United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Year-Round Write-Ins

poetT — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:38:24 -0800

1st & 3rd Sundays, each month
6 pm

Previously, locations have varied, though tended toward midtown (Plaza, Westport, Brookside), with occassional forays to Northland & Overland Park. I haven’t decided whether to roam or stay in one place.

At these write-ins we:
-write on current work-in-progress (your 2005 or 2006 or 2007 NaNovel, a new novel, short stories, whatever)
-socialize/talk about writing topics--at least, more than you get a chance to in November. We try to keep the writing/chatting ratio about 75%/25%.
(Back in 2006, we had an optional writing exercise or prompt that we then shared around. We didn’t do that this last year. But if anyone needs one as a kick in the motivator, just ask.)

Because most people stop visiting this forum after November, I send out an e-mail message (by request only) at the beginning of each month (and post it on the forum as well). I also send out a reminder the week before the 3rd Sunday.

I do not send the e-mail to the entire list of wrimos affiliated with United States::Missouri::Kansas City. I only send it if you've specifically asked for it. If you want to be added to the e-mail list, contact me with your e-address.

I’ll pass around a signup list at the TGIO. If you won’t be there, then e-mail me at
captp000t-nnwm (at) yahoo.com

This isn't something I organize as Municipal Liaison, btw. I do it because I really like having a support group--knowing I'm part of a larger writing community in my area, touching base with people who I can imagine as my audience as I write. Also, if I'm having a really bad month creatively, then at least I know that there will be at least two evenings that I have set aside for writing. It's a promise to my writer self that I keep.

I'll be posting next week for a Dec. 16 write-in (1st Sunday being TGIO).

Hope to see you throughout the year!
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poetT / Teri
the ML in the black hat
United States::Missouri::Kansas City metro area

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

**TGIO Thank Goodness It's Over Party: RSVP HERE

poetT — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 04:50:55 -0800

You are invited to a wrap-up THANK GOODNESS IT’S OVER Party!

WHO
Absolutely EVERYBODY. It doesn't matter whether you wrote 350,000 or 5 words. We want you there. You will be glad it's over, right? Right. So be there.

WHEN
Sunday, Dec. 2, 6:00 pm

WHERE
Godfather’s Pizza
7002 Johnson Drive
Mission, KS 66202
(913) 236-9700
http://www.godfathers.com/
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&country=US&popflag...

Johnson Drive is about 1.5 miles south of the intersection of I-35 and I-635. We’ll be in the party room. You can pitch in some money on the pizza that’s already ordered when you get there, or order your own.

WHAT
At the TGIO, we will:
-Celebrate and commiserate, socializing without having to do any more writing (unless you want to take notes on quirky characters for some future work)
-Get a little prize, win or not
-Share an excerpt, as desired, from your novel (just a short amount–maybe a couple of pages) because it is hard to read in a party-all-night-long atmosphere...)
-Sign up, if desired, for the e-mail list to keep informed of twice-monthly write-ins during the year
-Have fun! I foresee charades with some plot-pot leftovers, and perhaps a few rounds of some word games (drawn from the 35 word-based board and card games in my collection of 165 or so).

WHY
Because the novelists party all night long in KC. (Or at least until 8:30 or 9. And yes, I’m still trying to get that tagline changed...)

RSVP HERE
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poetT / Teri
the ML in the black hat
United States::Missouri::Kansas City metro area

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Welcome! Introduce Yourself Here

poetT — Tue, 2 Oct 2007 00:21:58 -0700

Welcome, Kansas-City-area novelists and novelists-to-be!

Slap on a name tag and tell us about yourself–why you’re here, if you’ve NaNo’d before.

Me, I’m poetT from Overland Park, KS. I’ve done NaNoWriMo for two years in a row and am looking to nail it again. This is my second year as municipal liaison (ML) in the metro. (ML just means I’m the local volunteer to guide our NaNo experience–organizing meetings and write-ins, answering questions, encouraging you--and myself--through the crazy month to come.)

::magical flashback to 2005:: For nearly 15 years had done very little writing. I did a lot in college, but afterward–well, I had no deadline or goal, no one to even talk with about writing. I spent years lamenting my inability to get myself going. Then, ::musical upsurge:: NaNoWriMo came into my life. It gave me an insanely major deadline, and the forums here gave me a writing community. The success of that first year gave me the confidence to keep writing (and the determination to keep up write-ins year round). NaNoWriMo saved my creative life. I know, I know, it sounds sappy. But it’s true.

Since last year, the big, scary thing I’ve worked on is a second draft of last year’s nanovel. I’d never edited such a large piece of, um, writing, so it’s been a good experience. Mostly. Even if it’s still awfully unpublishable. (At least I’ve managed to set and keep a somewhat-non-negotiable schedule for writing through the week. That in itself was worth it.) Anyway, I’ve given myself until October 15 to finish that up in some form.

That’ll give me two weeks to actually think about what I’m going to write in November...

Let's go, KC!

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poetT / Teri
the ML in the black hat
United States::Missouri::Kansas City metro area

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

NaNo is over and It's a new Year..So what's up with every one?

hmbody — Fri, 4 Jan 2008 19:03:28 -0800

I live in St. Joseph, MO. I'd like to start a writing club here in St. Joseph
one that is not just for critiqueing, but help with idea's when we hit a snag,
or a sounding wall so if one couldn't decide wich wording worked best they could put both idea's out there for
some feed back, but I would like to keep foul language out of it.
I would like it to meet twice a month, this way we can stay more motivated.
If any one is interested please contact me at snizzard@hotmail.com
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United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

December Write-In

poetT — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:28:58 -0800

Our first post-NaNo write-in will be this upcoming third Sunday. Take a break from holiday busyness for some creative output; make a gift to yourself of time to write:

Dec. 16, 6 pm
Roasterie, 6223 Brookside Blvd., Kansas City, MO http://www.theroasterie.com/coffeeshop/cafe.asp http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&country=US&popflag...

I think in the future we'll have some varied locations, but for this first year-rounder, it's easier to keep it at the Roasterie.

Come on out and write!

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poetT / Teri
the ML in the black hat
United States::Missouri::Kansas City metro area

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Any suggestions on getting all this hard work published

joyoffive — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:01:08 -0800

After reading what I wrote I really like it. Does anyone have any suggestions on succesfully publishing my manuscript.

Mary
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United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Printing it out!

oh_the_wit — Sat, 1 Dec 2007 15:22:59 -0800

Now that I've finished writing my monster of a novel, I think I'd like to see it on paper before I begin the tedious process of editing it into shape.

Any recommendations on the cheapest place to get it printed out? Kinkos? Library? Somewhere else? I'm pretty sure I don't want to print it out on the home inkjet, as ink is ridiculously expensive.

And, out of curiosity, how many pages did your novel end up at? My novel ended up around 100 pages long -- single spaced.
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United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

December First means... time to edit!

delayra — Sat, 1 Dec 2007 12:05:16 -0800

I am now questioning the wisdom of having such a high goal. This looks like a job for Superman! ... but unfortunately, I have to do it. I fiddled with ordering chunks of story a bit, and realized that I had it more haphazard than even I thought I did. I might (possibly) have this whipped into shape by next NaNo-vember, but I'm beginning to be doubtful. Wow. It looks like I wrote some scenes within others, even.
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Edeyn Hannah Blackeney -- the Lexivorous Word Witch
co-ML for US::MO::KC // US::KS::KC

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

A few of my favorite things...

inkwet_image — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:34:13 -0800

Your favorite line, favorite character, favorite phrase, favorite image, favorite whatever... Anything in your NaNovel '07 manuscript that you're pleased with--you are invited to brag (er, that is, to share).

Rats, ninjas, and bunny slippers welcome, of course.
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United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Kansas City Call Outs - cowboy style

mike oleary — Fri, 2 Nov 2007 18:55:04 -0700

Okay....Who has a grudge match? A Friendly Border War? Who is racing whom?

someone with more fingers than me is going to have to go after Delayra.

ZenFajita - I'm calling you out.
You and I have got some business to settle.

I may not be winning right this moment (I'm 4.5 and you're north of 5.5 (I'd check for an exact number, but the dang site is slower than a frog in molasses brought to absolute zero packed in anthrocite and lunched in a low orbit around a dying planet), but I'm finally home from more than an hour at Michael's (also known as hell for most men). So watch yer back pardner.

Chinese throwing stars at the ready in case of sneak attacks.

Anyone else want to call someone out and challenge them in the light of day or the dark of night?

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United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Don't stop before time runs out!

delayra — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:01:25 -0800

3 hours to go! Lots of winners, let's make it even more!
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Edeyn Hannah Blackeney -- the Lexivorous Word Witch
co-ML for US::MO::KC // US::KS::KC

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

50,000--You're there!

poetT — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:27:00 -0800

When you reach that golden number, when that bar turns green

take your bow here!

We're proud of you!

You climb a long ladder until you can see over the roof, or over the clouds. You are writing a book. You watch your shod feet step on each round rung, one at a time; you do not hurry and do not rest. Your feet feel the step ladder’s balance; the long muscles in your thigh check its sway. You climb steadily, doing your job in the dark. When you reach the end, there is nothing more to climb. The sun hits you. The bright wideness surprises you; you had forgotten, there was an end. You look back at the ladder’s two feet on the distant grass, astonished. –Annie Dillard
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poetT / Teri
the ML in the black hat
United States::Missouri::Kansas City metro area

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Throwing in the towel

empulse — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:23:44 -0800

I tried. I really did.

Too many things just happened to be working against me this month though. First came the first few days that I was gone, then I had a whole night’s worth of work just disappear because of a system crash (and I was stupid enough to forget to press CTRL+S knowing that there was no auto-save to back me up).

The second full week of November I was out of town on business and too busy to really focus on anything except my day job. When I came back I struggled and tried to force the words to come, but it just wasn’t happening. “Don’t quit,” I told myself. You’ve done it twice before and you can get back into it.

I looked forward to Thanksgiving weekend. “This would be the perfect opportunity to catch up,” I thought to myself. Unfortunately, more stuff just piled on top of me and I couldn’t even find the time to concentrate on my story. I couldn’t even catch up with what was going on through NaNoWriMo.

Before I knew it, my fears became realized. My attention had been pulled in several different directions all month long. Now here it is — one day left in the month, and I’m not even a quarter of the way to my goal of 50,000 words. It appears that 2007 just wasn’t my year for NaNoWriMo.

Now I want to apologize to everyone that I encouraged throughout the month for not achieving my own goal. I apologize to everyone that believed in and encouraged me as well. Most of all, I apologize to myself. I’ll try not to let me down like this again in the future. And now I am prepared to stand with everyone else that couldn’t make it to 50K. I hope you don’t mind me joining your company.

Here’s to looking forward to a less hectic and more motivating NaNoWriMo 2008. Cheers!
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United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

All this for a piece of paper

joyoffive — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:59:48 -0800

I finally did it ending up with over 100,000 words. I just got done reading my work and it's not too bad. I'm off for a little editing. It seems surreal and a little sad to have finished. I put in all this work for a paper certificate. Hopefully I will actually get this thing published.

I hope everyone has a purple bar by now if not good luck there is still time to finish.

Take care
Mary
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United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Some KC stats: Add your distinctiveness to the Collective! POST HERE

poetT — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:11:44 -0800

Want to know how we're really doing, region-wise?

We are "large"!

I got us added to this page (put up by the tireless Illinois::Naperville ML NewMexicoKid) so we could see some stats not quite yet available elsewhere, especially on the number and wordcount of people homed to Kansas City (as opposed to just affiliated):

http://naperwrimo.org/nanostats/

"Active" means has posted at least once or has updated word count.
----
Here we're currently ranked 74 in total word count:
http://graphing.teiru.net/2007/regions/

---
Post to this thread, and you get added to this graph!

Shiny.

And you get added to this lovely chart with that graph also:
http://graphing.teiru.net/2007/list2.cgi?name=KC_Collective
Go there and click on your name--no, I mean, your word count number. See what happens.

(btw Don't try to make the graph or chart your signature. The website would collapse in on a squirrel-infested black hole, or something.)

Keep on writing!
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poetT / Teri
the ML in the black hat
United States::Missouri::Kansas City metro area

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Best Day so far?

delayra — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:54:49 -0800

I thought it might be fun to see what some of everyone's best single day wordcounts were! So list 'em! Let's see those numbers, kiddies!
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Edeyn Hannah Blackeney -- the Lexivorous Word Witch
co-ML for US::MO::KC // US::KS::KC

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

I went to the _ write-in and ___: TheWrite-In Report

poetT — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:06:58 -0700

Roasterie (Oct. 21)

and I got to meet a new wrimo (Hi, leo_grrl!), but I still don't know what I'm going to write about come November.

We did talk about novel planning concerns, such as character profilies. Some good links:
http://www.nanofimo.org/resources.html
(I'll have randomizer sheets from that one at the KO.)
http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/farp/thewriting/crissychar/crissychar.html
http://www.burningvoid.com/rpg/2001/pcquestions.php
http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/jun98/lazy2.htm

I couldn't find the 17(?) character traits. Got a link, Edeyn?

Oh, here's another great link (yes, I was throwing distractions into the mix as well) for finding names and their popularity by decade:
The Name Voyager
http://www.babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html
---
btw, There's not really a rule about discussion topics at a write-in. What I really meant was "Okay, let's get back to writing." Of course, if I had actually been writing...
---
Other items of note:
-We attracted curiosity from someone who wondered if we were writing romance novels.
-leo_grrl seemed to have a good handle on planning her novel but was nevertheless heaped upon with veteran advice, which she withstood valiantly.
-inkwet managed to rather loudly disparage religious adherents. (Now, was that a Buddhist priest you meant?)
-delayra came up with some great character names and went on the search for the perfect villain, who never seemed to wander into the Roasterie.
-poetT decided not to write a book of suicides. (One idea down, 399 more to go...)

-----
"The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamouring to become visible" --Nabokov
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poetT / Teri
the ML in the black hat
United States::Missouri::Kansas City metro area

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

So Close!

delayra — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 06:14:36 -0800

Okay, folks! Here's where we are now:

Let's try to hit that 1.5 Million mark by midnight! We're less than 25K from it together! We can do it! We're currently ranked 64th (as of this posting), let's see if we can pass a few other Regions on our way to 1,500,000 words!
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Edeyn Hannah Blackeney -- the Lexivorous Word Witch
co-ML for US::MO::KC // US::KS::KC

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

The Coffee Shop

inkwet_image — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 06:56:21 -0700

Come in; squeeze another chair in at the table, flop in a cushy armchair, or just run in and out again once you have your latte.

This thread is founded on the theory that I may not be the only one who checks the forum, wishes for something clever to say, has nothing writing-related to add, and then leaves empty-posted. Ergo, I give you a thread where off-topic comments and random discussions are welcome.

So... How are you doing? Whose music inspires you? Which Sergio Leone movie did you just watch? Would you like foam on that latte? How many boxes of girl scout cookies do you need? Know any good dice games? Are those made from real Girl Scouts? Feel free to bring up anything that's on your mind. (Well, maybe not anything...)

Make yourself comfortable. I'm getting another iced latte.
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United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Surviving the Holiday?

poetT — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:46:48 -0800

Ah, that 4-day weekend, potentially filled with good food, family, friends, and frivolity. But will it also be filled with words for your novel?

What do you predict will happen to your word count? And what are you going to do about it?
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poetT / Teri
the ML in the black hat
United States::Missouri::Kansas City metro area

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

The problem with stories that have a life of their own...

delayra — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 20:59:01 -0800

Nearly 325,000 words in and a new character is introduced. Not so bad, I've got 25,000 words to go to goal, that's lots of ice-time, right? Except... I think this is the most fun character to write for any story I've written... EVER!

I think I have the heroine of a new line of short stories for this coming year...
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Edeyn Hannah Blackeney -- the Lexivorous Word Witch
co-ML for US::MO::KC // US::KS::KC

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Kansas City Dares

inkwet_image — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 22:16:43 -0800

Why not?

If you have something you'd like to see in a NaNoNovel, suggest it here (random is good).

If you get stuck, pull something from the Dares thread to spice up your novel (writer's block doesn't stand a chance).

***

My first contribution: The Travelling Shovel of Death tm
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United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Adoption Agency

mike oleary — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 06:27:00 -0700

I stumbled across the Adopt a Newbie thread somewhere else on the site.

I thought it a brilliant plan.
Those with some experience, or willing to cheerlead, push, prod, or urge to the next milestone would pair up with those who need a buddy to do exactly that.
I know that having a few people keeping an eye on my progress or lack thereof and continuing to gently coax me along has helped immensely in years past.

And having someone in your same time zone could be helpful too.
No need to ever meet, if that's not the way you write - some like camaraderie, others not so much.
But if you need a familiar writing buddy to get you to a group write-in, maybe this is the vehicle.

I was thinking it'd be good to have several buddies to help you - to bridge gaps, get around work situations, etc.

It may be useful to have someone who writes or reads what you do, but the contrast of someone who doesn't may be equally useful to you.

If you'd like to be adopted or are willing to adopt, add to this thread.

Thanks!
mike

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United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

Good News and Bad News

delayra — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:15:48 -0800

Okay, the accepted format of these announcements it to part with the good news first! So... I got a job *whew*

The bad news -- twofold -- 1) Work makes it impossible for me to make Wednesday night Write-Ins anymore. 2) I may not be able to hit my goal now!
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Edeyn Hannah Blackeney -- the Lexivorous Word Witch
co-ML for US::MO::KC // US::KS::KC

United States :: Missouri :: Kansas City

November Write-ins for the KC Metro Area

poetT — Sat, 6 Oct 2007 03:16:47 -0700

Here’s the schedule of November write-in meetings. I’ll also post them in our regional events calendar.

A write-in gets your writing out–out of the house, out of the same-old surroundings.. Even if you’re usually the solitary type, you’d be surprised at how motivating it is to work with other writers, pounding out those words together. You get to
-hear about fellow WriMos’ trials and triumphs
-ask for dares or ideas or commiseration when you’re stuck
-add characters based on random passers-by
-race others in word-count duels
-and above all, know that you’re not alone in this crazy run to 50k.

Myself, I used to think I could only write when I was alone, in perfect silence, in the perfect mood. Well, that didn’t happen often. My first NaNo write-ins helped free me from that mental stricture. Now I frequently get more done when I’m out of the house.

Last year we hopped around to different places to write. This year we’re going to establish a single base camp. It might not be as exciting, but then no one has to try to figure where to go each week.

So here’s the current lineup:

Sundays: 6 pm
Wednesdays: 6 pm
Roasterie, 6223 Brookside Blvd., Kansas City, MO
Roasterie Cafe
Mapquest to the Roasterie Cafe
Park in the lot behind or on the street in front. It’s open until 10 pm these two nights. (I usually stay late, but we MLs reserve the right to head home if no one shows up by 8 or 8:30.)

Midweek write-ins have brought out fewer of you wrimos; we’ll see if that changes with the single venue. We'd like it to be easy for you to come out for some NaNo camaraderie at least once a week.

Hope to see you at least a couple times come November!
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poetT / Teri
the ML in the black hat
United States::Missouri::Kansas City metro area