Welcome New & Old!
We have another exciting year of writing sneaking up on us, and I'm sure we're going to have a blast. For those of you that are new this year, or who didn't come out to events last year, I'm Shawn "Rintaran" Gray, your Municipal Liason. It being my 2nd year, they've granted me the power of the highlighter yellow shirt, which means it'll be easy to find me at any write-ins you attend. I can be excitable and energetic, but generally I'm just a really hard worker that likes to make sure everyone is moving ahead and excited about their projects.
Last year we managed a lot of wonderful things. 13 of us beat the November 30th deadline, every write-in was attended by at least 5 people, two distinct (but overlapping) writing groups were formed, and we kicked our neighbouring North Bay's butt in word count. Everyone that made it out to the events ended up having a good time, and from what I've seen since then, almost all of them have since submitted stuff for publication somewhere. I'd call that a fantastic literary push for the Sudbury area, and I'd love to see it continue this year!
For those of you who are new, or who couldn't make it out this year, I highly recommend checking out the events calendar and setting aside a few nights to make it out. Writing in a pack is a great push for getting projects running, and if you get stuck, there's always someone to turn to and say "my character's currently boiling dinosaur eggs, what should I have happen next?" and find a strange answer that'll push your 50,000 word sprint along. Remember, the goal is a 50,000 word first draft of a novel. Like with most first drafts, it isn't all going to be good, and that's alright!
With the new forum headers, we can compare our combined progress with that of 4 other regions. I've picked the three regions I've been a member of over the years, North Bay, Ottawa, and Ontario:Elsewhere. For the fourth, I'm open to suggestions!
Finally, I've managed to secure a handful of stickers, and a very special something for people that make it out to the write-ins this year. It may not seem like much, but when it comes to writing, it helps to have the right tools. During the month of November, anyone with one of the ID cards I'll be printing up will get a 10% discount at The Source in the Southridge Mall (excluding Ipods, Zunes, gaming hardware and software, prepaid airtime cards, televisions, laptop and desktop computers). Sure, the netbook you were looking for isn't getting discounted, but using the discount on the carrying case, cooling pad, extra battery, and USB thumb drive will save a bundle!
Feel free to introduce yourself below. I'm looking forward to meeting every one of you this year. As for myself, I've got a B.Ed. and a B.A. in English. I spend most of my free time writing, editing, or enjoying my wonderful fiance. I have a great background knowledge in computers and electronics, and can usually take any challenge and turn it into a half-decent story. If there's more you want to know, just ask!
Please feel free to e-mail me any ideas or questions directly if you don't feel comfortable posting on the boards.
----------
Shawn Gray, OCT
Sudbury Municipal Liason
http://www.shawngray.ca
54,743 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 06 46
Good Morning to everyone (morning while I am writing this).
This year will be my first year participating in NaNo. I am quit excited. I vaguely remember hearing about it a long time ago (I might have been in high school kind of while ago). I also vaguely remember thinking that it was a crazy crazy idea. Now however after struggling to find motivation to do what I desperately want in life (become a successful author) I think that NaNo is shear brilliance.
I intend on trying to attend as many events as possible and look forward to meeting you all.
Oh yah... I have every intention on writing in the fantasy genre. I haven't picked out my idea and am king of leaving it for the last minute, but I do have a list of ideas and two are battling for the number one position right now.
I keep two blogs:
- Book Minstrel (http://bookminstrel.blogspot.com/) were I blather about books and my desire to write.
- Pisces Muse (http://piscesmuse.blogspot.com/) were I ramble about whatever suits me at the time. More of a personal blog. I do try to keep the book talk separate and over in my other blog.
I also Twitter @ http://twitter.com/PiscesMuse (PiscesMuse)
Anywho... look forward to meeting everyone. And if you want to gab about fantasy I am more than delighted to indulge.
----------Book Minstrel: Books and Writing Aspirations Blog.
Pisces Muse: Personal Blog.
Pisces Muse: Twitter
0 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 07 20
Hi, I'm Rhennaya. I was the original ML for Sudbury and created a Sudbury Nano-group. Due to problems last year I wasn't able to re-register myself as ML, and before I got it fixed I found someone else had been put in as one so I decided to take the year off and see how people did without me. I hate to say it, but I think Rintaran probably did a better job than I did. After being disconnected from Sudbury so long, I didn't have a big friends base here.
That said, I'm doubtful of my participation this year. I'm working for NorthernLife.ca and trust me, journalism has broken me of my ability to creatively write >_< Only so many times you can write "A 27-year-old man has been arrested..." before you realize that journalism does not require creativity of writing - just interviewing.
Anyways, I wanted to post because I knew some people were wondering where I was last year. I think it's important I stay out of Rintaran's way so he can do his thing without me being there, probably subconsciously resentful at him for stealing my area! :P
So good luck, everyone :)
Stacey
38,552 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 07 48
NaNo time soon! I'm very excited!
This is my third NaNo, the first having been an unmitigated disaster, and the second a complete success. So I guess this year will be the tie-breaker. I'm kind of nervous/doubtful about my ability to participate this year, because I started my Masters in September, and am a little worried about the whole balancing homework / thesis / work / writing thing. Nonetheless, I will definitely be attempting it again - you have nothing to lose in trying, and you can't ever finish if you don't start!
That being said, I'm not yet 100% sure about what I want to write for NaNo... I have a novel idea that I've been playing with that I know would be interesting, but I kind of want to take my time with that one. Then I could induct some clause or other (don't remember the name) and continue on my novel from last year. That's tempting, but I don't know. There are also a trio of related novellas that I was thinking of writing. Or I was also considering writing a bunch of short stories. Basically, all that to say: "we'll see." I'll figure it out eventually! :)
Can't wait until the write-ins start!!! I really believe that one of the major differences between the two times I participated was that last year I got really involved with the events and stuff. Being around people who are crazy enough to try something like that too really helps.
Anyways, that's enough rambling from me. Hope to see everyone at the events!! :D
~Sylvie~
----------(~Sylvie~)
NaNo 2007 - Quest for Caelyx (failed)
NaNo 2008 - Kirk the Jerk and Smelly Mely (won!)
NaNo 2009 - Ayana's Gift
53,634 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 15 28
Welcome aboard PiscesMuse!
I look forward to seeing you at the write-ins and hearing about your novel!
----------Shawn Gray, OCT
Sudbury Municipal Liason
http://www.shawngray.ca
53,634 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 16 20
Woohoo Sylvie! Welcome back. I look forward to seeing you at the write-ins!
----------Shawn Gray, OCT
Sudbury Municipal Liason
http://www.shawngray.ca
53,634 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 16 30
Wow, you make it sound like I wrestled you for the position when I filled out a short form a couple days from the start of NaNo. ;)
Seriously Rhennaya, come on out and join us this year. Who knows it might just spark that creative streak you've had trouble with since you started the journalism gig.
----------Shawn Gray, OCT
Sudbury Municipal Liason
http://www.shawngray.ca
11,823 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 18 23
Howdy! Howdy! Howdy!
So, "Scribofelidae" here, AKA Steph, very jazzed about my fourth year at NaNoWriMo.
Year One? Managed to make the 50,000 word mark on my first try and then pushed through the next two months to finish my first ever draft of a novel. It was terrible, of course, and promptly shelved, but I credit NaNoWriMo with helping me get over all my blocks and completing a project that big. It honestly was what helped me commit fully to writing. I'm mostly interested in genre work, science fiction, fantasy, and a skoosh of horror.
Year Two and Three? Not so much. Didn't win, but did write words. Year Two was a werewolf story that got shelved thanks to a vacation planned for the month of November I had no control over and Year Three I worked on my 2nd novel. Yeah, yeah, it's supposed to be fresh. So I cheated. :D But the best thing that came out of Year Three were the connections I made and the writer's group I now belong to - invaluable!
This year? Year Four? Go big or go home! My work schedule is changing and for the month of November I'll have dedicated time to write every morning. Comin' at ya, 50,000 words!
I'll be able to make any weekend events and, so long as no one minds me showing up late to the party, some weeknight events. Now all that's left is to finish up my current project before November 1st and then decide what I'm going to be doing. My original plan was to resurrect that werewolf story and run with it. The other option? I'm thinking of just riding the month out in a 50,000 word frenzy, fresh from the brain and prompt-driven, to celebrate the finishing of the 2nd novel before heading into edits in December.
Can't wait to meet everyone again! Woo! NaNoWriMo! :D
Edited to add: PicsesMuse has a good idea, connections! You can find my very boring blog over here (where I talk mostly about my writing progress and books, occasionally) and I also Twitter inane things under the same name, scribofelidae.
20,323 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 18 08
"SooGuy" here, aka Andy. This is my third year participating in NaNoWriMo, and my second in Sudbury.
The first year I participated was in 2003, but honestly didn't get the point of NaNo and really fought against it. Needless to say I failed miserably in getting any sort of respectable word count. Last year I signed up at the last minute and while I got a lot more out of it, I was still overwhelmed by it and not prepared to meet my goals.
This year will be different. I have spent the last year since NaNo writing more than ever (for me). With two young kids its very hard to make the time to write. When I do I try to use it to my full advantage.
I am hoping to spend part of October outlining and psyching myself up to make the 50,000 words this year. I have a couple of stories in mind, but not sure which way I will go right now.
I found NaNo really helped motivate me last year - so much so I stayed in touch with several of the writers that I met at the NaNo write-ins. (Good work Shawn!).
I hope to make it out to a few of the write-ins this year as well, but I promise this year I will talk/drink less and write more at the sessions.
Looking forward to meeting more of you this year at some of the events. Don't be shy. Come out and meet your fellow local writers. Who knows what connections you will make.
53,634 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 18 31
Welcome back Steph. Happy to hear you're already copying the event calendar over. I hope your work schedule can accomodate!
----------Shawn Gray, OCT
Sudbury Municipal Liason
http://www.shawngray.ca
53,634 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 18 33
Wouldn't seem right writing without you Andy. Welcome back!
----------Shawn Gray, OCT
Sudbury Municipal Liason
http://www.shawngray.ca
0 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 09 49
Hey Rintaran,
I didn't mean it to sound that way ;) What the brain knows isn't always translated to the heart, either, I'm afraid. :P
As it is anyways, I'm far too busy this year. I keep thinking about it and I might, but I doubt I could follow through. But who knows? Maybe I can manage some support for you guys in another way :)
54,743 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 07 52
Guys I am so totally pshyched. I honestly can't wait for November to roll around. I didn't actually plan on outlining anything official I just kind of wanted to fly through it without to many restrictions but being this excited and thinking about it soo much I don't want to miss anything and so have started taking notes on the characters who won't get out of my head.
I also have lots I want to do before november 1, so I am not jugling so much stuff and am able to comit completely. It's like Christmas, can't wait for it to get here, yet too much to do before it arives. Actually the main things I want to get finished up before november are the home made Christmas presents.
So it may be just me, but I find that I have an easier time coming up with characters around my age of the same gender. Especially POV characters. I have the hardest time getting a male character to work comfortably for me as a main character focus simply becuase I can't seam to get in their heads right. It could just be the story I am choosing. I have a couple of other stories floating around in my head that do have a main POV male, but I don't feel comfortable with my writting abilities yet to attack those stories and have them come out the way I forsee them.
Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this. I am just absolutely thrilled to be participating this year and the enthusiasm in kind of carying me.
P.S. guys I am prone to typos and grammar lapses. Please forgive me.
----------Book Minstrel: Books and Writing Aspirations Blog.
Pisces Muse: Personal Blog.
Pisces Muse: Twitter
23,692 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 07 43
Hi guys!
I'm back for my third straight year. I'm a little nervous about being able to finish Nano this time around: I have finals the first week of November and then a placement the rest of it, so my time is going to be very short. But I'm going to do my best to keep up my streak.
I look foreward to meeting you all soon!
11,823 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 12 11
Woot! Woot! Welcome back!
11,823 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 12 12
A nasty-bad double post. Ah, NaNoBoards ... you treacherous beast! :D
53,634 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 15 41
Welcome back Mageling. Is your placement going to be here in Sudbury or will you be out of town? I was hoping to see you at a few more events this year.
----------Shawn Gray, OCT
Sudbury Municipal Liason
http://www.shawngray.ca
40,026 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 16 58
Hello hello everyone Dashnir here, known locally as Andrew.
Well what can I say really I've been writing casually for a number of years but this is the first time I'm going to attempt nanowrimo. I can blame one of my co workers for that. I'm hoping to attend some of the events this year and see what I can do!
As for myself I'm a pretty easy going person. I work a technical support via phone, doodle a comic when I have some time, still write using paper and pen and am a fox furry. I'm also a member of the Second life nonowrimo group as Dashnir Foxclaw the name under which I also DJ.
Well that's all for me keep the pen flowing and the keyboard thumping this year!
----------Your furry friend
Dashnir
11,823 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 05 07
Hey Andrew! Welcome aboard! Glad you could make it out! We can pester each other every day at work about our word counts. ;)
23,692 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 08 39
It is supposed to be in Sudbury, but it all depends on what the college does. *grumble grumble, college life*
I'm going to try and make it out to more events this year. Last year's welcome party was a lot of fun. It will, unfortunately, depend heavily on the hours they give me... which I'm not going to know until the last week of October. *sigh*
40,026 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 17 17
Lol for the whole one week before I get carted off to training? You'll just have to pester me when I'm fleeing.
----------Your furry friend
Dashnir
53,634 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 17 39
Welcome aboard mate. I look forward to meeting you at the kick-off, or one of the write-ins.
----------Shawn Gray, OCT
Sudbury Municipal Liason
http://www.shawngray.ca
27,659 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 07 47
Hello all. My name is Ken Lillie-Paetz and this will be my second attempt at NaNoWriMo. Last year I was able to manage 9000 words - which I was pretty happy with considering that a large portion of my time was being eaten up by freaking out about my negotiations and pitch sessions for turning my comic book Elsinore into a Hollywood movie. This year I have cleared a lot off my plate to focus in November for NaNo. So 50,000 words here I come.
About me...
I am currently an Active member of the Horror Writer's Association (which means the season of free books for Bram Stoker Award recommendations has begun and I am getting loaded up on some great new horror material!). I teach comic books and media arts for the Royal Conservatory in the Rainbow School Board district. Working with elementary students last year also helped with my decision to create a new children's book called Brodie and the Ugly Baby (I'll be doing my first live performance at a pre-schooler's concert next month).
My art exhibition that runs from Oct. 6th to Nov.2nd at Fromagerie Elgin is now finally up! This is my first solo show showcasing my work as an Art Director. So please drop by and check it out. The night of Oct. 30th (Devil's Night) will be the closing reception and will feature spoken word and readings from the Sudbury Hypergraphic Society. (Horror readings on the friday and then talking with 2-5 year olds on the Sunday - should be a very interesting weekend - wonder if I can just read the same material at both?)
It was great to meet so many people last year at the write-ins and parties. So I look forward to doing it again this year.
If you are interested in knowing anything more about me, my obsession with monkeys and the end of the world (they do go hand in hand) please feel free to check out my website http://www.monkeypharmacy.com
Good luck to everyone this year and I look forward to meeting you.
K L-P
53,634 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2009 - 03 48
Welcome back Ken. I hope this year turns out better than last for your word count.
----------Shawn Gray, OCT
Sudbury Municipal Liason
http://www.shawngray.ca
27,659 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2009 - 05 14
Thanks Shawn - I am sure it will. This year I'm not being pulled in by too many projects and obligations at once. I lucked out with great timing since my spoken word performance and art exhibit are on the 30th of October. And the reading for Brodie and the Ugly Baby is on Nov 1st - so my major networking and promotion events are done right as Nano begins.
But, I was very happy with my word count last year since 8997 of those words were pure writing gold! The other 3 were just awful though. Complete hack stuff.
28,276 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2009 - 19 42
Hey everyone. Good to see people are back again this year.
It's year two for me. Last year I won. The book is still itting on my HD....
I've spent the year writing short (30,000-ish words and less), for two e-publishers, even earning royalty checks! So I've had a good year. I've dicovered I do short better than long, but the write ins last year were a great motivator, so I'll be coming to as many of them as I can manage. Might not make wordcount, but I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.
dontkickmycane/Jaime/Sam
----------Jaime Samms/dontkickmycane
53,634 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2009 - 19 50
Welcome back Jaime!
I look forward to writing with you again. The schedule's up early this year, so it should make it easier to figure out which write-ins you can attend. I'm happy to hear that you've been successful in the publishing realm this past year, that's fantastic news.
I'm pretty sure you'll manage to crack 50k again this year. Just keep chugging away and it'll come to you. :)
----------Shawn Gray, OCT
Sudbury Municipal Liason
http://www.shawngray.ca
28,276 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2009 - 21 56
Thanks, Shawn. I'll be at the library on mondays for sure!
We'll see about the wword count, but I'm certainly going to give it a try.
Jaime
----------Jaime Samms/dontkickmycane
38,552 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 19 01
lol. 8997 words of writing gold is definitely a fantastic achievement, Ken! :)
Besides, it completely shames my 4500 word count from my first year... haha.
----------(~Sylvie~)
NaNo 2007 - Quest for Caelyx (failed)
NaNo 2008 - Kirk the Jerk and Smelly Mely (won!)
NaNo 2009 - Ayana's Gift
27,659 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2009 - 06 51
Thanks Silvie! I hope to have a 50k success with my second attempt as well.
Since you jumped 10 times the word count from year one to year two - I am expecting half a million words from you for year three!
No pressure. Heh
38,552 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2009 - 07 04
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA no. (Just sayin'... lol) Seriously, with everything going on, it'll be a miracle if I hit 50k again this year. But that's not going to stop me from trying. (for 50k, not 500k :P)
----------(~Sylvie~)
NaNo 2007 - Quest for Caelyx (failed)
NaNo 2008 - Kirk the Jerk and Smelly Mely (won!)
NaNo 2009 - Ayana's Gift