Virtual Write-In << **Well? Again? Yes/No?**

I'm always up for something new and distracting

This would be fun to give a whirl... I'd participate if at all possible, indeedy. My IRC skillz are rudimentary at best due to sheer lack of experience, but as long as people are able to sign in and locate the text box, it should be just dandy, I imagine.

I could probably do something like this depending on the time. Luckily I have an extra hour on my side ;-p
My only concern is that one of two things will happen: Complete distraction from writing with chat, or complete distraction from chat with writing. Although I suppose that even with no chat happening, it would be nice to point at a name on IRC and feel better they are probably struggling to focus too. Another positive is that it will force me to at least open the file with my novel in it and give it some much needed attention.

I not sure how this would work?

Are we just going to be in IRC typing encouraging words at each other?

I'm not exactly sure what it would look like. I'm just trying to gauge interest right now.

My sort of fuzzy mental vision is something like;

========
Everyone logged in by 7:00.
Socialize, post your pre-write-in word count, location, number of years experience.

At 7:30. I set a timer for twenty minutes and mute/lock the channel.
Everyone writes for twenty minutes.

Unmute the channel for five or ten minutes for a stretch, coffee, sandbox / check-in break.
(If you were late, you can check in on the break.)

Set timer for another 20 minutes and remute the channel
Repeat writing for 20 minutes

Break for another 5-10 minutes

Set timer for 20 minutes and remute
Write for final 20 minutes.

Unmute channel and socialize (this would be somewhere around 8:45-9:00)
==========

I'd probably call it a night around ten. I do still have things to get done on Saturday.

It's been a few years since I seriously spent any time on IRC. I got out of it when the general public started showing up and it wasn't all engineers and university students and officers. it seemed like the IQ of the average chat room dropped inversely with the popularity of the Internet and I got tired of endless A/S/L checks.

What I don't know is whether or not Nano's server will allow me to have actual operator powers in a channel. This far I haven't had much luck, so I'm keeping an eye out for another server that *will* allow channel messaging and voice permissions.

=Bets=

This is something that I'd definately be interested in, but I have to admit,I have no idea what IRC actually is. So I would be on the lower end of the scale. But as my word cound it slipping and I don't want to do another 16,000 word weeked (although I will be going nuclear this weekend, feel free to join us, any Nanos!), I really need all the sit and write I can get.

Just post instructions in very simple instruction, like you would in a kindergarden class, say, and I'll be in.

If this goes ahead, I would love to give it a shot. Unfortunately, I still don't know what my plans are for the 23rd, as it is Thanksgiving weekend down here and I've got relatives to schedule around. But I will keep poking my head into this thread, and if I can sneak out for some typing time, I'd love to join the NaNoTobans for a write-in!

I'd join in. Certainly sounds like fun! Just send me an email on where to go and I'm sure I'd get it. Eventually. Heh.

Now that you've explained the mechanics, Betty, that sounds pretty nifty.

Friday November 23rd, 6:00 p.m. CST - 10:00 p.m. CST

Okay.
I will try to make this as n00b-proof as I can. :)
DON'T log in before 6:00 p.m. CST.

New To IRC Users:

The web-based client I would recommend for new users is called IRC@Work. It's a CGI-based client, which won't mean anything to most of you, but it's a lot simpler than the Java interface on the Nanowrimo web site and a LOT faster to load / simpler to use.

http://www.ircatwork.com/

There are three boxes to fill in:

Nickname: Please use your Nanowrimo ID (If it has spaces, use an underscore so it looks_like_this) For example, I will be listed as bpunkert, Heather would be listed as Heartweaver
Server: irc.goodchatting.com (just copy and paste the bold stuff into the box)
Channel: #nanotoban (copy and paste the bold stuff - make sure you get the hash sign #)

Choose the Login button.

Your IRC window will open up in a new browser window.

The IRC chat interface has four parts:

• The main chat window. The big box in the middle is where people's comments will scroll by. If it's going too fast to follow, there's a scroll bar along the right of the big box.
• The text entry field at the bottom. Type something, press enter, and we all see it. Simple enough.
• The top channel list which shows all the channels you're in / people you're talking to. You'll have three boxes - one will say "Status", one will say "#nanotoban" and one will say "bpunkert". This last is a message from me explaining the rules of the road for the chat and welcoming you. Click the box with my name to read the message, click the box that says #nanotoban to come back to the channel.
• The list of active participants in the channel which appears on the right side.

What to do now that you're here:

• When you get into the channel, let us know you're there, word count, location, real name if you want, etc.
• When we're actually writing, I'll mute the channel. This means you won't be able to post anything until I unmute it. (Word wars will likely be 15 minutes at a go with a break to discuss in between). I'll change the topic to reflect this.
• If you come in after seven (we'll work in much smaller bursts than I typically do at a write-in), just hang out and write / wait until I unmute the channel and check in then.

To leave the channel and quit IRC for the night, type /quit (include the leading slash).

A very basic introduction to IRC and some basic commands are available here:
http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/irctutorial.html
... but the CGI interface means you really shouldn't need them. Just type what you want to say and press Enter on your keyboard to send it to the channel ...there's a lot more to it, but I'm trying to keep this as simple as I can for those who are absolute rank newbies

=============
Experienced IRC Users:
IRC Client of your choice

• hostname - irc.goodchatting.com:6667
• channel name - #nanotoban
• username - Nanowrimo User ID

No DCC, no CTCP, no bots. Please refrain from whispering or messaging the other participants unless approached first. This is to reduce the potential for confusion due to multiple windows / conversations from those who have NO experience with IRC.

=Betty=

I'll be there but I don't get off work until 6 so I'll be a little late..

Awwwww, I have Things and Stuff to do Friday evening but if I get home early enough, I'll pop on and see if anyone is still around.

THIS I can easily do.
There's the anomity I like and less fear of being ridiculed. I use IRC all the time. In fact I've been using it as a way to communicate with the outside world since 1995. ^^
I'm quite well versed in it, and know several commands having several years as OP (that's @ ) under my belt.
So count me in on this form of a write in.

6 PM our time yes?
Count me in.

*re-reads thread* NOOO! I can't do it after all!
I have a B-day dinner at aplebees at 7pm.

It's my birthday. ^^;
I'll be 26.
*sobs*

Anybody willing to have one with me tonight on MSN?

I will be laterish, but I'll join in as soon as I can! Login will probably be somewhere between 7 and 8. See you guys there!

(gasps) Happy early birthday! I'd definitely be up for tonight, except I won't have access to the internet for most of it. Sorry...

Thanks for the b-day wishes.
I've been planning this gathering with some friends for weeks now.
With MY 5 YR having no school friday, it was easy to arrange for my mom to babysit. I haven't seen most of these people for a few years, we're all looking forward to it actually.

Too bad you don't have acess to the net tonight. ^-^
However if anyone wants to to I can do IRC MSN or even AIM.
Just private msg me and I'll give you the server or names for either IM program.

Oh and I FINALLY broke 20K. YAY for me. I just need to type like mad even more to meet my goal for this weekend, seeing as after the dinner I'll be going to a friends to play wow as my reward if I break my goal. ^_^

If it goes reasonably well I might try it again on the thirtieth. (Caldi: back in the days when I actually used IRC, I used to be an op too. Apparently if you neglect a skill long enough, it withers... I've been giving myself a crash refresher on scripting in order to do this. Meh. It's amazing how much disappears. *wanders off to read instructions on Chanserv*)

No promises though -- I *do* have a concert on the second of December. :|

=Bets=

PS: To all the folks coming 'late', just log in and wait for me to unmute the channel. I'm thinking fifteen minute word wars ought to about do it. I just don't want people in BEFORE six, is all.

LOL yeah it does wither away after all.
I used to get quizzed alot in the more active rooms I oped for. (Usually for online radio stations before the RIAA passed the new bill raising the rates for online stations that they have to pay)

I'd get questions like what's the MIRC command to do this in the case of someone breaking rule 33, line a section 2? (IE Racial slurs. They were really big on that, they wouldn't tolereate that and they said it merited a ban.)

The two most prized commands any op should know.

/msg ChanServ Help

and /msg NickServ HELP

Both provide that lovely list of commands and that lovely additional command that lets you explore the individual commands, levels, and so forth.

As I have no social life to speak of, I'll be there!

That actually, admittedly, went somewhat more smoothly than I feared, especially once we got BattleJesus (no I am not making that up) configured for the room. I got in something like 3350 - okay, granted it took from six to midnight with stoppin to talk ad getting punted off of IRC numerous times... but it is admittedly more than I would have written sitting at home in front of my computer without the peer pressure and time constraint factors. We got in maybe seven? eight? good steady 15 minute word wars in that time, interspersed with random mumblings.

I definitely wouldn't want to do this on a weeknight, but if there's people who want to check in on the thirtieth and do the last night crunch thing, I might want to do that. Might make a separate channel for convo and dares though, just so that those who want to focus on writing can do so exclusively.

Learning curve: straight up.

=Bets=

Sure, I'd do it again. I think Torchwood's set to record, anyway. Last night was lots of fun, although I suppose I missed the great majority of it, what with my TV watching and sleeping. If I do what I've told myself to this weekend, I'll be done my 50 000 by then, and just trying to finish up the storyline, so that'll be great to motivate me.

I would in theory do it again, but probably won't be able to this year :P

I won't be available on the 30th and am hoping to have my novel all done by then.

I wasn't able to get away from Thanksgiving dinner (we did it a day late), so if you do try it again, I'll be there with bells on!

I did enjoy myself and would love to do another one so count me in

Indeedy, I'll be there if I can.

I'll do it again. Sure it took 6 hours to do 2 hours of work, but it was fun. AND the work got done instead of more procrastination.