Shall we introduce ourselves?

Hi Ellay!
A terribly shy Essex girl here! (actually, another ringer :)). I live near Romford ...

This is my first NaNoWriMo. I heard about it too late to join in last year but it's been at the back of my mind ever since ...

I used to write a lot when I was younger (I'm 37 now) but not so much lately, so I'm hoping this will get me started again! I have a vague idea which needs a lot of refinement before the 1st so I should really stop spending so much time on here and get cracking! It's a chick-lit type story.

I'm looking for writing buddies too as I'm sure I'll need all the prodding I can get! Not so keen on real-life meet ups though *scary* ....

Look forward to seeing some more Essex people in here!

Suzie

eta: Ellay, I've added you as a buddy ....

Hello all,

I'm quiet because I'm petrified - this is my first NaNoWriMo.

Locking myself away in Chelmsford, I'm planning on working in isolation and hammering out the words so please don't be offended if I don't attend any meetings - I'm a people person and will probably end up finding out about everyone all night and writing nothing - but I will check in on the forums if I'm flagging (or avoiding writing).

I have no idea how to describe my novel which is a worry in itself; I guess it's urban fantasy/romance but it's set in Orkney which is hardly urban, is it? Maybe Pastoral Paranormal Romance works better?

Good luck everyone. I can't wait for Nov 1!

Stu

Hiya domino here I only heard about this 4 weeks ago and signed up, all I'm hoping is to get therough the intensive writing, I have already plotted my story and just need to brush up on a few areas but looking forward to it all. I'm happy to add writing buddies or have them add me need all the support we can get. good luck to all

This is excellent - lots of new people. Please feel free to add me as a writing buddy. I should have mentioned that that I'm 45 and a mum; I'm hoping that my 11 (almost 12) year old will be my live in writing buddy or we're really going to get on each other's nerves over the next few weeks :D This will be her first attempt at the 30k word challenge for young writers.

Ellay

Hi All

Ellay, you're not alone in the Dengie - I'm in Burnham-on-Crouch and I
did feel a bit left out on a limb last year, so I'm more than happy to
get together for a dose of encouragement.

Biography: I'm 57 and last year was my first time at Nano and I
managed to win with a novel that changed its plot about 5 times before
the end - I called it a paranormal murder-mystery fantasy. This year
I'm a bit more organised and think I know where I'm going.

I'd love a few writing buddies so anyone stuck in the back end of
beyond like me and Ellay, please feel free to add me to the list.

Best of luck, everyone!

Ruth

Hi everyone,
I am so glad to find an Essex group this will be my fourth attempt, I haven't won yet but I do put that down to the fact that I had a baby just before my second attempt and when did I think I was actuallly going to write I don't know so this year have a new plan, I ma going to write long hand so I can grab moments where ever and when ever I can.
Hopefully we might get a chance of a meet up at some point
Nic x

Hi everyone, this is my first NaNoWriMo, I'm 16 and live just outside of Colchester, in Essex.
Is there a meet up thing happening? And is anyone else doing a romance novel?

Hi all,
I'm Jacqui, your friendly neighbourhood Municipal Liaison. For those of you who don’t know what an ML is, I’m a coordinator for the Essex area. I help people out, organise meet-ups, give encouragement, etc.

Although I wasn’t an official ML last year I organised a few meet-ups. I found that because people were very spread out it was very hard to organise, so this year I have a few ideas to solve this problem:

*I’m going to arrange a mid-month write-in where we all get together somewhere central, like Chelmsford. I figure more people will make the effort to travel if there’s just one big write-in.
*I’m also going to suggest weekly write-ins with several venues, so people can meet up locally if they want.
*The third idea I had was to organise more regular online write-ins. Times when everyone can chat online and we can have the usual word-count competitions etc. I’m thinking of using Skype for this, but if anyone knows a better program or chat room (and MSN is not better – it never works for me :o) ), then let me know.

Unfortunately I am moving on Tuesday (perfect timing for becoming an ML) and I’ll be in Surrey and Northampton in the near future. This means I won’t be able to attend the weekly write-ins, but I’ll be at the mid-month gather :o) and online.
I’ll also be very active on the forums, because I’m a stickler for pain :o), and be sending regular tips and pep talks to get you going.

So a bit about me: I’m 25 and last year was my first NaNo, which I won. I’m a trained primary school teacher, but I don’t teach anymore. No kids or partner at the moment. I tend to write late evening and into the small hours, as I find this is when I’m most productive. Fantasy is what I love to read and write.

November 1st is on the horizon. Time to stock up on snacks and caffeine.
Good luck everyone, and I’ll be in touch before Sunday,

Jacqui (tekiegirl)
:o)

NaNoWriMo 2009 Untitled:
NaNoWriMo 2008 Chosen: 66354 WON

Hey :)

Well, I'm Shannon. And I'm 16, live in Grays, and well alot of people I know are doing this and I had a brianwave for piece of writing and it turned into something more. Which sucks, because I don't think I'll get finished.

This is my first try, so Imma fail. I just know it.

Heya. I'm Hannah and I'm 17 years old. This is my third NaNo.

I live in Felsted and I am a writer and a Maccie D's worker (Braintree store). I love to write and have self-published my first novel.

The Official Elementalists' Site (flash)

The Lie

*stands up*

Hi I'm Luke and I am 26 and an alc.....

Ok wrong thing....thats another site :P

Me, I am sadly from Basildon never done this before but have written a few things in the past poetry and that sort of thing.

I am a Data Analyst for Pharma Market Research company in Central London. I spend most of my time either working or working lol. I have no idea how I am going to fit this around all the things I do in my spare time. I am a membership admin at a wheel of time fan site called tarvalon.net. If anyone has read the wheel of time or any of Robert Jordans books or Brandon Sanderson just pop a long and join up.

Nice to say hi to you all

thanks

Luke

Hi, I'm Nick and I live in Colchester. I first did NaNoWriMo in 2006 and won, but didn't have the time to take part in it during the last couple of years. Not entirely sure I will this year, but I do have the time to start it off, so maybe I'll try and fit it all in during the first week!

Winner in 2006, skipped in 2007-8, now going for 2 out of 2 in 2009!
Updates: LiveJournal|Twitter

Getting close now and I'm ready as I'll ever be (except that I'm teetering on the brink of filing that project and running with a completely different one. :S).

Still a lot quieter in here than I'd expected but the numbers are creeping up. So far we have:

a near Romford
a Chelmsford
an outside Colchester
an (inside) Colchester
a Grays
a Basildon
a Felsted
and two for plucky little Burnham-on-Crouch!!!

[plus a couple of uncommitteds who may tip the balance another way.]

Here's another one in Chelmsford!

My name is Eveline, I'm a foreign type (Dutch) living in Chelmsford, moved here three years ago to be with my Love. Ahhh, internet romance! Anyway.. I keep hearing that I sound more and more Essex which I'm not sure is a compliment..

I'll be 36 by the end of the year, which makes me old, and I've already 'won' Nanowrimo 5 times, which makes me.. well.. probably just very sad. ;)

I can't wait to get started again, and this year I'll also be doing an art journal from my Main Character's point of view, just to combine my two main hobbies. After winning so many times I think I can write the 50K, I just need something to keep me focussed on my story as it will more than likely take more than the required 50,000 words.

Hello hello hello.

I'm Gemma, 24, and am in Chelmsford (well, a little outside but let's say that for ease). This is my 3rd/4th nano...none of which I've won so far, but getting closer every year, and I tend to write sci-fi.
Anyone is free to friend me; and if anyone wants to I could do with a writing buddy- some good kicks every now and then really help the process along I find.

Hello there,

I'm a Thurrock lad and I'm 27. This is my first year of NoNoWriMo, it was recommended to me by a friend who's lurking around here somewhere after a long discussion about general creativity and writing in particular. The timing seems to have been perfect, although I have very little planned out, so this week will be spent will a lot of paper, pencils and tea.

When not typing/scribbling, I'm usually armed with a camera, watching films, wandering around (London mostly) or playing the Xbox - though not all at the same time. Either way, as long as I have tea, I'm happy!

Most of my ideas and thoughts for fiction are centred around sci-fi & mild fantasy, and one of my main pleasures comes from anything dystopian. So I'll be stumbling around here for a bit, trying to figure out what a writing buddy is and working my way through a new pad of A3. Feel free to friend me and add me on twitter/xbox/etc.

:-)

If there were two of you, which one would win?

Twitter: http://twitter.com/mistercollinge

Hi all,

I'm from Essex too, from Tolleshunt D'Arcy - a small rural village about six miles away from Maldon, or about half an hour's drive from Chelmsford. I'm glad to see there's so many people from our county on here - I'm happy to be a writing buddy too, the more moral support we can spead/get over November the better! :o)

I'm 24, and this is my third attempt at NaNo. November seems to be a ridiculously busy month every year - but I'm hoping to actually get to 50,000 this year. The last two years I've been writing fantasy - but I'm planning on trying sci-fi this time. Reading through some of the intros, it seems to be quite a popular genre this year.

Best of luck everyone!

Emma. x

"Writing is easy. All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead." -- Gene Fowler.

Hi

My name's Gerald. I'm in the *ahem* prime of my life, (very) early retiree, living in Walton on the Naze.

I've done NaNo thrice before, and 'won' each time (at last I've found an outlet for being obsessive). I'm a latecomer this year, as I wasn't going to do it, but a friend has persuaded me.

This year, I have more disposable time, which should mean that I could write something creative which would be nice.

In the past I've written crime pieces, as I enjoy thinking of ways the baddies might outwit the goodies. It's a shame, 'cos they never do. Maybe this is their year ...

Could well be available for some sort of online / offline meetup. How about a 'bring your laptop and we'll crunch a few words' kind of meet?

My one tip? Turned the internet off until you've written your words for the day. Damn you, Facebook and Twitter.

Essex Writers Support group

Hi all,

My name's Si, and I'm from the bleak hole that is Southend on Sea. I'm 27 and work in video post production in London, spending about three hours commuting a day, which affords me time to write on my laptop, assuming I can keep my eyes open in the mornings and evenings. This will be my second NaNoWriMo after an abortive attempt finishing at a paltry 18,500 words in 2007. In all honesty I don't rate my chances very highly this year as November is set to be absolutely manic at work, but I'll give it my best shot as I'm at my happiest when I'm being creative.

I'm pretty shy so you may not hear much from me on the forums, nor at write-ins (time constraints being what they are you may not see me anyway).

I also rely far too heavily on commas and brackets. They're tough habits to break.

Last time the novel was silly science fiction, this time around it will be more serious fantasy adventure with some sci-fi elements, set in an alternative modern day. I'm not even close to figuring out an ending yet - hopefully that will come with time.

Good luck everyone!

2009: Forty Leagues into the Woods (Fantasy)
2007: Gaming Jupiter (Silly sci-fi failure at 18,500 words)

@silevitas on Twitter

Hello all,

I'm Hayley, I'm 27 and this is my third NaNo, although I (disgracefully) failed to finish last year. In my defence I had just started a new job in a warehouse involving walking up to eight miles a night, so I just didn't have the energy. I'm still doing the same crappy job, but I'm used to it now. We're not allowed electrical equipment on site (so no laptop), but I'm not letting that stop me writing during the night shift. I'll just have to back to basics... pen and paper here I come!

Oh, and I am from Laindon in case anyone was wondering!

If I were upstairs (rather than downstairs in my writing den (a corner of the lounge I share only with the cat) I would be waving at you over in Southend from across the river (Crouch). Welcome aboard.

Hi all,

My name is Derek and I joined a couple of years ago. I have been involved in online publishing for about 12 years now and during that time I determined to write 'my novel' thinking that I would be guaranteed publication at least. However, in much the same way that "the cobblers children are the worst shod" I constantly kept putting off the actual writing, thinking that I could do it any time of my choosing - which began to look like never.

My idea of joining nanowrimo was to inject an element of self-discipline but sadly this didn't work either as work commitments prevented me from getting stuck in. This year, however, I have taken a whole month off so that I can have a serious attempt.

We shall see!!!

Good luck, Derek from Harlow.

Although I managed to find the time in the past, all of my NaNo writing became very baggy. I found it hard to write meaningful prose, and I got into the habit of just bashing out words that went together to make a sentence. And checking the word counter too often.

I think the key is to plan thoroughly, to know where your story is going (although that might change during the writing, but at least you have an idea), and to start hard and fast. Thinking you'll do a hundred or so on the 1st, and then catch up later on just doesn't work. All IMO, of course ;)

Essex Writers Support group

Wow, it's taken me forever to get back on here...I've been having modem 'issues' so my active participation on the forums depends mainly on how long it takes 3 to actually fix anything...

So...about me. I'm Kate, 27, and I hail from *sunny* Southend as well. This will be my second NaNo, although I also did JulNoWriMo earlier this year and 'won' both of them. Last time out I had planned in detail exactly what I was going to write about...and then threw it all away to focus on something that popped into my head two days before the 1st November and wouldn't leave!! This time out I'm writing a historical fiction, about the life of Elizabeth Siddal, the Pre-Raphaelite model and muse. Well, that's the theory, anyway; knowing my luck, something else will crop up!

I've already convinced my cousin to sign up for NaNo, and she in turn has convinced some of her own friends to get involved, so we have quite a little coven going over here!! I don't know if I'll make it to the Chelmsford meet, what with time constraints and all, but I plan to meet up and do writing sessions with at least some of my 'coven' at weekends; if anyone wants to join us, the more the merrier!!

Gosh, Ellay, are you one of the lucky few who can actually see the river from your window? I think I would find that quite stimulating creativity-wise.

Ruth

Hey, I'm Georgie. I'm 17, live in Stanford-le-Hope and have taken part two times before, but I've never finished. I end up not being able to write for days at a time because of schoolwork and other commitments. It's very annoying, because I'm always so excited when I start and really want to finish this time. Last year I tried a sort of 1920s era fantasy but set in another world in an Egypt-like country... but it didn't go too well. So I'm going back to my favourite, epic/dark fantasy. Hope to go to a get-together at some point too.

Hi, I'm Bex :D I'm 18 and live in Horndon-on-the-Hill, a little village which not many people have heard of, even those who live relatively close, but it's about ten minutes' drive away from Georgie (elysiaIvy), who is my friend IRL xD It's about the same journey time away from Basildon too. This is my first NaNo; I've known about it for years and always meant to take part, but schoolwork comes first and November is a bad time because it's when I tend to have mocks. This year, though, I'm on a gap year before uni, working part-time at my local corner shop, and consequently have the most free time that I'll have probably for years, so I'm taking the opportunity!

I'm a fantasy gal too, although my idea for this year is only very light fantasy; it's more of a modern teen fiction thing. With gangs. Basically it's set in a world where precious stones are widely accepted to have special properties and are even taught about in schools; I might find a way to work in some other 'new age' ideas as well because they fascinate me. It makes research - which is usually the bane of my life - a lot of fun!

It's an old idea from years ago, which has its pros and cons - pros are that I'm already familiar with the characters and have had a lot of time to think up a plot; cons are that a lot of the things I came up with before now seem clichéd and unbelievable, so I'll need to find a way of moving past those. Still, I'm really excited and hopeful about reaching 50k! And I really hope I can make it to some get-togethers as well ^^

Hello. I'm Vini, I live close to Southend-on-Sea (Westcliff to be precise), 20, and have only moved here this year. I have participated the past two years, won in 2007 and got up to about 30k last year. I am originally from Germany, and I have no idea what to write about this year, yet. The way I know myself it will be a last minute decision. Also, I'm trying to persuade my two flatmates to join in, so we can motivate each other.

Being where I am is very 'stimulating' when the tide is high and the wind is in the wrong quarter. Pretty much guaranteed to be washed away if the river ever bursts its banks. I am very fond of the Crouch though, and have always needed to live near water.