Hey, Alaskans! Roooooll call!

I'm Anna, and I live about 80 miles south of Fairbanks in Anderson.

I've been writing for several years doing screenplays, with moderate success. Comedy comes naturally for me, and I write mostly dark romantic comedies. I've tried writing drama, but every time I write something serious, it just sounds stuffy and pompous. Gotta stick with what works!

I'm doing an urban mythpunk novel for NaNo because it was way too much information to be put into a single screenplay. It's probably way too much information to be put into a single novel, but the muse struck, and I took copious notes. :-) For my novel, the Angel of Death is my protag.

I've talked my 7-year old into doing the Young Writer's Program, and it looks like she's going to be doing a story on bunnies.

I'm looking forward to writing in November. I've outlined and done four character bios already. Now I can't wait to get started!

Hey Summer! I didn't get to meet you last year to compare typewriters, so hopefully this year?
Anyhoo, I'm Abby, of the Anchorage area. If you shop at Barnes and Noble, you've probably bought books from me! My favorite writing tool is my Smith-Corona Silent Super typewriter (and yes, I DO bring it to the meets!). Last year, my first year, I managed to win writing a young adult urban fantasy, historical fiction-type piece. This year, though, I'm severely out of practice LOL I'm trying to choose between two ideas at the moment, so we'll see which one I go with...
Excited for November! Cheers.

Nano 2008 - Sanctuary (Won!)
Nano 2009 - Majesty

Hallo!

I'm Nat (or Heather depending on the time of day) and I'm -so far- the lone Anchorage ML. I'm taking over for Kim who's moving away this year. Which is kind of scary considering how shy I am. But I've found that the Anchorage meet-ups have helped everything from my word count to my confidence over the last two years, so I'm excited to keep that going for everyone. This year I'm writing the sequel to last year's alternate-history urban-fantasy/sci-fi romance thing (it can't pick a genre). I'm really looking forward to getting back into the character's I've let fester for a year.

Time exists on your wrist so don't panic.
-Anchorage ML (I'm... helpful? o.O)

Hi! I'm Bri, 23 for the next few days, and I'm another WriMo out of the Valley. I write adult horror novels with paranormal elements, and fluffy young adult novels with fairytale premises. No accounting for the mix, it's insanity but it works for me. I'm an English major out at UAA, but I'm only out that way Monday and Wednesday.

In the summers I teach archery--last year I realized I knew a few WriMos from that, which was crazy-peculiar but also all sorts of fantastic.

I'm really looking forward to NaNoWriMo, and I have two solid ideas for this year, both of which I'll probably write in November.

I'm going to have to work hard on editing my current WIP until NaNo, so I don't do something crazy and try to outline. I am all the way getting antsy about writing!

NaNo 2009: NORTH (Goal: 85k) (Horror)
NaNo 2009: The Dreaming God (Goal: 55k) (Young Adult)

You're also a kick-*** writer. (You know the word: but I'm trying to be polite in company.)

-- Mel
(yksinainen in Gmail & AIM)

Hiljaa hyvä tulee. (Good comes quietly.)

Henkimaa.com

Hey all, I'm Mel in Anchorage. (Mel as in Melissa: I'm female.)

This will be my third NaNoWriMo. I won in 2007 with Cold, a science fiction novel about about two young women on a planet (which even yet I haven't found the name for! I always called it XXXX) in the late stages of terraformation. That is, for non-SF buffs, when you make a planet habitable for Earth life. I started in 2008 -- a continuation of the story -- but had to stop midway through due to personal stuff.

This year I'll be doing Long Dark, which takes place in the same story universe as Cold, but earlier in the timeline, beginning when the first small flotilla of starships sets out on its multigenerational journey through the "long dark" between the stars from our solar system to the one where Cold is set. So, the characters in Long Dark are the ancestors of those in Cold.

And who knows? Maybe I'll sometime turn this stuff into a publishable form. As it is, just a couple of days ago I dusted off the first day's writing from NaNoWriMo 2007, revised it, & submitted it as a short story for the LGBTQ issue (to be published in December) of the online & print magazine Crossed Genres -- http://crossedgenres.com/

-- Mel
(yksinainen in Gmail & AIM)

Hiljaa hyvä tulee. (Good comes quietly.)

Henkimaa.com

Hi Everyone.
I'm Bev, in Kenai. I was a NaNoWriMo winner in 2007, but got sidetracked in 2008. This year I am torn between a couple of plots, one a YA historical, the other a horror story. Maybe I'll get super-ambtious and do both of them.

Hello!

I'm Kassie, and I've been doing NaNo out of Anchorage for the past three years. This year will be my fourth, and I've won NaNo the past two years. I'm seventeen and doing both highschool and college through APU.

(*pokes Heather and whispers: Hey, if I stay at APU, can I be your co-ML once I'm eighteen?*)

I'm a pretty permanent fixture at the Anchorage groups, even if I've missed a few monthly meetings because I either forgot (*coughs guiltily*) or because I was busy. This year I have an idea in mind, and I'm going to cheat (for the first time ever!) and use a story that I tried to do for our mini-JuNoWriMo but got distracted doing character bios on. It's Urban Fantasy, and I've decided to be secretive and paranoid and not let too many people know about it.

I'm excited for November to start, too. I'm hoping there's going to be loads new people at the write-ins. ^^

I'm glad to see all the old people, too, though. Means we're still loved or something.

NaNo 2009: NORTH (Goal: 85k) (Horror)
NaNo 2009: The Dreaming God (Goal: 55k) (Young Adult)

Or something.

I thought it was more implied than anything. Are we going to see you in Anchorage for any write-ins, Bri?

Hi everyone :) I'm Lily. I am 20, an epic procrastinator, and a hermit (kidding!) who lives in Anchorage. I've been signed up the past 3 years but never really got involved or written very many words, but I'm really hoping that this will be my year.

Hi everyone. I'm Kylie, a college freshman in Fairbanks. This is my first NaNo, and I have no idea what I'll be writing about this year. :P But I've still got a month to figure that out, right? ...*nervous laugh*

It's the perfect story (so they say) a hero leading the way!

Hi, I'm Amy and I'm the brand spanking new ML for the Kenai Peninsula. I live in Kenai and work part time at the Kenai Community Library where we'll be holding our write-ins.

Last year was my first NaNo and I won with a fantasy romance which has a working title of Portal. I've got plans to dust it off and edit someday for submission someplace. I have about 5 or 6 plot ideas that I'm mulling over for this year's work. Also mulling over which laptop to purchase when the PFD comes in. I'm hoping I'll burn the rice less often if I have a laptop I can take into the kitchen and write while I cook.

My Muse took a vacation and all I got was this lousy tee shirt!

Hey! I'm Chris and I'm in fairbanks! And yet again I attempt fantasy! I will never stop writing fantasy! Ever! You can't make me!

Nano09 - The Bloody Watch of Fate

Hey! I'm Chris and I'm in fairbanks! And yet again I attempt fantasy! I will never stop writing fantasy! Ever! You can't make me!

Nano09 - The Bloody Watch of Fate

Hi all-

I'm J.D. (short for Jenny) new to the NaNo scene, but I heard about it last year. My mind tells me I'm in Alaska so that's why I joined this group. The truth is that I actually am currently living in Maryland just outside D.C. However, in my defense, I own 20 acres of paradise in Trapper Creek, AK and get up there for extended vacations each summer. Here near D.C., the traffic stinks, the air quality stinks, and it's still not cold yet. You can see why my mind keeps telling me I'm in Alaska. It's a relaxation technique.

I noticed lots of folks writing urban fantasies. They sound like fun! Last year (for a writing project unrelated to NaNo), I wrote a fantasy book about Keepers of the Earth, based in Talkeetna. This year I hope to either write a sequel for that or try a whole new cast of characters in an environmental murder mystery.

Glad to see the Alaskan writing scene is alive and kicking. Hope to get to meet you all some day (when we finally decide to ditch the rat race and move to paradise)!

Hi, I am Lisa, I am in Fairbanks. This is my first Nanowrimo, and I look forward to just forcing myself to sit down and do some writing. I have just barely started outlining suspense novel. Look forward to giving this a go!

Hey everyone! I'm Emer/Emerson, 19 and a Liberal Studies student at APU at the moment. This is my fifth NaNo, hopefully to be the third I win. *crosses fingers* I'm looking forward to attempting to get involved this year! Woohoo! I generally write high fantasy in a world I've been creating for almost three years now.

This year, I'm writing some sort of urban fantasy, I suppose, with ancient gods. My protagonists are Loki and the Amadan-na-Breena (the fool from Celtic mythology) so it should be interesting. :P

Cups of tea had: four
Mortals turned mad: one
Pokemon card battles written: two
Number of times the fourth wall's been broken: eight (not counting the section where they all realize they're characters in a NaNo story and decide to go on a quest to help

HI everyone! I'm Jean, 22, and I'm another friendly local ML. I live in Wasilla with six dogs, which I will no doubt complain about at least once during November. ;) I write fantasy of all types, though primarily Epic/High Fantasy and Urban Fantasy. I also occasionally wander into the Science Fiction genre. This year I'm going to be writing fantasy in the subgenre of "girls gets transported to a magical land and finds adventure." (See Escaflowne, The Twelve Kingdoms, Magic Knight Rayearth, etc.) This is my sixth year doing NaNo.

Alaska/Mat-su Valley Co-ML
Website/Twitter
"Life is a journey. Time is a river. The door is a jar" - Jim Butcher (Dead Beat)

Hi to all- I'm AE, and located in Kenai. This will be my first NaNo, and I'm fired up about the prospect. I'm a technical writer by day (contrary to the rumors, technical writing is not all glamour, flash and excitement), and write for fun in the evenings. Like mommybunny, most of my effort is humor, although a few magazine pieces have been serious. My novel will be an opportunity to purge a nagging idea that has been bouncing around in my head for a number of years. (Get thee back, Harley Pepperdine!) At 55, it sounds as if I'm the group geezer, which would explain why I do not use a typewriter... that kind of exercise makes old people gasp for air and perspire heavily.

Hope to exchange a little banter in the course of the event with some of you.

John Grisham once said he was thinking about giving up writing as it was "too easy." I'd bet 99.9% of all writers wanted to bitch-slap him at that point.

Oh, no, you are not the geezer here....I am nearly old enough to be your MOTHER!! But that doesn't stop me, or even slow me down much. I'm really looking forward to this NaNo....

I'm also older than you, AE, however just old enough to be your big sister. I'm already a fan of your newspaper writing, so I'm sure I'll love your novel. Hope you can make it to the library for our first meeting on the 22nd.

My Muse took a vacation and all I got was this lousy tee shirt!

All right! We've got three contenders that can not only swap novel inspiration, but also debate whether, or not, frozen yogurt could be considered a solid food when consumed by those over 50. It's going to be a great November. You younger writers out there, take a cautionary note: this is what happens if you write for more than 40 years.

John Grisham once said he was thinking about giving up writing as it was "too easy." I'd bet 99.9% of all writers wanted to bitch-slap him at that point.

A bit late to the party, but here goes.

I'm Rachel. These days I mostly go by Rach. I'm twentytwo, living in Palmer, and enrolled in the Vet Assisting program over at MatSu College.
This is my second year doing NaNo, although last year I didn't manage to get out so much as a sentence. Writers block, big time. I've got high hopes for this year.
I'm a fantasy buff. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is my absolute favorite book series, with the Nightside series coming in at a very close second.
My NaNo plot was inspired by the Anchorage Renaissance Faire (I was part of the green court). It started off as pure fantasy, and has sorta morphed into an adventure/dark fantasy/romance thing. Not that I'm complaining. I'm just glad to be writing again. It's been years.

"Children in the back seats of cars cause accidents. But accidents in the back seats of cars cause children."
~Unknown~

Hola, I know miss Jodotha, I see her at least once a week type typity typing away. *pokes*

My name is Corey. And I am a write-aholic. *pauses dramatically for the cursory hellos* So I participated in the opening write-in of last years Nano, and then ended up busy with housework on all the days I planned to continue going to write-ins. This year may I hope to do better! I've yet to win at Nano, though this year should be a breeze. Not to mention that I plan to get 50k in less than 24 hours. (I've a bet with a friend, (I figured out the wpm one needs to do nano in 6 and 12 hours which happens to be about 90 and 70)) No food, no water, no rest for the wicked.

I actually have two stories, (one with a sequel) that I am writing for Nano, plus attempting to get a large wordcount in poetry with said friend of previous bet. Soooo I'm a wee bit ambitious, but I've got the material. The synopsis for my stories are on my author page. :)

Good to meet you all, and hope to see you on Halloween! (well those of you in Anchorage anyway, (though I think everyone should come to Anchorage)).

Hope is the light in the darkness when there is nothing else.

Hi Lily,

Come to some of the Anchorage write-ins. It really helps to have word wars and to have other people all pushing for the same goal

--Maureen Scally aka Scallyway aka Giselle

As much I said, I won't do it....
At near last minute, with encouragement, I'm attempting again. Except, I'll be at huge handicap. I won't have much of the time I had, or that I used (for not doing homework!) that I wouldn't have before.

I'm not in Fairbanks no more. (I'll miss you Jeano!) But I'll be in Wasilla, probably a couple anchorage visit, unless someone from valley would come to.

(but I'm supposed to be job serching!)

I have an idea for this year's novel. Yes, another horse theme. I grew up with them.

Oh, Hello Bri! You must let me know where Wasilla meets!

Wolfling with a new look!

I'm Aleta, 26, and although I have heard of this challenge for several years I never quite got as far as actually signing up, hopefully I will get even futher and actually have the time and motivation to participate to the full extent. I currently have no real ideas of what I will be writing past an introductory sentence. I have been writing most of my life, got a couple poems published in elementary school and occasionally enter into the local newspaper competition (I'm in the Eagle River/Anchorage area). Writing is something my family always encouraged but sadly I have had little time to contemplate my inspirations due to heavy work and school loads. However, this year I am finally growing up and discovering a new-found ability to actually get the many of the many Many things I've always wanted to do, actually done, or at least consistently a little more underway.

I am addicted to coffee, book stores (mainly Barnes & Noble and little niche ones with the True bookshelf feeling to them, I'm sure many of you know what I mean by that). I have too many interests to mention, some of the long-standing ones are figure skating, writing (of course), and reading Science Fiction (mainly Star Wars and Star Trek TOS); a couple new ones are Anthropology, History, quilting, and World of Warcraft (which I actually DO manage to take in moderation surprise of surprises).

I am enthralled with intelligent people and conversation, and a thorough school-adict. I will be a crazy book-lady when I get old and don't plan on being grown-up in attitude unless at work or during other activities where it is advisable not to show that I am certifiable :-)

Here goes nothing, I have Nov. 1 marked in my schedule. *crosses fingers, toes, eyes, limbs, and a few mental trains of thought in hopes of creating a growing idea for my writing*

-Aleta

Yo, all. I'm the unofficial co-ML for lovely Anchortown, since there was getting sick and a heart condition and my grandma dying and then suddenly I was like "oh hey October" and Heather was like "yeah you kind of missed the deadline for being an ML" and I was like "what we have DEADLINES now? oh, wait, this is NANO." and then I went "bah" from there.

But yeah, I've been participating since sjkhgfdgd I don't even know when anymore lke 2005 I think? I think. No. Wait. Uh. Won 08, won 07, so.. no, my math is correct, I've been here since 2005. Sweet crispy jesus, I've been doing this for almost as long as my roommate's child has been alive, that's alarming.

ANYWAY I'm 19, I work in a deli/grocery store (you'll probably see me if you hang around midtown. if you do, please shoot me; I could use the time off), I like to write and roleplay and in general be a really big geek. My friends went "Hay try World of Warcraft" the other month and since then I've been mildly eaten by alt-itis. It sucks. And rocks. And something. ("GUYS GUYS I'm in a TREE this is CREEPY can I burn it??")

Uh. I like anime. I like LiveJournal. I occasionally start speaking in foreign languages when tired. My characters live in my head and occasionally take over for me at work which may or may not qualify me as schizophrenic/insane/MPD/some combination thereof. I like to just say I'm a writer.

In soviet Russia, NaNo writes *you*. (But you can't see it from your house.)

OH GOD WHAT AM I WRITING I'm gonna go do laundry now.

We have a forum? Cool! ^_^

I'm Alyssa, 24, and I live in Anchorage. I've been a writer since I was a kid, but only started taking it seriously during last year's Nanowrimo. I'm more ambitious now. Not only am I going to daydream more, I want to be paid for it.

Last year I completed Nano, which was the highlight of my life the year. I wrote a novel called After America, an urban fantasy about a girl who runs away to a city called Babel. It might not have sucked as much as it did if I'd known what I was writing about.

Alas, no amount of editing could save it, and I'm moving on to a new story tenatively titled Fire Road, set in the same world. Fingers crossed this one will come together better. I'm looking forward to getting to know y'all.

Transgress with grace.