Hi folks; I hope your novels are off to amazing starts! Just a few details to tend to while we're getting started.
Time Zone
DST ended yesterday! The NaNo site does not account for time changes. Silly website. If you haven't already, please set yourself to the "-500" time, or you'll find your word count can't be adjusted after 11:00 p.m. on November 30 instead of at the stroke of midnight!
To adjust time settings, choose "Edit User Settings" under "My NaNoWriMo" in the horizontal toolbar toward the top of the page. Scroll down to the bottom of this page and under "Locale Settings" make sure you've selected whatever time ends in "-500" in order to be in the Eastern Standard time zone.
Home Region
If you call this NaNo region your home, please do so officially! Being officially in this group will get you e-mails from Jessica and me (we promise to only send a few during the month), but more importantly, will add your word count to our communal word count! We can't beat other regions without you!
To set your home region, choose "My Regions" under "My NaNoWriMo." Choose the first tab (Regions) and browse for United States : Indiana : Notre Dame and join this region! Then, choose the third tab (Home Region), click the radio button next to this region, and click Set Home Region. Welcome aboard!
Word Count
Looks like most everyone is announcing their word count on the site already. Yay! But if you haven't figured it out yet, we're here to help. While logged in to the NaNo site, in the upper right-hand corner of the page is a box that has the words "Total word count (no comma)" beneath it. Simply type in your current word count and hit Update! Starting November 25, you'll be able to "validate" your word count by submitting the (scrambled) text of your novel directly to the website.
Anything else?
If you have any questions about miscellaneous or administrative stuff or details of the forums or website, please post them here and we'll get the answers you need! Thanks!
Happy writing, everyone!
Josh
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