IS YOU.

ThemHooligans — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:42:14 +0000

It's called BEAT TEN KAY TODAY...Day. If you're under 20k, you'd BETTER DO IT. Just copypasta this into your response with your user number after the little dash. You can challenge up to four of us at once. One of them must be me.

"Are you issuing a CHALLEEEEEENGE!?" "DOO EET, DOO EET NAO." (get to da choppa....)

_________
(Yes, this is what I am like on six cups of coffee and maybe two hours sleep. I sound like a lolcat. Fear for the world.)
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_________
2007: Hotaru (unfinished)
2008: WoWNoWriMo (won!)
2009: Ghedflaeg

USA :: Kansas :: Lawrence

It's not too late to start!

mermaid_radio — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:51:01 +0000

You still have time to write a novel this month. All you need to do is churn out 4,166 words per day. It doesn't have to be good. In fact, at this late of a start I think it would be acceptable to just write stream of consciousness nonsense until something emerges from the fog.

I myself have fallen very far behind in the daily word count for this month. So at this point, I am shooting for 3 thousand words per day to catch back up.
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