Introduction Thread

Hello!
I'm Nicole. I just moved to South Hill last year around this time - so I'm still fairly new to the whole area. Before I was in Fairbanks Alaska and we had a pretty active Nano Group so I'd love to get involved with one around here!
I'm a student at Pierce right now, eventually I want to major in Political Science with a minor in Journalism.
I like to write Horror mostly. My favorite color is green. I work at the Target starbucks... And that's me!

Greetings fellow NaNo'ers! :)
My name is Sarah and this will be my fourth NaNoWriMo (successfully completed 05, 06 and 07) Woohoo! :) Missed out on the fun last year with too much going on in life, but this year I'm back with a vengeance! ;)
I'm super excited. My novel is called 'Containing Hamilton' and it's a sequel to NaNo 2005 (Erasing Hamilton). It's a genre smorgasbord of mystery/suspense, sci-fi, adventure and a smidge of romance.
I live in Bonney Lake with my husband (who is moping because he knows he will practically be a bachelor through November), my neurotic Jack Russell (who I like to call "The Magic Jack"), Scooter and my severely misunderstood 16lb cat, Dublin.
Good luck and may the plot bunnies procreate well for all!!! :)
~NovelistByNight aka Sarah

Hello, my name is Jeff and I live in Lakewood. Currently in the military stationed at fort lewis. Don't have a full schedule yet so don't know my off days. Looking forward to this year as it my first NaNo. Wish everyone old luck.

I'm Brittany, this will be my sixth nano. I'm 21(will be 22 before Nov 1), live in Bonney Lake, work in Renton, and go to school at Pierce College up on South Hill so hopefully I'll be able to go to more things than I have been able to in the past. It's really great to see so many people from the Puyallup area. I have two new dogs and a very pissed off cat for getting the dogs, I live with my boyfriend, and play chauffeur to my siblings who live nearby. I've got more on my plate this year what with working full time, going to school, and dog training classes, but I figure that just makes it more interesting!

I haven't really decided what I'm going to write, though my favorite nanovel is the one that I sat down to the computer on November first and went 'okay, I need a character . . . hmmm'

Brittany

"Yes, I live in my own little world, but I get lost sometimes because there's no such thing as maps; and people don't like me very much so I get bad directions!"

Hey, I'm Jennifer, 17, I live on South Hill, and am doing Running Start and so attending Pierce. I have a pet bird, a parakeet named Mym, he's still a baby, just got him a few months ago, but we're getting along great. This is my first year doing NaNo, but I'm extremely excited and can't wait for November to arrive! I have a pretty free schedule, so I can hang and write pretty much whenever. Unless I'm writing with some of my friends already.

I can do this, I know I can, I know I can, I know I can!

Hi, I'm Jake. I'm a senior at the University of Puget Sound in the North End of Tacoma studying Japanese Language and Culture, but originally from the Oak Hill part of Austin, Texas. This will be the sixth year to do NaNoWriMo and possibly last year to do so in America for a while as I am attempting to get a few scholarships and fellowships for abroad study including one fellowship studying indigenous literary culture where nanowrimo will play a part. Outside of school, I bike, do yoga, and rock climb. As for write-ins, I'll be periodically writing at Bertolino Bros. near the Target off South Union, around the UPS campus, parks in the North End, and possibly a few other places by popular request.

“I love acting. It is so much more real than life.”
-Oscar Wilde

Hi. I'm Zabrina and I live in South Hill. This is my fifth year doing NaNo. I won in 2007. I just published a book that I co-authored this spring. No, it didn't get written during NaNo, but I put the energy into it like it WAS a NaNo month!

Like Sarah's husband, mine is excited that I'm doing NaNo again, but not looking forward to me being on the computer writing practically 24/7. My two boys remember the last couple of Novembers, so it should be interesting. My oldest, who just turned 10, has signed up on the Young Writer's site and will be joining me in NaNo this year!

I'm all for write-ins in the area. The only days that I'm not available are Sundays. I've tried to keep the calendar as clear as possible for November. The only big thing (in addition to Thanksgiving) is my wedding anniversary on Nov. 14th - so I may be writing while away for a couple of days. (Gotta LOVE laptops and WiFi.)

I've had an idea for this year's novel since March or so. I think I've got a title and will probably just start typing and let the words flow to create the story. I know pretty much what it's about, but not really sure where the story's going to lead.

Here's to a wonderful, creative, and successful NaNo for all of us this November!

Zabrina (or Zabs)

P.S. I'll try to wear one of my NaNo shirts to each write-in as well as the kick-off party so I'm easier to spot.

Hi everyone! I'm Kiley, and I live on the UP/Tacoma/Fircrest border. I'm 27 and, because writing does not yet pay the bills, I work as a program assistant for a TRiO program at TCC. I won Nano in 2004 and 2005, but for the last few years have been on hiatus. This year I'm invoking the Zukotou clause to get the last 50K I need for my current book, Cry the Wolven. I like caramel apple suckers and the color pink, have terrible music tastes, and dream of one day living in NYC (or running away to join the circus, whatever comes first). ;)

I'd love to get involved in RL Nano-events, but am limited on schedule/location because I don't have a car. I enjoy the Lakewood Barnes & Noble, and am available weekends (except for Thanksgiving weekend) and perhaps Friday afternoons/evenings. Events in Puyallup/Sumner/Orting can be doable too, as my parents live in Orting and I can always jet down there for the weekend.

I'm excited for Nano to start and hope I get to meet some of you all soon!

I'm Shannon, old enough to be parent to you all.... sheesh. Back for a third or fourth time with Nano. I'm a prison chaplain in my day job. Ready to have some fun with a saintly character who tells people their sins stink to high heaven.

Hello, I'm Carl, and I live in Puyallup. This will be my 6th NaNo, and my 4th win (if I make it to 50K!). I'm a married grandfather, as my profile says, and curretly looking for work -- which should give me lots of writing time next month, I guess. I'm more than willing to attend/help out with kick-off parties & write-ins; in fact, I'm asking around about some meeting spaces near me, and will let you all know if I find some available.

Till then,

--C.

-CMS

Hi, I'm Katie! I'm 26 and this will be my third year doing NaNo. I'm actually in Olympia at the moment, but will be moving to Tacoma before November (back with my parents . . . isn't unemployment fun?).

I think I'm going to something a little different this year and write a How I Met Your Mother fanfic, though I don't have much of a plot yet.

hiya! i'm alex; i'm 38 years old and this will be my 4th nano. all i know so far about what i'll be writing next month is that my main character is named billy and his roommate is a serial killer.

i work for multicare, in an administrative (not-clinical) sort of way. i'm married and have 3 dogs and 2 cats. my favorite color is green. i read a lot and i watch a lot of movies, and way too much television.

just a few hours ago i got back from 6 days in new york city, so i'm a little bleary-eyed. but i'm very happy that nano is upon us once again!

Hi
I'm Chris and I live in Puyallup. My husband, young daughter and I moved to WA two years ago from Pennsylvania. I have done a few NANOs but have yet to win although I came close last year with 47,000. I almost didn't make that last year but I did some challenge writing with a friend and that pushed me over the edge. I was really jazzed by the experience and am hoping to repeat it this year with a buddy from around here.

This year I have a title, some characters and a plot, I just need to get a story line. I am going to talk with a group of third graders for the story line. My third grade daughter is going to help me put it all together once I pump her class for ideas.

By the way I will be 50 years old by the start of NANO this year. I have three grown children living on the east coast and my eight year old who lives here with my husband and I. I also have two beautiful grandchildren. I am a full time mom and writer. My writing time is limited because of this but after having come so close last year with the same limitations I can't wait to get going this year.

Talk to y'all soon

Chris Weigand (angelsformymuse)

Angelsformymuse
Myrria's Legacy

Christina Weigand

Hey everyone. My name is Alana and I am a 19 music student at Pacific Lutheran University. Although music is my current get-rich-and-famous plan, at one point in my life, writing was my thing. I participated in NaNo in '03, '04 and '05, all unsuccessful (I don't feel too bad considering I was in middle school). However, this year, being a much better and dedicated writer, I have plans. No plot... but plans! I'd totally be into write-ins, seeing as I am prone to distraction and lack of motivation when by my self.

Hello! I am Thomas, and I live in Tacoma near downtown. I am 21, a partner in a web development business, and resident of a new artist live/work space. I love royal purple, cats, writing, and coffee, among other things. Getting started with this years Nano is one thing I've been looking forward to since December 1 of last year. :)

Looking forward to meeting some new Nano'ers as well as old!

Thomas Martin
Captain, The League of Magnificent Scoundrels
http://thescoundrels.net

I'm Sam. I'm 20 years old, a graduate of both Pierce College and UW Tacoma and... still unemployed. (A side note to everyone still at Pierce Puy: If you haven't taken a class with Mr. Vannesson yet, you're really missing out. That dude's awesome.) I live in Frederickson, which is a kind of a buffer zone between Tacoma and Graham. I study languages with an eye toward etymology. I suppose that's why I find Mandarin easier than German- it has completely different roots from English, so I can keep my presuppositions from getting in the way.

This is my first NaNoWriMo, since I was too busy to get into it for the last five years. Working quickly and consistently on a novel-length project should be a nice change of pace from working laboriously and sporadically on short stories.

Hi all I'm Angi. This will be my first. I tried a couple of years ago then life got in the way. I live in Puyallup. I have a cute Miniture Pincher named Tony. I love watching movies. The only TV I really watch is NCIS and Bones. I have recently started a business. While that is getting off the ground I'm a massage therapist at a chiropratic office in Federal Way. I look forward to meeting all you and getting to know you.

Hello!

I'm Mariah, aged 14. It would be really cool if I was the youngest here. This is my third nano, and my fourth (hopefully) 50k word draft.

I live in Tacoma, and have a dog and two rabbits. :) I'm homeschooled, have been my whole life, and I'm a vegetarian. My favorite color is either blue or green.

This year I'm writing YA, which I chose because it's so broad and inclusive, and, after all, I am a young adult. :)

Feel free to add me as a friend, everyone. My buddy list is from last year, and no one is active. :(

See you!

Lupis

Hi! I'm Sarah, I am a 29 year old caregiver from Puyallup with crazy hours and no car but I am going to try to make it to as many write-ins as I can. This will be my 3rd attempt at Nano. I hope to finally win this year. The first year '07 I didn't start till the 15th when I heard about Nanowrimo and so didn't make it to the 50k mark. Last year I just couldn't get into my plot and spent most of my writing time going back to fan fiction I was working on so I didn't officially add to my word count. I hope to stick with a plot this year if I can decide what to write. I have an idea for an original story but I don't have the confidence I will stick with it especially since I have 2 or 3 other fanfic plots bouncing around in my head. I am leaning towards giving up the original story idea and doing a Prince of Tennis fanfic instead.

Nice to meet everyone!

Sarah

Hi,

My name is Birgitte. This is my second Nano. I own 4 business and work 12 hour days so I'm not technically sure how I'm going to fit Nano in this year, but I'm going to try or get my butt kicked. Looking forward to meeting you all on the 30th!

Relevant information about me:
1. My name is not Pollyanna and I'm not on crack.
2. I'm 33.
3. I don't live in Tacoma or Pierce County but since Kitsap doesn't have it's own group I'm piggy-backing.
4. I just finished my MFA which translates as "now I can't write a single sentence without questioning it to death and I desperately need a kick in the tush and I really need to stop taking everything so seriously."
5. I'm a NaNo virgin.
6. I have a small person. She's three. I'm nuts about her.
7. I have, up to this point, been primarily an essayist.

Nice to meet you,
Dawnelle

Hey everyone. This is my first time doing NaNo, but I’m really excited about it. I’ve been telling myself for years that I want to have a novel at least rough drafted by the time I’m 18, which happens in January so I figure I better get a move on. Unfortunately, I’m an obsessive procrastinator and neurotic perfectionist, so I’ve yet to make any notable progress. I’m hoping the “frantic writing” will develop into something great.

As for who I’m am, I’ve lived in South Hill for about six years now, and I’ve lived between Washington and California my whole life. Honestly, I prefer Washington. I’m working towards joining the Navy, part of that being spending a quarter at Pierce College. I have four cats (I know, ridiculous, right?) and a beta fish. Fantasy is my favourite genre, but I like to read all genres. Currently, I have no idea what I’m going to write about for NaNo, but something will come to me before the first. Also, I live literally 30 seconds (by car) and ten minutes (by foot) from the South Hill Library, so I’m looking forward to this first meeting.

Oh, and my name’s Moneca (pronounced like Monique with an “uh” sound on the end), Jamien Grey is just an old character name I like to use as a screen name.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Hi Everyone,
I'm Stephanie. This is will be my 1st official Nano. I accidentally found No Plot No Problem when I was perusing the bookstore one day in March. I read it in a few days and began writing my first novel immediately following. I teach in Lakewood and have signed my entire 4th grade class up for the youth writing program. We will all be working frantically together to meet our word count deadline! :) What I wouldn't have given to have access to NaNoWriMo when I was growing up!

I've been writing my whole life (37 years) and mostly focused on short stories aimed at upper elementary school age children. My newest novel is written for young adults. For Nano, I'm going to write an adult chick lit book called Wake. So far... it's about a woman in her mid-30's named Marge. She realizes through a set of events that her mundane life is not hers, and the man who has been selling her books is really someone much more pivotal than she remembers. Marge is about to depart from suburbia and enter into a life she cannot fathom...

Don't ask me to elaborate. Sadly, I can't ... yet. I have faith (and an unreal expectation) that I can outline the rest in the next 10 days... okay, maybe faith is a little strong. How about I have a deep desire to outline the rest before Nov 1st!

Anyhow, besides a crazy, wonderful class and a dangerous desire to write all the time, I also have a loving husband and a sweet 8 1/2 year old son. We live in Graham with 2 cats, Emma and Ella and a lot of guppies (too numerous to name!)

I don't know how many meetings I'll be able to make it to, but I know we'll all have a blast!

Good Luck To Us All!
Stephanie

P.S. Has anyone else tried out Scrivener? Whoa, it's very cool and helpful! I think it's going to make this next book much easier to layout. Check it out under the Fun Stuff< Special Offers

I'm John from University Place. This is my fourth time trying to make it to the magic number, and I took a break from trying last year. I hit the 10k wall and then don't know where I'm going. Could be what I wanted to write that is the problem, so hopefully I found the magic formula to break that pattern.

Chris here. Call me Andrew if we already have too many Chris's. Chrises? Chrisses. 0_o

AHHH! HELP! I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT I'M GOING TO WRITE YET! AHHHH!

*ahem* Sorry. I like midnight blue. Or forest green. Deep red works too. I'm in Puyallup and since I'm not working full time this year I think I might actually have the time to devote to finishing this year's NoWri. Yay!

SERIOUSLY, HELP! AHHHHH! I'M STUCK BETWEEN LIKE TWO NOVEL CONCEPTS AND NOVEMBER'S PRACTICALLY HERE ALREADY!

Pay no attention to the anxiety monster lurking in the corner. He'll get over it. Anyway, I just turned 35. Besides writing, I like to play strategy games. Chess is a favorite. I've also taken to putting hot chocolate in my coffee lately. If I learned anything from last year's attempt at this thing, it's that chocolate is necessary. This is sounding completely random, isn't it?

I COULD USE A LITTLE HELP OVER HERE! WE NEED -- *CONK*

*THUD* Excuse me. I'll be back a little later...

Need help? Get a lesson from Uncle Orson

Hey there! My name is Amber, and this is my first NaNo. I think I must be crazy to do this now- I have so much on my plate I will probably end up traveling to Florida naked when we leave on December 1st, but I don't care! I'm super excited for November!

I'm 26 and live just outside of Parkland/Spanaway area with my husband, two birds and an absolutely insane lab named The Stig. My dad has been hassling me to finish a book since I was about 14, and I intend to do just that. Maybe I'll give him my manuscript for Christmas?

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting together with my fellow writers. I'm socially inept, and afraid of looking like an idiot in public, but hey, this month is all about stepping outside of the safe zone. Now I just need to get hubby to un-stick my backspace key and I'll be set :)

Good luck everyone!

Hi. I'm Alice and this will be my first Nano. I'm more of a reader than a writer at this point, but love a good challenge. It takes me a month to write 5,000 words since I edit and revise more than I write. Maybe this will break me of it.

See you all next week (hopefully).

Hi! I prefer to go by Kat because it's close enough to my real name without actually being my real name, and statistically speaking, I have a high probability of becoming a crazy cat lady. If I'm not already there. (Hey, I only have three cats.) :p

I'm 31, technically live in unincorporated Pierce County, but since my mailing address says "Puyallup", I say the city's claimed me. I currently work in Tacoma and really, really hope it becomes my official permanent location. I love the color blue and get twitchy when exposed to too much red, but red is the primary color of my novel. Thankfully, I can add yellow and orange into the mix, so if I get too twitchy while writing, I'll have to blame something else.

I'll try to make as many of the events as I can since I'm a little tired of being a hermit. I'm looking forward to meeting folks and cheering my fellow NaNoers on!

Kat

'ello. My name is Patrick and I'm going for a second NaNoWriMo success. I'm a recent graduate from Pacific Lutheran University and currently work in the dreadful realm of retail. I like existentialist conversations and dancing randomly. Life is good. The first can't come fast enough.

Hello, my name is Lauren and I live between the Seattle and Peirce county lines in Federal Way. I've been participating in Nano since '05 and almost reach the 50k mark last year at 46k. This is the year that I'm hoping to hit that magic 50k. Unfortunately I've had my story plotted since August and had to have it crawling around my head while I waited to November. So bring it on nano and I'll hopefully show you what I'm worth!

Keep Writing!