Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Alberta::Elsewhere Roll Call

Aquadeo — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:37:28 +0000

Welcome to NaNoWriMo - we're glad you can join us! Feel free to talk amongst yourselves, and post whatever you'd like, but just to get the ball rolling (and prove that we're all friendly, affable folk), this thread is where we can provide our introductions. Is this your first NaNoWriMo, or are you a veteran? What sort of stuff do you like reading? What sort of challenges will you be facing this year? What's your worst habit as a writer? What snack do you prefer at 2AM after a long, productive night of writing? Let's find out with whom we're sharing this month!

I'll go first: Hi! I'm Denton! I live in Medicine Hat. This is going to be my seventh NaNoWriMo, and this year, my challenge will be to make an outline of my novel before I write it (Last year was a string-of-consciousness affair, which apparently doesn't work that well for me). Also, my other challenge will be to provide some bonus content worth posting here on the forums for you guys. Let me know if you have any suggestions! My worst habit as a writer is overusing the word "whom", and and my preferred 2AM snack are wasabi peas and Dr.Pepper.

Hm. That doesn't sound like a very good snack, now that I see it in writing. In the same sentence, it sounds like they're mushed together in a sandwich, or a smoothie. Well, maybe you've got a better suggestion for a 2AM snack - I look forward to hearing what it is!
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

[sticky] The November 24th Embarrass-the-OLL-athon!

Aquadeo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:07:12 +0000

Like it says on their front page right now, they're setting a huge goal for fundraising, because there are bills they still have to pay. I know I said I was only going to put up a single fundraising post, but this got my interest:

Chris Baty wrote:

If NaNoWriMo and the Young Writers Program can raise $100,000 in donations through our online Donation Station on Tuesday the 24th, I will write a song about the fundraising drive—tentatively entitled "That Beautiful Tuesday"—and perform it on NaNoVideo with staff musical accompaniment and Lindsey doing an interpretive dance alongside us.

So, we'll sweeten the pot. Checking out the Donation Derby website, I notice that Alberta::Elsewhere has donated $215 (US) so far. That's a handsome number so far, but I think we can do a little better. And so, I give you *this* challenge. If you can bring that up to $325 on Tuesday the 24th, I will film myself dancing interpretively to that song.

And I intend to do a better job of it than Lindsey Grant.

Why $325? Because that's a target of $110, which is an average of one dollar per wrimosaur. If you can afford to chip a little more, you'll be covering for someone who honestly can't. Everyone wins.

Not only that, but that number will take us past Calgary's current amount (as well as the amount we donated last year). Woo! In fact, it'll shoot us up the list to #12 in the Komodo Dragon League! Woo Woo!

Finally, if you can't pay over the Internet, I'll also be accepting cash donations at the Write-Ins in Lethbridge on Friday night, and in Medicine Hat on Sunday, and I'll then donate the total sum under the name "Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs" on the 24th.

There's my challenge. You've got nothing to lose... and everything to gain! Well, if seeing me boogie in a jumpsuit counts as "gaining everything", that is, in which case you might want to re-calibrate your everything detector. But nonetheless, it's great fun for a great cause.

Thanks!
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Out With The Shouts: The Victory Thread!

Aquadeo — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:15:52 +0000

Passed 50,000 words? Congratulations! Give and receive your virtual high fives in this thread!

First of all - much applause to aka-click, ampersand, nickybr38, and unrulydreamer (80K!) whom I know have all gotten past the goal. You rock! Bravo! Huzzah!

However, the NaNoWriMo search feature is a touch erroneous (i.e. it can't find me), so I'm sure there are lots of other people wanting to celebrate. Don't be shy - we want to celebrate with you!

(And don't forget to validate your wordcount! Handwritten words count, too!)
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Late Start ...

ScarlettD. — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:31:56 +0000

but here I am anyway! Just hoping I can finish Nano again this year, work two jobs and manage three nights at the gym! Yikes! November is gonna fly by! I'm in the village of Irma, I see there are a few others from the area here too!

Two AM snack? What happened to the no eating after nine PM rule? Just kidding ...

Happy writing everyone!

Scarlett
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Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Writing in Medicine Hat

Aquadeo — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:36:33 +0000

Well, I already know there's at least one writer in Medicine Hat that would love to attend a few write-ins -- that'd be myself. : ) I know I had fun writing with a few others, but alas, they've both departed for bigger and better things.

Anyone else in the Hat trying the NaNoWriMo challenge? Here's the thread to talk about it!

Oh, right -- and on the off-chance that anybody wants to put Medicine Hat into their novel, feel free to ask me anything about the city. I can't guarantee an exposé on the Hat's seedy underbelly, but I'll get you your answer. : )
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Lethbridge Writers

choppy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:06:09 +0000

Hi Everyone!

I'm a new writer in the Lethbridge area, having come down from Edmonton. I've been doing this since 2002 and have a blast every year. I'm curious if there are any other writers in the Lethbridge area interested in getting together for plot planning, write-ins, procrastination, etc.

Maybe we can talk Denton (the ML from Medicine Hat) into coming out.
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"Because creative people aren't always in charge. And when they do their best work, they're hardly ever in charge. They're just sort of rolling along with their eyes shut , yelling Wheeeee." - Steven King, Everything's Eventual

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Canmore? Can do!

Aquadeo — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:42:26 +0000

I noticed that we've got a few writers in Canmore this year, so I took the liberty of putting a thread up for you guys. If anyone here wants to organize a writing meet-up, this is the place to do it -- and if people agree on a time and place, I might be able to make a road trip out to inspiration country, myself. : )

Or, if there's anything else Canmore related (preferred places to write, local news, specific locales that are going in your novel), feel free to share...
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

High Level and area Write-In

Jennilyn — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:38:10 +0000

Greeting from High Level!
I would like to invite NaNoWrimers in the High Level area to attend a Write-In at the High Level Library on Sunday November 22nd from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. There will hopefully be lots of writing, mixed with a bit of conversation and snacks. I might even be able to scrounge up a few prizes.

For more information please phone the High Level Library at 780-926-2097

Jennilyn
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Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Just for AB Elsewhere

thecapillary — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:11:14 +0000

I thought about contributing to a big thread in the main forums, but for the last 2 years I felt my responses became a little lost. With a smaller group, I am hoping that what I would post here may at least be read.

And now that I've started this thread I'll probably end up posting random things I think everybody should know about. To start with 2 articles pertaining to novel writing.

#1 From Nicole Peeler: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/10/27/the-big-idea-nicole-peeler/

#2 from the Lit Drift website: http://www.litdrift.com/2009/10/27/5-reasons-why-the-novel-is-not-a-dyin...

Enjoy!

-TheCapillary
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"Everything you can imagine is real." - Pablo Picasso

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

EVENT: All-berta Write-in, November 15th

Canoegirl — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:00:19 +0000

The Edmowrimo Literary Ninjas cordially invite you to the First Annual All-berta Write-in!

All of the Wrimos in Alberta are invited to attend a write-in located in Red Deer’s Gasoline Alley. It's time to end the rivalry and transition to a more collegial attitude towards our fellow Albertan wrimos.

Date: Sunday, November 15th
Time: approximately 3-5 pm
Location: Glenn's Restaurant (the one with the tea pot beside the Donut Mill)
37424 QEII South, Red Deer
Who: Wrimos from NaNoWriMo::Edmonton, NaNoWriMo::Calgary and NaNoWriMo::Elsewhere regions of Alberta.

Come out and beef up your word count with your fellow Albertan wrimos!

This is a restaurant so please make sure you plan to buy food and tip well!

RSVP here please! We have a reservation under NaNoWriMo - Karen.

Note: This thread is located in all three Albertan forums, so you might see some unfamiliar names in here. Please make them welcome!
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Canoegirl
Clan QWERTY
EdmoWrimo Literary Ninjas

Canada :: Alberta :: Calgary

Fort McMurray Writers

wahoo — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:37:53 +0000

So, I'll be happy to organize a local write-in for mid-month, but I need to know how large a venue we need. How many McMurrayites do we have?
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Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Red Deer: where regions collide

Aquadeo — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:21:42 +0000

This thread is where writers from Red Deer can pool resources, chat amongst themselves, and organize meetups. And to get the ball rolling, we've got a humdinger for you: the first ever All-Alberta meetup!

TIME: Sunday, November 15, 2:00PM - 5:00PM

LOCALE: Glenn's Tea Room, in Red Deer (well, technically just a little bit south of Red Deer)

ATTENDING: MLs and Wrimos from Calgary! Edmonton! Red Deer! And anyone else in the province that wants to come! It'll be a lot of fun, you'll meet a lot of wonderful people, there'll be NaNoWriMo swag handed out, and for three hours Alberta is going to make NaNoWriMo history! (Okay. Maybe that's hyperbole. But you haven't heard of an all-Ontario meetup, have you?)

So, come one and come all. We'd love to see you there!

And now, I turn this thread over to the good people of Red Deer. Enjoy!
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Valleyview

Diane — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:55:47 +0000

Hello Vanowrimos!

So far there have been eight people express an interest in attending the Valleyview events for Nano 09 – two of whom are new to Nanowrimoing.

I have a link under my name to the details of our Valleyview meetings but already the first date needs to be changed – just waiting to hear back from a few more people.

I think this could be a very good year for writing!

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Valleyview: NANO 09: http://nanowrimo.homestead.com

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

East Central Alberta? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

eldaner — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:26:54 +0000

You know, there is a lot of people from the South and elsewhere and it seems I'm alone in the areas east of our capital city. So are there anyone else here doing this crazy thing in my neck of the woods or what? I feel so alone... *sniff* ;)
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2007 Novel: Apocalypse Wow! Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The End Of The World.
2008 Novel: Apocalypse Wow! 2!: Electric Boogaloo
2009 Novel: Willowbend Tales (working title)
http://dwamomentarylapseofreason.blogspot.com/

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Happy ML Appreciation Day!

unrulydreamer — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:34:35 +0000

Hey today is ML Appreciation Day!

So make sure everyone shows Aquadeo some awesome appreciation! Send a message, or virtual cookie. And def make sure you tune in to Aquadeo writing tonight!!!

Cheers!

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~unrulydreamer~

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Rocky wrimos

vspaterson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:46:02 +0000

Any Rocky and Clearwater County area writers want to meet for a few cram sessions? I could use the extra motivation these days!

Meanwhile, keep your eyes on your friendly local newspaper next week, when my bi-weekly column will be on the pitfalls and things you shouldn't try and do while participating in a month of novelling.
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"I have great faith in fools. Self-confidence, my friends call it."
~Edgar Allen Poe

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Any wrimos in Sylvan?

shannan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:53:01 +0000

I've seen the posts about Red Deer and will try to come to the meeting next Saturday (assuming it's the Glenns in Gasoline Alley?), but I was wondering if there were any writers in Sylvan who might like a write in at the library maybe? Free wifi and a meeting room that can be booked. Also just looking for other writers in the Sylvan Lake area.
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Shannan, Madame LIbrarian

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

St.Albert Writers?

king louie — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:11:24 +0000

Just wondering, I know two people in St.Albert doing Nano just wondering if anyone else is near by?
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Back away slowly... I'm writing

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Character art?

HappyLeech — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:47:56 +0000

Hey all,

As I like pretending to be an artist, and I'd like more practice drawing characters and people ('Specialy guys), so....

If you want, and if you give me a discription, I'll draw and colour (if you want colour) a picture of one or two or three or -insert number here- of your characters.

It'd sorta be first come, first served, I guess...

...Would anyone be interested?
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Deaths: 15
-Assassinations: 10
-Suicides: 1
-"Acidents": 1
-Wrong place, wrong time: 3
Yeah, I'm on a roll...

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

You heard the man

Aquadeo — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:26:39 +0000

Onward! To victory!

Like he says in that NaNoVideo episode, it's the first weekend of NaNoWriMo. This is your chance to catch up. This is your chance to surge ahead. You've got two days and three nights ahead of you -- I want you to make sure that when you wake up Monday morning, you've got a wordcount you can be proud of!

The quota is 15,000. It would look awfully nice on your status bar, wouldn't it? Even if you haven't really started, it's not impossible to pull off a 10K weekend. It's certainly not impossible to try. Come on, guys: let's get dangerous. Let's get writing!
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Regional Rivalries!

Aquadeo — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:05:44 +0000

NaNoWriMo is a competition against yourself, that you do with others... but that doesn't mean that there isn't any room for a bit of traditional competition as well. Let's talk about rivalries!

It's pretty simple - two regions sign up to go against each other. Scores are awarded in a number of categories: average words per author, percentage of authors who hit 50,000, donations raised, etc. There's always room for a bit of friendly braggadocio between the regions - usually, there'll be a thread set up for that purpose in each region's forum.

And that's all there is to it!

So - are there any regions you guys would like to face in a rivalry? I've got one suggestion, but I'm open to others. Here's mine:

Have any of you been following the NaNoVideo programs on the main site? If not, go check out episode #7. It's very informative, it guest-stars Tom Selleck... and, um, it also guest-stars us. Yep, in that video, Alberta::Elsewhere is listed as the rivalry region for California::East Bay, the home of NaNoWriMo. I've already sent off a e-mail to their ML, who replied that they were surprised, too. But the note also went on to say many glowing, wonderful things about Banff, Medicine Hat, and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, so needless to say, I kinda like these guys.

What say you, Wrimosaurs? Do you want to step up to this strange challenge, and take on the East Bay area? Or is there another region that you'd prefer to go up against?
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

This novelization will be televised: Need some competition? Try a virtual word war!

Aquadeo — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:26:35 +0000

I wanted to try something new this year - a way to work a little multimedia into the novelling experience. (That, and I wanted to get a bit more use out of this video camera that's been collecting dust in my closet for years.) My first thought was to record myself writing a one-person word war, and put it up on YouTube, so that people could play it back and compete against it, and then post their scores on the forum.

Alas, YouTube's ten-minute limit for amateur accounts meant that I'd be writing an eight-minute war at the maximum, and that's not quite long enough to be worth it.

So, I'm trying something a little bit grander in scope: I'm livecasting my novel.

This November, whenever I'm writing at my regular computer desk, I'll be broadcasting myself typing in real-time on the Internet. Go to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo and see for yourself! Needless to say, for most of the time, it's going to have all the appeal of a dry aquarium. But, from 21h30 to 22h30 every night, I'll be hosting a talk show of sorts, where I talk with people in the viewer's chat room. I'll talk a little about my book, a little about other people's books, and most importantly: we'll be able to hold proper word wars, in real time, where you'll be able to see me banging my head against my monitor while you type. What fun!

My goal is that for at least half of that one hour, I'll be able to provide a bit of entertainment. So, if you have any questions or ideas on how to do that, I'm all ears!

See you on the airwaves!

-Denton

(p.s. Speaking of my growing ego... did anyone check out today's NaNo Q&A with the former NaNoWriMo mascot?)
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

The Donation Derby

Aquadeo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:28:27 +0000

Greetings, everyone! Every year, the call goes out to remind people that NaNoWriMo runs almost exclusively on donations made by writers. This year, they're making it a bit more fun. Behold! The Donation Derby!

What they've done is split all the regions into six leagues. We're in League #1: The Kodiak Bears, along with our East Bay rivals. Edmonton and Calgary are both in League #2: The Siberian Tigers. Our North Bay rivals are in League #5: The Tasmanian Devils.

So, there are a number of competitive options here... Try to become one of the best donation regions in your league, or try to help your league surpass the others. The exact contest rules are still to be announced, but it's kind of neat to check out our league and see which regions we've been grouped with.

And how do you donate, you ask? Well, thanks so much for asking. There are a few ways, actually, including setting up pledges online, or buying NaNoWriMo swag. But the manner I'd recommend is to simply head over to the OLL Donations Site. Donating through here is a quick and easy transaction, and it sets you up with nifty NaNoWriMo swag, and a halo next to your handle, to boot! I mean, who doesn't want a halo? (Even if you don't want to donate, you should check out the page - some of those descriptions are pretty funny.) Donating in this way also ensures that your home region will get credit for having an awesome person like yourself in it.

As you've noticed, NaNoWriMo is a really, really large project. It reaches out to people all over the world, and encourages them to write. There's no fee, there are no ads, and there's no sales pitch in December. Instead, it's put together entirely by volunteers, and a few people who earn so little money for their talent and effort that the volunteers look like the smart ones. That makes it a really, really small project. There's no safety net for these people - no network of corporate benefactors, no fundraiser lottery in their name, no easy access to government cultural grants. Like I said, our donations are sorely needed and appreciated, and will go a long way - not only towards making sure that the servers stay up for NaNoWriMo 2010 and that Chris Baty can pay his rent, but also towards all the other great projects that the OLL have in mind for next year. They can't do it without us.

When they announce more details on the Donation Derby, I'll give this thread a wee bump. But until then, thanks for letting me say a few words about this. Now carry on, and write until the sky turns black with ink!
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Here we GO!

Aquadeo — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:13:05 +0000

Are you ready? I'm not! I haven't even named my main character yet!

This is going to be great!

Who else is out there, counting down the last minutes until November?
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Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo

Canada :: Alberta :: Elsewhere

Grande Prairie, Sound Off!

SUCHAGIRLSLEUTH — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:17:09 +0000

Hey there, people! I'm Becca and I hail from Grande Prairie, Alberta. Well, actually, I only moved here two months ago, but hey, the people like me, so I can hail from here if I want to. Anyway, if you're from Grande Prairie, this is your place to talk about shiz. Ooh, and if you go to the Composite High School, you should give me a holla. Cause I will stlak you in the halls for reals.
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