StL Newbies, Read This! Also, Ask Questions Here!

Hey all you new StL Wrimos! I'm your Municipal Liaison (ML) Jen and I'd like to welcome you to our region.

I know lots of you have questions about NaNo and how the site works, so to avoid multiple postings asking the same thing, why don't you check out the site FAQ: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/faq . This should give you most of the answers you need, like "How do I update my word count?" or "How do I donate to such a worthy cause as NaNoWriMo?". There is also a Newbie NaNoWriMo e-book available (http://nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3266866) which welcomes you to the insanity that is WriMo November.

For region-specific questions, read on:

Q: What's a write-in?
A: A write-in is a gathering of Wrimos. There are official ones (organized by me, your ML, and where you get your nifty NaNoWriMo goodies and maybe some extra prizes, depending on the monetary situation of said ML) and unofficial ones (organized by anyone else--including you!). A write-in is an event where you bring yourself and writing materials (paper & pencil, laptop, cuneiform stylus & clay, whatever you wish) and you write. We will have word wars and dares and other silly competitions to help you reach 50k. You could also socialize, because you'll be surrounded by people doing exactly the same thing. Some of them may be finished with their word quota of the day and want to chat; others may just want to procrastinate. You are not required to go to a write-in, but everyone is invited. If you can't make the official ones, it's not a big deal (though you won't get your official NaNoWriMo sticker unless you get to an ML-planned event). Start your own if you want to--make a post on the forum (one post! once! you can edit your own post if dates/times/locations change, or if you'd like to add status reports. one post!) and see who shows up. If you have questions about starting a write-in, contact me.

Q: Where are the write-ins?
A: The official weekly write-ins are held Sundays from 2-4 pm at the Bread Co in Clayton, 10 S. Central Ave. A bus line runs right in front of the cafe, the Clayton Metrolink stop is just down the street, and there is ample free parking in the lot to the south of the building. There is free WiFi in the cafe, and they have really good bagels. Please stop by for writing, word wars, friendly competition, and NaNo goodies. Also, since we're patronizing their restaurant and using up quite a bit of space, please consider buying a coffee or food in appreciation, since they let us use the space for free.

I also hold a write-in on Wednesday nights, 7 pm, at my house in University City (7550 Ahern Ave, 63130). I have WiFi and a cat. If you'd like to bring food or drink that would be appreciated but not required.

There are lots of other write-ins. If the official ones are too far from you, take a look around the forums and see if someone has posted one closer to you. If there isn't one, start it! Make a new topic on the forums and see if there's interest. Good luck, and I hope to see you Sundays!

Q: What's a word war?
A: A word war can be interpersonal, intra- or inter-regional, or just something to help you make words during NaNo. All you do is set a time limit and see how many words you can write during that time. You can make a bet with yourself that you can write 500 words in 10 minutes, or you can go up against one of your writing buddies and see who can write more in 7 minutes, or our lovely Word Wrangler can put our whole region's word count up against the word count for another region (heck, another country, even) and we'll see who wins. There are no prizes, but it will definitely ratchet up your word count and it will probably give you a little bit of a workout as your fingers fly over the keys. There are also a few sites out there that force you to write for a certain period of time, like Write or Die (http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html).

We will have word wars at the official write-ins on Sundays to help you fatten your word count. There is an entire topic on the main forums (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/forum/183) where people say, "Okay, I'm starting to write at 10:15, anyone want to war?" and you can join in and then post your final count when time is up. Usually there are people in NaNo's official chat room that will be willing to war with you. You could also use an instant messenger client for a word war: IM your friends, set a start and end time, and see who writes the most.

Lots of people write better with a deadline, and a word war makes a mini-deadline to help you reach your word count for the day, which helps your region move up in the word count challenges!

There are Word War Widgets designed by St. Louis' very own Paul Hawke which make keeping track of word wars easy. Find them on the NaNoWriMo site at Fun Stuff>Word War Widgets.

Q: What is a word war challenge?
A: As mentioned above, the St. Louis region can challenge other regions in a test of writing might. You need to set your Home Region to make sure your words count to the collective St. Louis total!

Q: How do I set my home region?
A: If you're reading this forum, you probably live in St. Louis or you want your word count to contribute to the St. Louis overall word total (which is useful when we're challenging other regions in a regional word war). So please please take a moment to set your Home Region to St. Louis: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3271164

Q: What's this about kick-off parties/midnight write-ins/TGIO? Can I come?
A: There is always a kick-off party just before NaNoWriMo begins (usually the last weekend before) where the St. Louis Wrimos can meet each other face-to-face, chat about what they will write, eat something, and generally have a good time. This is also where you can get your NaNo goodies (but not the only place; if you miss the kick-off, just come to an official write-in). Just to be clear, there is no writing at the kick-off party. You can't write your NaNovel until November! I will send out an email with all the details.

This year I am having a midnight kick-off party at my house. Since the party will run from Halloween into November 1st, please feel free to bring All Hallows themed food or drink. Costumes are not required but sure would be fun. I will have WiFi access and outlets for you to plug into, but you might want to bring an extension cord to be safe. Again, I will send out information about this in an email.

And I know it seems like a long way away, but please give me suggestions on where you'd like to have the TGIO (Thank Goodness It's Over) party, which will most likely be in the evening during the first weekend in December.

As a general note: everyone in the St. Louis region is invited to these parties. No one is required to come. They will all be kid/family friendly, but may be held in venues that serve alcohol. I expect that attendees behave themselves in an appropriate manner for the venue, and I will ask offenders to leave. Depending on the event you may be able to bring guests.

Q: How do I edit my posts?
A: As long as you are logged in, there should be an "Edit" button underneath each post you make. I don't believe there is a total delete button, so if you accidentally double post, just edit the extra one with a joke or something. I can only delete complete threads, not individual posts, and I will not do that unless you specifically ask me.

Do you still have questions, regional or NaNoWriMo? Ask them here. But please please read the site FAQ first. My exploding inbox thanks you.

~j

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Municipal Liaison for St. Louis, MO
Previous NaNovels: King Arthur, angels, dragons, the Forest Lord, and prostitutes. Apparently this year it's folks rising from the dead.
aspirations: http://etoiline.com