USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Reference Section

apathos — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:15:31 +0000

This is the place for links to programs and databases to help in research and writing! Please introduce anything you think might be helpful to others as they create their stories.

Scott posted this link to Storybook, an open source novel writing software program.

Soterios posted this link to WriteMonkey. I love the retro look of the interface!

This is a personal favorite: Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt's Oblique Strategies deck of cards.

I have an actual deck of the cards that I can bring to meetings, but this site has a link to a program that will "draw a card" for your consultation. In addition, if you have an iPhone or Touch, as do I, an application that performs the same function is available for free on iTunes.

Please add more links here as you see fit! In past years, we've had some wonderful links to historical references and "How To" guides, etc. Knock yourselves out, if you have a handy website of which you are fond which might impress the rest of us!
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God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.

USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Passing the Hat Around

apathos — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:36:15 +0000

Hi, everyone.

Today is official Donation Day, so I thought it'd be a good time to mention that, in addition to volunteers like me, NaNoWriMo relies on donations from individuals to run its programs each year. The goal is to raise $100,000 today by 11:59 PM, Pacific, to pay for this year and hopefully set some aside for next year's NaNoWriMo and the Young Writer's Program. These creative writing programs are provided free for the participants, and bring happiness to over 200,000 around the world each year. A donation needn't be much, but everyy little bit contributes toward the goal.

Donation Station!

Contributors get a lovely halo next to their name! Any little bit definitely helps.

If you prefer, you can also purchase lovely NaNO merchandise from the on-line store to remind you of your November adventure! The tee-shirts, hoodies, and mugs make for nifty holiday presents, and even better prizes, if you want to reward all yourself for all your hard effort!

Cool Stuff!

Thanks for reading this!

Thank you, always!

SeaN
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God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.

USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Write-In Monday, November 23, C.C.'s N. College

apathos — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:22:51 +0000

Hey!

I know it is really late notice, but if you are in the area tomorrow, Monday, I am gonna hang out at the C.C.'s Coffee on College, the free-standing one in the parking lot near the Albertson's. I'll try to get there at two and I'll be there for a few hours. Come by and write, or come by and study. Hopefully it'll be warm and nice so we can sit outside.

Community Coffee House
130 North College Road
Lafayette, Louisiana 70503

Phone:
337-269-9281

Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone!

SeaN
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God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.

USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Write-In Saturday, Nov. 21st, Camellia C.C.'s

apathos — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:39:56 +0000

Okay, gang!

How would you guys feel about a Saturday night Write-In?

The C.C.'s on Camellia is open to 11 PM, so I think that'd be good for us. (I'm open to the idea of moving it to the North College C.C.'s (or anywhere) if you prefer, but I am afraid that one might be too crowded and I am afraid we'll probably want to sit inside.)

Write-In: Saturday, November 21st, 2009
5PM-8PM

Community Coffee House
1315 Camellia Blvd., Suite 100
Lafayette, Louisiana 70508
[NOT the River Ranch C.C.'s]

Hours:
5:30 AM-10:00 PM [Mon-Th; Fri Until 11:00 PM]
6:00 AM-11:00 PM [Sat]
7:00 AM-10:00 PM [Sun]

Phone:337-406-2052

~SeaN
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God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.

USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Voice your opinions

j.stiernberg — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:08:25 +0000

I'm really excited about the way my book is coming along now! I'm still in catch-up mode because I slacked a few days but hopefully I'll be within a 2k word range of today's goal. What I like most though is the change in narration--notably, the voice I use. It started as a poor reflection of what I had been reading before bedtime (robert jordan), but I believe it has evolved somewhat and, while still borrowing from RJ, sounds more distinct.

How do you feel about the overall tone in your novel? I know we can't use a great deal of nice prose, but certainly you have a segment that just flew off the tips of your fingers. I just posted mine in my novel excerpt section.

Cheers,
Jim
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USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Getting out of the house for some writing

juneaaa — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:08:26 +0000

I thought I'd be the one to start a new topic for everyone to post to when they head out for writing in a public place.

I will be at the CC's on Kaliste Saloom (not the River Ranch one; the one in the shopping center with Marcello's and TCBY) in a few minutes and will be staying pretty much all afternoon. If anyone wants to join me they're more than welcome to come now or later since I'll be there until I get hungry for dinner.

Happy writing, everyone!
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USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

One word.

eccentricoz — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:00:01 +0000

So, I don't know about you guys but sometimes I feel utterly stuck (so far that hasn't been the case, luckily!). Anyways, I wanted to share something I "stumbled" upon, and it seems like a really great and fun "game" in the event you get stuck and need a way to get un-stuck.

http://www.oneword.com/

It's great, what you did is click "go" and they give you a single word, and you have 60 seconds to write. So watch your fingers fly and realize you have more to say than you originally thought. (:

I find this particularly nice because I had a creative writing teacher who told us to "just write" in order to get out the garbage that's cluttering your mind. (garbage sounds like a potentially condescending word but I don't mean that anything that you all are is writing is garbage! I'm sure you can relate)

By the way, I think it's only one word for each day. After you write, you get to see what other people wrote as well, and if you try to play again, you get the same word.

Have fuuuun~!
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"...Truth be told, I don't care, mayhem is beautiful..."

USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

FINALLY! It Begins!

apathos — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:10:53 +0000

Please join me for Day One of NaNoWriMo at the River Ranch C.C'.s. on Sunday, November 1st, 2009.

NOTE: This is the coffee shop by the City Club, and not the one with the drive-through window over on Camellia, closer to Kaliste Saloom.

The Official Introductions and Discussion hour to meet each other and talk about our books is 4 PM.

However, I'll be there from noon to six (approximately) and I have the meeting room reserved for all day.

Address:
1042 Camellia Boulevard
Lafayette, Louisiana 70508

Hours:
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Phone:
337-981-6167

Free High Speed Internet Access

Please bring your writing machine (or paper materials), yourself, headphones if you like, any reference material you might like to share or show off, and your enthusiasm. Non-NaNo folks are not forbidden (but they might get bored watching us type).

Can't wait to see you there!

Sean Landry/apathos
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God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.

USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Sunday, November 8th Write-In, River Ranch CC's

apathos — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:00:26 +0000

If you are free and in the mood to write, please join me this Sunday afternoon at the Community Coffee House in River Ranch (by the City Club, not the one with the drive-through).

Come early or stay late! Group up or spread out, but come write with me in solidarity! New faces are welcome and encouraged!

DAY: Sunday
DATE: November 8, 2009
WHEN: 1-5 PM
WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: C.C.'S River Ranch

1042 Camellia Boulevard
Lafayette, Louisiana 70508

Store Hours:
6:30 AM - 7:00 PM [Mon-Fri]
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM [Sat-Sun]
Phone:337-981-6167

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God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.

USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Local Settings!

EmilySquib — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:23:47 +0000

Part of my novel (or the bulk of it really) is set in New Orleans and Crowley.
What about you?
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USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Hello? Is This Thing On?

apathos — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:45:44 +0000

Hey, folks!

Sean here. Looks like I'll be your friendly neighborhood ML for this go 'round. If you are interested in participating, keep an eye on this forum. I'll post more details as I learn them.

Please feel free to chime in with a greeting if you are interested in NaNo. I look forward to hearing from friends both old and new!

Welcome to National Novel Writing Month 2009!
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God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.

USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Where? When? Express a Preference!

apathos — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:36:17 +0000

OK, Lafayette-area writers!

I'd love to hear everyone's feelings on times and places and venues for write-ins and the Launch Party and the TGIO celebration. Do you favor restaurants? Cafes? Libraries? Something else? In Lafayette? North or south? Day? Night? Weekends? I'll work with you all to have as many write-ins with as broad windows of time in as many convenient spots as you like (given my job and family commitments).

MY THOUGHTS:

I adore sitting in coffee shops for hours on end! It makes me very happy and I look forward to this most of all! Seriously!

In '07, we had frequent write-ins at the C.C.'s on Ambassador behind the mall, but it is not there any longer (not for lack of popularity--I understand it was a lease negotiation issue). I love the Community Coffee Houses (free WiFi, plus it's a local chain) but I'm totally fine with Starbucks or anywhere else similar (or not so similar). Diners or waffle restaurants are cool, too, if not as inviting (with their need for table turn-over).

I also have a great fondness for the new South Regional Library on Johnston (it's just beautiful, and very near my home), but I can travel. I'll ask them what sort of facilities they have available to us, though I doubt most of us want to be cloistered in a meeting room. My experience is that it's much more conducive to word counts be in open area with lots of passers-by (and sunlight is uplifting, as well).

Finally, I work in the Mall of Acadiana, and I am cool with having a friendly write-in in the center area by the fountains (or even in the food court) if that's what you like.

What are your thoughts, everyone?

I'll keep this survey open as long and as late as possible, to take into account people who might not even have heard of the National Novel Writing Month yet! I want to give the late-comers a voice in this, as well.

Chime in! I open the floor to you all. . . .
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God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.

USA :: Louisiana :: Lafayette

Head Start Spot

apathos — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:40:00 +0000

Okay!

I finally got my ML powers turned on today, so I'm going to start exploring the forums, looking into the resources on the NaNo website, and putting a calender together. I'm feeling so municipal!

In the meantime, I wanted to start putting up some hints and pointers and helpful thoughts for folks doing the Novel Writing Month for the first time, or for anyone who wants to start organizing their ideas in preparation for the marathon of words. Anyone who'd like to share practices and creative ideas here is welcome and invited to do so!

For today's advice, ask yourself this: What is my story? What am I going to write about?

Have you told anyone the story which you have in mind? You might find it helpful to describe your idea to others (or maybe you prefer to keep it up your sleeve for now, which also has its advantages because it frees you from criticism that can stunt your imagination's growth). Run through the details in a paragraph or more.

Try repeating this story to yourself and describing the tale you're contemplating every day from now through November. Add a little bit to the story each time you tell it. See what questions occur to you. Hopefully, these questions will lead to more questions. Keep the ball rolling in your mind!

Happy cogitating!
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God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.