Slightly differerent from the introductions threads, I thought that because this tends to come up when you gather enough of us together (though, I'm surprised, ALWAYS that my infamy has spread this far) that I'd explain exactly who - and what - I am.
My name, everywhere that matters(online), is Kaiberie. I'm at the point now, where I am at the beginning of my third year of University, and even my tutors call me 'Kai' . My real name is Donna, which I dislike with a passion, and is a whole other, Nano length story ;).
I have been doing the Nanowrimo since 2003 - as a direct result of it, I gained a stupid amount of infamy because I featured on the front page of Nanowrimo HQ for something like eight days. To this day, people probably still know who I am because of that page. It's a nice piece of infamy to have, but it's hard too sometimes ;)
My name comes up in conversations that range from 'there's no way she's managing that much' to 'wonder where I can get her books'. And it's not an idle brag. I write, and have been known to write upwards of 120k in November. This year I'm aiming for 150k - two new books, one original nano that needs completely rewritten (because that's an experiment that just calls for being done if you ask me - whether you can do the complete rewrite in November, after editing it, and it's better, or publishable).
I'm letting you know all of this, and the other half to the story, because the Nano isn't JUST about writing. It's mainly about that, and your brains WILL melt out of your ears because of it, but that's not just IT.
I'm still friends with the majority of people I ML'd for the first year (which was the whole of Scotland, a position I held for three years!)- still friends with lots of people I met in my years down here (though, to be fair, I'm not very good at keeping up with either set of friends IRL), and the other 'half' of my Nanowrimo story is as a direct result of doing that first 'year' in the Nanowrimo, I joined a group of role-playing gamers called GEAS in my home town of Edinburgh. As a direct result of belonging to GEAS, I worked at Conpulsion (one of the conventions) and met my partner, who is now my fiancée. I may not wear the shiny ring of doooooom tonight, but I will at some of the other meets, because it's gorgeous.
Without the Nano, I wouldn't be a University undergrad, or in a relationship or engaged to be married, or even, probably, sane right about now, so don't underestimate what a life changing experience it can be ;) Although it's not been easy - and by the end of November, I detest the thought of running meetings, and being bouncy and upbeat for ANYONE (and usually don't recover till after my first set of marks come back from assignments), I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I know that down here, things haven't gone as smoothly as I'd liked - the meetings are always miniscule compared to the 20 or 30 we had up in Scotland, and I know some people don't *get* my enthusiasm. I know for many of you, this is simply a challenge. But seriously, it's not just that.
The Nanowrimo can become a way of life for writers - write as much as you can in short bursts, put it to one side, recover (or use that time to edit other pieces). Lather, rinse repeat as needed. I do three of these mini write ins a year, or did till I banged my head, so I know it's a good way to get those first drafts down on paper and explore places you may not otherwise go. The Nanowrimo also teaches you a couple of amazing things about writing - it can be a solitary or small group effort, but, because there are so MANY of us out there, it doesn't need to be lonely. I'm a mother, a student, an artist, a gamer, but for November I become someone that a whole region looks to for advice - and I give it willingly and gladly.
Who I am though, first and foremost is an enthusiastic participant in the Nanowrimo - whenever I go to author talks, I ask their opinion on it - whenever I'm asked about writing, I extol it's virtues. There is a reason I keep coming back again, and again and again to do it - because, to be quite honest, it's a blast.
I hope, this year, that you'll find the same enjoyment, and that those of you who find their lives changing have positive experiences too.
Good luck everyone!
Kai
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http://kaiberie.com - personal blog
http://workbacktonow.com - writing blog
