United States :: Oregon :: Salem

TGIO Party - 12/1/07 - READ FOR IMPORTANT UPDATES

Brighterskyte — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:30:55 -0700

** UPDATED EMAIL SENT **

It's party time Salem!

That's right, NaNoWriMo is over for another year, and it's time for us to party down.

TGIO party is this afternoon! Please read this for important time and location changes.

It's a potluck so bring something tasty to share.

Bring an excerpt of your novel (your favorite paragraph or page or your first paragraph and page) for the Excerpt Line. Don't worry, you don't have to read it if you don't want to – you don't even have to put your name on it.

Bring your mascot if you have one for group photos!

Bring you biggest cheer, my fine Wrimos! We are once again the Word War Smackdown Champions and it's only polite that we send a friendly cheer to Olympia for being such worthy opponents.

We will be having a winners ceremony, playing some games, giving out prizes for name tags (woot!) and just having a great time because we deserve it!

THERE HAVE BEEEN IMPORTANT TIME AND LOCATION CHANGES! Please read below!

Where: Salem Public Library, Anderson Room B (Plaza Level)

When: December 1st

Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Bring your family and friends so they can cheer like crazy for you during this fun event. I can't wait to see you all there!

----------------------------------------------------

*** First E-mail, Time/Location Changed Due To Library Changes Please Observe Time/Location Above***

Well Wrimos, it's that time already. Almost the end of NaNoWriMo and time to start talking about the TGIO party. Yay for parties! Yay for almost being done with my idiotic novel! Yay! Yay I say!

For those of you new to NaNo or new to events, the TGIO (Thank God It's Over) party is where we can get together after NaNo has ended, share our successes, chill, relax and just have some fun. Because we deserve it!

It doesn't matter if you've won, lost, or even come close the TGIO party is for everyone, no matter how far you got during November. Never been to an event before? I highly encourage you to attend this one!

The TGIO party will be a potluck, so bring a dish or something yummy to share if you can. Don't forget to bring your mascot for some group pictures!

Please RSVP if you are attending, since there will be a ceremony in which awards and such are handed out to people. So this works two ways, if you don't RSVP I don't know you're coming and can't have a special award for you, and if you RSVP and don't come I'll be sad because I can't give your award to you. :) It doesn't matter if you've won or lost, everyone gets something. There is however a special Winners Ceremony again this year! So if you're a winner (and you all are!) please come!

There will be games, prizes, door prizes, food and more. Bring part of your novel to share, either read aloud for our brave folks, or placed on the excerpt line for those of us not so brave.

Also featured will be our VERY LAST Continual Story of the year, and you don't want to miss that one!

Where: Salem Public Library, Anderson Room A

When: December 1st (Saturday)

Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Bring your family and friends so they can cheer like crazy for you during this fun event. I can't wait to see you all there!

----------
- Jamie
Co-ML Salem, Oregon
2006 Capitol Wordwar Smackdown Champions!
Proud member and founder of the Cardboard Box Wrimos
2007 Novel - "Bawdy Parts"

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Yard Sale of Doom - Info and Donations Needed

Brighterskyte — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:15:19 -0700

Are you a yard sale junkie? Do you have some stuff you've been dying to get out of your house? Do you want to support our 2008 Region?

Well do we have the opportunity for you!

Presenting the 2008 Yard Sale of Doom, a collaborative sale which all proceeds will go towards supporting the Salem Oregon Region during the 2008 NaNoWriMo.

The sale will take place on August 23rd and 24th. Currently we have some items donated but we're in desperate need of more. So here's how you can help:

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to the sale then please E-mail me (salem_or@nanowrimo.org), PM, or reply to this posting. I will arrange to come pick up the items and give you a donation letter. We are looking for any types of items, books, clothing, toys, household goods, tools, you name it, we'd love to take it off your hands and put it towards a good cause.

If you can make a donation please contact me no later then the 20th of August so that I can make arrangements to pick up the items and get them priced.

Don't have anything to donate (C'mon, everyone has something!) then stop by the sale and help support your local Region! The sale will be on August 23rd and 24th from 8:00 am to 6:00 PM both days at 475 18th St SE in Salem. Come for food, raffles, goodies galore, and knowing you're supporting a cause near and dear to your writers heart!

Our goal with this is to raise at least $400.00 in donations, which will cover all Regional costs for the entire year and will pay for next years website hosting. All items that don't sell will be donated to the Goodwill as a Regional donation.

We're really excited about this event and think it will be a good way to bring in some money to help support the Region, while cleaning out junk in everyone's houses. It's a win win!

Thanks for all your support guys! You rock!
----------
- Jamie
Co-ML Salem, Oregon
2006 Capitol Wordwar Smackdown Champions!
Proud member and founder of the Cardboard Box Wrimos
2007 Novel - "Bawdy Parts"

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Off-Season BBQ of Awesomeness

Brighterskyte — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:05:32 -0700

(Reposted from PBD)

Hi All,

It's been suggested that we hold a BBQ to get together and have some fun during the off-season. So here are the details!

Note: if someone has a small BBQ and can bring it please let me know ASAP and I'll pick up some hot dogs and stuff, if not, we'll get chicken or something.

When: Sunday, July 6th 2008 at 1:00 PM

Where: Bush Park in Salem (Park Info) at the tables on the furthest end of the park off 17th. So that would be the side of the park opposite the Art Barn and Crooked House Playground, near the other playground. We'll have balloons! You can find it! We believe in you!

What To Bring: Your awesome selves, your family if you want, some goodies to share, and some outdoor games if you've got them!

Please RSVP to the thread located at Plot Box Of Doom (following this link): if you're coming, if you're bringing people and how many, what you're bringing (if anything), and if you have any food allergies we should know about.

See you guys there!

----------
- Jamie
Co-ML Salem, Oregon
2006 Capitol Wordwar Smackdown Champions!
Proud member and founder of the Cardboard Box Wrimos
2007 Novel - "Bawdy Parts"

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Salems offical website

Coryashire — Thu, 6 Mar 2008 23:40:44 -0800

When will www.plotboxofdoom.com open? I thought you guys said it was going to be on the 24th of febuary, but it is the 6th of march and it is still "coming soon". need any help? I have minimal experince with websites, as I used to do by hand html coding years ago, but if you need help with the website, *or anything else nanorelated for that matter* I would be happy to help. I considered offering to be a co-ML, but i never got around to sending in my volenteer email, but I am still willing to help prepare for next year if you need more hands on deck.
----------

wordcount widgets

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

I just took the plunge...

Coryashire — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:41:37 -0700

... lets just hope i dont end up drowing in the slush pile.

I started the process today of submitting the manuscript of the first book in a series i have been working on for nearly three and a half years. I submitted to my first agent today about 15 minutes ago my synopsis, query letter, and three sample chapters. Now I have had to wait 3-4 weeks before I might see a responce either way. I thought the people behind me in the line at the post office thought I was having a fit or something, because I for some strange reason had to take deep calming breaths as they sealed the priority mail envelope. It was just strange that for nearly three and half years this has been my private litttle world, and now I am sending it off to someone i dont know in real life, and letting them be critical of it *as a agent should be*. I dont think the next few weeks are going to be that fun for me while i wait for a rejection/request letter.

Hopefully, I will get lucky, and it wont take me ages to find a agent and a publisher. I know it is unhealthy to have this belief, but I do belive a great deal of my future hangs on finding a publisher who belives in the book's potential and wants to publish it. I have been trying to find a job for years but no one ever gives me a chance, and so this book has been a refuge of sort. now to hope it will have all been worthwhile.
----------

wordcount widgets

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Hey everyone!!!

Syreo — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 21:49:05 -0800

How is everyone? Just wanted to check up on everyone, see how you all are doing.

Anyone have ideas for their novel for Nano 2008 yet??

Hope everyone had a great holiday season!

Hannah
----------
Can't wait for Nano 2008!

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

writers meetups in january

Coryashire — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:35:37 -0800

my email is screwy right now andd I dont know if I will have it much longer, but will jamie be posting in the regional forum also about the writers meetups?

I would really love to continue but I dont remeber how she was planning to announce them.
----------

wordcount widgets

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Willamette University Roll-Call

nickshogun — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:47:05 -0800

Anyone else out there a Willamette student? I'm Nick Martin, freshman. WU represent!
----------

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Survey

Brighterskyte — Mon, 3 Dec 2007 20:23:25 -0800

Hi Wrimos,

This link (http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB227885U7WLB) leads
to a survey developed by Savanna and I to get some feedback about this
year.

Please fill it out! We really need your feedback, especially from those
of you who did not attend events or attended only one or two events. We
also want feedback from people who attended events regularly. Heck, we
want feedback from everyone!

Once you've filled out the survey, if you have any other ideas or
suggestions that weren't covered in the survey please email them to us
at salem_or@nanowrimo.org and we'd be happy to take a look at them and
take them into consideration. We have some really fun stuff in the
works for next year, and we want to make sure we're giving our Region
the best support that they need during November.

Our Region is growing and changing by leaps and bounds each year, and
it's important to us that we don't lose the close knit community feel
you've all grown to love while allowing ourselves to change and grow
with our Region as it gets bigger. This is why your feedback is so
important!

Thanks so much you guys, we look forward to reading all your responses!
----------
- Jamie
Co-ML Salem, Oregon
2006 Capitol Wordwar Smackdown Champions!
Proud member and founder of the Cardboard Box Wrimos
2007 Novel - "Bawdy Parts"

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Thank You

Brighterskyte — Sat, 1 Dec 2007 17:58:34 -0800

Wrimos,

As another NaNoWriMo comes to an end Savanna and I want to send our many thanks out to each and every one of you. Once again we've greatly enjoyed working with all of you. Seeing old Wrimos again and meeting new ones, it's something we look forward to all year long.

We appreciate each one of you, and the unique perspective and energy you bring to this event every year. You guys flat out rock. We hope very much to see all of you (and those of you we didn't get to see!) back next year.

Congratulations to every one of you; if you won or didn't win. Having the nerve to step up to the plate and take part in this event makes you in our eyes a winner, regardless of if you passed the 50,000 word mark or not. For those who did, be proud of yourself. But if you didn't, be proud that you had the guts to try. We certainly are proud of you!

We had our largest amount of wins this year at 25! We also are once again the Capitol WordWar Champions, and let me tell you Olympia was a very worthy opponent and gave us a run for our money. We had to work hard this year, but you all pulled through great. We look forward to challenging them again next year and I hope they accept!

I can't tell you enough how amazingly proud we are and that Sav and I have the BEST WRIMOS EVER! We mean it.

Now, keep writing! Don't let NaNo be the only time of year that you write. Keep up the good work, because you've already proved you can write a novel, what else can you do? Anything you set your mind to, we think.

The TGIO party was great, thanks for everyone who came, and if you won this year and would like the trophy we gave out please E-mail me your address and I'll send you one.

Some things I want to share before Sav and I go on a little hiatus from NaNo for the holidays:

** Willamette Wordsmiths **

Willamette Wordsmiths (WilWord) is a writing group formed by Wrimos in the Salem area. We meet once a month to share current works and get feedback. We usually meet the second Saturday of each month and will start in January.

It's a great way to get positive feedback from people you've already written with during the Non-NaNo months. Anyone is welcome, regardless of where they live!

If you're interested in joining send me an E-mail and I'll get you added to the group and get you more information.

** Survey **

I will be sending a Post-NaNo survey out within the next week to get feedback about this year and about things for next year. Please please please take this survey, we ML's want to make sure this is a good event for everyone, so we would love input, especially since our Region is growing so much.

I especially would like to hear from those of you who didn't make events, or post to our Regional forum! I know you're out there :)

Planning for next years NaNoWriMo will begin in late February, because we have some great things we want to make sure happen for you all next year. If you take the survey and find it doesn't cover an issue or idea you need to tell us, please E-mail us with those concerns or ideas. Your input is so important to us!

Again, thanks so much for making this year a great one, and Sav and I wish you all the very best holiday season ever and a wonderful new year. We look forward to seeing you next year (or sooner!)

Now, everyone go take a nap! You've earned it!

With all our best,
Savanna & Jamie
ML's – Salem, Oregon
----------
- Jamie
Co-ML Salem, Oregon
2006 Capitol Wordwar Smackdown Champions!
Proud member and founder of the Cardboard Box Wrimos
2007 Novel - "Bawdy Parts"

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Winners Thread

Brighterskyte — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:06:12 -0800

Did you win? Huh? Did you? Did you? Huh? Did you?

If you did please post to this thread with the name you would like printed on your certificate. Yeah, you guys get certificates this year, because I love you or something.

Oh, and maybe you can post here to gloat too. I mean, you did kind of earn bragging rights.

C'mon! I know you're out there! And if you're not a winner yet, don't give up! You still have time to make it!
----------
- Jamie
Co-ML Salem, Oregon
2006 Capitol Wordwar Smackdown Champions!
Proud member and founder of the Cardboard Box Wrimos
2007 Novel - "Bawdy Parts"

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Just a heads up about upcoming weather.

MageQueenHoshi — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:20:37 -0800

Hello everyone. I hope your novels are doing great! I've heard some disturbing news and wanted to pass it on to everyone.

It's an article about the weather written by the Oregonian: Weather Alert

Keep in mind this can change at any time, and we may end up getting nothing of this storm, but it's best to be prepared.

~Lindsey
----------
~* MageQueenHoshi *~

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Virtual Write In Tonight - 11/29

Brighterskyte — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:29:49 -0800

Another Thursday looms upon us. This one with the sad and overwhelming truth of being the last Thursday in November.

Come for some good writing, chatting, word wars to pad your novel, and all sorts of other fun stuff.

When: Thursday, November 29th

Where: Salem's Chat room - http://jannalouise.thehoskincentre.com/nanowrimo/salechat.html

When: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
----------
- Jamie
Co-ML Salem, Oregon
2006 Capitol Wordwar Smackdown Champions!
Proud member and founder of the Cardboard Box Wrimos
2007 Novel - "Bawdy Parts"

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

For a small town, we rock the numbers...

lilygirl — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:43:32 -0800

We're at 142 of 349 in terms of total word count (Olympia still just below us at 143), but that's ahead of Norway, Italy, Mississippi, and both of the Dakotas... to name a few.

However, when you look at it in terms of average word count per person (which I think says a lot more) we're 85 !WOW! (with Olympia trailing at 106). What's really impressive is the Bahamas is averaging 51,000 each and Sri Lanka has one person at 43,000! The awesome news is that we're ahead of both Seattle and Maryland in the average word count! They're #1 & #2 in the total word count stats.

Finally, and most importantly, we're #31 in donations and tied with Washington, DC. (It would only take a few more small donations to rocket us into the top 25.)

So once again I've got to say that for being such a Podunk town (according to snobby Portlanders) we are heavy-hitting individuals in terms of word count and big hearts!

Have I ever said how much I love you guys?
----------

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

WordWar Update - Read or die

Brighterskyte — Wed, 7 Nov 2007 10:41:26 -0800

SALEM! We shall NOT allow Olympia to beat us this year!

If you are NOT set for Salem being your home region, go to 'My NaNoWriMo' click on 'Home Region' and do so. Otherwise we're going to be suck wearing hubcaps of shame, and I don't look sexy in chrome at all.

Current standings:

Salem - 320,586 words
Olympia - 378,924 words

We are NOT behind by much! It would be completely possible to catch up and totally reign supreme again this year. We must defend our title!

Remember - set our region as your home region, and update your word count in your profile if you haven't!

I'm counting on you Salem! Write! Write like the wind!
----------
- Jamie
Co-ML Salem, Oregon
2006 Capitol Wordwar Smackdown Champions!
Proud member and founder of the Cardboard Box Wrimos
2007 Novel - "Bawdy Parts"

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

40,000 word shout-out!

WritingLife — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 21:22:49 -0800

Whew! After three days of procrastination (preparing for T-day, T-day itself with much to do in the kitchen, day after T-day with a turkey carcass to deal with) I had some catching up to do. It was a good thing I was several thousand words ahead, or I'd be scrambing today. As it was, I had over 2000 to put down in order to get to where I needed to be today at the minimum (at 1667 words per day minimum).

But I did it. Hoorah! Four-fifths of the way done, and into the home stretch!
----------
Don't miss the The 2008 Writer's Calendar!
The Writing for Children Resource Site

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

20,000 word shout-out

gunslinger — Thu, 8 Nov 2007 11:35:26 -0800

It is 1034pm here on the 7th, which makes it a 1234pm there on the 7th, and I just busted 20,000 words!!!!

Post here when you hit 20grand.

Eric in Iraq
----------

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

30,000 word shout-out

WritingLife — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:01:10 -0800

I went for my daily goal of 2000 and hit 29,000 -- but since that put me so close to the next milestone I pressed on with another 1000 words and hit 30,000! Onward!

----------
Don't miss the The 2008 Writer's Calendar!
The Writing for Children Resource Site

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

The Ride Thread

Brighterskyte — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 09:26:13 -0700

Hi Wrimos,

If you need a ride to any event, post a message here. If you can give someone a ride, post a message here.

Good? Good!

----------
- Jamie
Co-ML Salem, Oregon
2006 Capitol Wordwar Smackdown Champions!
Proud member and founder of the Cardboard Box Wrimos
2007 Novel - "Bawdy Parts"

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

WordWar 2007: The Hubcap of Shame

heatherjune — Tue, 6 Nov 2007 23:38:44 -0800

Well Well Well... look who's falling a bit behind this year! *tsk tsk*
Don't worry, we're getting that "hubcap of shame" all shinied up for your participants to wear on December 1st! Neener!
----------

So This is What the Volume Knob is For: http://volume-knob.blogspot.com
IM IN UR OLYMPIA, BEIN UR ML: olympia_wa@nanowrimo.org

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

missing the Write-in

hysterium — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:36:57 -0800

sorry, guys and gals, but unfortunately family obligations got the best of me again. i really wish that i could have made it down there today. im sure that i owe a whole bunch of you Chocolate Rewards. i will make up for it at the TGIO.

hope you had a productive day down in Eugene!
----------

We will, we will... write you!

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

The Wire

gunslinger — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:11:43 -0800

As in the one that surrounds my base and keeps them out there and us in here.

Anyway, I gotta go do this thing, which requires me to leave said wire. I might be unable to write for a few days. *gulp*

Wish me luck. With the writing, not with the fighting. That part I got taken care of.

KEEP IT UP EVERYONE!!! WE WILL BEAT OLY! Their beer sucks.
----------

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Happy Turkey Day Everyone!

starrling — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 23:27:06 -0800

I'm hoping to get a few more words written late tonight so I can enjoy the day tomorrow. I'm cooking enough for a small army.

Anyway, have a wonderful holiday, all! :D
----------

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Hi there!

Mellie87 — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:18:37 -0800

Just wanted to let you know that I'll be offline after this afternoon, so I won't be able to update my word count, but I do expect that I'll be writing at least some, so it'll jump up when I return on Sunday. Not that my 2,000 words a day are extremely spectacular, but every bit helps.

And have a great Thanksgiving!

Maureen
----------

United States :: Oregon :: Salem

Roll Call!

Brighterskyte — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:27:13 -0700

Step it up Wrimos! Who's here? Who's new? Who's old? Who thinks this is a bad idea and why are we doing it again?

I can't wait to see your shiny happy posts, so get posting!

I'll go first. I'm back (sorry guys, I know you were hoping I'd be gone).

If you don't know me, I'm Jamie. I'm the saner half of the two half ML team that covers the Salem area. I'm so happy to be back in my (gulp!) 8th NaNo. Yeah, you heard that right, my 8th one. This is my (help me out here guys!) 4th or 5th time as the Salem area ML, and my third as Co-ML with Savanna.

I'm so excited to be back, you have no idea. You guys are the ones that make doing this insane torture every year so worthwhile. Hopefully, Sav and I make this year and positive and fun experience for everyone involved. We've got some neat-o stuff planned so keep your eyes peeled for it.

So, who are you? Introduce yourself Wrimos, old and new, so we know who we're suffering with this year.

It's going to be a great one!

----------
- Jamie
Co-ML Salem, Oregon
2006 Capitol Wordwar Smackdown Champions!
Proud member and founder of the Cardboard Box Wrimos
2007 Novel - "Bawdy Parts"