The month of October is all about gearing up for The November Chaos. Here are a few tips that might help you ease into NaNo Season.
The forum is a great place to get started. I highly recommend looking around at various sections, because the range of topics and variation of backgrounds is astounding. I can practically guarantee you will find inspiration, personal or literary, so at least browse if posting isn't your bag.
The Indianapolis forum allows us to get to know each other and plan local events. We accommodate younger writers and anyone else who may have web filters or other restrictions, so we do need to keep our forum fairly clean. That said, we aren't restricted to just local subjects, so feel free to start various discussions as they strike you.
There are two big changes to the site this year that I'm very happy to see:
1. We have a regional calendar through Google (the link is at the top of our regional page). This thing is so smart, I'm just thrilled. Not only can we post details about events, but the map link will bring up Google Maps to give you directions. If anyone plans to write or meet somewhere regularly and wants to invite others, let me know and I'll put it on the calendar.
2. Every year there are discussions about the rules of NaNoWriMo, and though it's actually very simple -- write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days -- many people want to take advantage of the atmosphere while doing something slightly different. May I introduce (da da DAAA) NaNo Rebels! If you're writing short stories, finishing a work in progress, collaborating with someone else, working on a screenplay, or any of the variations technically outside the scope of NaNo, yes, you're welcome here in November. I encourage everyone to stick to the rules, especially if it's your first year; however, no one needs to police the rules of a personal challenge.
Are we all in this together? Well, no. Only as much as we each want to be. From now until December we'll have plenty of opportunities to get together to brainstorm, seek advice, blow off steam, write without interruption, or just as an excuse to get a mocha or a beer. Someone might actually know which poisonous plants grow at high altitude, or how to get a penguin to eat from your character's hand. While everyone in your personal life thinks you've gone mad, other NaNo writers will simply nod and help if they can.
I'll add posts as things occur to me, but feel free to chime in with your own questions or tips. My brain's all a'flurry, and I know many of you are just as excited as I am.
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Ericka
Co-ML, Indianapolis
Inspired vessel of the Traveling Shovel of Death
