Welcome to the regional forum for Riverside writers! Those of you who've participated in NaNo before already know me; I'm your friendly neighborhood Municipal Liaison, Diann, otherwise known as kalindria. Together with Sara, we will be your cheerleaders, organizers, plot idea generators, leaders, followers, and general workhorses. Ask us anything about NaNo - Sara even interned at the Office of Light & Letters and she knows Chris!! We've been through this before and if we don't know the answer, we know where to find it. And we're here to help - so please don't be shy about contacting us.
Writing is a largely solitary endeavor but with NaNo's forums and our region's write-ins and get-togethers, we make it just that much easier to get to know your fellow writers and make writing just a bit more of a group effort. Speaking of write-ins, there will be write-ins in as many areas and parts of our two large counties as we can manage. If you happen to be in one of the less populated portions of the region, feel free to organize a write-in near you. Send me the information (date, time, address, any other crucial details) and we will add it to the regional calendar of events. And speaking on calendars, NaNo is now allowing us to use Google calendars which should make it easier to update the events and keep everyone updated.
We have one of the largest territories in NaNoWriMo. Because we are so geographically diverse, we understand that not everyone will be able to make it to every event . Heck! Sara and I can't make it to every event. We do hope you will make every effort to come to the Kick-Off Party and/or the Thank God It's Over Party (TGIO.) The Kick-Off will be in Temecula at the Grace Mellman Library and the TGIO will be held further north, perhaps in Redlands so everyone has to drive at least once. That's fair, right? Plus during November, we should focus on writing not driving to a write-in.
If you have questions or need information, please feel free to contact either of your friendly MLs. We love questions and helping out. And that's what they pay us for. (OK, they don't really pay us, but you understand what I mean.)
One more thing I would ask, BEFORE creating a new thread, please check to see if one already exists. Every year, we end up with tons of duplicate subject lines and people miss valuable information that could be helpful.
If you'd like to give something back to the wonderful people of the Office of Light & Letters but the economic downturn has been tough on your wallet, here's a suggestion: use Goodsearch as your search engine. When you first visit the site, set up OLL as your beneficiary. Then search the Internet for odorless, colorless, tasteless, fast-acting poisons or the currency of Burkina-Faso and give back at the same time.
Sara and I are thrilled to have you with us and our mission is to write 50,000 words during November while spurring you all to do the same. Welcome and we look forward to meeting each and every one of you!
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Diann
50,358 / 50,000
Sep 26, 2008 - 20 10
Yay! On a whim I checked here and found yay! Everything's all new and pretty... Just wanted to say hi. And I think I have an idea for Nano this year may have a title: " (bad word) Piaget."
51,633 / 50,000
Sep 27, 2008 - 11 36
Shhh! Don't tell (not yet anyway). It's the "soft" opening and we're basically testing all the new features to hopefully work out all the bugs before the masses descend!
Glad to have some company though!
28,516 / 50,000
Sep 27, 2008 - 13 03
Thanks for the warm welcome! This is the first I'm hearing about this challenge and writing forum and I can't tell you how excited I am to start participating! Looking forward to meeting and greeting and writing! Exciting things ahead!!
That's my two pence...
Arial ;)
51,633 / 50,000
Sep 27, 2008 - 16 40
Welcome Arial!! I hope to meet you at one or more of our get-togethers - they really are a lot of fun.
22,755 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2008 - 23 06
Hi! I signed up to do it this year after procrastinating too long last year!
51,455 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2008 - 23 52
WOW, and here we all are again with those sad word count meters reset to ZILCH...but what an exciting time!!
Anyone else going pantser this NaNo? I'm thinking of doing another Find Me a Hunk contest where entrants suggest cool guys for me to write about...did that for a mini-challenge in May and it was SO fun!
50,003 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2008 - 16 43
Hey all! Good to see this place again. :) Still don't have a car, but I might have reliable transportation to some write-ins. The friend who I got to sign up a few years ago said she's interested in doing it this year. All it took me was asking and she quickly gave me an affirmative. This is a good start.
I want to actually write regularly this year. Last year I let myself stop a couple of days into the NaNo. This year, I was trying to do the Autumnwrite on LiveJournal, but it is having some snags too. On the upside, I am writing every day on my LJ. :) That's a good thing.
I have a couple of journals ready to write in. I really love writing by hand. I don't have a laptop so if I'm writing on the road, I have to do that. If you do like journals too, you have to check out the designs by Brownbag Books. The journals sport recycled paper and covers from old hardcover books. I bought two when I was at the San Bernardino Bookfair and am looking forward to getting more as Christmas gifts. Check them out! :D
50,226 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2008 - 12 05
Hey all,
I'd love to do a High Desert Write-In at the Hesperia Library one night this November. Is anyone game?
I'll bring doughnuts.
Jim
12,603 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2008 - 12 42
Heeeey is that that shiny new one? I don't think I've been there... I'm not real up to date on all the libraries down there anymore, so I'm not sure. I'd be interested, though! It's sure to be closer than down the hill. XD
51,633 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2008 - 16 24
It's great to see so many people here already and to hear people already talking about write-ins and such! I love the energy! Keep it up.
Yes, our little word counters look anemic, but I'm sure as soon as November rolls around, we will make those suckers move!
I just had an umbilical hernia repair surgery so I'm moving slower than usual and probably won't be here too often for the next week or so while I recuperate. I promise I will be at the Kick-Off Party on October 18th from 1 to 3 PM at the Grace Mellman Library in Temecula. Until then, carry on here and I will concentrate on healing for a while.
Go Inland Empire!!
50,020 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2008 - 16 30
I recently made a post in the Character and Plot Realism Q&A forum under "Global human mutations". Please comment if you like and don't be discouraged on how long my post is.
50,020 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2008 - 06 38
HOLY CRAP my post is on procrastination station. Somebody slap me!!!!!!!!!!!
51,633 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2008 - 20 50
That's awesome news, Landon!!
Gonna go read it now....
50,837 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2008 - 18 24
Jim --
Having a write-in in Hesperia sounds good ('though Monday and Wednesday night don't work for me; Friday or Saturday would be better). Could you post the details in the section under "write-ins"? I think it'd be easier for us High Desert folks (& others nearby) to find.
Thanks -- !
Anita
I can't get to the kick-off party in Temecula; I have to be up in the Victor Valley that day. :-(
50,837 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2008 - 20 19
There's now a group for High Desert WriMo folks. See it under "Victorville." There'll be write-ins and a kick-off party (also a TGIO party). With my need to stay in the Victor Valley because of work, this will be great for me.
I'll be checking back with the Inland Empire WriMos from time to time.
Write on (at least once the 1st arrives) -- !
:-)
Hannah
27,574 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2008 - 21 35
Howdo all! Just spent four days reformatting and reassembling my PC. Hate the damn thing. But it's still got to be better than last year's wildfires screwing up my NaNo prep with an evac, so here's hoping we avoid that this time...
50,105 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2008 - 13 45
Heya folks! Good to see all the former faces and all the new ones! I'm shooting to come into Temecula on Saturday for the kick-off party. Just thought I'd mention it here. :)
51,633 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2008 - 16 20
In case you hadn't noticed, as of today we are just Riverside county. Not that anyone else isn't welcome but *whew* I don't have to try to accommodate two enormous counties! I'm happy.
And don't worry about San Bernardino county; they have their own shiny new ML.
50,105 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2008 - 00 42
Not to be mean, but ABOUT TIME! We were so ridiculously large. Yay for Riverside!
51,633 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2008 - 09 43
I'm with you, Van, yay for Riverside. And yay for San Bernardino. More MLs means more cat herders to help more writers!
0 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2008 - 13 47
Hi everybody. I wasn't going to play this year, but now that I'm here, I'm getting the bug to try again.
I have a question. If I'm already signed up from last year, do I need to sign up again this year or do I just start writing?
51,633 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2008 - 19 09
Nope, Errid, if you can log in and post, you ARE signed up.
Write on!
51,633 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2008 - 19 10
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen - authors all!
In fewer than five hours it will be that special time of year when hearts beat faster and fingers fly over the keyboard (or the legal pad or the AlphaSmart or even Sara's typewriter!) That's right, November and NaNoWriMo.
I hope you're ready with plot points, graphs, charts, characters sheets, detailed lists of events, historical backgrounds and three baby name websites bookmarked. Or maybe you're like me and you've got an idea, a few characters halfway sketched in your mind and some vague idea of their names and what they look like. Either way, at midnight, the writing begins!
I'm excited. Our region, though down to only one county for the first time this year, has 464 participants at last count. That's huge growth since I started as Municipal Liaison with 198 WriMos just three years ago!! Thank you for taking this amazing journey with Sara and me. We're here to help in any way we can. That includes cheering you on, offering moral support, sending kick-in-the-pants NaNo mail if you need one, and organizing write-ins.
If you've never attended a write-in and can possibly do so, I urge you to give it a try. Writing in a solitary endeavor and somehow sitting in silence with other fellow crazy people gives one an odd sense of pride and perhaps makes attempting to write 50,000 words in thirty days seem not quite so insane. Seriously, it's fun and bonding and I find it helpful to bounce my ideas off off or share a particularly crazy scene.
You'll hear from me again this month and please don't hesitate to email me, NaNo mail me, or track me down at a write-in if I can help. In fact, you might want to come to Las Vegas on Monday and Tuesday. I'll be at the Palms working and I would much rather hang out with some WriMos. There's even a tattoo parlor in the hotel and I may get the running man with pencil inked on me. Maybe...
OK, on that thought, I have to go handle some trick-or-treaters. Just remember that Sara and I are here to help and that the best way to win this crazy event is not to get behind in your word count.
Happy Hallowe'en! Get ready for November!
Diann
50,020 / 50,000
Nov 13, 2008 - 21 13
Okay it's kind of scary this forum became quiet all of a sudden. I hope you guys are all right.
51,633 / 50,000
Nov 16, 2008 - 09 55
::chuckle:: I don't know about everyone else, but I'm trying to catch up on my word count. I'll get there!
Diann
51,633 / 50,000
Nov 17, 2008 - 19 39
I just had a minor roadblock (like I really need anything else this month!)
My boyfriend broke his foot at work and I'm supposed to wait on him. He's in a cast and on crutches for 4 to 6 weeks.
Except, I just had a hernia repaired last month and there are still a lot of things I can't do and I can't lift anything. So we're both a mess! LOL. I've been counting on him to clean and help me shop and cook. Who knows how we'll survive now?!
51,633 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2008 - 11 51
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Check out their writer's guidelines and see if they might be the place for your novel (once it's finished!)