United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Thank You. Thank you!

Direct — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:00:39 -0800

The first thing that came to mind when I wanted to say thank you to everyone was Shakespeare’s “Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: I were but little happy if I could say how much” because it doesn’t seem possible that I would be able to convey in mere words the depth of my gratitude. Also, I just finished writing 50,000 words; there can’t possibly be any left, right? My brain is tired. Then again, I just finished writing 50,000 words; surely I can find a hundred more for friends as thoughtful as you.

I can.

You rock! You’re awesome. You’re fantastic. You’re wonderful. You Are Spifftacular.

Last year after signing up for NaNo I almost didn’t show up at Riley’s. While I had mustered the courage to start thinking of myself as a writer and signed up to write 50,000 in one thirty day month, the thought of meeting real writers who had done it before was intimidating. But you were great. You were welcoming and nice and supportive. It was exciting. And the excitement was infectious. I was hooked.

This year I wasn’t sure I could do it without all that wonderful support. But I was going to try. So I signed up and you, the Southern Illinois group, found a way to include me even when I was halfway around the world.

Thank you for that. It means everything to be remembered by those at home, particularly to hear from you. By posting on the forums, messaging me, and being generous enough to send me a box (a box! full of awesome!), you let me know I was remembered. Thank you. Thank you so very much.

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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Thank you

edonald — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:21:32 -0800

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to the Nano gang. I was really crunching on a hard deadline and doing the write-ins with you guys put me over the top. I might have managed the deadline without your help, but I doubt I would be nearly as happy with the final manuscript, and I know it wouldn't have been as fun. Thank you all for your support, your patience and for sharing your efforts. Congratulations to all of you, whether you made the word count or not. Good luck!

ekd
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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

na-na-na-na---nano! Whoopie!

Diantha.J — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:46:53 -0800

In spite of a computer crash 2 weeks in, I rewrote like crazy and made it! Finished yesterday.

I hope to see you all agin next year and hope to join in some of the write-ins. I couldn't make it this year and I know I missed some good times. Thanks to all for your support.

Di
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If you lack the courage to start, you have already finished.. -Hellen Keller

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Done Yaaaa Hoooo!

pcmom — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:17:18 -0800

Finished up at Riley's tonight. A grand thing all in all. I am so happy with my effort this year. It only gets better. I will be on hand at the final crunch doing the adding in thing and generally helping out wherever I can.

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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Nano validator

wordspring — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:10:26 -0800

I thought I'd pass along the following, in case anybody is having trouble with the word count validator. Last night at midnight, when I submitted my words for validation, I had about 50025 words in Microsoft Word. However, the Nano validator indicated I was about 200 words short. So I had to keep typing, which was rather discouraging when I thought I was finished and it was very late at night.

Just thought I'd offer this info as a warning. If you're planning to wait till the last minute to submit, you might have difficulty.

See you all soon.

Laurie
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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Directions to Final Write-in in Edwardsville - Sunday

williebee — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:55:01 -0800

Hi Gang, Here's the Directions to tomorrow's Write-in in Edwardsville:

Oh, and did I mention I have prizes? :)

From Fairview Heights

I-64 W to I-255North (exit 7) toward Chicago
About 11 min. later Continue on SR-255N (Signs for SR-255N/Woods River)
Take Exit 3 for New Poag Road
Keep Right at the Fork, follow the signs for Edwardsville and New Poag Road
About 8 min. later Slight Right onto St. Louis Street
Turn Left on to Clay St.
Destination is 200 Clay St. Learning Technology Center Area Five
We'll be downstairs in the Conference Room. Probably entering from the
downstairs doors (?).
Your destination looks like it used to be Condos or Townhouses, (guess why).

My cel is 214-1142.

From Alton

SR-255 S
Take Exit 6 for Edwardsville
Turn Left at Alton Rd/Edwardsville Rd/SR-143
about 13 min. later Turn Right at W. High St.
Slight Left at Clay St.
Destination is 200 Clay St. Learning Technology Center Area Five
We'll be downstairs in the Conference Room. Probably entering from the
downstairs doors (?).
Your destination looks like it used to be Condos or Townhouses, (guess why).

My cel is 214-1142.

If you can't stay all day, come stay all minute!

/Williebee
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You're never done.
Not as long as you've got a good story, and someone to tell it to.

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Congrats!

M Conn — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:19:54 -0800

Way to go for those who have made it early and are still going! Your success is encouraging me to keep it going.

M Conn
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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Black Friday 11:35 pm

queenstacela — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:52:06 -0800

I was sitting in DJ Vespers, the bar at the Lazer Tag place. While Sean, The Jenna, and Collin played Lazer Tag I powered through and finished my words as they finished their last game.

Sean and I will be at Riley's at some point tomorrow. Now I have to finish the story!
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The bestselling newbie to novel writing

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Done! Finished! Over with!

M Conn — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:59:51 -0800

I was on a roll and ready to get this sucker done last night. I finished at 11:30 with 50,019. Yahoo!!! I am doing the jig today!

Now I can concentrate on my favorite part of the year-Christmas.

M Conn
Michelle Connell

P.S. My words are done, but not the whole story.
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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Turkey Day Word Counts

pcmom — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:07:45 -0800

I did 2597 words while riding to Kentucky. Brought the total to 42597. :)

How about the rest of ya?

Bonnie a.k.a. PCMOM
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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Black Friday at Riley's

queenstacela — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:17:20 -0800

Sean and I are sitting at Riley's for some writing goodness! Boycott shopping and come on by and write with us. We should be here for at least a few hours.

Happy writing

Stacie
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The bestselling newbie to novel writing

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

NOVEMBER 30TH RACE TO MIDNIGHT (EDITED)

williebee — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:39:27 -0800

9 A.M - MIDNITE (holy cow, I'm gonna need a nap.)

Area Five Learning Technology Center Director Vicki Dewitt has been kind enough to offer her conference room in downtown Edwardsville to us for the day (and night) on Sunday, November 30th.

Free wifi, coffee, comfortable space for a large group and lots of stuff to write about.

How about a pot luck?

Let's try it this way.

Copy the item lines below this and paste them into your reply, with what you can bring. (Don't have time to get something together to bring? DON'T worry about it. Come hungry.) And, as if by magic, a list/menu will be born!

Remember we need: Paper plates, utensils, cups & glasses, food, dessert, more dessert, maybe some more dessert...

Menu/List:
Butch is going to bring a ham (I think.)
Butch is bringing a cooler and ice.

---------------------------------------------------

Click here to get the map of the "where":

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=200+Clay+Street,+Edwardsville,+IL+62025&ie...

It's also up on the calendar.

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=6qam8jijtpa9sh35c45853fcu4%40gr...

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You're never done.
Not as long as you've got a good story, and someone to tell it to.

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Word-Countability WEEK 3

SeanJJordan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:52:44 -0800

Hey guys,

I just got back from the All-Illinois Write-In in Warrenville, IL! I thought I'd driven the furthest to be there, but then I realized that Stacie sleeps on the south side of the bed. The irony of the event was that some of the Naperville people were complaining about driving all the way out to Warrenville for the day -- and keep in mind that this is roughly the distance between O'Fallon and Shiloh.

We had one person from the write-in tell us that she'd gone to school in Southern Illinois. We asked her where, expecting to hear that she'd been to SIUE, or SIUC. Instead, she said "Illlinois State University." Stacie and I exchanged a worried glance. Apparently, Illinois is actually two states as far as folks up north are concerned -- Illinois above I-80, and Southern Illinois below.

Anyhow! This helped to delay me on this week's Word-Countability, so once again, I'm going to ask for those word counts. Please remember that today, you should be at 40,000 words by midnight. If you're not there, don't worry -- unless you work in retail, in which case, you'd better get writing before the busiest holiday shopping of the weekend gets here! :-)

Please either email me (seanjjordan1@gmail.com) or post the following:

1) Your NaNo Name (or real name)
2) Your word count
3) What you plan to exclaim when you finally cross the 50,000 line this week. (If you've already finished, tell us a story about how you announced your victory to the world!)

Word verification begins on the NaNoWriMo.org website tomorrow. Don't forget to upload your document so you can get your certificate!

Also, keep an eye on the forums (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3136236) for information about the November 30th RACE TO MIDNIGHT party. It'll be in downtown Edwardsville, and we're going to be having a potluck. More details (and directions!) to come soon...

-Sean
--------------------------------------------
Check out my upcoming book
CODE OF THE WILD
at http://www.codeofthewild.com!

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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Early afternoon Riley's

pcmom — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:26:07 -0800

Hi gang. I will be at Riley's starting around 4pm. Swing on by and join in the fun.

I will break 40K today.

Bonnie
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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Week 3

M Conn — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:17:54 -0800

I haven't seen anything come through for week 3, so I'm starting a new topic for it.

Michelle Connell
M Conn

I have some different plot lines going, which is making things interesting for my characters. I'm currently at 37,632. I hope to get really close by Turkey day! After that, it's all about Christmas!!
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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

50K Mark Passed! 9 Days Early

David Foxfire — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:07:48 -0800

I knew that I would be able to get past the 50K goal before I run out of story, and do it well within the 30 day limit, and I did! Just past it a few minutes ago.

So who else is with me in Overtime [tm]?
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David Foxfire of Foxfire Studios of Saint Louis
http://foxfirestudios.net
NaNoWriMo Project: Blood and Metal Book 1: Messenger

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

recovered 12,000 of almost 27,000 words from crash.

Diantha.J — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:53:27 -0800

I was only able to recover 12,000 of my words, but was glad to get them. Since then, I have written another 12,000. I am writing every spare moment to catch up. By tomorrow, I'll be where I was before the computer crashed. I will be able to finish by Nov 30. Whoopie!

Thanks for your support during this trying time. Special thanks to Williebee for all his advice.

Di
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If you lack the courage to start, you have already finished.. -Hellen Keller

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Friday at Riley's

queenstacela — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:21:33 -0800

I am currently sitting at Riley's writing to catch up! Anyone feel free to come on over! The smell of roasting beans and fudge being made is the current atmosphere. Happy writing!

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The bestselling newbie to novel writing

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Any planned meetings for this week.

David Foxfire — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:46:57 -0800

I know there are some write-ins scheduled for this week, according to the calendar. But is anyone else going on to them. If any of you are and I'm able to get to the places, I might join in :) Been hammering on down the road and planning to get past 50K and to the end of the book by the end of the month, and I wondering if another evening out of my apartment would be in order.
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David Foxfire of Foxfire Studios of Saint Louis
http://foxfirestudios.net
NaNoWriMo Project: Blood and Metal Book 1: Messenger

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Tues at Riley's

pcmom — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:53:03 -0800

I am here now. Will work for a couple of hours. Come on over.

Bonnie (PCMOM)
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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Word-Countability WEEK 2

SeanJJordan — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:54:59 -0800

Hey guys,

Once again, post your word counts on the forum, or email them to me at seanjjordan1@gmail.com. You should be at 25,000 words by the end of today.

Please post the following:

1) Your name (or NaNo Name)
2) Your word count
3) How you're holding up at the end of week 2!
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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

The NaNoWriMo Buddy List Thread

SeanJJordan — Sat, 8 Nov 2008 10:54:06 -0800

This is a thread for posting your NaNo profile link as well as some indication as to who you are. Here's your chance to add a bunch of buddies from the region to your Buddy list!
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United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Carbondale Events

Jonathan Ingram — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:37:56 -0700

Hey everybody. Most of you don't know me, but that's because my wife and I just moved here in August.

This is our third season of NaNoWriMo and we're absolutely excited to get underway. Interesting tidbit: we met through NaNoWriMo. True story; check out the "True Life Tale" over at the NaNoWriMo blog.

Anyway, back on topic. I was the ML for Springfield last year (and I'm doing a distance-ML thing this year). But, seeing as how we're in Carbondale now, I figured we might as well take advantage of it and lend out a helping hand.

So, here's the deal: I don't want to set any locations in stone, yet, because we don't know all the places we could hold write-ins. However, I'm thinking either the SIUC Student Center or the SIUC Library. If there are other suggestions, though (preferably someplace FREE), let me know. And we'll definitely work something out. I'm here to help in whatever way I can.

Oh, and I've got some pretty stickers for you folks that show up. Hope to see you all in November!

(PS -- Those interested in a kick-off party in Carbondale, leave some comments and suggestions below.)
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2006: The Bloody Autumn (complete)
2007: Messenger of the Storm (incomplete)

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Madison Co Area NaNoers- Meet ups!

c.h.valentino — Mon, 6 Oct 2008 15:55:18 -0700

It looks like we are going to try to meet on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays each week from 6pm-9/10pm, with optional meet-ups if time permits. I'd like to do one get together on Oct 28th as kind of a brain storm/getting to know/exchange information for everyone before we all sit down and commence something so intimate as writing with one another. Then towards the end we will play it by ear to see howeveryone is doing and if we need to have a meet up for a final push for the 50k.

Let me know what you think of that. As for places- I'm thinking Edwardsville St. Louis Bread Co, my house, Starbucks in Edwardsville, Denny's in Glen Carbon or St. Louis Bread Co in Alton. It will change depending on everyone's availibilty. (PS. All those places have free Wi-Fi.)

Recap from that confuzzion:
Throughout Nov: Tues and Weds- 6pm-9/10pm (times depending on location)
Launch Party: Oct. 23rd- Pre-Nano meet St. Louis Bread Co- Edwardsville at 6:30

Any questions, comments, concerns or you know- whatever. Email me at bornqueen16@hotmail.com

CHV

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A blank piece of paper is God's way of telling us how hard it to be God.
-Sidney Sheldon

United States :: Illinois :: Southern

Too funny not to pass on - if you are a coffee lover

zdras — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:54:29 -0800

Originally from Diane38 in >>Home » Forums » Genre Lounges » Religious, Spiritual & New Age

A Weekly Ritual to Awaken you.

Brought to you from a good friend of mine with a wicked sense of humor:

The following ritual was found in a musty, dusty old fragment of parchment lodged between the musty old pages of a musty, dusty old book in a musty, dusty old library whose musty, dusty old dust hadn't been disturbed by the presence of man in many a musty, dusty old century. It took a great deal of effort to translate the original writings. After months of effort and research in language libraries, it was finally determined that the weird script was not some arcane, forgotten language, but English, written by someone with a very bad case of caffeine jitters.

Another fragment indicated that this was once part of a book, entitled "The Mystery of the StarBuck".

THE CAFFEINATED CROSS

Stand, facing east, holding your coffee cup, filled with the mystical brew, in your power hand, and assume a posture of wakeful alertness.

Bring your coffee cup to your forehead and intone:
"LATTE"

Lower your coffee cup to the vicinity of your navel:
"MOCHA"

Bring your coffee cup to your left shoulder:
"CAPPUCHINO"

Bring it across to your right shoulder:
"FRAPPUCHINO"

Clasp your coffee cup in both hands over your heart chakra:
"ARABICA, OH MAN!"

Extend your arms to the sides, and intone:
"BEFORE ME, MRS. OLSON"
"BEHIND ME, JUAN VALDEZ"
"AT MY RIGHT HAND, M J B"
"AT MY LEFT HAND, THE BROTHERS HILLS"
"FOR ABOUT ME SWIRLS THE COFFEE AROMA"
"WITHIN ME SINGS THE CAFFEINE HIGH"

Drink the coffee, in communion with the spirits of the Sacred Coffee Bean. This last step may be usefully repeated as long as you like

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Wild Gold