USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

I Just...

Junglemonkey — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:00:42 +0000

I want to celebrate you! I want to tell you "Congratulations! I knew you could do it!" I want to pat you on the back, sing your praises, laud your fame to the heavens.

But you have to tell me what you did.

Did you just resolve a sticky plot point? Did you just figure out a character's motivation? Did you just write your five thousandth, ten thousandth, or even FIRST word?

TELL ME ABOUT IT!

Tell me about it here on the forums and I will cover you in laurels and put you up on my virtual shoulders, parading you around the city to the worshipful shrieking of virtual crowds of admirers. Tell me about it in person at a write-in, and I'll give you candy and prizes!

Either way, if you don't tell us, we won't know!

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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Day After Thanksgiving/TGIO

Junglemonkey — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:54:54 +0000

My darling Nanos, we have precisely one week left. Seven days. Four of those days are a holiday weekend, which means that everyone has an excellent opportunity to put some hardcore concentration into their writing and pile on some more words. Lots of you are within striking distance of finishing, and I'm supremely confident that you'll make it!

There are two things I want to let you know about/get your input on:

1. I'm holding a write-in open house at my place in Boulder Creek all day Friday. There will be Thanksgiving leftovers (although if all we have left is green beans and the rolls that burned, that's not my fault), there will be movies, and spiced cider and wireless internet and quiet for them as needs it. All are welcome anytime between 10am and 10pm. If you need directions, please PM me and I'll get them to you.

2. In addition to awesomely volunteering her husband's place of work for our Sunday afternoon write-ins, Wyldkat has very generously offered to host the TGIO party. It's gonna be Sunday, 12/6, with the time to be announced. This will be another potluck, and it would be great if everyone brought a maximum of two pages of their work (finished or not - you don't need to have crossed the finish line to come to the party). We're planning some fun games, and it would be great if some of you who haven't been to any of the write-ins or other events could make it out and see us!
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Our very own writer's block / midway hump / I don't WANNA write thread

Wyldkat — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:52:19 +0000

I'm starting this to procrastinate because I don't want to write. I have no idea what to write right now. I actually have two separate sections of my story being written at the same time and I STILL don't know what to write and/or simply don't want to.

I've been writing more than the minimum each day because I know there will be at least two or three days I won't be able to write so I really SHOULD write today. Argh.... I might just take a break and try again later this evening.
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USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

impromptu write-in

ali_oop — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:57:24 +0000

I'm going to be at aptos coffee at eleven am tomorrow (nov 9) to get some seriously needed writing done. I'd love some company if anyone is interested in joining in. I'll be the frazzled looking one with a purple rainbow polkadotted laptop bag, a macbook, and a copy of no plot? no problem!

hope to see you there :)
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~~~~~~~
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less travled by.
And that has made all the difference.

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

SO excited. MUST share!!!

Wyldkat — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:47:02 +0000

I got back from the conference I was at to find a package waiting for me. It was a book I had been waiting for, "Weddings, Funerals and Rites of Passage" from the Universal Life Church. This might not sound very interesting, but I have THREE ceremonies published in it!!!!!!

Bounced around saying "Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" for several minutes. SUPER happy dance!!!!
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USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Midway Party!

Junglemonkey — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:15:27 +0000

Last night, we decided that a midway party is definitely in order! Here's the plan:

Potluck at Junglemonkey's House
Saturday, 14 November
6:00pm - ????? (I don't kick anyone out who's still writing)

Please bring a dish to share. If it requires cooking, you're welcome to use my well-equipped kitchen for the purpose. We'll also be taking some time to socialize, connect and watch hilarious movies. YAY!

Please PM me to RSVP and to get directions (PM by clicking on my name and then clicking "Send Nanomail" under my user pic).
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Hey just so everyone knows...

Wyldkat — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:51:06 +0000

Epic, where the Sunday write ins are, is offering a special deal to nanowrimo participants. I posted it up at http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3444209

I really hope than link works...
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USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Hours and Hurdles?

amaterathu — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:46:15 +0000

I was curious as to how many hours a day my fellow Santa Cruz NaNo denizens are putting in daily to keep up, especially those who have done this before. It seems if I stick to the suggested 2 hours I meet the daily deadline handily. Depending on how tired I am from work I usuallu get on fire and go way past that in time and words. I know its only 3 days in but so far the pace has net seemed such a grind.

Having prepared ths story in my head for 5 years has given me way more than I'll be able to fit in one book I think. I suppose the real challenge for most is having a story to unfold, wheras the Write or Die is a great motivator to keep chuggin reguardless of the crap output. Every once in awhile I get stuck on a word and the red screen and sirens gets me out of that dehabilitatingly fatal can't-quite-get-my-head-around-that-word funk. Thnx Write or Die, oh and for the word counter too.

Btw, I work full time (8+ hours, 5 days a week) and have about an hour and a half worth of daily commute (great Audible time). So please let me know what to watch out for, my NaNo-ites. If I have no problem with the daily output and time commitment, what else should I beware?
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USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

When Bad Things Happen to Good Writers

Junglemonkey — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:28:54 +0000

I have yet to get through a November without something life-upsetting happening. It's tough when your train of thought never gets out of station, your mojo dries up and your muse falls into a coma because the rest of your life has intruded.

Today, at 9am, my older kid got into a car accident while driving on a field trip. She's fine, the other driver's fine, the car's in the shop. As anyone who's ever had a fender-bender knows, the real hassle is the millions of phone calls and pieces of paperwork and general annoyances that are the inevitable aftermath of even the most minor accident.

Then at some point between 11:30am and 2:30pm, our rooster got out, did battle with some kind of animal, and lost. We found him on our neighbor's property, still warm. The neighbors think a bobcat got him.

I've had family deaths, layoffs, weddings and moves happen during November, and I've won every year. It can be done.

I say this because I know that bad stuff is happening to people all over. I know that it's even tougher to focus when your mind is on solving the fires that your life is lighting under you. Sometimes, it helps to talk it out. Let other people know about it. Tell us, so that we can commiserate with you! We, your fellow writers, want to support you, help you, bathe you in the virtual glow of our writerly love.

Go ahead. Let it all out. We're here.
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Carpooling to the Halfway Party

Junglemonkey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:59:49 +0000

We've got two major halfway-party challenges: one is that I'm way at the north end of a pretty spread-out county. The other is that many of my beautiful Nanites are students without their own wheels.

I would like to overcome this handicap by encouraging you guys to hook up, talk together, and figure out who can carpool with whom. I will be able to give some rides home after it's all over, but beforehand I'll be sort of busy...you understand.

If you've got wheels and can bring someone, let us know where you are so that we can coordinate. Likewise, if you're looking for a ride up, let us know where you are so that others can help you. For those of you hoping for an Awkward Bus Adventure, the 35 goes near my house - you'd have to get off at Highway 9 & Highway 236, and perhaps we can arrange some shuttles to pick folks up, since that's just a couple of miles down the road from us.

Let's not let a little thing like geography get in the way of the celebration we've all worked so hard to earn!
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

15,000 words by midnight tonight?

Charlie Spades — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:03:49 +0000

Check in if you make it! For a lark, post the sentence that you hit 15k words with, and we'll compare wacky hijinks.

I'm not there yet, but I'll be sure to post when I do.

For those crazy people like Junglemonkey who've long passed that hurdle -- I dunno, post your next round numbered accomplishment with sentence and pretend to fit in with those of us who are struggling. We still love you, even if you are unfairly fast.
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USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Happy ML Appreciation Day!

kollos — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:01:07 +0000

Allow me to be the first to thank JungleMonkey and Cebele for their hard work and their thoughtfulness. Yay MLs!!
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"Said Hamlet to Ophelia,
I'll draw a sketch of thee,
What kind of pencil shall I use?
2B or not 2B?"

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

UCSC!

RiddleMeThis — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:14:39 +0000

Any other banana slugs out there?
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USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Soquel Write-Ins?

Dreamapple — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:37:02 +0000

Is anyone interested in a Soquel based write-in? I work over here M-F and have converted my boss into Nano this year. I'm thinking at about 7-9 at the Ugly Mug or any other Soquel/Aptos place that would be willing to accommodate us. Maybe folks not able to do the UCSC write-ins on Thursdays? Suggestions welcome.
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USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

First NaNoWrimo

robynmz — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:08:52 +0000

Yes this is my first NaNoWrimo, and not wanting to jinx myself with an immediate case of writers block, I started tabula rasa. Further reflection on this first day of writing showed me to have made an error in not doing some preplanning for my novel. Live and learn applies here, I have made a slow start but ideas have come to me, my muse has been kind, and I have things to write, a story to tell. Time will tell if my story telling will pick up momentum as the days near the thirtieth, as I feel confident it will but will it be enough to make the mark? Fifty thousand words by the end of November, the pressure is on and the writing machine is slowly chugging up the tracks and, hopefully, picking up steam.
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Robyn M

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Great Write in!

robynmz — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:20:40 +0000

A great Sunday write in, thank you Junglemonkey, though my word count was on the low side. I'm starting everything with no preplanning so I guess it's to be expected. Ideas are starting to pop up, I need to ignore the edit and think too much reflex!
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Robyn M

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Back Up Early, Back Up Often!

Junglemonkey — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:17:25 +0000

Last night while I was working on some editing, my little kid knocked over some potpourri onto my laptop.

I froze. My husband girlie screamed. The kid backed into a corner, one hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.

After drying it off, there are some little shooting star ghosts on the screen, but it's none the worse for wear. I was a little nervous, but even if my computer were utterly fried, it wouldn't have been that big a deal. I've got a box to which I back up my computer semi-regularly.

What would you go if YOUR computer had an accident? Sure, you'd lose your novel, but what else would you lose? Important homework? Precious photos? Your address book?

You can get thumb drives for practically nothing. There are online places like Google where you can store documents. Find a place, and back your important stuff up often! You won't be sorry.
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

First Write-In

Midnightatnoon — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:40:26 +0000

So I (obviously) didn't make it to the kick-off gathering, cause of a prior engagement at 7:30. But I am for sure, for sure coming to the write-in at the diner. My question is: since I didn't go, what should I look for so I don't miss you guys?
I'm sure I'll stand out like a sore thumb, I'm not dressing up. :P

Thought it might be helpful just in case there are others who couldn't make the first meet up..
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USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Checking In

Junglemonkey — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:08:12 +0000

Hey, all! It's your ML, Junglemonkey. Who's here? Even as I write this, I'm hard at work putting together a write-in schedule, thinking up ways to get the word out, etc. Besides introducing yourself to your fellow Nanos, I'd love it if you'd weigh in on the following:

1. Where/when would you like to do a kick-off? My default is Thursday, October 29, at the Ugly Mug in Soquel, from 5-7pm.
2. What venues look good for write-ins? Remember, a lot of places are shutting off their wifi, and some are restricting access to power, so places like coffee shops get less attractive while the library and people's houses look better and better. Let's come up with some choices that will suit everyone.
3. Last year, we seemed to be split into two factions with very different desires, students and 9-5ers. Which group are you, and what can I/we do to accomodate you?

It's great to see you all, and I'm really looking forward to November!

Junglemonkey, Your Santa Cruz ML
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Kick off party

Poisonous.Giraffe — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:26:45 +0000

I live on the UCSC campus and don't have any transportation other than the lovely bus, and I kinda want to go to the kick off party. Since taking the bus alone is kind of depressing, I was wondering if anyone wants to do a carpool or awkward bus adventure with people they've only just met. Does this sound like a good idea to anyone?
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
lets all go out on our lawns and yell obscenities at passersby.
VOOOOOOOI!

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Donate! Donate! Donate!

Junglemonkey — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:05:20 +0000

Hi, and welcome to all my Santa Cruz homies!

There's a serious thing I'd like to bring up to all of you: MONEY.

Nobody's charging you money to participate in Nanowrimo. You can participate, come to all the write-ins in the world, collect prizes and swag, attend parties and even win, and no one will charge you a dime.

The problem is that making this all happen costs money. All the bandwidth, the construction of the very website you're currently viewing, office staff who make sure that everything happens the way it's supposed to, the stickers and buttons and online certificates - all of those things cost money. Most of that money comes from folks like you and me, donating a little bit to keep things running.

What is this experience worth to you? What is having a ready-made cheering squad, pulling for you night and day as you toil toward a seemingly impossible goal worth? If you wanted to join a program like Team in Training, which would train you to do the physical equivalent of writing a novel in 30 days, they would require that you raise thousands of dollars in order to participate in the actual event for which you are training. Nano asks no such thing of its participants. Rather, it asks that, if you can, you kick down a few bucks. Whatever you can afford. If you're completely strapped (and in this economy, you're not alone!) check out the "Donating When Broke" heading in the "About" section - there are all kinds of ways to help out!

I don't get paid to do this, but I think it's important to help people tell their stories. I sincerely hope that each of you feels that it's equally important that each of you feels that you benefited by the support and encouragement that Nano provides.

Thanks!
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Follow Us On Twitter

Junglemonkey — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:21:20 +0000

We have a Twitter account!! Those of you who are tweeters can now follow StaCrzNano to get more information than you wanted to know about the state of our region, 140 characters at a time.

Friend StaCrzNano and DM me that you're one of my homies, and I'll friend you back! I'd love to keep up with everyone's noveling procrastination!
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Lucky Writing Socks

Junglemonkey — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:41:07 +0000

Do you have a favorite shirt / hat / pair of socks / scarf / mitten / pair of underpants that you like to wear while doing your writing?

How about a lucky rock / troll doll / action figure / mug / piece of pocket lint?

Do you find that you write better in a particular position, location or while listening to a particular piece of music?

Our muses are all around us, and now is the time to start thinking about what guise they might be wearing and entice them to stay near us in the coming month. What's YOUR writing totem? Mine's a metal teapot with a brown monkey tea cozy on it - it stays by my side and holds out the promise of instant refreshment the minute I turn my eyes away from my computer.

How about you guys?
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

What Do I Do Now?

Junglemonkey — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:21:03 +0000

Good question - I'm glad you asked that. It's inquisitive minds like yours that make Nanowrimo a pleasure! And that's a nice outfit you've got on - is that new? It really suits you!

So, if you'd like to know what's going on, we actually do have a Google calendar (which I'm in the process of updating and hooking into our header just like other groups have). We're striving for four write-ins a week, but if, once we get the schedule up, you don't see a write-in that suits you, feel free to NOVEL ANYWHERE. In years past I have noveled in parks, at museums, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (where nothing brings the applause of the crowd in the Outer Bay exhibit like a big fish pooping) and lots of other less notable places - wherever I happened to have my laptop. There will also be a lot of info right here in the forums.

If you have a special question that you don't feel comfortable asking in the virtual public eye of the forums, you can always PM either myself or my lovely CoML Celebel (under "My NaNoWriMo" choose "Check & Send Nanomail").

You will be receiving a wide variety of motivational emails - some from your CoMLs (yes, I'm still pronouncing it like "camel" with an accent), some from the Nano staff, and some from the people we all hope to be one day - authors who are actually making a living at it. If, for any reason, you do not want to receive these emails, you can always elect not to receive them (under "My NaNoWriMo," choose "Manage Notifications").

You have three weeks between now and November in which to get your affairs in order. Find out who's going to be doing your laundry, delivering your hot meals and doing your work/homework for you. Remind everyone that your showering may become erratic and that you're not senile, just busy. Remember that so many of those things that you think are "necessary," aren't actually. Seriously - how many meals a week do you *really* need? And clean socks? WILDLY overrated. The only thing you need to do is commit to your story, and come hang out with your fellow undernourished, sleep-deprived and possibly none-too-fresh writers.

Whether you choose to hang out with your fellow writers actually, virtually, or not at all, I'm glad you're here. I've done this every year for seven years now, and every year the challenges are entirely different. I've met some of my best friends at Nano, and I hope that at the big TGIO party, you can look back on November and feel that you're a better person. Especially if you've slept and showered just before looking back.
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power

USA :: California :: Santa Cruz

Dress Like a Writer for Halloween

Junglemonkey — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:30:47 +0000

My delightful co-ML (pronounced like "camel," but with an accent) has suggested having our kickoff right on Halloween. This means that we can all jam pencils behind our ears and tell everyone we're writers! Except my kid, who will have scars and gore and be a zombie writer, because she's a joiner that way.

It's been a tradition for our neighbors to the North (not Canada - San Jose) to host a midnight First Write kickoff at some 24-hour venue (in years past it's been a Denny's). Would anyone here be interested? It's always nice to get a little word count in right up front, and stops you from getting depressed when you see that one smug New Zealander jerk who's already posted 15,000 words at the end of the first day. Nobody likes that guy.

If you'd be up for such an event, shout out! And then post, because I'm up in the mountains and going slightly deaf and can't hear you.
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power