NEW EDIT 10/29: This thread can be seen from either forum - Gainesville or Peoria, and will automatically update both. Hooray!
**Note: This thread will be posted to both the Gainesville & Peoria regional forums, so everyone can be in the same loop.
While the Gainesville ML team is visiting Tokyo in early October, they've given me the go-ahead to start our regional buddy/enemy search! Everyone needs a strong support team and a little motivation (even if it comes in the form of friendly competition), so here are the details of the Buddy/Enemy program:
This thread is for the Gainesville/ Peoria Sister Region group. From here members of either region can request a NaNoWriMo buddy/enemy from the sister region.
For those of you new to the concept of Nano Buddy/Enemy pairs, the idea is that two people match up in order to have someone to support / to draw support from during the month of November. Support can be friendly rivalries, competitive word wars, or encouraging e-mails shared between partners. Really, the partnership is what you make of it, with the end goal being something that will help both of you cross that 50k line.
Because people vary in what motivates them, we are opening the floor to you - introduce yourself, and what you are looking for in a sister region partner. Or, look and see if there is anyone who has already posted from the other region with whom you'd like to work. You can reply here, or via private message.
Or, if you'd rather, you can reach one of us MLs by private message: Cheri (grouchmuffin), Christy (weylyn42) or Alison (bankysgirl) and let us know what you are looking for in a buddy, and we'll try to help match you up with a suitable partner.
Any questions, suggestions, ideas? That’s what we’re here for. =) Ask one of your friendly MLs, and we’ll be happy to answer your question the best we can.
Have fun and good luck to everyone this NaNo season!!
~Cheri, ML - Peoria, Illinois
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Cheri in Peoria
50,189 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2008 - 18 24
Hi Peoria, I am Christy, one of the ML's from Gainesville. After much deliberation, and time getting away quicker than expected, we decided to use this thread as place for people from Gainesville and Peoria to find their writing buddy/enemy for November. I came over to get the ball rolling.
First, a bit about me: I am a veteran wrimo, retuning for my 7th year. I have completed the challenge successfully 5 of my 6 years, and write in a variety of genres. This year I am working from an outline (something new from me, and I don't know if it will slow me down, or help me). I am also writing my novel by hand this year, due to problems with my hands and arms (overuse of computers, would you believe :-( ) I will be inputting my novel into my computer via sometimes erratic speech recognition software. I am in my 30s, married, with two furry, four-legged children who often sit in my lap when I'm trying to write.
What I can offer as a buddy is unparalleled enthusiasm and belief that any buddy of mine can and will compete their 50K with ease. I can send encouraging words by e-mail and chat, though my buddy will have to be patient with me as I have to limit my computer use. I also love exchanging novels come the end of NaNo WriMo, providing feedback, etc.
So if you are looking for a buddy to encourage (I'll know I'll need help to get past frequent doubts I have about my story, and the frustration of attempting this by hand), and to be encouraged in turn, and perhaps swap stories when all is said and done, drop me a line.
-Christy - aka weylyn42
50,020 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2008 - 19 32
Hey all! Misa here looking to find her very own Peoria buddy!
So, who's excited for Nov. 1?
-raises hand enthusiastically-
Who had way too much sugar at the end of a really long day?
-leaves hand in the air-
Ok, all excess energy aside and serious facade in place... I am very interested in pairing up with a Peoria buddy/enemy/guardian angel/secret agent/etc. Allow me to introduce myself first:
My name is Misa (short for Marisa, which I sometimes go by in the Real World) and I'm an 18 year old bundle of friendliness. I am taking a gap year before college, so I currently do not have the hassles of school to contend with every day. However, that does not mean I have an over abundance of free time. This is my first year as a NaNo, and I hope that I am ready for the challenge! I love writing. Short stories, roleplaying, random creative writing blurbs, and sometimes even school essays. I do have a problem with being a slow writer though as I have this strong habit of editing my work sentence by sentence before, during, and after I set it down on paper.
I am looking for a buddy who is encouraging, wants encouragement, and also just likes to have fun. I also hope that someone can help break me of my editing habits. When we're not busy writing and competing we can rant about our stories, or just have a casual chat about things that went on that day, music (I like just about any kind of rock music), pets, movies, or any other sort of randomness (except for politics, please). I mainly use AIM, but I also have MSN and (of course) email. As I work and have swim practice during the day, I try to get online every night. My friends here like to make last-minute plans downtown sometimes, but when I do manage to stay online I am usually on until 1am (EST).
Best of luck to everyone!
Misa~ Gainesville, FL
52,114 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2008 - 05 47
Welcome Gainesville, to our cozy little writers' retreat! =) We have plump, comfy sofas, plenty of caffeine and lots of enthusiasm...the writing party has started and I'm so glad you're here!
I'm Cheri...a 5th year Wrimo. As you can see by my profile, I'm 104 years old, and holding up pretty well for my age. Hair dye does wonders for a woman!! ;o) And the eye-crossing bit is just one of many talents I possess! haha
I generally write (and read) thrillers, but lately I've jumped into the fantasy realm too-reading mostly, but it is carrying over into my writings. Last year's novel innocently started out as a paranormal lit-fic, but the 2nd draft revealed a fantasy side too. This year's novel I'm going old school though. It's going to be a straight legal thriller. (I think...unless the muses have different ideas again...)
I guess I'm looking for someone who can relate to writing in a world completely unknown to them (in my case this year--one of my narrators is criminally insane and incarcerated) and who is relentless in their pursuit of the 50,000 word golden prize! It matters little if this is your first NaNo experience or your 10th...
I'm an executive assistant for a lawn & garden/sprinkler manufacturing company that was just bought out by the ginormous Bosch industry. (This part is a true story, btw.) My new bosses from Germany are apparently VERY fond of espresso in the morning, so one of my new job duties is that of barrista. I learned how to use our Gaggia espresso maker in very short order!! If you ARE a barrista, maybe this is a buddemy match made in caffeinated heaven!
I also moonlight as a video editor, freelance writer and psycho-legal consultant. Juggling 60+ hours a week and getting my book to 60k (I'm shooting for 2k a day) will be my biggest challenge this year.
What I *can* offer to you though is undying cheerleading skills. =) You can ask some of the Peoria Wrimos here who have been on the receiving end of my Rah Rah Rah NaNoMail messages. ;o)
If you're interested, let me know. Thanks, Gainesville! =)
52,114 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2008 - 06 34
I think I found a workaround (accidentally!) that allows both regions to see everyone's posts. So, I *think* you can post your buddy request to either region & it updates both simultaneously. (Crosses fingers and toesies that it works!)
EDIT: It works! =)
~Cheri
50,086 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2008 - 04 05
*crosses fingers that this works & slips Cheri a cookie for the attempt*
Ok, I'll go first. Hello Gainesville! I'm Angela, I'm 32 & this'll be my 5th NaNo. I haven't hit 50k yet, but I keep coming back to try. Every year I meet somebody new & interesting, every year I learn something new & every year I can't wait to go again, lol. I've done a sort of historical fantasy, some fan fic, something a li'l dystopian & this year's going to be a bit of fantasy. It won't be elves-dragons-magic type, but the slightly skewed perspective on real things fantasy, so I'm excited to see how it'll turn out. In previous years I had a pretty large family obligation during November, but this year I am free & clear & I am hitting 50,000 words!! Grrr....*dons fearsome, superhero-novelist guise*
Besides noveling, I' game (that's my NaNo-offseason writing), I like sci fi & fantasy books, I'm a movie junkie, I make graphics & help run an X-Men game online, I draw, I listen to a lot of music (classic rock is my favorite, but I'll listen to most anything). I don't have kids, but I do have -in my wholly biased opinion- the cutest niece in the world. As a NaNo buddy, I'll be there to cheer or lament, I'll offer advice as I can & will generally be there to poke you with a stick whenever necessary. :D I'd like somebody to talk, lament or cheer with & possibly do a bit of novel swapping after. I'm open to NaNomail, or IMs, however you'd prefer.
0 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2008 - 07 34
I need a writing buddy to wage war with. :) Any volunteers?
Lynn
50,160 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2008 - 20 03
ISO Peoria NaNo buddy/antagonist/friendly ear/shoulder to cry on. Offers same in return.
I'm Debi, long-time writer, first time NaNo. I got started writing in middle school in a genre I didn't even know had a name until years later-- fanfiction. Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, Robin of Sherwood, Highlander: the Series, all fell to my onslaught. Then, when others out there in Fandom Land said they liked my stories I thought, "Hey, if I can do this with my own ideas..." Thus was born my forays into writing original material.
I enjoy many genres of fiction, though I tend to write mostly in a fantasy setting. Not high fantasy/legendary creatures lurking behind every bush, but very character driven. My characters are quite real to me and get upset with me if I don't listen to them when they're talking to me.
So, if anyone would like to play...;-)
Debi
52,114 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 11 31
If you are still looking for a buddy, I'm still looking for one too. =) My intro is below. You can NaNoMail me if you're interested.
Christy/Misa-I think zswife from P-Town is still looking for a buddy, if you are too. I think Bristow from Peoria & Twirly from Gainesville have buddied up as well. Yay for the buddy system!
Cheri
50,189 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 18 58
Lynn, I'll happily take you on as a writing buddy/enemy. I'll private message you with my IM and e-mail so we can touch base for good times to war. :-)
-Christy
0 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 22 45
Christy,
That sounds great to me. Sorry that I haven't been online. Internet was down. I am good now.
Lynn