Introductions

Name you prefer to go by: Lyndsey
One interesting thing about yourself: I love bees. I guess I could be called an apiculturist.
One interesting thing about your story: Oh Jeez, well I suppose I'd have to have decided on this ey? I've been contemplating a story I started over the summer. Using the existing information as background info perhaps? I've been so busy recently I really haven't thought much on it! Usually I'm so prepared!
Your favorite Olympic sport: The opening ceremony! Cause that's all I've ever watched of the Olympics.

Additional question:

Who inspired you to write this year, or during your first year of NaNoWriMo?

Write all day, write all night, write write write, just don't turn out the light!

Name you prefer to go by: Mo. See username.
One interesting thing about yourself: I have a weakness for accent pillows. I have half a dozen and no couch of my own.
One interesting thing about your story: According to the Imperial Censor's Board, my novel Is "A flagrant piece of Pro-Saer propaganda wrapped in slander and self-serving lies. It portrays unnatural relations between nobility and servant to titillate while spouting treasonous false history to Justify the unlawful Rebellion in Saer province. The existence of the supposed Author of this alleged 'biographical' tract has been disproved, and continued copying and distribution of the Work are prohibited under the Imperial Decree for Elimination of Seditious Materials." Also, it might have long-winded moments. ^_^
Your favorite Olympic sport: gymnastics!

Additional question:
Who inspired you to write this year, or during your first year of NaNoWriMo? ChocoQueen, of course. She enthused so much I was compelled to try. Last year I failed, but this year I have a plan!

"Make my soul a blade/ so even as I fade/ I will remain unbroken." -Warrior's prayer

To those with sufficient disregard for the consequences, anything is possible.

I can't believe this is my seventh Nano!

Name you prefer to go by: Carissa

One interesting thing about yourself: I'm expecting a baby boy at the end of February. My almost 6-year-old daughter is thrilled and my husband very happily came up with the baby's name (thankfully, because I had nothing!).

One interesting thing about your story: That I haven't figured it out yet. I need to get working on thinking about writing again!

Your favorite Olympic sport: Horsemanship, though they rarely air any of it on television anymore. In Winter Olympics, though, we always try to watch the figure skating events.

Name you prefer to go by: Rahnawyn or Kayla

One interesting thing about yourself: Well, I'm heavily involved with acting and singing. I'm currently performing in The Crucible.

One interesting thing about your story: The Salem Witch Trials weren't a hoax. :) Even though this story takes place in 2009.

Your favorite Olympic sport: Uhm. The opening ceremony. xD I don't really watch the Olympics.

Name you prefer to go by: Foxplushie or Amanda

One interesting thing about yourself: I'm currently working on a graphic novel with a friend of mine. We hope to publish it through Impact.

One interesting thing about your story: I'm not writing for NaNo this year; maybe some other time. I will, however, be helping with fundraising.

[shameless plug]Keep your eyes open for my thread.[/shameless plug]

Your favorite Olympic sport: I like a bunch, and a lot of them aren't shown on standard cable. Fencing, swimming and figure skating are the first that come to mind.

Name you prefer to go by: Elizabeth
One interesting thing about yourself: I love Crocs shoes - I'm not so much a fan of the clogs, but I adore the italian-designed women's casual shoes and own almost two-dozen pair.
One interesting thing about your story I'm still trying to decide between Story A (a second-person sort of choose-your-own-adventure that I want my husband to try turning into an iPhone application) and Story B (a serious, sort-of-sad account of a man pining away for a woman he had long hoped would "come around" and be with him) but am leaning toward B - if so, I will write A if I am laid off of work.
Favorite Olympic sport: Synchronized diving and snowboarding

2005 - Bulk Dating (Winner!)
2006 - Sailing to Myself (Winner!)
2007 - Untitled Steaming Pile of Poo (Winner!)
2008 - Suburban Dreams (Winner!)

Hello everyone! It's great to see people filtering in once again. I knew when I asked for an interesting detail about your novel that many of you might not know yet--feel free to come back later and fill us in. For those of you who do know, you've got some really interesting sounding stories going so far. I realize now that I forgot to mention that my novel will be an AU Lord of the Rings fanfiction, where Arwen was forced by severe injury to sail to the Undying Lands before the end of the War of the Ring. Two years later, the Valar send her back, but in disguise and with no memory of her past life. That's a really, really rough sketch. I could ramble about this for pages. To explain what I said in my first post, Arwen is the protagonist. I thought it was Aragorn, but he's actually the antagonist. Fun times!

Ahem. So... person who inspired me to do NaNo... I don't know, actually. Perhaps my friend Lisa, who is also a writer. I don't remember if I stumbled on the link or if she did. That was back in 2002, but in those days you couldn't sign up after November 25 and this was... about then. Somehow we remembered the next October and the rest.... is history. ;)

(PS: Mo, many patrons are likewise discovering that my enthusiasm is catching.)

Name my novel!

Name you prefer to go by: Alisha
One interesting thing about yourself: I own a ball python named Smaug. (And I am psyched to hear more about the Lord of the Rings fanfic idea. What does AU mean, though?)
One interesting thing about your story: Does that mean I should have a clue as to what I'll be writing about? Uh-oh...
Your favorite Olympic sport: Either gymnastics or synchronized diving. I'm still hoping drum corps will become an Olympic sport someday, though.

Who inspired you to write this year, or during your first year of NaNoWriMo? Not who so much as what...I'm a member of a Lord of the Rings forum (www.lotrplaza.com if anyone's interested; it's an awesome place) and last year a thread popped up about NaNo. I had heard about it before, but so many people I knew there were trying it, so that encouraged me to try it too!

"We are raised to honor all the wrong explorers and discoverers - thieves planting flags, murderers carrying crosses. Let us at last praise the colonizers of dreams."

2008: Fantasmagoria (Won!)
2009: Over the Edge of the World (working title)

Hi, Alisha! I saw your user name and thought, "Ah, here's someone who might be interested to hear more about my story..." and I was right! Don't worry that you don't know more about yours yet--I'm kinda freakish that way. ;) Yours will come to you. If you're completely lost, wander on over to the Plot Doctoring forum--there are tons of ideas floating around in there that you can adopt. (That's NaNo code for "steal with permission.")

So... a little more about my story, since you asked. AU is Alternate Universe. It means that in some way, the story diverges from canon. In my case, the point of departure is Arwen sailing to Valinor. I wanted to play with the idea of how Aragorn would react to losing her. In many ways, his personality is a blend of Elvish and human traits--he is constantly looking ahead to the next thing, which is very human, but he also has this... reverence for memory that is Elvish. I think he would have a hard time letting go of his memories of her to fulfill his duty to marry and produce an heir to the throne of Gondor.

As much as I want to mess with poor Aragorn a little, I'm also a romantic who wants them to have a happy ending. That meant I needed to find a way to get her back to Middle-earth from Valinor. After a lot of thought, I realized that as one of the Half-elven, she should have been able to choose between the elven or mortal destiny. Her injury stole that from her, so it's only fair to give her that chance.

However, there needs to be some character development, or it's just an angsty romance. Part of Arwen's distress when she wakes up in Valinor comes from the elven belief that the soul and body are completely entwined. If an elf does die, their soul spends a short time in the Halls of Mandos and is then reincarnated in a replica of their old body. Their struggle to understand what will happen to them at the end of Arda comes from this--they know their bodies will last as long as Arda, but they know nothing more. If their bodies cease to exist, what will happen to them?

For Arwen, this means that if she is not physically with Aragorn, she can never be with him at all--not even in the afterlife. She is sent back, not just because the Valar agree that her choice was stole from her, but because Manwë wants her to understand that the essence of who she is does not depend on her physical form. They send her back in disguise with no memory of her past. If she and Aragorn find their love again--that love which was part of the fabric of who she was--then the lesson has been learned, and she'll regain her memories and her form.

The tricky thing is Aragorn--he doesn't want to fall in love. He knows he needs to marry, and his council is pushing him to do so. Even though he befriends this young woman with no memory or past, he doesn't want to let her in. When a friend comments on their relationship, he freezes her out. Eventually, it takes a moment filled with high drama for him to realize that he loves her.

Name my novel!

Name you prefer to go by Jaymi (or innowen)

One interesting thing about yourself Was published earlier this year with idols Neil Gaiman, Charles deLint, Holly Black, among others in the anthology "Ravens in the Library".

One interesting thing about your story It will be an epic story guaranteed to spur word peace. Seriously tho, I have no real idea what I'm writing this year... desperately looking for an idea that will grab me and go WRITE ME DARNIT!

Your favorite Olympic sport Curling... cos it seems to have no real deep meaning.

Looking forward to the Kick off, attending as many write-ins as i can, and causing general writerly mayhem this year.

/innowen

Round Eight: 50,000 words or Bust!

You are such a lucky person, I can't even begin to describe it....

"Ravens in the Library" makes me wonder... have you heard of a filk musician named S.J. Tucker?

Hello to all....

I'll admit here and now that this is my third year of NaNo
and I'm just now getting with the local program.
Not that I haven't appreciated all the efforts of our ML's.

Name you prefer to go by: Nelly or my real life name, Ellen

One interesting thing about yourself: This is tough...
what I think as boring others find interesting.
What I find interesting? Others are doing.
Hmmmm.... Okay.... "I am a Viking!"

One interesting thing about your story: It's a study of old ladies. LOL
(An exploration of my immediate future?) Four older women struggling
to find their real passions and place in life after a lifetime of serving others.
(not sure if this is interesting to anyone other than my generation
or if this is just therapy writing for me. lol)

Your favorite Olympic sport: Not sure I have a favorite sport
but I especially like the Winter Olympics.
Mostly I'm just in love with the participants who
give their hearts to their passions. The story behind the story.

Hoping to meet up with some of you in the coming insanity of November.

Victory is crossing the starting line.

Name you prefer to go by: Ryan

One interesting thing about yourself: I am the greatest... at nothing, but I still try.

One interesting thing about your story: I call it NaNoNoir, it is really a noir PI detective drama, but I am working hard to flesh out the MC to have a real depth beyond the Philip Marlowe archetype.

Your favorite Olympic sport: I really wish I had one, but I don't seem to be able to sit still long enough to watch it.

Actually, s00j is a friend of mine and the anthology was a tribute to her, her music and to help raise funds (and awareness) for artists who cannot afford medical insurance. The book helped pay off s00j's medical bills for an issue she had in December of last year.

I feel blessed that I got to participate in such a work of magic and alongside so many great writers.

/innowen

Round Eight: 50,000 words or Bust!

Name you prefer to go by Eli usually, though I've been called Scott by many of my friends
One interesting thing about yourself I'm graduating this year with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Anthropology from Washington State University Vancouver
One interesting thing about your story It came to me as a dream, all outlined and whatnot, only thing to do is type it out and title it
Your favorite Olympic sportSummer is definitely beach volleyball. Winter, I think I like ice skating most since that's about the only one I watch lol

~ Eli

NaNo 2009: In The Heart of a Half Blood (In progress, ???)
NaNo 2008: All's Fair In Lust Not Love (incomplete, won)

Name you prefer to go by: Heather

One interesting thing about yourself: I am training in classical opera, and enjoy acting.
One interesting thing about your story: It's confusing.
Your favorite Olympic sport: Ice skating and Hockey!!!!!! GO Maple leafs, GO Ducks!
That's me....

Heather R.

Name you prefer to go by:
Kimberley, but you may call me Kimmy.

One interesting thing about yourself:
I'm a self employed Graphic Designer.

One interesting thing about your story:
Hah, I'm supposed to know which story I'm writing? o_o; ::shuffles frantically through some papers::

Your favorite Olympic sport:
I have never watched the Olympics.. ever. Dx

All right all right, here ye! Everyone who thinks they are crazy, or have little to talk about... You are very wrong. It's simply not possible. How could you be boring with an amazing brain and imagination stabled to that awkward-looking body of yours? Okay, I'm not thinking your body is awkward, but mine is so why can't everyone else be?

The one thing I've noticed over the last 7 years of NaNoWriMo, countless terrible/unfinished works, and perusal of the forums is that no writer is boring. You may get bored with yourself, with your writing, with what you're doing, and perhaps with the story that's in your head but that doesn't put the label on you. Vikings are terribly interesting. Did you know that a recent Archeological excavation of Dublin, where the Vikings supposedly inhabited for a period, they found petrified poo. You know what's cool about that? They found that Vikings were one of the best nourished ethnic groups (can they be called that?) of their time. Not only that, but they've been able to figure out that Vikings are not solely from the Nordic or Finnish, but are a wildly multi-cultural group of people. I wonder when they'll start changing this information in history books?

Now, if someone is not "interested" in your story, that's something entirely different. Sometimes knowledge can be frightening, and if the person has a lack of personality then they're likely to be bored because the subject matter goes above their head. I've known only 1 writer who was boring and that's because this person was more a paraphraser than anything. He did not understand what he was writing about, and made himself sound like a fool when he spoke about what he was writing about. When you're stealing other people's ideas it becomes obvious that you can't think for yourself, and are thus boring. Nelly, you couldn't be "boring." You all have this magical gift of imagination, and it's hard for me to believe for one second that anyone's imagination produces anything but a masterful piece of fun.

Write all day, write all night, write write write, just don't turn out the light!

Write all day, write all night, write write write, just don't turn out the light!

Name you prefer to go by: Steve.
One interesting thing about yourself: I will be retiring from the Navy in the next few months, if all goes well.
One interesting thing about your story: No idea yet. Need to get my head around the whole writing thing in the next couple of weeks and come up with something!
Your favorite Olympic sport: Gymnastics.

Additional question:
Who inspired you to write this year, or during your first year of NaNoWriMo? No one specifically. I used to work in a couple of bookstores with a couple of other employees that were accomplished short story writers (though no one of note) and that has sparked my interest.

NavyCop

---------------
You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury
You fail only if you stop writing. ~Ray Bradbury

Welcome back, Steve! Will you be living in Vancouver once you get out of the Navy? I can't remember what you said your physical location was last year, or if you even mentioned it. At any rate, it's good to see you again.

Name my novel!

I have been in the Navy Reserves for the past few years, though I was deployed to the East Coast for 15 months during '07. I will be living in Vancouver for the moment once the retirement is done, but I will go where the jobs are and here just ain't it, if you know what I mean.

We will see how things go this time around. Only busted out about 1/3 of the required last time due to work, family and other committments. Will be interesting to see what I can make happen this time around. Also, would like to come and at least check in to the meet-ups this time around...

NavyCop

---------------
You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury
You fail only if you stop writing. ~Ray Bradbury

We'd love to see you at the kick-off or a write-in, Steve.

Anyone else notice how many NaNo events are hyphenated? That's kind of strange, since hyphenating lowers your word count. From now on, I'm calling them Kick offs and write ins!

Name my novel!

Just stopping by your forum to say hello and send you greetings from beautiful Lewis County, garden county of Washington State (I have just named it that, because we want to steer away from all references to meth). Since we're practically neighbors and since I lived in Vancouvers (both WA and BC) at one time, I thought we ought to become aquainted. Hello! I'm Liz, the ML for Lewis County, and I am wishing you all a very fruitfully wordy November -- a November to remember, full of adjectives and modifiers, conjunctions and adverbial phrases, not to mention nouns and other things. Best of luck to you all and have a delightful time!

How great! Everyone is finally getting around to the forums!

Keep your eyes open for a regional email that will be going out in the next day or so. We've got so many updates it's been hard to hold off!

Welcome to everyone! Thanks for your intro, it'll be nice to get to know you as the next month + come to pass.

Write all day, write all night, write write write, just don't turn out the light!

Hi, i'm myka, but only because i lack the initiative to come up with a nickname i like.

uh.... interesting things.... uh, I have a form of dwarfism, I suppose that is interesting enough to mention :-)

My story... is going to be a story with in a story this year if i could pull it off.

And my favorite Olympic sport would have to be Ice skating or gymnastics. they are both so powerful/graceful and fun to watch.

last year my friend came across a link to nano and she though i might to give it a try... she was right :-)

I like your comment about going by Myka! :) Maybe we should come up with a nickname for you.

Welcome to NaNo!

Write all day, write all night, write write write, just don't turn out the light!

Name you prefer to go by: Wendy

One interesting thing about yourself: Have traveled three times to Oshkosh, WI to attend the same event every five years, and plan to do it again in 2014!

One interesting thing about your story: It continues from where last year's effort ended, dealing with the attack on one of the characters. Should be interesting to see how Dovichenko deals with his wife when all is said and done...

Your favorite Olympic sport: Hockey.

Name you prefer to go by: Kitty

One interesting thing about yourself: I'm having some major dental work done during November, with several lengthy (we're talking 4 to 7 hours each) sessions in the dentist's chair. It's going to be a busy month. I'm thinking the creative energy from NaNo will help me move through that experience, and probably vice versa.

One interesting thing about your story: This is my second year to do NaNo. One of the biggest things to come out of last year's effort was the discovery of a character who will appear in this year's novel. I'm writing a cozy mystery, and this character is my MC's "sidekick"/best friend.

Your favorite Olympic sport: Figure skating

P.S. I live in the Gorge on the Washington side.

Hi, I'm Dana.
This is my 7th year doing NaNo, and I have had 5 of my novels published so far! Hmm, what is interesting about me? I have 2 kids and 6 grown step children and 26 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren... I have been at the same job for 26 years... I have a video of my cat on YouTube that has more than 50,000 views and I was making videos way back in the 70's!

About my story... roughly based on some family members, which means it's comedy, with some mystery thrown in and a possible murder.

Favorite Olympic Sport - love to watch the skating and the gymnastics. I have a dream to ice skate from one town to another on a frozen canal or river with my dad, stopping at the end to drink hot chocolate, but we don't want to go all the way to Holland to find the ice. I think there's somewhere in Canada we could do this.

Dana

http://danabooks.8k.com

I am so thrilled to see people coming into the forum! Liz, thanks for dropping by. It's always nice to see the neighborhood MLs out and about. Wendy, Myka, nice to see you. Kitty, I hope you can make it into town for a write-in or one of our other events. Most of the write-ins will be on the east end of Vancouver. And even if you can't get in, we'll have the chat room for virtual write-ins! And Dana--so nice to see the old veterans coming out of the woodwork. We started NaNo the same year!

Name my novel!