Central Queenslanders!

Hi Greg,
I recognise your name from last year. You're not writing this year?
I'm Kathy from Rockhampton (see intro thread). Wish me luck; I'm hoping I can actually give it a decent go this year.
Cheers!

I was in Blackall in '03, but I don't suppose that really counts, does it?

Shayne Power
2009: Jericho Man (Superhero adventure)
Won in 2008 after less successful attempts in 2006 and 2007

Hi Greg, glad to see you around again.

www.knittedlacedesigns.net
http://Valerie41.etsy.com

Hey Ang! You've become a Nano stalwart :) How's life in Bundy treating you?

Kathy: Welcome back. I'm hoping to see a big turnout from your fellow citizens. Looking forward to tracking your word count. And yes, like one of Pavlovs' drooling dogs I'll be having another crack at the event this year.

Shayne: Mate, I know a limerick about Blackall. Esperance! Boy aren't you lost!! I've been to Freo, but never made it further down the coast of WA. Everyone tells me it's lovely, so I'm kicking myself stupid for missing the opportunity while over there.

Ok gang, time to get back to my plot outline. Unlike other years, I've actually got a plot outline. Should be interesting. Let me know what you're writing about... or, I could just look up your profiles... nah, tell me anyway :)

Cheers,

Greg

Hi Greg,

I’m Shell from Rocky and this is my first NaNo. I’ve got a nasty cold and the baby is sick too so misery has lots of company at my house. I’m just glad it all happened now and not next week as the idea of pounding away on the computer is currently unappealing to say the least.

Hiya Shell and welcome!

A first timer eh? Well, hope you're ready for the rockin', rollicking ride that Nano provides thousands of us each year :)

Some tips you may find useful:

Aim for 2000 words a day.
Don't beat yourself up if you don't make your word count.
No forumming until you've pounded out at least a thousand words (oh yes, I, and others, will be watching your word count!)
And most of all - Have a lot of fun! It's your novel, you can do what you like to the characters, so knock yourself out. Hell, knock some of them out, it's not like they're real people... possibly :O

But the biggest message I've got is: You can do this! Lots of us have done it. We've sworn never to do it again. Then came back and did it again... and again... etc. All you need is persistence, access to coffee, and some spare time...

Hope you and Bub are well by the weekend and that you're all ready and excited to type your first 'First Draft Novel'.

Good for you!

Cheers,

Greg

Hi Greg,

Thanks for the tips and support. Had figured 2000/day was a reasonable aim and the days I’m on fire will cover the days I don’t do so well. Will switch the coffee for tea, though. Fingers crossed Bub and I are all good and that he continues being a great little sleeper. I already have a friend who comes over on Tues to look after him while I write so that should be a good day for me, except for Melbourne Cup.

All going well I’ll be a regular with NaNo and get lots of writing done. If this goes well I’ll sign up for a few other monthly write-a-thons next year and do my outlines and editing in the other months. Love having a deadline to get the fingers flying, as long as the cat doesn’t try to help. He can’t type.

Shell

Okay, the countdown is coming to an end... just a couple of days to go... has everyone packed their plot outlines? Are your computers up to scratch? Did you remember to stock the pantry with at least 5 weeks supply of food?

We're almost at the edge folks, to late to slow down now :)

Greg

Hi Greg. Bundy isn't treating me at all. I have to pay for everything. LOL.

I am glad you have a plot in mind, so have I this year, it might make it easy for me to write.

www.knittedlacedesigns.net
http://Valerie41.etsy.com

Hey everyone!

I'm Xhan from Townsville, a little north I know but I can still hang out with you guys right?

It's nice to look around and see a few new names amongst the old ones. Anyway, I just wanted to say good luck to everyone writing this year and I look forward to watching our word counts skyrocket.

-xhan

Hey all you southerners. I'm from Townsville too and wish everyone success which is pretty easy in this comp. Even if you don't cross the 50k mark you have still succeeded in giving it a go and meeting some fantastic peoples.

Hey, anghard, you moved.

2007 - just over 50k - win

Hi guys,

I'm a Biloela girl, though I'm living in Japan at the moment. Still, it is nice to keep up with what's going on at home. This is my third attempt at NaNo, my first without exam block getting in the way. I just wanted to wish everyone luck before kick-off tonight. May we all come through this with at least part of our sanity intact.

Cheers,
Greenie

I haven't moved Hanesya just visiting old friends, this is the only time I can meet up with them.

www.knittedlacedesigns.net
http://Valerie41.etsy.com

Hey Folks,

Hiya Fellow Queenslanders from the Tropical North, and a big Welcome to Greeny! A Bilo girl in Japan!! Now there's a story dying to be told :)

Okay, just ripped out the first 2k before work, better get my butt outside to 'The Magical Land of Steam, Heat and Dust' that is my factory. With a bit of luck, I'll get some more scribbling done at lunchtime, then tonight after work...

Go Everyone GO!

Cheers,

Greg

Hi Greg, and everyone else,

Pépé, here,from the Magical Land of Steam and Dust - dunno 'bout the heat: the air-con has been pretty kind to me today- Just dropping in to day G'day, and yes, working from work is possible! isn't that a fantastic thing! I started a day earlier (hence my exciting score of 6000+ so far) because I did not believe that I could fit writing in my 12H shift, but I did! Hope it can go on.

Good luck to all.

Pépé

Hi from Gin Gin! First Nano for me ... Day 3 and up to 10,000 - hoping to keep up the pace. At the moment I'm afraid I'll run out plot!

Happy writing everyone....

Delion. :)

Delion Welcome! Not only is this your first Nano, but I'm pretty sure you're the first Gin Gin participant in the event... Go You! Top stuff with your word count as well. If you've made it this far, you can make it the rest of the way. Starting is the hardest part... well, that and ignoring all the work you should be doing around the house :)

Everyone else, I'm seeing some great word counts already at this early stage (not as many as Delion's, but not too far off it!).

Ok, get scribbling, keep hacking away at those keyboards!

Cheers,

Greg

Finished Chapter 1! Hoping to finish Chapter 2 by tonight (will get a few hundred words during lunch hour at work, then ANOTHER late night).
This is insane! There is NO WAY I can keep doing this for a month. AAAaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

Ok, the initial rush of blood to the head... or fingers, is over, and the grind has begun. Our opening chapters have been written, and we are now plugging away as the subplots, counterplots, and underlying themes come to life and our characters develop. For those of you who have made it this far, Congratulations! You are well on your way to Novelling History...

Now, about those word counts... the Townsvillians are giving us a bit of a kicking at the moment, so it's time to take off the gloves (because it's too hard to type with them on), and give them a bit of a run for their money :) Can we do it! Hell Yes! With a bit less sleep, no tv, and some good quality coffee, it will be a breeze!

And remember to have fun while you work. For some of you this years event is a first, and as such, you will struggle, procrastinate, and fume as your plot unravels in ways you didn't expect or see coming. On the bright side, you will discover that you have some amazing abilities as your plot unravels in ways you didn't expect or see coming! You will write stuff that will amaze you later when you read, and honest to God there will be moments when you'll experience the exhilerating joy of seeing just how amazing your ideas look on paper (well, a monitor...). All this awaits you as your novel unfolds. I promise.

All you have to do is: Keep Going!

Cheers,

Greg

Have a good visit there, angarhad.

Wow you guys are rocking. How great does it feel to meet and get to know your characters? Pretty good, huh?

2007 - just over 50k - win

Okay, I'm finally on the board and it's not looking too shabby. Have decided to aim for 3000/day Mon to Fri. Hubby and Bubby take up the weekends and I didn't even look at the computer on Sunday. I felt so guilty but am back on track now. Did a double dose today to make up for skipping out for Melbourne Cup fun yesterday.
Hopefully the words will continue to flow and I don't run out of story. If that happens I'll just have to start another one and lucky me I have a few to chose from.

Shell

Folks,

I am impressed! You lot rock! We mightn't get any rain in our part of the world, but we are able to hail down a torrent of words when the pressure is on. Go Gang!

Ok, I've been on the Townsville forum, and they're ploughing on as well... in spite of my threats! Let's keep up the great work and keep hammering out those words. Feel free to pop over to their forum and say "G'day" to your fellow Qld'ers, they're a pretty good bunch, some of them are keeping an eye on us as well... which is a good thing right?

Hope you Nano first timers are enjoying the ride, and that so far you've surprised yourselves with some great writing.

Cheers,

Greg

Gday everyone! How goes the writing?

From what I can see, everyone's word counts are looking pretty darn good. Us Townsvillians aren't doing too bad either!

Speaking of which, if I recall there's a few people from the Townsville area on this thread. Hanesya and I were looking into meeting up sometime in the coming weeks, likely somewhere between the 14th and 23rd. If anyone (whether from Townsville or anywhere else...) is interested, let me know and we'll try to sort something out.

Wishing everyone well,

Xhan.

Shane, Shell and Delion, your pace is awesome! Good onyas : )

Hans, and Pepe hope all is well with your masterpieces, and that you're plugging merrily away.

This has been one hell of a weekend folks. Painted two rooms, and unloaded 15 cubic metres of mulch for a neighbour... my back is stuffed, and I feel like I've been dragged behind a car for 50 k's. On the bright side, I get to go back to work tomorrow... at least I have smoko breaks there!

Anyway, Wk 1 is over, and Wk 2 is upon us. The introductions are over, our characters have been described, their challenges set, and the bad guys are doing there best to wreak havoc on our hapless heroes. By now you should have found your 'voice' / narrative / etc., and are hammering away at your keyboard in order to capture all the little details that crop up in your characters day to day life.

On the downside.... at this stage we've lost some of our earlier writing companions. 'Stuff' happens. Work, family or other commitments have demanded their time, or perhaps they've discovered after the initial rush that novelling just isn't their Thing. Some will be back next year with renewed determination, and others may never be back. This is the way things work.

But for those of you who remain.... I Salute You! Write on!

Cheers,

Greg

Hiya guys

Back again ^.^ From Gladstone, so hi Greg all the best with your novel ^.~

I'm getting there with mine, relieved to have a plot I like this time around. Just having to fit it around work is a bit of a pain.

And with that keep writing people. You can do it! Remember not to be going back and editing your work over and over again. You'll fall into a hole that way. No draft is perfect. ^.^ (thats the after phase)

All the best!

Gold

Hey Gold Welcome Back!

Actually, you were on my Buddy list from last year, and I've been watching in amazement as your word count soared :) Funny thing about that is Ang's word count on my buddy list is still at zero, but on the forum it is slightly higher.

Glad you're enjoying this years plot. Makes life a lot easier doesn't it? Once that rough outline is in your head, it's just a matter of filling up all the white space in between the lines. Am I making sense here?

Ok, better get typing. I've broken Rule #1 - no forumming until the required word count is reached!

Cheers,

Greg

Ok, for the first time since we've started I've managed to get my nose in front of you Delion! I don't expect this situation to last very long though!

Alrighty, let's hear how everyone is going, hope that you're still enjoying the thrill of creating.

In other news... so much for my outline. I've deviated from the original plot I'd spent the last few weeks I'd been planning in my head. Not that I'm unhappy, my characters have a better sense of plot direction than I do! Lucky for me eh?

Cheers,

Greg

I am still here Greg and my word count is going up slowly. Had a bit of trouble when the PC broke down and I couldn't write for two days but but I shall catch up. Maybe you will beat me this year.

www.knittedlacedesigns.net
http://Valerie41.etsy.com

Hi Greg,

I'm powering along and I'm up to story number 2. Was surprised to find I had finished my Dad's story in 14000 words. I was working on memories and had no idea how long ti would be when I started it. I then had to figure out what to write next so I am now writing a children's story I had recently got the idea for. It is for my Godchildren. When I finish that I'll be going onto a novella I have an outline for.

So three stories for me this month. Next time I'll try one story to write.

Shell

Shell, that's a first for me... 3 stories in one month... not a bad idea though. It's good to get those 'projects' out of your head and down on paper... well, hard disc, so you can spend the next year fiddling with them. What's the topic for your Novella?

Ang: On my Buddies list your word count is 0, but here on the forum it's definitely where it should be (although, much further behind at this point than where you usually are!) I think it may be related to the glitch that has seen my Donation Halo go Missing In Action. A team of crack Halo Finders are on the case though. I hope. Anyway, of all the months for your computer to play up!! Glad to see you're back.

Delion, Pepe, Xhan, Hans, (and anyone else I have inadvertantly forgotten... hey give me a break, I'm still groggy from nightshift!), keep up the good work folks, about now you may be feeling the early arrival of the Week 3 blues. That's where we help. Log on, tell us where you're at, what ails you, and we'll tell you to Harden Up And Keep Writing. It's all part of the service!

Ok, better get some sleep, one more nightshift of fun in the land of dust, steam, heat and noise!

Cheers,

Greg