United States :: Texas :: Austin

<0> Welcome to NaNoWriMo in Austin!

lazym — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:53:55 -0700

We’re glad you're joining us in the noble (and slightly cracked) quest to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Ambitious endeavors like these are much more fun when shared. I’m lazym, and I’ll be your tour director and confidant as we all march purposefully toward the finish line. This is my seventh year NaNo-ing, and my fifth as your local Municipal Liaison (ML).

There’s no better bunch to write with than the Austin Penguins. We’re large – 400 signed up last year – but many of our events are small and intimate. We’re especially fortunate to have seasoned Wrimos who return year after year to keep our odd-ball traditions alive.

If you’re new, please don’t be intimidated by these folks. They want to help you succeed. They are standing ready to show you the Way of the Penguin, the mysteries of the QWAQ, and to provide you with unlimited advice and strategies for shameless word count padding. These fine people are the reason that Austin produces an unusually high percentage of winners – about 42% last year compared with a NaNo-wide success rate of about 15%.

We’re here for you online, and if you can make it, at numerous gatherings around the Austin area. It’s early days, and our schedule is in flux, but here are a few things we do know (which I updated on Oct. 8th):

There will be an informal kick-off – a chance to meet each other and discuss our novels. It will be Sunday evening, October 26 from 7pm to 9pm+ at the House of Tutors.
We'll have a mid-night write 11 pm - 2 am on Halloween at the fabulous Dragon's Lair. We will wear (optional) costumes, count down to the first second past midnight, and begin writing the first words of our novels.
This year, we’ll be teaming up with the Writer’s League of Texas to present several special events, including a 12-hour lockdown (7 pm on Friday, Nov 7 until 7 am Saturday) and a Last Chance Write-in on Sunday, November 30th from 9pm to midnight.
There will be numerous write-ins – opportunities to get together with fellow writers to work and moan about our novels.
We’ve already lined up Monday nights with the Austin Java Writing Company, several Tuesday nights at Genuine Joe’s, and Thursdays with the Writer’s League. Write-ins are planned up north at the Georgetown and Pflugerville Public Libraries, and all the way down in San Marcos. Helenathemuse will host another of her fabulous outdoor write-ins – and we’re not done yet.
So keep your eye on the calendar (at the top of our regional forum main page) for additions, changes, and more special events. And check this forum regularly for details.
Finally, we’ll party like it’s Groundhog Day at the Fifth Annual Fabulous Fantastical Whoop-de-doop Thank God It's Over and We're Still Standing, Bloody But Unbowed, Austin NaNoWriMo Party and Laugh-A-Thon! Once again, the Austin Visual Arts Association is kindly making their gallery available to us, and we’re planning a potluck party there on Saturday, December 6th.

It’s traditional for the NaNoWriMo website to go wonky in October, so stick with it, and if it gets too tough – or if we go down entirely – join us over at our AuNoWriMo Yahoo group. If you are part of the group already, please scoot on over there NOW and make sure that your email address is current.

Please check the Frequently Asked Questions for more information on NaNo in Austin and don’t hesitate to use NaNoMail to contact me, lazym, with additional questions or concerns. We’re happy you’re here! It’s going to be a spectacular November!

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ML Captain of Capital Ideas
Austin, TX Municipal Liaison 2004-2008
NaNoWriMo Winner 2002-2007

United States :: Texas :: Austin

<0> It's CHALLENGE TIME!

Breca_Halley — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:44:52 -0700

Hey, Penguins and Lushes....it's CHALLENGE TIME again!! :D

This year, I'll be working with tidewaterbound, the fantastic Maryland ML, to run the annual Lushguin vs. Blue Crab wordcount challenge. The official challenge rules thread can be found here. Below is some basic info and history of the challenge for those of you who are new to NaNo or who haven't done the challenge before:

About the Challenge
The challenge consists of two teams, the Lushguins and the Blue Crabs, who compete for the highest wordcount average. The Lushguins include challengers from Austin (the Penguins) and Houston (the Lushes). Team Blue Crab challengers come from anywhere in the state of Maryland. At the end of November, the team with the highest average wordcount per person is declared the winner.

This challenge is optional, and is in addition to the larger NaNoWriMo challenge. If you want to be a challenger, you'll need to officially sign up. Instructions on signing up, as well as the official rules, can be found in this thread. Please read over them, even if you've done the challenge before, because there have been a few changes to the rules. :)

Challenge History
The Lushguin-Blue Crab Challenge officially began in 2006. Team Lushguin won the challenge with an average wordcount of 62,990, while the Blue Crabs averaged 56,714 words per person. In 2007, the Blue Crabs won with an average of 68,151, while the Lushguins averaged 63,418. This year, the third year for this challenge, is the tiebreaker year! :D

Why Join the Challenge?
The point of the challenge is to give you extra motivation to write, and write, and write some more. Some people have found that it makes the difference between winning and not winning NaNo. Other people have been inspired to go far beyond 50,000 words. Still others have found that they prefer writing without the added stress of a challenge. In the end, the most important thing is to have as much fun as possible--whether you're in the challenge or not, whether you write a hundred words or a hundred thousand words in November.

So, if you think you might want to join the challenge, check out the rules thread, and email me to let me know you're participating.

And....GO LUSHGUINS!!!! :D
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Austin, TX Co-ML
You can call me Becs, Brex, Chewbecca, or just, yanno, Rebecca. :)
Cats, Writing, & Mayhem | YT Channel |

United States :: Texas :: Austin

<0> Challenge 2008 -- The RULES!

Breca_Halley — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:58:52 -0700

Rules for the 2008 Challenge: Team Lushguin v the State of Maryland

And please read the highlighted points, even if you've done the challenge before--they're key to participation

Eligibility
• Texans: You must live within 60 miles of Austin or Houston. You may not come from another city that has its own Regional Lounge.
• Marylanders: You must live in the state of Maryland.

Sign-ups
• Notify your challenge coordinator (Breca_Halley in Texas or Tidewaterbound in Maryland) by midnight on November 3 that you want to participate---THIS MUST BE DONE VIA EMAIL ONLY—PM’s or posts do not count.

• You must provide your challenge coordinator with a valid email address. During the challenge, you must respond to any requests from your challenge coordinator within a maximum of three days so we know you aren’t missing in action.
• Your challenge coordinator will provide a “word count thread” -- so post in THIS thread--Challenge 2008 -- The RULES! to track word count. Participants will post ONCE to this thread when instructed by the challenge coordinator. When everyone has posted, the thread will be locked. Which means respond to THIS thread--JUST ONCE--so we can track your word count as we run continual tallies

Updating Word Count
• You must update your word count at least once every five days. If you are unable to update your count, contact your challenge coordinator.
• During the course of the contest, we may ask that you post your word count more frequently.
• You must input your final word count by midnight on November 30. After midnight, you will no longer be able to update your count.

Scoring
• You may drop out of the challenge at any time up to midnight on November 15 without affecting your team’s count.
• Only the official word count from the locked “word count thread” on the NaNoWriMo website will be considered when computing the final score.
• After midnight on November 30, the challenge coordinators from each team will drop the lowest score from their respective counts. They will compute the average score for all remaining competitors.
• The team with the highest word count average will be the winner.
• The challenge coordinators will compare results, and when both coordinators agree, the results will be posted on the NaNo boards.

Trash-talkin’
• Each team will have a clearly labeled “trash talk” thread. The Lushguins trash talk thread will be in the Austin Lounge. Trash talk is to be posted ONLY to the trash talk thread and should remain in good fun and within the bounds of good sportspersonship.

Our God-like powers
• MLs decide what “good sportspersonship” means.
• We reserve the right to remove folks from the competition for any violation of the rules and guidelines listed above.
• MLs are the final authority in any dispute or question about the rules.

Remember It’s All in Fun
• In the heat of competition, we sometimes forget it’s just a game. If you have a concern or question about anything regarding the competition, please contact your challenge coordinator before you post.

To sign up for the Lushguin Team, email me at brecahalley (at) gmail (dot) com with the subject line "CHALLENGE," and include your NaNoWriMo username somewhere in the email.
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Austin, TX Co-ML
You can call me Becs, Brex, Chewbecca, or just, yanno, Rebecca. :)
Cats, Writing, & Mayhem | YT Channel |

United States :: Texas :: Austin

<0> Frequently Asked Questions

lazym — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:36:36 -0700

Who can come to events?

Folks attending events should be registered NaNoWriMo participants (13 years of age or older) intending to write a novel in November.
Writers may be accompanied by an Unobtrusive Adult – a support person acting as chauffeur, chaperone, etc. Your Unobtrusive Adult will be writing, reading, or otherwise fade quietly into the background.
Folks are welcome at the kickoff who are thinking of joining but haven’t decided yet.
Please do not bring children under 13 to Austin NaNo events, unless the event is specifically labeled "kid-friendly." We try to have at least one event that includes children during November.
At parties – such as the Thank Goodness It’s Over celebration, a non-Nanoing friend, spouse, or significant other is encouraged to whoop it up with us.

Why all the rules?
It’s National Novel Writing Month, and our intent is to write a novel in 30 days. We want have as much fun as possible doing it, but we also need to be able to write without too many distractions. People who are not participating in NaNoWriMo will not enjoy sitting for hours watching us write.

How can I find out about events?

Information on events will be posted on this forum. Note the handy calendar at the top of this page! Well, actually it's not there yet -- but it will be, and we’ll be adding to it as we go along.
Also, if you are a member of the Austin AuNoWriMo group, you can check the calendar there. To join AuNoWriMo, see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aunowrimo
I will include event information in occasional emails to everyone who has affiliated with Austin.

How do I find the places where events are held?
This year, the Google calendar automagically links to a map of the location. You can also Google the address yourself. If you ride the bus, check out Cap Metro.

What should I expect at a write-in?
A write-in is a chance to meet with other Wrimos for writing and socializing. Write-ins are usually hosted by your Municipal Liaison (lazym), a veteran Wrimo, or a year-round Austin writing group. If it’s on the calendar, chances are that there will be anywhere from a half-dozen to a dozen Wrimos in attendance.

Bring your computer or a notebook and pen. Have your computer fully charged, if possible. We try to make outlets available, but it’s not always possible for everyone to plug in. Bring some money for treats for yourself and tips for the servers.
To find the NaNoWriMo group, look for tables full of laptops, penguins or other animal mascots, crazed looks, or odd attire. Some venues are small and crowded, and the "group” may be scattered around the room. If you can’t locate other Wrimos, don’t worry. Just have a seat and get writing.
The character of a write-in will be affected by the ambiance of the venue and the temperament of the hosts. Nearly all of our write-ins are in public places and are suitable for any Wrimo aged 13 or over. However, Monday nights at Austin Java Company tend to be a bit livelier, and may not be suitable for the younger set.

What if there’s no write-in near me?
You can pick a convenient place and time and post your spontaneous write-in on the Austin regional forum page. Please avoid setting up a write-in at the same day, time, and general location as a write-in that’s already on the calendar. If you want to set up a regular write-in, see Create Your Own Write-In (Note: this is a post I'll be a'postin' in early October).

What’s all this about regional affiliation and homing?
During November, it’s fun to compare word counts and see how our region stacks up against all the regions in the world. Austin has been, variously, third, thirteenth, and seventeenth in the world. For these stats to approach reasonable accuracy, we need YOU to affiliate with Austin and set Austin as your Home region.

To affiliate: Click My NaNoWriMo, and then click My Regions (on the left of the screen). On the Regions tab, locate United States::Texas::Austin (page 4), and click Join. Then, click the Join button.
To set Austin as your home: Visit the Home Region tab, select Austin, and then click the Set Home Region button.

What if I have another question?
Contact lazym using the private mail system on this website.

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ML Captain of Capital Ideas
Austin, TX Municipal Liaison 2004-2008
NaNoWriMo Winner 2002-2007

United States :: Texas :: Austin

What's in your mp3 player?

chasingtwilight23 — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:51:08 -0700

I am DEFINITELY not a top 40 radio listener, ew. My tastes are eccelectic and most of my favourite bands have been either internet radio finds or friend suggestions.

My MP3 player (and Pandora, of course) will be bogged down with JRock (Larc~en~Ciel, X Japan, Glay), Tsugaru Shamisen (Agatsuma, Yoshida Brothers), Goth Rock (Sirenia, Nightwish), some Classic Rock (The Animals, Nazareth, Aerosmith), and modern rock (in it's varius Metal/Post Grunge/Indie/Alternative forms) (Three Days Grace, A Perfect Circle, Muse)

What are you guys loading up on?

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United States :: Texas :: Austin

QWAQ

Silver — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:51:25 -0700

Yes! The famous, insane, server maddening Quote Within A Quote is back. I figure since flickguy isn't doing NaNo this year, I might as well start this puppy.

The rules are simple. When replying to this post, be sure you hit 'QUOTE' so that each and every response contains all the responses that came before it, and of course this original post.

Let the madness begin!
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Silver
2003 - The Socratic Dilemma *Winner*
2004 - Murder Limited *Winner*
2005 - Tissinambra - about 5,000 words
2006 - Binder's Art *Winner*
2007 - Quest for the Silver Smelt *Winner*

United States :: Texas :: Austin

Off-topic thread

lazym — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:02:44 -0700

Every forum needs one of these.
There's nothing wrong with cross-talk in the threads (and the QWAQ thrives on it). But if you want to start a topic that really, really, really has nothing to do with NaNo - this would be the perfect place to put it.
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ML Captain of Capital Ideas
Austin, TX Municipal Liaison 2004-2008
NaNoWriMo Winner 2002-2007

United States :: Texas :: Austin

Question on 'starting from scratch'

minervak — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:31:52 -0700

I have a novel that's been cooking for about a year, including several drafts. However, I recently wrote an outline for it (yes, I know that's backwards) and discovered that I need to completely re-write it. Would this qualify as 'starting from scratch' for the purposes of Nanowrimo? What do you guys think? -- MK
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Don't believe everything you think

United States :: Texas :: Austin

So, What's On Your Page?

Caeraerie — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:06:11 -0700

We all need something more than just the simple shout-out welcome to get us motivated. While I'm a newcomer to Austin, I've got four years (and nine novels) on my resume, so I figured, as newly resident wordsmith, that I might start us all off.

What were looking for here is:

1. What's your experience level (egg, hatchling, super penguin, etc) or, if you like, how much of this madnes have you endured?
2. What's your field of writing for this time through?
3. What's your wordcount goal for November?
4. Are you planning to hit any write-ins, kick-offs, TGIO's etc?
5. Give us one special thing about you (yes, this is a shameless plug for raw material for novelists).

I'll begin:

1. New to Penguintopia, four times round the Nano Barn
2. Sci-fi, without the fantasy this time
3. Well last year, I did 518K. This year, I'm going for a more modest 250-300K.
4. Yes, certainly.
5. I have three plot kitties (one is ten years old, overweight and still thinks he's a kitten; one is 15 and loves babies, but gets this expression of total martyrdom any time one of them comes over to play with him; one is not yet a year old and is hyperactive, especially at 2 in the morning).
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United States :: Texas :: Austin

Wrimo Desktop Wallpaper

ShadowsEdge — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:30:10 -0700

*Waves from the shadows*

Heyla Everyone!
I'm mostly lurker at the moment, but was feeling a bit creative and created a wallpaper for my desktop.
Its at http://www.yourcre8tivity.com/2008/10/11/nanowrimo-wallpaper/

If you like it, feel free to download the size that fits your screen resolution. I have the following sizes available:

800 x 600
1024 x 768
1280 x 960
1600 x 1200

Also, if you're so inclined, you're more than welcome to point other Wrimos it its direction.
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United States :: Texas :: Austin

Any new recruits?

WillowWoman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:08:29 -0700

SO! Who has recruited new hatchlings? Share your stories of how you dragged them into our nefarious Penguin Realm here in New Antarctica!

I'm bringing a hatchling... as soon as I can browbeat him onto the boards, he'll introduce himself. He and I are actually friends from back in junior high in Katy, TX. We were both involved in Lit. Club and other such persuits, and this year he moved up from the hometown and into San Mars with me.

I promptly got him a job where I work and have also tackled him and wheedled him into NaNoing with me. He definitely counts as a hatchling, since he attempted it three years ago for the first time, lasted two days, and decided his brain wouldn't survive. This is the hour of his redemption!

He better say hi on these boards soon or I'll be forced to do terrible things to him.....
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~~Alien Penguin~~

United States :: Texas :: Austin

How do YOU gear up for NaNo?

Burgerlicious — Sun, 5 Oct 2008 17:00:24 -0700

I'm sure everyone has their routine. It's October, the countdown has begun, and I imagine that everywhere there is the flutter of penguins preparing for that momentous burst of frenzied typing that shall begin on November 1st. So the question is, what does your NaNo preparation routine look like? For me, it includes purchasing notepads and pens, compulsively checking the functionality of my laptop, repeatedly trolling the NaNo forums, updating the playlist on my mp3 player, making mental lists of the requisite caffeine and snack supplies, and spending much of my workdays daydreaming about my MC's. And of course, anytime my boyfriend tries to talk to me about anything, I invariably turn the conversation topic to NaNo. Even my cat is getting into the spirit by periodically typing gibberish on my computer. And yes, if she does it during NaNo, I WILL include it in my word count!
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Burgerlicious
NaNo 2007: An Autumn Sacrifice (Winner! Yay!)
NaNo 2008: Towers of Silence

United States :: Texas :: Austin

<0> NaNoWriMo Needs You!

lazym — Thu, 9 Oct 2008 07:21:57 -0700

It’s NaNoWriMo’s tenth year! From Adelaide to the Yukon Territories, on every continent (except Antarctica) over 100,000 would-be authors are taking up the challenge of 50,000 words in 30 days. On November 30th, tens of thousands of us will realize the life-long dream of writing a novel “someday.”

This event is possible because of the energy and optimism of a tiny staff at the Office of Letters and Light and an army of volunteers. Because the Office is a non-profit, your donations are essential. It takes a lot of money to keep servers humming, websites up and running, the office functioning, and the coffeepot perking. NaNoWriMo is free to everyone, but it has lasted this long because people like you donate to the cause.

There are many ways to give something back to the organization that gives so much to you, and many of them take no money at all. You can:
* Donate directly by credit card, PayPal, or check
* Purchase some fine and stylish merchandise from the store
* If you are monetarily challenged, set GoodSearch as your search engine, and Yahoo will donate a penny for every search
* Set up a sponsorship page at Firstgiving.com and invite your friends and family to donate on your behalf
* Or, see this page for more ideas on donating when you are broke

The Washington Post has estimated that if NaNoWriMo's growth rate remains constant, by the year 2027, every single American will write a novel in November. Why not every person in the world? Please donate today to keep NaNoWriMo alive and strong – and help make it so!

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ML Captain of Capital Ideas
Austin, TX Municipal Liaison 2004-2008
NaNoWriMo Winner 2002-2007