United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Free Book

inhalelife — Thu, 4 Dec 2008 20:26:36 -0800

Darfinkle and G.L.,

At the kick-off party this year, someone mentioned that if we went to createspace.com, they would print a free copy of our Nano book if we met the six week deadline. Is this true? I went to the site and didn't see any promotional blurb about it. Is there a code we put in upon check-out, or something?

Valerie

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Valerie Willman
Writer
http://www.insaneparentsunite.blogspot.com

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

TGIO PARTY: DECEMBER 6, NOON-3:00 PM

glmorrison — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:00:54 -0800

This year's TGIO party will be held at... (drum roll please) wait for it....

THE ICE RINK @ the eugene fairgrounds
Saturday, Dec 6th
noon-3pm

Lane Events Center
796 W. 13th Avenue
Eugene OR 97402

We have a reserved table at the food court at the ice rink. To add to the fun @ the fairgrounds is both holiday market and a local authors event! Should be a blast! Public skating is available to those who wanna from noon-1ish. Our crafty ML has promised us awards and other secret fun. There will be nano-swag, comeradery and celebration! Good times, uh huh!

In addition: our last (and completely painless) nano-fundraiser of the year. Special thanks to those of you who donated and got halo-ed. Those who couldn't afford to give cash, here's another chance: Bring and donate your used books! Instant book sale! Writing books especially welcome but any books are okay. Gift-wrapping will also be available for a small fee. So you can shop the nearby holiday market (or get books for everyone on your holiday list!) and benefit Nanowrimo at the same time! (Donations of wrapping paper and tape also welcome.)

As always Nano-events are free and open to the entire public.
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Is this cheating?

loracarol — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:09:00 -0800

So, here is my problem:
I did not have a lot of time, and I needed to get my word count up, so I decided ot have my charecters have a poetry reading.

Yes, a poetry reading.

Now, here is my question: Is using poems that other people wrote (Like, Lord Tennyson?) cheating? I have a little more time, so I was going to write more, and keep writign until I have to be done- but do I need to take this poems out?

What do you guys think?
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...Und so ging sie in den Bereich der Einbildungskraft...

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Check your clocks before the deadline tonight!

reddening — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:20:15 -0800

If there are any last-minute submitters out there, be sure to check that your time zone is set correctly on your User Settings page! Inhalelife warned me at today's write-in that hers was off, and I just checked and mine was too. Most years I write down to the wire, so losing a whole hour would've been a nasty wrench!
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Wait a sec.....

Katachi — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:35:41 -0800

...Okay, I just won nanowrimo, got my 50K in and the site told me I was a winner and offered me winner goodies. But when I see myself on the list of winners. It says I have only a little above 47K words. I looked through the list and I am not the only one who has less than 50K listed as their total word count, but is still considered a winner.

What is up with that?
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Next to Last Write-In -- Saturday, November 29

Darfinkle — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:11:09 -0800

Impromptu Next to Last Write-In for those who need serious word count but find way too many distractions at home. Join us at Emerald City Comics in the afternoon, say from 1 pm to 5 pm. The gaming table can accommodate about five people. This is a drop-in write-in, in other words no planned activities other than increasing word count. Feel free to procrastinate by wandering through Emerald City Comics and Smith Family Books next door.

(I have to take my cat to the Vet at 1:00, so I will be there about 2:00.)
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"Life is too important to be taken seriously." -- Oscar Wilde

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Last write in

Twilite — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:57:36 -0800

Thank you for scheduling the last write in on Sunday the 30th.
I have been ill this past week and haven't had a chance to get out!
I am feeling better now and look forward to see you all there.

See the calender it's at Papa's Pizza 2pm to 4 pm.

Let's make it count! Come join me there!
Twilite loves you Wrimos!
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***************************************************
Whatever you can do or think you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
~~Goethe

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

What school do you go to?

loracarol — Mon, 6 Oct 2008 18:54:33 -0700

We already know that there are several UO NaNo;s, but does anyone go to a different school?
Colleges, or Highschool, doesn't matter.

I for one am a Sophmore at North, which (contrary to sterotypes) is not the "ghetto school".

Where do all of you go to school? Are you even in school still? Homeschooled? What grade (if your feel confortable saying it.)

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...Und so ging sie in den Bereich der Einbildungskraft...

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Weird thing with the UO writein for tonight 11/26

Kyrina — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:38:40 -0800

I just decided to check and I've noticed the Knight Library closes today at 5. We are still scheduled from 6-9 but it doesn't make sense so I think the backup location should be at Café Roma, but at the same time. (I'd check with them now but I'm at work)
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

TOP 100!

Yanocchi — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:16:38 -0800

Congratulations, fellow Eugene WriMos, on getting us to the Top 100! Take a look at the word count scoreboard here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/wordcount_stats

Portland made it to the top 10, and we're next in Oregon at number 98. The next closest Oregon region is Salem at 130, followed by "Elsewhere." Corvallis is all the way down there at 227, further evidence that Ducks > Beavers. The lowest Oregon region is the South Coast at 403, but their average word count is higher than ours!

But let's not get cocky, guys! To hold on to our Top 100 spot (and hey, why shouldn't we push for Top 50?) we've all got to keep those words coming! Don't forget to update your word count often so your work can be recognized.

Congrats! Write on! :D
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

word count validator

inhalelife — Tue, 4 Nov 2008 06:44:46 -0800

It looks like we are unable (and therefore not required) to post our growing manuscript to MY NANOWRIMO at this time -- until November 25th to be precise. Is this true? Are we only supposed to be saying, "Yes, I have 4 milllion, 3 hundred and 82 words!" in the word count and/or update boxes?

I'm a newbie, so just wanting to make sure I'm doing things 'write!'
Also, thank you for posting about the write-ins, I have been having the most terrible time posting to this forum (or doing anything on the webpage!) This is my first successful attempt at posting! (Finally!)

Valerie
inhalelife

p.s. I was at Papa's Pizza on Sunday with my friend to write, but we didn't see anyone else show. I see by the forum that someone named shecaptain or facepalm went but we weren't able to connect for some reason. ???
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Valerie Willman
Writer
http://www.insaneparentsunite.blogspot.com

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

I'm struggling.

Katachi — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:11:51 -0800

I am at 36,118 words, and I am having a tough time getting myself going. I wrote an outline for my novel in October, and was surprised to find that by about 25K words, I had finished my outline (except for the very end of the novel, of course.) So I had to brainstorm on new stuff to introduce for the entire second half of the novel, and that was going very well for a while. But now I am so tired of writing I am just having a tough time getting motivated. Also, I have no writing buddies. Anyone want to be a writing buddy with me?
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Dealing with upcoming family tragedy

Kyrina — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:24:41 -0800

I'm feeling perfectly comfortable with my novel. I have moments that feel awful but I've shoved my inner editor so far into a box that all it can do is occasionally let out a yell (which is then ignored).

The sort of stress I'm dealing with it outside of that and I needed to post it somewhere or risk my mind exploding.

My grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer awhile back, and while that was awful in general, I figured I'd have no problems with getting to visit her for Christmas (my family is all in Maryland). I kept having to put my plans to buy the ticket on hold though, which was enough of a problem, but now things are worse. My mother called me this morning to tell me to get refundable tickets in case my grandmother doesn't make it till Christmas. I was worried that my mother was being over-dramatic but it's possible she's not.
I was really hoping to make it before she died but I know I can't make it till after finals.

It also doesn't help that refundable tickets are significantly more expensive. It's being all a big headache.

Now I also feel bad for having my main character's grandmother having a lot of the negative traits of my actual grandmother. It feels disrespectful. I don't think I have enough time to fix that.
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Editors/Publishers

GMYuna — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:10:02 -0800

Alright, I know I may be a little early for this, but does anyone know of some good editors or publishers? I would love to know some, since I'm planning on submitting my entry for publication.
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

UO NaNoWriMos?

overrated_wit — Sat, 4 Oct 2008 20:55:37 -0700

Are you at UO? If so, I want to know you. =) I'm Jessica. It's my first year doing NaNo and my first year in college. Let's see how this turns out. =)
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Hllfre and Dmnaton

loracarol — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:53:44 -0800

I need some real help here, you guys...

I keep my thumbdrive in my wallet. I got home, and my thumbdrive was not in my wallet.

I had all my NaNoWriMo stuff on there.

I do have a "google documents" workpage, but I haven't been able to update it within the last 48 hours.

I maybe just lost over 2,000 words.

Please, send me some love? I would really appreciate it....
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...Und so ging sie in den Bereich der Einbildungskraft...

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

"self-professed word padder"

inhalelife — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:36:30 -0800

How do you feel about Skyla, the word warrer from Colorado? (she's on the nano webpage) Her daily goal is 5000 words. and she's doing it.

Truly, congrats to her, I think that is responsibly doable.

But.

I hear people talk about word padding and -- call me a nerd or a priss -- but I can't bring myself to do it.

It feels like cheating somehow.

I have been able to write myself notes about research tips in parentheses in my word count but I didn't look while I did it.
But, I mean, I could write 5000 words a day, too, if I included my three blogs entries and emails I write (particularly the two I wrote today which felt very long indeed).

And I am not saying that the Skyla's out there are doing that. They very well may honestly write 5000 words of true manuscript. And I personally think they probably do.

I'm also not saying that I won't succumb on November 30th at 11:30 p.m. to stick in a couple of emails I wrote this month.

But probably not.

Because I am a self-professed nerd .. or priss ... whatever your chosen vocabulary dictates.

Valerie
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Valerie Willman
Writer
http://www.insaneparentsunite.blogspot.com

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

No Plot, No Problem

inhalelife — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:25:19 -0800

I left my book at Papa's Pizza on W. 11th on Wednesday night's write-in. Reddening was sitting across from me and a blond girl was sitting next to me. She was reading it, but I forgot to get it back from her when I left.

Did anyone pick it up? And can it be brought to the Sunday write-in, please? I REALLY need the motivation to keep going. I'm sick AGAIN. I think I've sneezed eighty-two times today.

Valerie

Edited by the ML. Please send inhalelife (a.k.a. Valerie) a Nanomail with your contact info if you have or find her book.
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Valerie Willman
Writer
http://www.insaneparentsunite.blogspot.com

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Internet Procrastination

Yanocchi — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:07:58 -0800

At Darfinkle's suggestion I'm here to spread the joy of internet procrastination.

Add (age and work appropriate!) links to movies, pictures, forums, or anything else that sucks your time when you're supposed to be writing your novel.

To get you started, here's a dog with something to say: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=466...

And a man trying to pay his bills creatively: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=665847

And, of course, there's always http://icanhascheezburger.com/ and associated sites. I'm particularly fond of the failblog.

What is your internet distraction of choice?
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Magical Plot Pencil Thread

Bahnree — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:47:37 -0800

During the write-in at LCC this evening, we all received Magical Plot Pencils. Each of our MPPs has its own special power. If you would like, post your MPP's magical power in this thread, and bless us all with its magical power.

My MPP is named Clem and blesses your novel with many llamas.
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The Stranger: He wants your soul.
http://www.freewebs.com/soulcollectors/index.htm

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Open Office can be evil (word count)

Kyrina — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:03:47 -0800

I've been using Open Office 3 for my novel and it's generally been all good. Other programs would show less word counts but that was ok. I figured that I'd deal with it.

Then the official counter went up. I was 900 words under what my program said. Apparently, words in quotes in Open Office have an additional word added and I needed to modify some settings to change that.

I'm still a little ahead but it's really depressing to recalibrate your word count and suddenly feel like you had to work more to get where you thought you were before.
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United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

REGION CHALLENGE CARD

Darfinkle — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:13:05 -0800

This year we have a set of challenges for participants. How many can you complete?

Attend as many region events as you can:

Start your month right with the Kick-Off in October
Attend one write-in per week. Check the region calendar for dates, times, and locations.
Attend the Great Oregon Write-In in Salem at the halfway point Saturday, November 15
Celebrate the End at the TGIO (Thank Goodness It’s Over) party in December

Participate in your region:

Set United States :: Oregon :: Eugene as your home region
Complete your author and novel profile
Donate $10 and receive your golden halo
Introduce yourself in our region forum
Help the ML with a project or event
Color and/or decorate your Hipster PDA, especially the last page
Update your word count online at least once a week
Upload your 50,000 word novel by 11:59 pm on November 30

Miscellaneous challenges:

"Recruit a Wrimo" -- Give your ML the username of your recruit so that she can welcome him/her to NaNoWriMo
"Win a Word War" -- Don't just participate in word wars, win one, at least
“Caffeine abuse” -- Overindulge in your favorite food or beverage all month long
“Procrastinate” -- Intentionally avoid writing, includes extensive housework and forum loitering
"Write everyday" -- Increase your word count by writing everyday
“Quote” -- include an excerpt from song lyrics, a book, or a play
“Zero Abbreviations” -- Spell everything out. No contractions allowed
“Include dreams” -- Add unnecessary dream sequences or hallucinations
“Write in secret” -- Write at work, at school or whenever you’re supposed to do something else
“Family as character” -- Loosely base a character on a family member or a friend
“Real life” -- Plunder overheard dialog or real-life events
“AHA!” -- Resolve a major plot issue
“Unusual ending” -- Write a left-field or nonsensical ending
"Writing token" -- Get yourself a token of some sort that you must have with you when you write: a stuffed animal, special pen, favorite fingerless gloves, etc.
“Character cameo” -- Have someone else’s character make a cameo appearance in your novel
"Take a dare" -- Visit the forums, such as Reaching 50,000 or your genre, and find the Dare thread. Choose one to include in your novel

These challenges come from the Challenge Card included in the Eugene/Springfield Hipster PDA. Not all challenges listed on that card are included in this post. For those of you participating in the Region Challenges, please bring your Hipster PDA to the Write-Ins and the TGIO to collect your punches. If you do not have a PDA yet, then contact me via Nanomail or attend an event.

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"Life is too important to be taken seriously." -- Oscar Wilde

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Regional Dare Thread

Bahnree — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:48:29 -0800

Post dares here!

I dare you all to kill or maim a character using only a spoon. Bonus if it's the MC being killed or maimed.
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The Stranger: He wants your soul.
http://www.freewebs.com/soulcollectors/index.htm

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

GREAT OREGON WRITE-IN -- Sat, Nov 15 in Salem

Darfinkle — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:48:12 -0800

Join us for an afternoon of "serious" writing, exciting mini workshops, heart-thumping word wars, ninja plot bunnies, fun word games -- all that is NaNo! Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of NaNo history!! Carpools are forming now.

11:00 am – 1:00 pm Brunch
Pietro's Pizza, 1637 Hawthorne NE, Salem -- in the curtained meeting room in the back
Ice Breakers, Indoor Mini Golf and Chit-Chat

1:30 pm – 6:00 pm All-State Write-In
Salem Public Library, 585 Liberty St SE, Plaza Level, Anderson B Room
Bring a snack to share. Beverages provided.

Darfinkle's carpool will be leaving town at 1:30 pm (she works until 1 pm). Send a private message via NaNoMail for her contact info. She will meet up with passengers at a central downtown location, like the Eugene Library/LTD station area.

Post in this thread if you are able and willing to drive, if you have room for additional passengers, if you want to go and don't have transportation, if you have questions, etc. Remember do not post personal information such as cell numbers and addresses. Those belong in private messages.

See you there!
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"Life is too important to be taken seriously." -- Oscar Wilde

United States :: Oregon :: Eugene

Drop Outs Post Here

Marva — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:09:27 -0800

Yup, I'm dropping out of Nano. I hate what I'm getting by trying to write bunches of words. I'll continue on my book, but at my more leisurely pace. Now, off to cut about 5000 of that word count.

I'm cheering the rest of you onward, however. Yay Eugene Team!

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***
Check my website at http://marvadasef.com