Introduction Thread

Ah... I was waiting for someone to start this up.

I'm Monica! I was bookgodess15 last year, but I changed it because... Because. I'm a senior in high school this year and things are going to be insane this November, as my college application is due in the middle of the month. Ack! But as a third-year veteran, I'll persevere. This year, I'm writing the love child of The Bourne Identity and The Bank Job (no, really). It's a plot I've been reworking for years, and I've finally decided that if NaNoWriMo can't make it work, I'm throwing it out for good.

Also, I go to Brookside. Any other BHS-ers joining me this year?

Super. I am keeping my name the same this year :-D I had a great success last year, and this year I've got a new plan and a schedule for group writing at the Caribou Coffee on Center Ridge Rd and West 220th. Anyone game?

jcr3008

I'm Sarah, and I'm also 15. I do go to a BHS, but not Brookside. Another B on the east side. This is my third year - I won '06 but lost '07. Nice to meet everyone!

Hey, I'm August, 16, would be a 2nd-year college student except I'm...not one. I was around somewhat last year and I'm hoping there will be a lot of things planned, especially in Berea. I'm writing a fantasy plot that I think will last 100k, and then I'll probably go for 50k more of something else.

I can't wait for November - it should at least be October already.

Wow, that's a lot of teenagers. I was once one of you, not long ago... I'm 20, I go to Tri-C, I live in Lakewood, and this'll be my fourth year - hopefully my second year actually finishing!

I might be writing a fantasy/anti-romance, or maybe a spiritual coming-of-age thing, or maybe a 50,000-word dream sequence, or whatever. Last year I had a lot of success with not having any idea what to write until a few days beforehand. Though I've got a favorite song that's just begging to be turned into a story... gah!

Eyriana, I recently read Just Ella, another alternative look at the Cinderella story, and I loved it. (I never grew out of young adult literature, and never intend to.) Have you read it? If so, what'd you think? If not, you should.

BAH, I go away for the weekend and they open the forums early.

Anyways, I am GeologyGirl (aka Christine), your freindly Cleveland Municipal Liaison. I have a whole schedule of events already set up for the region, but welcome others to arrange write-ins on different days/times. Just let me know and I'll add them to the calendar - which will be up shortly.

We're having a kick-off party on October 25, between 2-4 at one of the local libraries. Try and keep that date open.

I still haven't planned the TGIO (thank goodness its over) Party yet. I will be soliciting suggestions shortly.

I am looking forward to November and will probably be trying to finish my novel from last year. I hit the 50K goal and the story isn't even half over. OR I may be hit with another idea between now and November 1.

Hi, I'm Alana *hi Alana* and high school ate my life.

But I'm doing NaNo anyway, because I'm just that cool.

I'm another teenager. I'm fourteen, and go to a private school in University Circle (actual Cleveland!) whose name I'm not going to reveal because it's super tiny. This is my second year doing NaNo, and I don't plan to win this year, just get something done. My idea this year: My MC's friend's sister disappears, and friend and MC must find her. Quest involves time travel and evilness.

Hi all, I'm Wesley. I've been doing NaNo since 2003 but last year I didn't even try. I got about 2500 words down in the first week and then gave up. This year will be different!

I can't make any Thursday night meetups, but I'm hoping to hit all the Saturday ones. With any luck, I'll be bringing a friend, too. See you all there!

Hi...again. Re-submitting this because the site was down. Glad to see it's up again.

29 year old retail worker who graduated college before suddenly decided "hey, that's not what I want to do after all." So now I'm working to pay back loans until I figure out what I want. That was five years ago, by the way.

This is my first year, and I'm really looking forward to it. Definately determined to make it to the end. I think I have my plot picked out. It's going to be realistic fantasy, you know, magicness in the real world, with a dash of otherworldly spiritualness thrown in.

Anway, it's great to see a group of writers all together, and I hope to be able to get to one of the activities.

I'm not sure if I'm invading the right place, but as the Akron-folks have no place....Well, you're stuck with me. Name's Jennifer. I'm a 22 year old business analyst, and this is my first year doing NaNoWriMo legitimately. I say legitimately because August 07, I had the entire month off from everything, so I gave myself the 50k word challenge. Hit 63k on the train ride home from Seattle (5-day trip!). I tend to chain-burn when I'm writing (light a cigarette, take a drag or two, then set it in the ashtray when I get a thought and completely forget about it).

I've been writing seriously since I was 12, and I am definitely excited for November to be here already!

Greetings, young people and Yotto.

I'm Bob and this will be year 5 for me, I think? I've got 20 years on most of you. (How the heck did that happen?) Still have yet to break 25K, but I'll keep trying until I hit that elusive 50. My biggest problem is that I can't just write words. I have yet to figure out how to kill my internal editor and have spent precious hours working on single paragraphs.

Yes, I know that I'm doing it wrong.

Last year, I started two different novels (the first one was a bust, the second was made of awesome), but real life was all up ons. This year, I'm trying to keep November clear; but I've got no story idea yet.

Hey, the site's back up!
I'm Brian, and this will be my fifth NaNo.
As I've told a few people before, my goal isn't so much to hit fifty thousand words as it is to beat last year's word count. Which was 32,310.

Hey Brian:
Wow, fifth one, eh? That's amazing... I've only done it once (last year).

jcr3008

Bob:
I had the same problem but decided that I was going to push through and not think too much about it. The result: I had a really great time and finished. It has taken me close to a year, but I am self-publishing my first NaNoWriMo effort. You're not doing it wrong... you know, I always read on these "fiction how to" books that characters start doing things on their own and moving the plot and I NEVER BELIEVED it... never. I thought it was some kind of romantic bs that never really happened, until it happened to me... are you on the West side? Want to be buddies? Let me know. Rebellion against the internal editor begins now.... go underground :-)
jcr3008

Howdy all, Paul here. This will be year 3 for me. I managed a win in my first go round but a new child in the house stopped me 20K short last year. This will be a crazy year for me as I've started school in addition to the full time job and 2 children in the house but no guts no glory so I'm saddling up again. I've been listening to all the Writing Excuses podcasts ( http://www.writingexcuses.com ) and making notes for my story. I hope to go into November with a rough outline as a change from past years with no ideas at all.

Anyway I'm 35 with a wife, 2 kids (11 and 1), 2 cats and a dog. I'm a Network Administrator by day and student by night. I drive the short bus http://image.importtuner.com/f/Tony_21/9985315+w450+h338+cr0+re1+ar1/200... (Mine has stock wheels but otherwise the same) and I am a recovering warcraft addict. (Rolard sits and stares at Outland forever I fear/hope) I hope to see you all at Panera and I hope to make it to at least one Saturday.

Rolard

Wow, I recognize so many of you! Hey Christine, I remember meeting you at TGIO last year! :D

I did read Just Ella, have a copy of it actually - love it. It's my favorite Cinderella rendition :D

Hi, My name is Tony. I am a 21 year old cashier from Parma (don't worry, the nicer side). I tried this last year under a different name and bombed, hard.
lol.

I've got a few ideas on the drawing board this year as to what I'm writing, so I'll try and pick just one. Wish me luck there.
And as far as meet-ups and the kick-off, may or may not happen simply because I suck and don't drive, hahaha.

Scratch that, the kick-off is happening practically right around the corner from me. I didn't even know there was a library there. :X
(though its a bit of a walk, it shouldn't be a problem. Nevermind~!

I'm Stephanie. Let's just pretend that I'm 19. This is my second year. I live in Avon Lake and work in Cleveland. I would love to attend a meet up, since last year I missed the only one in my area.

hi im emily, this is my first year doin nano cos my friend Octoba practically black mailed me with one of her character's gayness.(HE IS NOT GAY JEEZ LADY!!) anywho ive got a good idea so far & im prolly gonna get to the 15K mark by the end of november. :( eh, o well. im gonna try. whoopie!!

Hey Everyone!
I'm Angela and I'm 21. Im also from the Akron Area and this seems to be the closest to me. This is my first go at this. I thought it would help with my endless editing issues that only let me get a couple chapters into stories. I hoping to make some writing buddys. Anyone interested? I have a three month old who may make this challenge difficult, but I'm determined!

Oh and I also just started my outline for this. A Fantasy as it seems most people are doing. Good luck to everyone!

I added you as a buddy... Get rid of the internal editor, my friend... "go underground" ;-)

jcr3008

Hi there, all!

I'm Jenny, I'm 31 (which must be ancient to all you teenagers) and this is my first year doing NaNo. Yotto introduced it to me, and will likely coax me to a meet up or two. I'll try to make as many as I'm able and look forward to meeting everyone!

I've got my general theme worked out (at least in my head) and I've just begun plotting it out more. It's going to be a fingers crossed sort of thing for me to finish, I'm thinking, but I'm going to try!

Not at all Jenny.... 41 here and still going strong... finished last year and now I am more excited for this year... add me as a buddy :-)
jcr3008

Hey All!!

I'm Renee. I'm a former ML from Dayton, OH, *counts* 4th year doing NaNo. I took last November off because I was starting to write my Master's Thesis (which turned into not writing it at all - long story). I won my first 3 years, but failed spectacularly my last.

So, now I'm back in the saddle and looking for a great word count. I can't imagine not doing this again this year!!

Looking forward to meeting everyone at write ins.

Welcome everyone! It is so nice to see many new people around here. Never fear, all of us over 19 are well represented. I'm looking forward to a fun year.

I happen to have a very good friend online who is 35, so no worries, adults :D

Anyone near Niles/Warren? I don't want to say my town, but it's around 25 miles from Niles (pardon the unintentional rhyme). Has anyone at least HEARD of them? :P

Hello everyone! My name is Britt, or Dragon_Master as my screen name says. I can't believe that it's almost November again! First I have to go through my birthday (18 this year!) and then my Mom's birthday (shh~) and then Halloween/my friend's birthday. Hehe, lots going on first, but each one makes me realize how much closer it is.
I'm really excited about this year.
As some of you already know, I'm seventeen (not for much longer, though) and I love anime (you'll often see me with my black cat-eared cat) and I LOVE Halloween and October in general. Also, fantasy is almost everything to me, which is why I write it.
I hope everyone's feeling just as excited as I do!

I'm Tyler. I'm 18 and this is my first NaNo experience. I just stumbled on this tonight, actually. Somehow I'd never heard about it before. I mostly write poetry, but Kerouac is my favorite writer and one of my biggest influences, so I figured I'd try this out in his spirit. I'm a west-sider (to be specific, Westlake, but not snooty rich Westlake).

Hi all - My name is Leah, although you can call me Lyndell too if you want (it's my middle name). I'm 21, and currently a college student. I've played around with NaNoWriMo for a few years, but never seriously participated. I think I'm really going to give it a go this year, though I have no idea yet what my book will be about.

I'm from Geauga county, which is about half an hour to 45 minutes east of Cleveland. Is there anyone else from the east (or far east, in my case) side?