archive of regional emails

Subject: [NaNoWriMo : South Bay] Welcome to NaNo 2009!

Brave NaNoWriMo novelists of the South Bay,

Welcome to National Novel Writing Month, or welcome back! The NaNoWriMo 2009 season is getting underway, and we hope you're as excited as we are! We're your South Bay municipal liaisons, Lisa (marcopolo) and Ian (idunno), and we will be contacting you periodically for the next couple of months with encouragement and information about local NaNo events.

You're receiving this message because at some point you signed up for NaNoWriMo and affiliated with the California::South Bay region. If you aren't interested in further email, follow the instructions at the end of this message to change your settings on the NaNoWriMo.org web site. We are not able to unsubscribe you, but if you run into trouble with the site, we can try to help.

The best place to look for information about NaNo in the South Bay is our discussion forum:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168
If you haven't already visited the forum, we encourage you to do that now, and to check back frequently. Current discussion threads include introductions, some orientation notes for new participants, and information about the many events we'll be holding in late October and throughout November.

We're in the process of finalizing arrangements for several upcoming events. We'll get those details out to you in another message soon. In general, we'll send email with any important news, but the forum will always be the first place that regional information appears, so visit often, and please chime in!

-- Lisa (marcopolo) and Ian (idunno), your South Bay MLs
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168

Subject: [NaNoWriMo : South Bay] NaNo events galore!

South Bay NaNos,

If you've been visiting the South Bay discussion forum, you already know all about the exciting events we have planned starting next week. If you haven't been to the forum, please stop by!
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168

One thing you'll find at the South Bay forum is our regional calendar, which displays all the events and write-ins scheduled for our region. We are close to having a write-in for every day of November, and since some write-ins are still being planned, we might get to that point before the month starts. If you would like to host a write-in at a time and place convenient for you, please chime in on this thread:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3277972

We have two exciting pre-NaNo parties planned for next week. First, the South Bay Meet-and-Greet will be Wednesday, October 28, 6:30-8:30pm at the Santa Clara Library. Come meet new friends and greet old ones at this informal pre-NaNo gathering. Chat about your novel plans, your lack of novel plans, or what you've been doing for the past 11 months. All are welcome, including non-writing supporters and people who are still trying to decide whether to participate in NaNoWriMo. No RSVPs are necessary.

South Bay Meet-and-Greet
Wednesday, October 28
6:30-8:30pm
Cedar Room (1st floor)
Santa Clara Central Park Library
2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara
(Required disclaimer: This is not a Library-sponsored event. The City of Santa Clara is neither responsible nor liable for information provided by users of the Library meeting rooms.)
discuss: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3299183

Second, Steph (skneal) has generously invited all South Bay NaNos to attend a Halloween potluck at her beautiful South San Jose home on NaNo Eve. Come in costume, bring some food to share, party, and then break out the laptops and notepads at midnight and start your novel!

Halloween Party + Write-in
Saturday, October 31
8:00pm-1:00am
Steph's home in South San Jose -- RSVP for address by replying to this message or posting in the thread
bring: potluck contribution, noveling implements, costume!
discuss: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3299474

To start NaNoWriMo off with a bang, we're going to have an all-day write-in on Sunday, November 1. Noveling games, contests, and goodies may make an appearance. We're still working out the details and will let you know as soon as we've settled on a place and time.

Read about special events for the rest of the month here:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3275029

Are you excited yet?

-- Lisa (marcopolo) and Ian (idunno), your South Bay MLs
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168

Subject: Start your engines

Chris Baty summed up NaNoWriMo rather neatly with the title of his book: No Plot? No Problem! And boy, am I ever relieved those were the four words he chose. Here we are, with nano starting in four days, and I definitely DON'T have a problem. Whew! I imagine I'm not the only one with this lack of a problem.

I know, I know, being on the verge of NaNoWriMo without a solid plot yet seems like it should be a problem, but it really isn't. Look at all those blockbuster Hollywood movies that have managed to make money without a discernible plot (hello, Transformers 1 and 2!). Proof positive that financial success doesn't require a coherent storyline.

But whether or not you have a plot parked at the curb with the engine running doesn't really matter. Taking part in NaNoWriMo to write a novel is a lot like going on a road trip - the journey's the thing! Maybe you know where you're going, maybe you're going where the road takes you. But in the end, you will get to where you need to be and have a lot of fun on the way. You might not arrive where you planned (likely if I was driving), but you'll still find yourself in an interesting new place that's just as awesome as the place you thought you were headed. The important thing is the experience, the journey. The journey, and not running out of gas.

Yes, I said not running out of gas. Every year, people run out of gas during nano, both on their way to write-ins, and in their attempt to reach 50k. So I want to take a moment to offer some ways to dodge this totally avoidable circumstance.

GAS UP BEFORE LEAVING FOR WRITE-INs. Or check your fuel gauge. This is a simple way to be sure your car won't run out of gas on the way to a write-in or other nano event.

WRITE-INs. Throughout November, there are write-ins scheduled on every day of the week except Saturday. Some days, more than one! Attend one. Attend two. Attend them all, or as many as you can. They are your chance to meet up with fellow comrades-in-arms, to cheer each other on, to seek support, and to partake of that most solitary of arts in a crowd of people intent on being alone with you. Attending a write-in is like drinking a coffee with two heaping spoonfuls of powdered No-Doze instead of sugar, and concentrated habanero juice instead of cream. Mmmm, guaranteed to get ya moving! The write-in schedule is available on our regional Google calendar:

http://www.google.com/calendar/render?cid=jfr990q58jkvdc26cr0fi1gubo%40g...

FORUMs. Are you regularly reading the regional forums? If not, you should. That's where people post introductions, announce parties and other fun events (such as the Meet n' Greet, the First Minute Write-in/Halloween party, and the Halfway party), and otherwise connect and share both knowledge and enthusiasm. For example, do you twitter? Did you know there is a growing list in the forums of South Bay novelists for you to follow/be followed by on Twitter? You definitely need to be checking out the forums. You can find the California :: South Bay forums at http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168

WORD CHALLENGES. This one is great for inspiring the truly competitive. Challenge someone to a word war. Throw down the gauntlet and brag how you're gonna whip your buddy's butt when it comes to word count this nano. Because once you're on record, you damn well have to win, right? Even better, find one of the local nanos who has written 100k (or more) in previous years and challenge them! Yes, they will probably whip your butt so thoroughly it won't be recognizable as any part of the human anatomy, but imagine the number of words you'll write TRYING to keep up!

MEET N' GREET. This one's important! Attend the Meet n' Greet to see in person who your fellow South Bay nanos are. That includes meeting your MLs. I went out and bought deodorant for the first time in eleven months just so I'll smell nice for you guys! Don't make that purchase a waste of money. This event is going to be a lot of fun, with snacks, candy, drinks, candy, baked goods, candy, and a whole mess of intelligent, witty, and shockingly good-looking people eating candy (it's true, statistics don't lie - NaNoWriMo participants are 73% more likely to be good looking and intelligent than non-participants. Even better, South Bay Nanos are 87% more likely to have excellent hygiene, dashing good looks, and higher braininess. Wow! How can you pass up an event like that?

South Bay Meet-and-Greet
Wednesday, October 28 (that's tomorrow (or today, if you're reading this on Wednesday)!)
6:30-8:30pm
Cedar Room (1st floor)
Santa Clara Central Park Library
2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara

All of these things will keep your fuel gauge needle far to the left of 'E', making the goal of reaching 50k that much easier to attain. In fact, bring a gas can with you, because you're likely to get too much energy and inspiration from these resources, overflowing your tank. By the end of November last year, I was so overloaded with extra enthusiasm that I WALKED home from the San Francisco Thank God It's Over party. I live in San Jose, and I BEAT the carpool back. That's how energized I was. Okay, I might have dreamed that, but my point is still valid. Participating in nano in every way you can, not just writing, will empower you.

This year is gonna be a FANTASTIC nano. Both Lisa and I are looking forward to meeting and writing with all of you, and crossing that 50k finish line before the end of November.

Your MLs,
Ian (idunno) and Lisa (marcopolo)

idunno, co-ML for California :: South Bay

2009 Novel: The Stephen Hawking Detective Agency

Subject: [NaNoWriMo :: South Bay] this weekend's events

Wow! Last night's meet-and-greet was amazing! If you were there, you know what I'm talking about. If you weren't able to make it, we missed you. Some 60 SoBaNaNos got together in the library community room to chat, eat, make introductions, and rub elbows with the special surprise guests from headquarters: NaNo founder Chris Baty, community liaison Lindsey Grant, and email ambassador Drew Patty. I don't know about you all, but I'm feeling super energized for NaNoWriMo after that party!

And from now on, the fun doesn't stop until we all drop from exhaustion in December. We're starting November off with a double bang (!!) this weekend.

SATURDAY, Steph (skneal) has generously invited all South Bay NaNos to attend a Halloween potluck at her beautiful South San Jose home on NaNo Eve. Come in costume, bring some food to share, party, and then break out the laptops and notepads at midnight and start your novel!

Halloween Party + Write-in
Saturday, October 31
8:00pm-1:00am
Steph's home in South San Jose -- RSVP for address by replying to this message or posting in the thread
bring: potluck contribution, noveling implements, costume!
discuss: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3299474

SUNDAY, spend Day 1 writing your Chapter 1 at Mission City Coffee in Santa Clara! We're holding an "all-day" write-in from 10am to 6pm. Come for a little while or a long while, make a good start on your word count, drink coffee, and eat food (Mission has good sandwiches, soup, and more). There will be some sort of optional noveling games and word wars, and even exciting prizes. This is the first time we've held an event like this, and also the first time we've had a write-in at Mission, so it will be an adventure!

First Day Write-in
Sunday, November 1
10:00am-6:00pm
Mission City Coffee Roasting Co
2221 The Alameda, Santa Clara
Parking: The lot behind the cafe is fairly small, but there is also street parking in the area.
discuss: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3337493

Hope you can make it to an event this weekend! I'll send another message tomorrow with the schedule of write-ins for the rest of the month. Good luck with the final days of your novel planning!

Your South Bay MLs,
Lisa (marcopolo) and Ian (idunno)
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168

Sorry if you all got this twice! :)

(sent out at 7:50, still not in my inbox at 8:50 - must be slow due to high web traffic)

subject: [NaNoWriMo :: South Bay] Look! Up in the sky! It's NaNoWriMo

In less than five hours, it begins. NaNoWriMo, the greatest literary road trip you'll ever take this November. Tonight, at midnight, you can look down upon the novel-recording implement of your choice, be it laptop, typewriter, notepad, or friend with an auditory photographic memory who will memorize your dictation. When you look down (or up, if your dictation-taking friend is taller than you), you know what you're gonna see? I know - you're thinking "Zero words. That's what I'll see. A big fat zippo." That answer seems like a pretty big obstacle, right, being at zero when your goal is 50k? Sure makes it look like long odds, this far on the wrong side of 50k.

BZZZT! If you said "zero," you were wrong. Dead wrong. When you look down (or up), you're seeing opportunity. You're seeing potential. You're seeing a world not yet born but ready to arrive (or burst out of someone's chest, if that's the type of novel you're writing). You are seeing your novel in its most perfect state: before you write it. Because lets face it, these things never come out exactly the way you want or imagine once you start writing them. It is going to grow and evolve over the course of this month, and sometimes it will feel like the book has fallen short of your vision.

Take that last thought, the one about failing vision, and banish it (unless you actually can't see anymore - then consult a doctor). Chris Baty talks a lot about ignoring your inner editor, and that order is never more important to obey than on Day 1, when you haven't invested 5k or 10k or more into your novel. With so little in the bag, any niggling doubt that your writing isn't measuring up can easily convince you to quit. DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN! Don't worry about the quality of your work or matching your initial vision. You can work on that afterward, in December, when you're done. Or you might just discover that what you wrote is better than your original vision. If you absolutely must have any doubts, do it after you're so far down the road that there's no turning back. Say, Week 4.

But yes, it is a pretty big gap between 0 and 50k. But this is a GOOD thing. When you think about it, November 1st is the BEST time to be doing nano. On the 1st you have 30 whole days ahead of you, the maximum amount of writing time. You have the mystery of not knowing exactly where you'll end up come the 30th. And you have the adrenaline-and-ulcer-inducing terror of not knowing how you'll get there. Rest assured, though, with perseverance and the support of your fellow South Bay Nanos, you WILL get there. It's nothing but adventure and glory and inspiration ahead!

So on November 1st, I say look down (or up) at your novel and smile. Smile at that blank slate untarnished by the imperfect words of a first draft, and imagine the satisfaction you'll feel when you've crossed the 50k line with your South Bay Nano friends. Visualize the solid heft of that first printout in your hands. Hear the gloating tone in your voice when you tell your friends that you, you are a novelist.

And now, for some housekeeping.

We hope to see you at the First Day Write-in on November 1 to start NaNoWriMo off write, er, right! There will be optional noveling games and word wars, and even exciting prizes. This is the first time we've held an event like this, and also the first time we've had a write-in at Mission, so it will be an adventure!

First Day Write-in
Sunday, November 1
10:00am-6:00pm
Mission City Coffee Roasting Co
2221 The Alameda, Santa Clara
Parking: The lot behind the cafe is fairly small, but there is also street parking in the area.
discuss: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3337493

And don't forget, at 2am November 1st, set your clock back to 1am!

For your write-in needs for the rest of November, check out the amazingly packed schedule of write-ins for the South Bay, which includes events every day of the week in 8 different cities throughout the region. Wow! Below is the complete list of write-ins, and you can also view it all in its calendrical glory on the South Bay calendar: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=jfr990q58jkvdc26cr0fi1gubo%40gr...

Most write-ins are in public places (generally cafes), and you can just show up at the appointed time with your laptop or notepad and look for the group with NaNo signs or t-shirts. Don't forget to buy some food or drink to support the cafe that kindly lets us camp out and write for hours!

Sundays 3-6pm (not November 1)
Orchard Valley Coffee
349 E. Campbell Avenue, Campbell
http://www.orchardvalleycoffee.com/
hosted by Lisa (marcopolo) and Ian (idunno)

Mondays 12-4pm
Barefoot Coffee
5237 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara
http://www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com/people/barefoot/barefoot-cafe/
hosted by Lisa (marcopolo) and Steph (skneal)

Mondays 5-9pm
Coffee Society
21265 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino (The Oaks)
http://www.coffeesociety.com/stores.html
hosted by Silvia (munichmaedchen)

Tuesdays 9am-12pm
Blossom Hill Barnes & Noble (cafe area)
5353 Almaden Expressway, San Jose (Almaden Plaza)
http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2909
hosted by Steph (skneal)
WARNING: no power outlets available!

Tuesdays 7-9pm
Red Rock Coffee (upstairs room)
201 Castro Street, Mountain View
http://www.redrockcoffee.org/
hosted by Lisa (marcopolo)

Wednesdays 6-7:45pm
BookSmart
80 East 2nd St, Morgan Hill
http://www.mybooksmart.com/
hosted by Meg (coastermeg)

Wednesdays 7-9pm
Prolific Oven Palo Alto
550 Waverley Street, Palo Alto
http://www.prolific-oven.com/
hosted by Shuai (scribblegrl)

Thursdays 12-4pm
Barefoot Coffee
5237 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara
http://www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com/people/barefoot/barefoot-cafe/
hosted by Lisa (marcopolo) and Steph (skneal)

Thursdays 7-10pm
Caffe Trieste (upstairs loft)
315 South 1st St, San Jose
http://www.caffetriestesj.com/
hosted by Diane (mootmom)

Fridays 5-7pm
Nexus Cafe at Stanford Hospital Clark Center
318 Campus Drive, Stanford
http://campus-map.stanford.edu/index.cfm?ID=07-340
hosted by Shuai (scribblegrl)

Fridays 8:30pm-12am
Suju's Coffee (conference room)
3602 Thornton Ave, Fremont
http://www.sujuscoffee.com/
hosted by Melissa (qualroh)

Saturdays 1:30pm-3pm
Printer's Inc Cafe
320 S. California Ave, Palo Alto
http://www.printerscafe.com/
hosted by Shuai (scribblegrl)

A few write-ins have a different structure and require advance RSVPs. See below for details of these special write-ins.

Monday, November 2 + Tuesday, November 17, 5-7pm
East West Bookstore
324 Castro Street, Mountain View
http://www.eastwest.com/
hosted by East West through the Come Write In program (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/bookstores)
RSVP by calling the bookstore at 650-988-9800 to ensure there is a seat available for you

Playdate write-in for NaNos with small children
Wednesdays 10am-12pm
private home in San Jose
RSVP by NaNoMail to Ian (idunno) for address: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/privatemsg/new/484

Wednesdays 5:30-8pm
Psycho Donuts
2006 S. Winchester Blvd, Campbell
http://www.psycho-donuts.com/home.html
hosted by Dylan (Vampiryyn)
We can hang out in the store after closing and eat whatever donuts are left over, but we'll be roughing it without tables, so only attend if you'll be comfortable with that arrangement. Space is limited, so RSVP by NaNoMail to Lisa (marcopolo): http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/privatemsg/new/6735

Full noveling ahead!

Your MLs,
Ian (idunno) and Lisa (marcopolo)

idunno, co-ML for California :: South Bay

2009 Novel: The Stephen Hawking Detective Agency

Subject: [NaNoWriMo :: South Bay] word counts and donations and write-ins and more

Wonderful South Bay NaNo novelists,

Okay. We're three days in to NaNoWriMo. At this point, if you've written at least 5000 words, you're on track and doing very well. But any number larger than 0 is good. And if you haven't started writing at all, never fear! We're only three days in. NaNoWriMo participants have begun far later than this date and reached 50k with no problems.

Once you have a word count, it's important to keep it updated on the nanowrimo.org web site. For an explanation of how and why, check out this forum post: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3367279
(In the interest of not making this message a novel in itself, I'm going to provide links to the forum for further details.)

A couple of other NaNoWriMo public service announcements:
Check your account time zone - http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3314535
Back up your novel! - http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3265433

The regional email that went out late October 31/early November 1 got lost in a large backlog of NaNoWriMo email traffic and may not have reached you. If you didn't receive that (or another) message, find it in the regional email archive: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3313157 -- you won't want to miss out on reading Ian's inspirational words about the beginning stages of your novel.

Thanks to everyone who turned out for the Halloween party and the first day write-in. It's great to start November off with so much fun and so many words. We have a full schedule of write-ins planned for every day of the month, and another party on Saturday, November 21 (details to follow).

The write-in schedule is at the end of this message since it didn't make it out to everyone in the previous mailing. Note one change: We are looking for a different venue for Monday nights, so speak up in the forum if you are interested in hosting. You can also find the complete list of write-ins in the forum ( http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3351377 ) or view the schedule as a calendar: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=jfr990q58jkvdc26cr0fi1gubo%40gr...

Now that you've started your novel and discovered just how much fun NaNoWriMo is (we hope!), please consider making a donation to the Office of Letters and Light, the nonprofit that runs the event. NaNoWriMo is free for participants, but it costs a lot more to run than you might expect, so if you can afford a small donation, please make one. This forum post includes links to the Donation Station, the OLL expense budget, and ideas for how to donate when broke, plus information about the Donation Derby contest that we want the South Bay to do well in: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3303062

One more thing before we let you get back to your novels: If you haven't already heard about the Night of Writing Dangerously Write-a-thon fundraising gala happening in San Francisco on November 22, go to this forum post and read all about it: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3277897

And if you haven't gotten the point by now -- visit the South Bay forum! In addition to all the informative stuff covered above, you'll also find fun threads such as "What's Your First Sentence?" and an explanation and discussion of the fine art of killing Cliff Brooks. Come on, you know you want to see what that's all about!
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168

Your South Bay MLs,
Lisa (marcopolo) and Ian (idunno)
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168

Write-in schedule:

Most write-ins are in public places (generally cafes), and you can just show up at the appointed time with your laptop or notepad and look for the group with NaNo signs or t-shirts. Don't forget to buy some food or drink to support the cafes that kindly let us camp out and write for hours!

Sundays 3-6pm (not November 1)
Orchard Valley Coffee
349 E. Campbell Avenue, Campbell
http://www.orchardvalleycoffee.com/
hosted by Lisa (marcopolo) and Ian (idunno)

Mondays 12-4pm
Barefoot Coffee
5237 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara
http://www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com/people/barefoot/barefoot-cafe/
hosted by Lisa (marcopolo) and Steph (skneal)

Monday evenings -- stay tuned, and speak up if you'd like to host somewhere

Tuesdays 9am-12pm
Blossom Hill Barnes & Noble (cafe area)
5353 Almaden Expressway, San Jose (Almaden Plaza)
http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2909
hosted by Steph (skneal)
WARNING: no power outlets available!

Tuesdays 7-9pm
Red Rock Coffee (upstairs room)
201 Castro Street, Mountain View
http://www.redrockcoffee.org/
hosted by Lisa (marcopolo)

Wednesdays 6-7:45pm
BookSmart
80 East 2nd St, Morgan Hill
http://www.mybooksmart.com/
hosted by Meg (coastermeg)

Wednesdays 7-9pm
Prolific Oven Palo Alto
550 Waverley Street, Palo Alto
http://www.prolific-oven.com/
hosted by Shuai (scribblegrl)

Thursdays 12-4pm
Barefoot Coffee
5237 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara
http://www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com/people/barefoot/barefoot-cafe/
hosted by Lisa (marcopolo) and Steph (skneal)

Thursdays 7-10pm
Caffe Trieste (upstairs loft)
315 South 1st St, San Jose
http://www.caffetriestesj.com/
hosted by Diane (mootmom)

Fridays 5-7pm
Nexus Cafe at Stanford Hospital Clark Center
318 Campus Drive, Stanford
http://campus-map.stanford.edu/index.cfm?ID=07-340
hosted by Shuai (scribblegrl)

Fridays 8:30pm-12am
Suju's Coffee (conference room)
3602 Thornton Ave, Fremont
http://www.sujuscoffee.com/
hosted by Melissa (qualroh)

Saturdays 1:30pm-3pm
Printer's Inc Cafe
320 S. California Ave, Palo Alto
http://www.printerscafe.com/
hosted by Shuai (scribblegrl)

A few write-ins have a different structure and require advance RSVPs. See below for details of these special write-ins.

Monday, November 2 + Tuesday, November 17, 5-7pm
East West Bookstore
324 Castro Street, Mountain View
http://www.eastwest.com/
hosted by East West through the Come Write In program (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/bookstores)
RSVP by calling the bookstore at 650-988-9800 to ensure there is a seat available for you

Playdate write-in for NaNos with small children
Wednesdays 10am-12pm
private home in San Jose
RSVP by NaNoMail to Ian (idunno) for address: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/privatemsg/new/484

Wednesdays 5:30-8pm
Psycho Donuts
2006 S. Winchester Blvd, Campbell
http://www.psycho-donuts.com/home.html
hosted by Dylan (Vampiryyn)
We can hang out in the store after closing and eat whatever donuts are left over, but we'll be roughing it (limited counter space, overflow at chairs without tables), so only attend if you'll be comfortable with that arrangement. Space is limited, so RSVP by NaNoMail to Lisa (marcopolo): http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/privatemsg/new/6735

Subject: [NaNoWriMo :: South Bay] Week 2, or National Hitchhiker Week

Welcome, South Bay Nanos, to Week 2. Feeling flush with the success of getting through Week 1? Hang onto that feeling of accomplishment, you may need it to get through Week 2. In an ideal world, your word count should be, as of Saturday night, at least 11,669. And I'm sure you're all there, right? Right. I sure as shooting ain't there yet. But that's okay. Even if your word count is zero, there is still time. Believe me, if you're somewhere between 0 and 11,669, you are NOT alone. (Yes, there are a few noisy novelists out their crowing about being at 15k or more - ignore them. Take satisfaction in knowing they won't be getting invites to the secret after-Nano party.)

If writing your nano novel is a road trip, Week 2 is the week where the road gets bumpy, the Check Engine light starts flashing ominously, the seat warmer stops working, and reality attempts to flag you down from the side of the road. “Stop!” reality's frantic gesticulating seems to be screaming. “The dam is out and the road ahead flooded. You have to stop right now or YOU WILL DIE.”

I hate it when my seat warmer stops working. It gets cold in November, even here in California.

It is important at this time to remind yourself of two salient facts. One, there is no dam up ahead. Doesn't exist, never has. But if that's not enough to get you to point your car directly at reality and gun it, consider this second fact: reality is a murderer. That's right, a stone cold killer of novels. This simpering kill joy wants nothing more than to ruin your book before it reaches the critical mass necessary for self-sustainment (which happens towards the end of Week 3, when you discover your book is practically writing itself – totally worth the effort to get to late Week 3, believe me).

By now most of you have hopefully run reality down and given it a fatal case of road rash. Don't feel bad for this book assassin, this eraser of words. Don't think about the hungry wife and kids it has at home. Reality chose this life path of its own free will and deserves this fate. But if you just aren't writing the type of book that allows for justifiable homicide, that's fine. Leave reality behind, maybe splash it real good with some icy water from that puddle it's standing next to. But above all, DO NOT STOP!

If it helps, think of reality as a serial killer who just escaped from the nearby asylum for the criminally insane. It isn't just your book in jeopardy now. Reality wants you to pull over and roll down your window so it can reach in, throttle you, and then strip your car for parts. To stop now, to extend the road trip metaphor, would be to allow yourself to be killed (not good) and doom your car to sit right here, at your current word count, on blocks and not going anywhere (catastrophic!).

Which brings me to car deodorizers and their natural enemy in the wild, hitchhikers.

I know your mom always told you to never pick up hitchhikers, but on this particular road trip, you must stop and pick up as many as possible. Unless they look like they've just escaped from an asylum for the criminally insane (for example, their legs are in shackles and they're wearing an orange jump suit that says “ASYLUM FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE” on the back). Make them pirouette once before letting them in, and if they're shackle- and “ASYLUM FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE”-free, let 'em in.

Why pick up hitchhikers? Because they are the random ideas that are starting to pop into your head when you least expect it (in the shower, on a walk, while writing that sales report, in the middle of a job interview, while you're studying that empty toilet paper roll and considering using the printout of your novel as a replacement (don't forget to back up your book! Do it now!). These random encounters on the road are what make your novel alive and dynamic. They are your subconscious, reaching out to you and saying, “Psst, hey, buddy, wanna buy a plot twist? I know you think you've got this thing all figured out, but wouldn't it be a good idea to include this in your novel?” Sure, some of these hitchhikers might smell pretty rank, depending on how long they've been on the road. That's why you should have one of those extra strength pine-scented, Christmas tree-shaped deodorizers danging from your rear view mirror. Don't have one? Then roll down the window, crank up the A/C, and listen to what your new passenger has to say anyway.

Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

As you enter Week 2, don't be discouraged, don't listen to those doubts that keep creeping into your psyche. Keep writing, no matter how much you think you hate the words you're creating. Towards the end of Week 3, if you peek back at them, you'll be surprised at how not totally awful and beyond redemption those words are. In fact, you might find some of them quite pleasant company.

The most important thing to remember about Week 2 is that it's the hardest week, and once you reach the end of it, the momentum you've generated will carry you through the rest of the month, making Week 3 a breeze and Week 4 pure joy.

Things to help you get through Week 2:

Come to a local write-in. We just had a very pleasant and cozy one in San Jose at Cafe Trieste on Thursday. Doesn't a pleasant, cozy write-in sound nice right about now? Check the calendar for future write-ins.
http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=jfr990q58jkvdc26cr0fi1gubo%40gr...

Throw a plot ninja or two into your book. Nothing gets the creative juices unstuck like a nearly invisible, edged-blade wielding assassin.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3381996

Check out the fun discussions in the South Bay Regional forums. Coming soon to the forums: details about a raffle with fabulous prizes (well, prizes, anyway). There's a new thread about a SoBaNaNo regional t-shirt. There are even rumors that a SoBaNaNo video will be announced in the very near future. You don't want to miss that, do you? All this and so much more can be found in your lovely regional forum.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168

Happy noveling!

Your MLs,
Ian (idunno) and Lisa (marcopolo)

P.S. Update your word count on the site! (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3367279)

idunno, co-ML for California :: South Bay

2009 Novel: The Stephen Hawking Detective Agency

[NaNoWriMo :: South Bay] Sweden, and the Halfway Party (not in Sweden)

NaNos of the South Bay,

I've been thinking about Sweden. The reason isn't that yesterday I helped a friend pick out furniture from IKEA. It's not because the cafe where I'm sitting is playing ABBA. It isn't even because I'm concerned about my limited and stereotyped cultural references for the great nation of Sweden. No, I have Sweden on my mind because on the word count scoreboard, Sweden is just ahead of the South Bay. For the past few days, we've held steady at position 28, with Sweden just ahead of us. See for yourself:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/wordcount_stats

You know what I think, SoBaNaNos? I think we can take down the great nation of Sweden! We can totally write more words than the Swedes. To make this happen, we need every NaNoWriMo participant in the South Bay to have their home region set correctly to the best region in the world, to write as many words as possible, and to update their word count frequently. For more information:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3367279

Once you're sure that you're doing your part to beat Sweden, turn your attention to the details of some awesome upcoming NaNo events. On Saturday, November 21, take a break from nonstop noveling and hang out with your fellow South Bay NaNos at the Halfway Party! (Okay, November 21 is more than halfway through the month, but "Two-Thirds Party" doesn't roll off the tongue.) Join us at the party to chat, commiserate, snack, relax, and even write if you want to.
During the party, we're going to hold a raffle for fabulous NaNo merchandise and possibly other fun prizes. Tickets will be $1 each, and all the money raised will be donated to the Office of Letters and Light (the nonprofit that runs NaNoWriMo) on behalf of the South Bay. Bring cash (small bills appreciated) if you want to buy raffle tickets. The raffle will probably take place around 5:30. I already have some prizes but am still looking for more, so if you have unused, unwanted NaNo merch from any year or something else to donate that would make a great raffle prize, please contact me.

Steph (skneal), who hosted the Halloween Party/Write-in, is such an awesome SoBaNaNo that she has also offered her house for the Halfway Party. She and her equally generous husband live in South San Jose. If you don't have the address from attending the Halloween Party, you need to reply to this message (or send me NaNoMail) requesting the address.

Please bring a potluck contribution. Any type of food or beverage is fine -- it doesn't have to be homemade or fancy! You are welcome to bring along a non-noveling supporter. There will be writing space for those who wish to write during the event, but giving yourself a day off to socialize is cool, too.

Halfway Party
Saturday, November 21
3:00-7:00pm
Steph's house in South San Jose -- RSVP for address
bring: potluck contribution, optional cash for raffle tickets, optional noveling implements

Visit the forum thread to talk about what food you're planning to bring or to arrange carpools from your area: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3445231

The day after the Halfway Party is the Night of Writing Dangerously fundraising gala, which you can read more about here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3277897

And looking ahead, the Pan-Bay Thank God It's Over Party will be Friday, December 4 in San Francisco. Details: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3442947

Other cool stuff in the forum this week:
* Ian's hilarious video from the Meet and Greet: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3434278
* Information about where to buy a SoBaNaNo t-shirt: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3425901
* Tips for surviving Week 2: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3434186

Write well, SoBaNaNos, and beat Sweden!

Your South Bay MLs,
Lisa (marcopolo) and Ian (idunno)
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168

Subject: [NaNoWriMo :: South Bay] Week 3, or Invest in Trowel Manufacturers!

Greetings, fellow South Bay Nanos. Welcome to Week 3. I'll bet it feels good to have survived Week 2, which for most of us is the toughest week of NaNoWriMo. The good news is, it gets easier now. The bad news is, it gets easier now.

No, that's not a typo. And neither is this:

You are better off being a bit behind right now.

I know. You're wondering, "Who are you, and what have you done to our MLs? You aren't...Swedish, are you?"

No, I'm not. And your MLs are fi-er, I mean, no one has done anything to your MLs. Bork bork bork.

Lets pretend (again) that nano is a road trip.

Week 2 you're stuck behind the wheel of a beat-up, skunky-smelling, engine-shuddering, 2GPM (yes, GPM, not MPG) clunker. Even worse, you've lost your map, don't have OnStar, and that flat tire you just got WAS the spare. Standing in the freezing rain, tire iron in hand, you can't for the life of you figure out WHY you ever embarked on this pointless, idiotic journey.

Week 3 is where it all changes. It begins as you drive through this weirdly glowing tunnel out in the middle of nowhere. When you emerge, the car has magically transformed into an auto-driving, seat-warmer-working-again, V10 Dodge Viper with sweet tunes blaring on a 500W 7.2 surround sound system. Even better, you are flush with confidence and imbued with a renewed sense of purpose. Yes, the car still only gets 2 gallons per mile (it IS a Dodge Viper), but otherwise still awesome, right?

No. Not awesome. In fact, unawesome.

Every year, NaNoWriMo loses hundreds of thousands of writers to Week 3.

How does Nano lose so many writers? It's the age old story of boy meets girl, boy gets girl way too early in the narrative, boy feels lost and doesn't know where the plot should go next so he plays golf on his Wii instead, girl gets angry and shoves a trowel in his back. (Now you know why trowel sales always peak during the third week of November.)

But for just words a day, you can make a difference and avert this tragedy. Yes, just words a day. You can save a writer, give him or her the tools needed to string sentences together, to build a novel. How can you do this? By writing. You can even use your favorite word processor. And when you give words, you'll receive a personalized profile of the writer you are saving: you.

Yes, you.

Week 3 is so much easier than Week 2 that people *JUST LIKE YOU* get complacent and take a morning off from writing, which stretches into the whole day, then days, then weeks. How many times have we overheard the heart-wrenching statement, "Eh, I'll catch up over Thanksgiving," only to never see or hear from that writer again? Too many times to count, my friends, too many times. And every time a South Bay Nano succumbs to this slothful indifference towards their novel, your MLs die a little bit.

We kinda have a stake in that.

It's like falling asleep behind the wheel of that Viper, thinking you're safe because of the auto-drive. But that Viper is just that - a viper. While you're snoozing, it's stopping at Jiffy Lubes for unnecessary oil changes, AAMCO for unnecessary maintenance, drive-ins to catch movies, maybe even picking up hitchhikers in shackles and orange jumpsuits with "ASYLUM FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE" written on the back (We TOLD you to run down Reality last week! We told you!). Yes, it's great the car can drive itself, but as we all know, cars are inherently poor decision makers (except for Saabs). You'll never reach your final destination if you relinquish all control to the auto-drive. You'll end up forgotten, in a ditch, wrapped in the cold embrace of a deployed airbag.

Don't let this happen to you or, more importantly, your MLs! For the love of all you hold sacred, write! Go to write-ins! Start a word war! Adopt a plot ninja! Do what you must to stay in control! Write and don't stop until December!

Now if Week 2 left you floundering a bit, A) you are not alone, b) you're probably too freaked out about catching up for complacency to take hold, and c) good show, how very clever of you, this is EXACTLY where you want to be. But don't get complacent - get writing.

On to less metaphorical news.

Another reminder to check out the forums for important info on:

The Halfway party which requires an RSVP (http://bit.ly/3SVbyg)
Night of Writing Dangerously carpooling (http://bit.ly/4m4nn0)
We have a new word word target, now that we've smoked Sweden (http://bit.ly/4susNx)
Plot Ninjas! (http://bit.ly/Tl6vY)
And so much more, such as the new word war widget in the forum header! (http://bit.ly/4xTmIX)

So see you in the forums, at the write-ins, and represented in our word count totals!

Your MLs,
Ian (idunno) and Lisa (marcopolo)

idunno, co-ML for California :: South Bay

2009 Novel: The Stephen Hawking Detective Agency

Subject: [NaNoWriMo :: South Bay] Halfway Party and more!

Remember, the South Bay Halfway Party is Saturday from 3:00pm to 7:00pm, and you must RSVP in advance to receive the address if you want to attend!

We have some cool NaNo merchandise to raffle off at the party. Tickets will be $1 each (bring small bills), with all the money donated to the Office of Letters and Light (that's NaNoWriMo headquarters) on behalf of the South Bay. We'll hold the raffle around 5:30.

Party details are here:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3445231

Choose Your Own Adventure section:

If you're going to the Night of Writing Dangerously on Sunday and would like to carpool, look here:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3277897

If you *aren't* going to the Night of Writing Dangerously on Sunday and would like to meet up to write during the same time, turn to this forum post: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3457007

In other news:

Check the write-in schedule for information about a new write-in on Friday and Saturday mornings at Sunnyvale Art Gallery and Cafe:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3351377

The Office of Letters and Light has announced that next Tuesday, November 24, they hope to raise $100,000 through online fundraising. So if you haven't donated yet, Tuesday will be the day to do it! Look here for all the details, including the embarrassment that the staff is willing to endure if the goal is met:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3456461

We'll send a reminder on Tuesday that it's time to donate. And yes, we'll be making the donation of the raffle proceeds on Tuesday!

Hope to see you at the Halfway Party on Saturday!

Exclamatorially yours,

Your South Bay MLs,
Lisa (marcopolo) and Ian (idunno)
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168

Subject: [NaNoWriMo : South Bay] Getting Lost on the Road to Writing a Novel

Week 4. The final week. The beginning of the end of the road. Welcome to almost there.

How is your novel coming along? Already hit 50k and just cruising (we hate you)? On track to reach the finish of your road trip at 50k? Or have you reached your final destination, only to discover you're merely at 35k?

If you've reached 50k, relax, enjoy yourself. And tread carefully. We'll be bringing nerf implements of doom with us to the remaining write-ins, and anyone who brags about reaching 50k or more before November 28th is a legitimate target.

If you haven't reached 50k yet, here are a few things to consider during the final week of NaNoWriMo.

Crossing the 50k barrier, especially the first time, is an inspiring moment. Because of the magnitude of the task, of going from 0 to 50,000 in thirty days, there is a visceral sensation when you cross, a moment where you transition from aspiring novelist to novelist. It's a lot like becoming a werewolf, but with only about half as much body hair. Having come this far, don't let anything, especially Week 4, get in the way of reaching that moment.

The Nano road trip is rife with obstacles to lead the aspiring novelist astray. Week 1 is the sheer enormity of the task ahead. Week 2 is the creeping sense that it's a pointless waste of time. Week 3 is resting on your laurels and getting complacent. For most of us who've overcome those obstacles and managed to reach Week 4, the big snag now is inadvertently reaching the final destination before 50k. We hit the natural end of our story arc too early and then think, "Oh crud, now what?" This leaves us worrying and developing ulcers, facial ticks, and excessive flatulence over the course of Week 4.

Most people, including your MLs, don't really care about any of those except the last one. But by stopping the stink, we can also treat your other symptoms.

The key to overcoming this little speed bump (and it is little), is this: Don't worry. If you find yourself at the end of the road too soon, there are plenty of options, or in road trip parlance, detours, available to you to get over that 50k mile marker.

What are some of those options? There are the classics. Flashbacks. Dream sequences. The revelation of deep dark secrets in your main character's past. Killing one hapless C. Brooks. Shopping sprees, described in brain-numbing detail. Discussions about movies, television shows, or books encountered by the characters. Sudden plot twists (a shock to the reader AND the writer) are another way to get around this challenge. Plot ninjas. Have your main character run down an orange-jumper-wearing asylum escapee on a dark, rain-soaked road, and then explore the consequences. You can always delete these words in December if you must.

These are but a mere sampling of the possibilities open to you. You are limited only by your imagination (and the battery life of your laptop battery if you aren't plugged in). Get back in that car, get back on the road, and take a few detours. Go somewhere else, somewhere new, somewhere unexpected. You'll end up in amazing new locales, places you never imagined you'd see, and places you won't see if you just give up at 38k.

And how do you find these detours? Why, by attending write-ins!

Week 4, by strange coincidence, is also the last week to attend a write-in. There are over a thousand South Bay Nanos, and we can say with reasonable certainty, based on good but not THAT good write-in turnout, that not all of you have attended one. We strongly encourage it, not just because of the words you'll write and the friends you'll make, but because of the fantastic luck it will bring you. For example, over the years thirteen nanos have met up with each other at write-ins and ended up married happily ever after. Already happily ever aftered? Four South Bay Nanos discovered they had an identical twin they'd been separated from at birth. Where did they meet? At a write-in. Don't care for twins? Two SoBaNaNos bumped into a long lost child. At a write-in.

You're thinking, sure, that's great, but I'm a happily married, know all about my twins, sterile since birth nano. What could a write-in possibly offer me? For you, that rare individual not moved by the above examples, we have one last incentive. Perhaps you saw the news article last year. The papers didn't mention all the details, but we will. One of our own South Bay Nanos, as she left a write-in, stopped at a convenience store and bought a lottery ticket. You guessed it. She's now one and a quarter million dollars richer (and yet, still no donor halo, tsk tsk)! When they handed her that oversize check, who did she thank? The South Bay Nanos. And our write-ins.

And for the even rarer happily married, know all your twins, sterile, and comfortably well off SoBaNaNos out there, we add one more item for your consideration. Not attending at least one write-in during nano will kill you.

It's true.

Don't believe us? Then you haven't heard the cautionary tale of one Cliff B., who was just outside the cafe, about to attend a write-in, when in a moment of cowardice he changed his mind. He did an about-face, wandered too close to a dark alley, and was promptly mugged AND SHOT. But it gets worse. After losing his wallet and a significant amount of blood, he staggered out into the street where he was struck by a bus. It would have been a mercy if this had killed him, but it didn't. He was on his way to the hospital, in excruciating pain, when the ambulance had a blow out and flipped over. Four times. When he finally got to the hospital, in very bad shape indeed, he discovered he was allergic to pain killers. Bloat up to three times your normal size allergic. Skin isn't meant to stretch that much. Transferred into the care of a specialist in Maryland, he received a transfusion of tainted blood. He died a slow, lingering death, all alone in Maryland, due to Hepatitis C.

But worst of all? Cliff didn't make 50k that year. If only he had attended that write-in....

So if you're worried about getting to 50k this last week, and aren't sure what to do, come to a write-in. We have one every day of the week. Some days, more than one. And when you get there, and collect your espresso or hot chocolate or Italian soda from the barista, hold that drink aloft and say a silent toast to poor old Cliff B. He will be missed.

Oh, and tip your baristas.

Write-in schedule: http://bit.ly/6gfqzk
Plot ninjas: http://bit.ly/8rMEXr
Today's (!!) halfway party: http://bit.ly/3SVbyg

Hope to see you at the halfway party, your MLs,
Ian (idunno) and Lisa (marcopolo)

idunno, co-ML for California :: South Bay

2009 Novel: The Stephen Hawking Detective Agency

Subject: [NaNoWriMo :: South Bay] Donation Day, donate away!

Dearest, most wonderful South Bay NaNos,

Today, Tuesday, November 24, is a very important day in NaNoWriMo history. Today is the day that fabulous NaNoWriMo participants around the world reach deep into their metaphorical pockets and donate $100,000 to the Office of Letters and Light. (Not each, mind you, but in individual donations of $10 or more.) When this incredible fundraising goal is met, there will be much rejoicing. And after the rejoicing, there will be much hilarity, because Chris Baty promises:

"If NaNoWriMo and the Young Writers Program can raise $100,000 in donations through our online Donation Station on Tuesday the 24th, I will write a song about the fundraising drive--tentatively entitled "That Beautiful Tuesday"--and perform it on NaNoVideo with staff musical accompaniment and Lindsey doing an interpretive dance alongside us."

It's hard to think of a better reason to make a donation to the Office of Letters and Light today. But if you need a better reason--perhaps a more practical, less humiliation-driven reason--take a look at this page, which breaks down the OLL's operating expenses and explains how donations are used to keep NaNoWriMo and the Young Writers Program running:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/wheredonationsgo

And if you need still another reason, how about ukelele music to persuade you? An enthusiastic NaNo participant from Georgia has written a song about the donation drive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Q8me8ZwIg

So head on over to the Donation Station ( https://store.lettersandlight.org/ ) to make your donation now. Be sure to enter your NaNo username so that your generosity is reflected in the South Bay total. And make sure you've set the South Bay as your home region! (Details on homing are here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3456948 )

I have just taken the money raised from the halfway party raffle and the donation box, which comes to almost $100, and made a donation that will be credited to the SoBaNaNos. Let's see how much more the South Bay can donate today!

Your South Bay MLs,
Lisa (marcopolo) and Ian (idunno)
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/168