USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Final week

mscaramia — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:30:29 +0000

How is everyone doing?

How is everyone feeling about their pieces?

Since I haven't made it to a write-in since the first week, I'd love to chat a bit on everyone's progress.

For me personally, as you can see I'm nearing the 30k line... Extremely exciting. I was feeling proud of myself for knocking out almost 10k yesterday, definitely a good feeling. I am also getting into the groove of my story and am now expecting it to be much longer than 50k words!! I am not intimidated in the slightest by that discovery (22 days ago, I would have been).

I found my voice too...about a week ago.... third person. Never in a million years would I have dreamed that the story about "myself" essentially would be told in anything other than first person - but that just wasn't working for me. It was forced, it was melodramatic, it made me feel like a poser...imposing on someone else's reality when I didn't even want to BE there. It's better for it to sound disconnected because I am disconnected, but when I peer in on the details it makes it so much more impactful because that's obviously what I *truly* remember (or is it? because it's partially fictionalized, oooohhh, tricky).

Anyway, I am having a great time with this and don't feel the slightest worried about writing 20k in 8 days - sounds like a cake walk!! That is - as long as I don't put it off a day, then another day, then another day.... LOL

Hope you're having a fantastic day!
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Ashland this weekend

Profoctorzekey — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:42:05 +0000

Hey everybody.

Are there enough of us to stage a small write-in this weekend? I think it'd be fun to either go somewhere with snacks, or maybe some place where we could all bring something to share. (Corynn brought muffins once, and the time before that I brought a big thing of hot water and tea, just to give an idea.)

Anyway, I just think it's nice seeing other people, and it would be really cool to develop a writing community of sorts.

So, who's interested? Any suggestions?

-Zeke
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The following is my signature...
I wrote 1278 words in 15 minutes without Write or Die. Write or Die can suck it.

USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Write-in this weekend?

mumygirl1890 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:13:22 +0000

Sorry that I've missed so many and the one last weekend. We should get together tomorrow myabe. I work nights so I can't meet during the evenings during the week. If anyone's interested do you want to get together at that Cyber place that was mentioned before?
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Another Medford Write-In

cryohazard — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:56:53 +0000

I think perhaps another write-in is in order. there is great motivation to write more when other people around you are writing.

Perhaps we could meet at Mellelos Coffee Roaster, which is near where the Medford Library used to be.
the specific address is: 229 W Main St # A, Medford, OR‎
if you are unsure, there is always google maps to help you find it. keep in mind W Main St. is a one way going west.
i personally have found it a very nice place to write. I'll be there from 12 to 5, hoping other people will come. if any of you would rather go to Starbucks or something; speak now or forever hold your peace.

Who's with me?!
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Grants Pass?

Pointy-Hatted Geek — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:52:01 +0000

How many crazy NaNoers do we have in GP this year? We didn't do any write-ins here last year, I don't think, but some might be nice this year. Many people seem to be more in the Medford/Ashland area.

And how many do we have from GPHS? (I know there are a few of us, but I've been trying to recruit more. Hurray for free flyers!) I was thinking something at the school could be fun, if we could get it organized and there are enough people interested.
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

SOU Library - Monday, 7:00 p.m.

Profoctorzekey — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:22:18 +0000

Write-in at the SOU library for Monday, 7:00 p.m.

Sneak in some snacks. Bring a friend (if they are quiet and can handle all the typing). Prepare to write like a fiend.

I will edit this post this weekend to let you know which room I reserve.

Don't weenie out.
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The following is my signature...
I wrote 1278 words in 15 minutes without Write or Die. Write or Die can suck it.

USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Calling all Ashlanders (or anyone else nearby)!

Stitch42 — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:43:58 +0000

Hi, this is my third year doing this, and I feel the need to admit I've still never managed to win. But, though this is my third year doing Nano, it's my first here in Ashland! I was wondering if we could plan any Ashland write-ins? I know I would love to go to a kick-off write-in, and any others planned (Within my busy college schedule, of course).
Any one else interested, and, if so, know of any good places?
That's all this nano-er has to say for now.
Happy writing!
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

SOU write-in

CorynnDelCore — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:10:13 +0000

We're having a write-in tomorrow night 8 pm - later, in the library at SOU....we'll probably be somewhere on the second floor, I'll try to get us a group study room. Anyone think they can make it?

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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Ah, beginnings....

_Orpheus_ — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:49:09 +0000

So out of a combination of pure curiosity and a desire to attempt to revive forum activity (which seems to be generally lacking) I thought I'd ask a simple yet important question: How did we start our NaNoWriMo adventures? It seems that the real challenge of this November is not so much completing the novel as working up the guts to embark on the journey in the first place, and I'm curious as to how people chose to start their novel.

I'll start us off.

"The dream world had always possessed its own quiet sort of noise; something about it resonated into reality despite best attempts to keep it in its own dark, quiet box, and dreams had a certain special way of slipping out of heads and mouths to settle gently among whichever ears were willing to listen."
What follows is a lengthy exposition about a machine called the NightMare and its origins, its failings, and the events that led to its removal from the market. I needed a snack and a day of absolutely no activity before I began.

Next?
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Medford Write-In

mscaramia — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:32:08 +0000

In order to keep spirits high, I feel it is important to organize a write-in so locals can gain some community support (and maybe make some friends?).

I would like to meet at the Starbuck's/Barnes & Noble in Medford or possibly Pita Pit? We can all help decide a date and time.

Consistency on the forums is dwindling, the last post was by me over 20 hours ago. And I have to be honest with you guys, I need a little more support than that. Luckily I found a group on Live Journal that is extremely active but I really would like to meet some people in the real world who are doing this.

I want to be successful, I don't want to be counting my good graces for hitting 35,000 on the 30th.

Who's with me?

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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Grants Pass Write-In

faithor1979 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:29:38 +0000

Is anyone planning one? Me and my sister would like to attend but I don't have the time to plan one myself and can't get over to Medford or Ashland within reason due to car troubles.
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

SOU Students

Quirkiverse — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:23:04 +0000

Hey, guys. How many of us are on here?
And how's it going so far?
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

IMPORTANT Oregon All State Write In Update: RSVP'S NOW FULL

brightshadowsky — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:30:23 +0000

As of 9am on Nov 5th: all 60 slots are now full! :( i will be starting a waitlist in case of cancellations, but i can't guarantee anything

Update about this post: i simul-posted this in all the Oregon forums, which has the interesting side effect of causing all replies to show up in each forum as well. I apologize for any confusion this may cause when arranging car pools. :S Feel free to continue using the original "You're invited!" thread in your region to organize - i still keep tabs on those as well.

1: We've got 36 50 people who have RSVP'd at this time. Awesome! But this means that there are only 24 10 more people who can come before i have to cut off RSVP's, because our room cap is 60. If you are planning on coming RSVP ASAP!

HOW TO RSVP: Please send your e-mail address to me either by nano mail or to MLbrightshadowsky(at)gmail(dot) com. I will send you an invite to the Google Calendar entry to this event. You do not have to have a google account to use this invitation. If you are RSVP'ing for a group please make sure to use the option where you state how many "guests" you're bringing (i know they're Wrimos and not "guests")

If you've accepted/declined/maybed the invite you got - THANK YOU! If you haven't, please go find that e-mail and confirm your RSVP. There's 11 people who i know said that they were coming and yet they haven't confirmed the e-vite yet.

2: tickets into the aquarium. I'm doing my best to acquire as many tickets as possible to get people in for free. i have about 15 free entries into the Aquarium lined up as of this moment. Obviously that's something of a shortfall. i'm going to do my best to get as many more as possible, but if you are able to afford the admission price (Adults (18-64) $14.95, Seniors (65+) $12.95, Young Adults (13-17) $12.25) please bring it with you just in case. We'll be taking advantage of the 10% discount that members get on all admission prices so you should get a discount if nothing else.

3: If we hit room capacity: i'll make sure to send an e-mail out to those who have already RSVP'd to remind them to update their status if they can no longer come, and begin compiling a waitlist. We can't exceed occupancy of the room, and there will be an official guest list we'll be checking people off against. Please RSVP - if you just show up at the event you can pay to get in and enjoy the aquarium but we won't be giving out any of the free passes to you and you won't be able to join us in the event room. I hate the prospect of having to lay down the law like that but i never expected this event to explode as it has!

4: Sorry for all the serious, heavy handed stuff, guys. :) We're going to have a great time, and i've already found myself in possession of one heck of an awesome raffle prize. i LOVE my chamber of commerce! And no, you don't get to know what it is yet. :)

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ML Contact form
Q: Where do MLs come from?
A: A spontaneous combustion of literary abandon.

USA :: Oregon :: Albany-Corvallis

Write or Die

davidevincent — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:26:18 +0000

Maybe you've seen this and maybe you haven't, but just in case...

A great way to hold a gun to your head, during November, is making use of Dr. Wicked's Writer or Die site.

The online app is most useful for self-coercion--and I have a few scars to prove it.

http://writeordie.drwicked.com/

Recently they have a built a new and improved arm-twisting version--for only $10.

Here's a promotional video that shows you all of the new bells and whistles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtdVJF4PiF0

Sorry, it doesn't come with a waterboarding add on. You'll have to do that yourself.

It just might save your November.
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Introduce Yourself

mscaramia — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:04:15 +0000

Since write-ins sound like they may be scattered and few/far between, let's introduce ourselves now.

I am a 20-year-old California native who has been living the Oregon life for the past four years. My interest in writing has existed since about as long as I could read. When I was younger, I wrote morbidly advanced poetry for my age, favoring the dark, complex, and abstract. My writing has evolved since then but my topic nestles itself right in the womb of adolescence, in the mind of a young woman who could not tell up from down, and collapsed beneath the rubble in a world of contradiction.

The biggest struggles I face in writing are: not editing as I go, convincing dialogue, settling on one perspective, and a driving plot. My advantages include my stubbornness, my background in poetry (usually makes for interesting prose), and my real life experience that I expect to drive the plot.

I love coffee and intellectual stimulation, both at the same time make me a happy girl. Outside of writing, I work in broadcasting and also own my own small business. I have a green thumb and an overactive imagination.

Pleasure meeting you.
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

KICK OFF!

EP Cross — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:59:37 +0000

Hello Everyone ~

I’m not sure where to put this, whether I am introducing myself or just checking in. I think I’ll start something new. Oooo I’m only a few minutes short of time to write!

I’m in Ashland and I would like very much to meet with other writers at some point, whether to “write in” or just to talk. This is my third year doing NaNoWriMo and I have yet to get my bottom out the door and meet any other writers. I would really like to do that this year, if only a few folks or only a couple of times. I went to one “meeting” last year at Star Bucks. I went on the wrong day, at the wrong time. Do you know? There was no one else there! That is the extent of my gregarious and outgoing social life with other writers.

I’ve been writing all my life - literally. Before I could actually write, my mother used to write my poems down for me. She would then stick them in whatever book she was reading/researching/messing with. We still find them occasionally. “I Love a Moon” by Edwina, age 2” jammed into the margin of “The Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius. I went to a very progressive Elementary School. When my mother causally mentioned that I really couldn’t spell, my teacher gasped and informed her that they wouldn’t dream of stifling my creativity by making me slow down and consider something as unimportant as spelling. She said, “there will always be someone to check her spelling.” We like to think that she was prescient and channeling the concept of a computer spell-check as opposed to whatever else that might have sounded like. I might add that the public Junior High where they dumped me at the tender age of eleven was not a bit impressed with my creativity.

For much of my life I considered myself a “poet” as opposed to a “writer.” I’ve published a lot of poetry. I lost count somewhere, but it is in excess of 300 (I think.) I taught poetry writing on a college level as well as in various wacky ways with kids from three to eighteen. I taught Creative Dance for years, where I always used poetry as a cross-over. The two subjects dove-tail beautifully. I spent fifteen years as a senior editor and poetry editor for a nationally syndicated large press periodical. There is no reason why being an editor should inhibit your own writing, but it does. When I retired, I decided I was going to write prose. I find that I’m quite able to write prose, and write it and write it and write it . . . My first NaNoWriMo “novel” is currently a trilogy with a prequel. Of course, it isn’t finished yet, so who knows, there may be seven or eight volumes before I’m done. I stole a description from Tad Williams and refer to it as “The Bloated Epic.” This year I have sketched a plot. I haven’t any illusions that my characters are going to be impressed, feel any reverence about that pre-sketched plot or make any effort to stay inside it. If it helps me in anyway to ever get to “THE END”, however, it will be worth it.

I guess it’s too late to suggest a “First Night” meeting & write-in. I think it would be hysterical to try to meet and start writing at midnight on Halloween in Downtown Ashland. It’s hard to find somewhere to STAND no less set up your lap top, or have a conversation. You would have to scream to be heard, “YES! I’M WRITING A SERIOUS POLITICAL COMETARY HAVING TO DO WITH THE MATING HABITS OF THE EMPEROR PENGUIN WHICH I DISCOVERED DURING MY YEARS IN ANTARCTICA WITH THE PEACE CORPS.” You’d be screaming this directly over the top of a devil who is being bitched at by his Goth girlfriend who thought he was flirting with the Blue Fairy in the corner and a several Vikings who are jumping in the air and hitting their stomachs together causing them to inadvertently impale you again and again with their fake horns, skoling their beers and slopping them all down their chins, stomachs and your shoes while the band “Twistitnspin” plays their hit “Lip Schtick In My Morning Bloodbath” just a few decibels above the 85 that will cause Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). It would be interesting anyway.

Here is another great visual. We could do this any time. Go down to one of the bars that has a real old fashioned bar and commandeer the entire bar, set the laptops up on the bar and all commence keyboarding 100 mph without looking up. Probably everyone wearing all black would help this one along.

In truth, for meeting, I would suggest the Black Sheep. This is because, being a pub, they have more of a British mind set and are perfectly happy for you to sit there and talk, or write for hours. Lots of other places want you to eat, drink and be merry, but do it in as little time as possible and then get your keister out of the chair so another paying customer can put theirs in. I write at the Black Sheep quite often. I write in a notebook (real paper) rather than lap top, but there are always folks with lap tops there as well. Day, of course, is always quieter than night.

I can’t tell if folks were being factious about the weather being excellent. This actually is exactly the way I like it best - dark, cold, misty and foggy. Yum. I’m so glad they have chosen November for NaNoWriMo, it is the best writing weather and Ashland has the best November’s of all.

I have to say, I am CRAZY about the idea of finishing under the auspices of the Bard. Turotuico, you be brilliant! I would bet that they would let us finish in the Elizabethan Theater, particularly because they are dark so there won’t be sets in there. If not, then I suggest the Bricks, between the Elizabethan and the Bomer theatres. The sun shines beautifully there, if it is shining anywhere. Someone call the newspaper and we’d get publicity for NaNoWriMo and OSF both. Besides, it would be so perfect. I mean, since the spirit of the greatest writer in the English language happens to BE here, why not use it/him? I also write on the bricks, for exactly that reason.

Well! Happy Halloween! Happy Samhain! Happy NaNoWriMo Kick-off! I hope we can get together at some point. I hope if people do get together I can make myself go. I hope if I do make myself go, that I go on the right day at the right time. You know what Emily Dickinson said, “Hope is the thing with feathers/That perches in the soul , , ,” Looking outside at the perfectly ghoulish Halloween that is shaping up out there, makes one want to picture this with a vulture . . . hey, they do have feathers . . .

Best of Luck to all ~
I go by Winnie ~ Edwina (Ed-WIN-AH. Not Edweeena.)
and Dryad (Dry-add) ~ which ever you prefer. You can even call me late for dinner. If I’m writing, I won’t come anyway.
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"Shakespeare didn't sit in Stratford and hope." ~ A. Bronwyn Llewellyn

USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Doomsday is near

mscaramia — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:23:46 +0000

What are you all doing to prepare? Outlines? Going over potential dialogues in your mind? Character analysis?

How do you do it???

How do you decide what you're going to write?

I have my topic in mind but one of the things I keep playing with in my mind is the biggest decision of all - what perspective do I use? Or do throw myself a loop and flip perspectives?

Love to hear what you are all experiencing.
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

Just checking in

Turotulco — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:56:04 +0000

Hope everyone had a productive summer. Novemeber looks like it's shaping up to be an excellent writing month here in the valley... dark and cold!
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USA :: Oregon :: Rogue Valley

You're Invited to the Oregon All State Write In! EDIT: RSVP's now full

brightshadowsky — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:06:57 +0000

We've reached our maximum room capacity for this event! It's a fire code thing, i can't negotiate it. :( I'll keep a waitlist for anyone who really wants to be on it in case of cancellations, but i can't guarantee anything of course.

You're Invited!

What: An all-state extravaganza!
Who: All Oregon wrimos
Where: Oregon Coast Aquarium, 2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd Newport, OR
When: Sunday November 22nd, 10am to 5pm

Welcome to the third annual Oregon All State Write-in! Newport, Oregon is honored to host this year's madness. :) We've got an awesome location this year - the Oregon Coast Aquarium! Which means that if you slack off on your word count we'll throw you to the sharks! (Not really. But i do wield a mean Sea Cucumber...) We'll be located in the Gleason Event Room at the end of "Passages of the Deep", and are planning on having a whole host of fun things to do, including word wars, inner editor inprisonment activites, and wandering around the Aquarium or the nearby Hatfield Marine Science Center (with or without me as your chatty naturalist guide. ^_^ )

For food there is a resturant on site, called Local Oceans. They have excelent seafood that's been caught right here off our coast. You can see their menu here You can also get a hand stamp (for re-entry to the Aquarium) and head out to the town (i'm happy to reccomend/take people to resturants).

Please RSVP as soon as you know you can come - an accurate head count is really important to us this year. For more info or to RSVP e-mail MLbrightshadowsky(at)gmail(dot)com. Also, if you are coming from farther afield and need to stay over in order to make it work please let me know. For those who would like to stay in a hotel i can reccomend cheap yet nice ones; i also have info on a very nice B&B. If money is an issue we may still be able to work things out - please contact me!

IMPORTANT: We are not being given complimentary admission to the aquarium (because they waived the room fee, hurrah!) so an accurate head count is VITAL, as we are attempting to find enough comp tickets and aquarium membership holders to get all Wrimos in free. Please, if you are coming, RSVP EARLY! If you have a few bucks we are going to take up a collection to help cover any extraneous admission fees if not enough comp tickets can be obtained. If all or part of this money is not needed (and i hope it's not) any left over will go directly to Nano as a donation. Can you donate to the admission fund? Let your local ML know and i'll be in touch with them.

Guests are welcome to come but limitations will have to be imposed in two areas:
1: Only Wrimos will be given comp tickets or a member's pass. Guests will need to purchase their own entry into the aquarium. Admission prices and other info can be found at the Aquarium website. (www.aquarium.org)

2: The maximum occupancy for our meeting room is 60. I'd be over the moon if we had that many people attend, but should this number be reached Wrimos will have precedence and guests will be asked to entertain themselves for a while.

Here's to a great 2009 noveling season! Woot!
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ML Contact form
Q: Where do MLs come from?
A: A spontaneous combustion of literary abandon.