Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

[STICKY] How to: Use the BC Elsewhere IRC Chat!

elenya — Sat, 1 Nov 2008 21:45:24 -0700

Thanks to the illustrious MysteriousAges (the co-ML for Vancouver), we have our very own IRC Chat Room. This is going to be handy for us in a number of ways, including the fact that it's hard to talk on the forums these days with the incredible lag. I don't know about you folks, but lag makes me crazy.

Make me angry, like a sniper in a tower (I kid, that was a quote from a Jonathan Coulton song called "Bozo's Lament" - don't know it? Go find it!).

"Get on with it!".

*ahem* Right.

Getting Started with IRC

Log onto the website
Register your nickname using the following command:
/msg nickserv register your_password email@address.com
Start chatting!

Note: when you log onto the IRC Chatroom after registering your nickname, you need to type in the following command, in order to identify yourself before chatting: /msg nickserv identify your_password

ThereAreSomeWhoCallMeTim - Word War Bot

If you wish to use our lovely Word War Bot, make sure that you invite him to the chatroom by typing in: /invite ThereAreSomeWhoCallMeTim. After he's invited to chat, type in !help and get Tim to tell you how to use his functionality. Anyone can utilize his word warring capabilities and at any time.

Any questions about IRC can be forwarded to me (elenya).

Happy chatting!
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ML for British Columbia: Elsewhere
Email: kamloops_bc@nanowrimo.org

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

[STICKY] Co-ML or three

elenya — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:08:29 -0700

Hello folks,

I'm sure you've all noticed my absence from the forums for the past few weeks and as such, I'm in terrible need of several Co-MLs to help with me with the facilitation of the region and the forum itself. Unfortunately, I'm not nearly as available as I thought I'd be this year and since I don't want to leave anyone behind and I don't want anyone to feel like they're missing out, I'm sending out an official call.

Kamloops/Vernon/Kelowna/Williams Lake/100 Mile - cranberrygirl
Kootenays - exiled_armadillo
Prince George/Northern BC - ashneko
Vancouver Island (outside of Victoria) - no one, as of yet
Fraser Valley, outside of Vancouver - elenya

Okay, apparently I need more volunteers than I originally thought. So, whoever is interested, send me some Nanomail and let me know. If we can get this squared away before November 1, then we can get some serious write-ins set up throughout the province.

Thanks again for all of your patience.

UPDATE (11/05/2008): cranberrygirl, exiled_armadillo, and ashneko are my lovely co-MLs for this year and on into any other years that they so choose to participate. Lindsey - the liaison for all of the MLs - told me that she'll have the ability to make everything official for the beginning of next NaNo... 'cause she's absolutely swamped with emails and organizational stuff (and doing NaNo!). So, if you belong to any of these regions, now you know who your fearless leader is. Me? I'm just the overseer. :P

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ML for British Columbia: Elsewhere
Email: kamloops_bc@nanowrimo.org

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Nanaimo Ahoy!

Feather Qwill — Thu, 2 Oct 2008 21:28:55 -0700

So, who among my fellow Nanaimo-ites are novelling this year?

And who's interested in doing weekly meetups?
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

30000 word shout out

Vivian Arend — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:52:15 -0800

I realize there may be a shout on the main forum, but part of the reason I have so many words is that I'm not currently hanging out there!

And I feel the need to celebrate. Hit 30K today. If I add my alter ego Storm07 I'm just under 35, but let's keep that out of it, shall we? Shout,shout,shout!!! Now I need to go back and see when I hit 50K last year. I doubt I'll beat my record.

Write, people, write!!!

Vivian Arend

Where Dreams Become Reality
http://vivarend.blogspot.com/
http://vivianarend.com

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Vivian Arend
Where Dreams Become Reality
http://vivarend.blogspot.com/
http://vivianarend.com

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Prince George Rises to the Challenge Again!

ashneko — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:28:51 -0700

Greetings my fellow Prince George (and area) peoples!

I am happy to announce that I will again be participating this year, though with a fair amount of trepidation! With no storyline, only a vague idea of what i am going to write and far less time than I have had in years before I find myself wondering how I am going to do it!

Well, guess we will just have to see as November arrives and the month progresses!

I am actually quite excited about another NaNo year and hope that we can manage some more get togethers throughout the month of November as I have to admit that it certainly was nice to connect with some fellow writers.

I suppose that I should post this now as my evening draws to a close... I hope to hear from some of you soon.

~Ashleigh
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If the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off"

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Interior

cranberrygirl — Fri, 3 Oct 2008 07:49:55 -0700

Hi everyone,
Cran here from the Interior of our wonderful province- Williams Lake to be exact. Looking forward to yet another month of craziness.

Can't wait to meet the new characters and see how they take over my life *lol*

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It's a good insanity- honest!

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

50K celebration for the BC elsewhere people

Vivian Arend — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:19:58 -0800

Thanks in part to a write in yesterday with fellow Kootenay Nano's, I just cranked out the final words I needed to flip over the top, finishing my 50K on the same day I completed last year.

Only it hurt more this time. :)

So I'm hoping people will join in here as they finish. I know there's a big thread in the forums but it's hard to find my fellow BC elsewheres there.

YEAH US!!!!

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Vivian Arend
Where Dreams Become Reality
http://vivarend.blogspot.com/
http://vivianarend.com

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

25k shouts

love-Spencer — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:46:44 -0800

YAY! Good job to everybody who has gotten this far! I don't care if there's an actual giant section of the forums area that's dedicated to shout-outs, because it's just soooo much funner starting my own topic here.

So, anyone else wanna shout? *hugs for all*
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Kootenays

exiled_armadillo — Fri, 3 Oct 2008 03:38:43 -0700

Any Kootenay writers out there doing it again this year?

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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Vernon Group!

Keemeers — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:33:25 -0700

Okay Nano's. I'm writing because I'd love to see a group from the Vernon region get together early for this year that can meet weekly or bi-weekly during November.

I think you guys met a bit last year. Was it successful to have morning coffees at Bean to Cup? If so, let's do that again!

- Kim / Keemeers
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Further Evil (Miscellaneous Evil Resolution):
One of my close advisors will be a prolific hack novelist. If my plan matches or mimics any of his plots, it will be summarily rejected.

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Terrace, Kitimat, and Prince Rupert

Celeritas — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:34:52 -0700

It is time, yet again (almost) for another wonderful month of novelling... and I'm sure we all can't wait for it to begin.

So welcome, fellow residents of Terrace, Kitimat, and Prince Rupert! Hope your novels go well.
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Introductions from all!

elenya — Sat, 1 Nov 2008 11:26:58 -0700

Heya folks!

We don't have an introductions thread this year yet so, here we go! I'll start us off and you guys can use the template I'll provide (edit as you please, of course).

Name:
Location:
Age (if you'd like):
Occupation outside of Nano:
How many years have you done Nano?:
How many years have you won Nano?:
Genre of choice to write:
What's your story about?:
Names of MCs (main characters):
Writing Software of Choice:
Are you a PC or Mac?:
Anything else you'd like to add:

___

Here's me!

Name: elenya/Amanda/Friendly Neighbourhood ML
Location: Former Kamloopsian, currently in Burnaby
Age (if you'd like): 22
Occupation outside of Nano: Student, freelance web designer/developer
How many years have you done Nano?: This is year 7
How many years have you won Nano?: Only once!
Genre of choice to write: I usually like to write fantasy or sci-fi but this year I'm doing steampunk. Not sure how it happened... it simply happened.
What's your story about?: I have NO idea. Come back next week and ask me. ;)
Names of MCs (main characters): Miriam, Terrance
Writing Software of Choice: q10
Are you a PC or Mac?: I'm a PC, although some days I wish I was a Mac so that I could use Scrivener.
Anything else you'd like to add: I'm a newlywed and a university student. My life is supa busy.
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ML for British Columbia: Elsewhere
Email: kamloops_bc@nanowrimo.org

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Kamloops And Area

Topper Grey — Mon, 6 Oct 2008 12:39:19 -0700

Aka, "The Good Part Of BC"

Represent!
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

15, 000 words?

love-Spencer — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:26:57 -0800

I remember that last year there were a bunch of these topics for different amounts of words, and while it might be a little late for this one, congrats for anyone with 15, 000+ words!
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

On the Off Chance.... Port Alberni?

Already-Blinked — Sat, 1 Nov 2008 14:57:59 -0700

Or am I all alone in this raining town?
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Penticton?

clarkent — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:32:26 -0700

Just checking to see if there are any Pentictonites out there. In the past, there hasn't been. But it's always worth checking :P
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Welcome to the end of week one!

Nakor — Sat, 8 Nov 2008 01:56:37 -0800

Week one is over as of a couple hours ago. How'd it go for you?

For me it was quite the learning experience in my first NaNoWriMo attempt. I've managed to keep ahead of the goal thus far (it's 13333 by the end of day 7 to keep ahead of the curve). A few side characters waylaid me on the way and fought their way into the novel, but that wasn't so bad—it was in sore need of a few. I even managed to write one or two vaguely romantic scenes that weren't terrible . . . and several that were simply atrocious. :) Finally starting to push the plot in a real direction as well. Week 1's been nothing but build-up of the story that lets me get the real plot into play. It'll be interesting and challenging from here on out I imagine.

How did week one go for everyone else? Having a great time, or ready to throw the keyboard through something? :)

Best of luck as we plunge headlong into week two!
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Hey all

Princessadora — Sun, 9 Nov 2008 16:14:22 -0800

Hey, this is my second year of nanovwrimon and I loved it then and I love it now. Add me as a buddy if you want to, and I'll help in anyway I can

Happy writing
Christine
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If you turned a hundred I'd hope to turn 101 so I'd never have to be without you. --Winne the pooh--

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

IRC Chat Times

Celeritas — Sat, 8 Nov 2008 22:54:46 -0800

So... I've checked the chat a lot and there has never been anyone on there. I'd like to know what times people will usually get on because I'd like to meet some other wrimos from this area.

Anyway, I'm on usually anywhere past 3:30 on weekdays, and basically on anytime on weekends.

I'd like to see more people using the chat. :)
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Regional Email Compilation

elenya — Sat, 8 Nov 2008 23:52:31 -0800

Hey Wrimos,

Just in case any of your folks are super new to the region and didn't get my awesome regional emails (ha ha), I've decided to compile them here for your reading leisure.

Enjoy!

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Week 2

Hello to all of you BC Wrimos and fellow affiliated Wrimos that just happen to love BC,

Welcome to Week 2 of your Nano experience and the beginning of our hardships, if you haven't already experienced them. Week 1 was our week of experimentation and character development: determining whose story we're telling and whom it was it was about. We wracked our brains for inspiring or interesting people we've met or known in our lives, drawn upon our own experiences, or just pulled a name out of a hat. We've looked towards the sky, spread our wings, and flown straight into the clouds with our imaginations held high.

If you were successful in your flight during Week 1, you'll find yourself soaring in the 10K+ margin, and either be only slightly behind or well ahead of what's required. If you were less than successful in your flight during Week 1, you'll find yourself - like me - flapping your wings hard and trying to keep up with the pack. You might have even found yourself in a nose-dive from time to time.

Is it time to quit? Take off your pretty wings and hang them up for another year?

Heck no. It's time to dust off the cobwebs that have been forming in other parts of your imagination and dare yourself. Dare yourself to do what, you say?

Dare yourself to continue. Dare yourself to win. Triple-dog dare yourself to make it through the weekend and write as many words as you possibly can without being tired enough to fall smartly on your face on your way to work/school on Monday morning. Dare yourself to write without any inhibitions and to do things differently. Cleverly. Interestingly. Strangely. Be the black sheep and enjoy it!

Do yourself a favour and pull out your favourite word-processor and in big, bold fancy letters, I want you type out the following words: "Elenya says: 'Triple-dog dare you to finish!'" Print it out on your fancy printer and stick it right above your monitor. Anytime you think that you're too far behind to make it, look up at that fancy sign and see that I'm rooting for you and flying alongside you.

Don't doubt yourself. Have faith in the Nano process. And never stop writing (or flapping those wings you got before Week 1 started).

Flappin' Along,
Elenya

PS. Just a few administrative notes on our forums. Make sure that you're checking our IRC Chat (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3083324) on a regular basis for some impromptu word wars (and also to meet new writing buddies). Also, if you're lost as to who your ML is for your area, check out the list of MLs (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3045362). Finally, check the calendar for any scheduled write-ins/events in your area (http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=nanobcelsewhere%40gmail.com&ctz...).
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The Big Day

Hail and well met, BC Wrimos - we've made it to another year.

The spookiness of Hallowe'en has passed us by and now we're ready to dive into writing: fingers arched on keyboards, pens grasped in hands, coffee (or hot chocolate) steaming near by, and the promise of delicious Hallowe'en candy on the horizon. We've finally made it to Day 1.

For those of you who are Nano Vets, like myself, you know that Day 1 is one of the most important days of the month - it is the day where your ideas are the most virile and they're just bursting out of your brain, ready to be written onto the page. It is the day where you feel as though your story will write itself and you are merely the vessel. For those of you who are joining us for the first time this year, take our advice: don't stop writing this weekend. Obviously you'll need breaks (food, drink, muffins, bio-emergencies, nuclear warfare, etc.) but don't stop writing because you've reached your daily quota of 1,667 words.

Banks as many words as you can this weekend because next week is the dreaded Week Two.

And believe me, Week Two has heinous plot bunnies that will come and Bunnicula away any sanity you had left. But fear not! If you bank many words this weekend, you will be okay.

So let yourself fly this week, my BC Wrimos. This is the week to cherish.

Sending good writing mojo your way,
Your ML (Elenya)

PS. The IRC chatroom is set up! Head to http://www.schizogeny.com/nanobcelsewhere.html and enter your nickname/handle. C'mon in and introduce yourself to all that are there! I'd offer muffins at the door but I'm pretty sure I ate them last night. Oops.
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Countdown to Nano Begins!

Hello my fellow Wrimos!

It has been a good long while since I've had the pleasure of sending out a regional email and here we are, only 5'ish hours away from diving into our new NaNo Novels for 2008. So, what can we expect out of this year's happenings?

1. We have our very own IRC chat room, thanks to the co-ML for Vancouver (MysteriousAges). He's graciously set it up for us so that we can use it for our online kickoff (tomorrow, starting at 8AM, ending... whenever you realize your eyes have started to fall out of your head) and for any online write-ins/word-wars that we please.

Server: irc.vaultofages.net
Port: 6667

http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/node/1783 - more information on setting up IRC Clients. I'll send more information whenever I can get a hold of the lovely MysteriousAges.

2. News of Co-MLs and announcement of future Co-MLs - BC Elsewhere is an enormous region and having one ML to cover the whole thing (while said ML is a university student) just won't work this year. So, I've put the word out to our group of Wrimos that I'm in need of two more Co-MLs - one to cover the Kootenays and the other to cover Vancouver Island (outside of Victoria). Interested? Send me a Nanomail! Ashneko and Cranberrygirl, you're in the midst of being turned into Co-MLs officially so wait for the word!

3. Write-ins - we haven't had the chance to set up any official write-ins for this time around (namely due to my own time constraints) so I'll be scouring the forums today to set them up in an official order. Looking for a write-in but you're not sure where to look? Check out our regional calendar: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=nanobcelsewhere%40gmail.com&ctz...

4. I'll send another email on the morrow with pep talk goodies abounding.

Happy Nano's Eve, my fellow Wrimos.

As always,
Your friendly neighbourhood ML (Elenya)
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ML for British Columbia: Elsewhere
Email: kamloops_bc@nanowrimo.org

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

day six!

maple — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 19:20:38 -0800

Hi everyone. It's day six and I'm just over seven thousand words.. I know, I know, I'm getting behind. This is my first year and I started working at Orchard Park mall at the same time as I started this challenge. Bad timing. I'm going to keep at it. Hope you are too. Maple
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Maple

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

First Annual BC Elsewhere NANO EXCHANGE!

elenya — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 22:51:32 -0800

Here is an awesome proposition, brought forth by our own Constance_providence (Karina) during a particularly interesting IRC session.

This year, we propose a sign-up for any of those who want to participate in the first annual Nano Exchange. What's involved, you ask? I'm going to be setting up a password-protected webpage for uploading first-draft manuscripts after December 1st rolls around (unless you finished early, in which case I'll try to have it set up for around the 25th). If you're interested in getting involved in the Nano Exchange, just reply to the post and let us know.

This is going to be done in confidence so those who are signing up should understand the implications of releasing your first-draft manuscript both to the web (even if password protected, my encryption algorithms aren't up to MIT standards) and to your fellow Nanowrimos. By signing up for the Nano Exchange, you must fully understand these implications. In no way is NaNoWriMo responsible for theft!

I'm hoping that we're all mature enough to know that stealing is wrong, but I needed to make that perfectly clear to everyone.

That being said, make yer mark and let's make our Exchange happen!
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ML for British Columbia: Elsewhere
Email: kamloops_bc@nanowrimo.org

Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Share what you're writing!

Nakor — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 13:42:03 -0800

Lots of regional threads, little discussion so I thought I'd try to kick some up.

My story is going to be contemporary fantasy. The premise is that siblings while on a summer camp stumble across a book of white magic. The brother begins trying it out, but what they don't realize is that white magic drains positive energy from the caster's soul to fuel itself, causing the soul to have a greater balance of negative energy, twisting the person's personality and alignment in that direction. Then there's the tome of black magic....
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

Keep up the good work

Nakor — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 02:42:15 -0800

Almost through week one now, and we've moved into the top 100 on the International scoreboard team. :) As I'm typing this we're ranked #66 right now.

You can see it here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/wordcount_stats

Keep those fingers moving! ^_^
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Canada :: British Columbia :: Elsewhere

The True North Island Group

Heartsinger — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:46:25 -0700

I know there is at least one more member north of Woss. We're going to try and get together. Is there anybody else out there? On some little island alone? Thinking that a group is too far away to join?

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