Let's get the introductions started.
My name is Britt and I'm functioning as ML this year. I've done NaNo the past two years, my main downfall has been not bragging widely enough about what I'm doing. I hope to set up some meeting times and write-ins and everything like that but it's all still in the planning phase.
So, let's have names (or not), your history with NaNo, anything else you'd like to add and what days/times are free (or not too busy) for you. I can't promise to accomodate everyone's schedule but I'm going to try.
Since it's too early for noveling, I'll just say happy outlining and good luck!
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0 / 50,000
sept. 28, 2008 - 15 31
Hi! I'm Anna. I'm 15. This is my first year doing this! I'm super excited, however, cautious because I have the tendency to be neurotic about whatever I write. I like to edit. I mean I even self-edit what I say, which tends to lead to weird things like this random non-sensical tangent I'm on right now. Sorry.
So, wise sage, what advice do you have for me?
7,666 / 50,000
sept. 28, 2008 - 23 24
So, wise sage, what advice do you have for me?
To anyone who is neurotic and/or likes to edit, my advice is to give NaNo a shot. Since you've already taken that first step, I say:
1. You should talk about what you're going to be doing to pretty much everyone who will listen. If someone says "How's it going?" you should reply "I'm writing a novel in a month." That way, Fear Of Failure will start to out-rank Fear Of Sucking. Letting go of your Fear Of Sucking is crucial, and I cannot stress this enough.
2. Go to some write-ins if there are any in your area, so long as you and your parents are okay with you meeting some of "the interweb people" IRL. Parents are encouraged to tag along (so they can see that we're not the bad kind of crazy).
3. Also try to pick up a copy of No Plot? No Problem! by NaNoWriMo's illustrious founder Chris Baty. It's part instruction manual, part self-help writing guide, part biography of this brilliant/insane creative movement.
Feel free to NaNoMail me if you have any other questions, or if I didn't answer this one enough. =)
EDIT: 4. For the love of god, stay away from the forums in November. This is a huge part of what has killed me every year. If you haven't met your daily word count, don't even log in unless you want to face a really late night that finally ends with a thought that goes something like "Why am I still reading this thread? Why am I posting in this thread? My novel has nothing to do with zombie picnics!"
9,768 / 50,000
sept. 29, 2008 - 16 45
As another first-time writer on this thread, I sincerely thank you for that advice.
I'm Sarah, aged 15 as well. I'm nervous and neurotic (much like Anna) but I'm incredibly excited for this November.
I signed up last year, but had to drop out due to a science fair project. This time around, it's just a matter of self-motivation and that pesky problem of plot.
52,579 / 50,000
oct. 2, 2008 - 17 05
Hi! I'm Satoshi and I'm really excited about this again! I've never quite finished my stories, but this is the perfect time to get rid of that habit, right? Anyways, I don't always have a lot of free time due to homework, but I try my best. I am absolutely not even going to start thinking about anything about NaNoWriMo until November 1st after school! Definitely going to be totally into spirit! This will be the journey of a lifetime!
7,666 / 50,000
oct. 2, 2008 - 18 44
That is writing. =)
If you need any help, feel free to NaNoMail me (that goes for everyone).
I really hope so. That's why I'm doing it.
How about a pre-noveling party/meet-up/planning session? Anybody interested?
18,637 / 50,000
oct. 2, 2008 - 19 19
I think the database failure killed my other post. Either that or I'm really blind. So if this ends up being posted twice I'm really sorry.
Anyway, my name's Alicia and I'm a student at Purdue. This is my first time noveling in the West Lafayette area, but my fourth time doing Nano overall. I'm hoping I'll be able to keep up my winning streak on top of studying and research, so *fingers crossed*. Part of my most enjoyable Nano experiences have been meeting up with other local Nano-ers and doing write ins, so hopefully we'll have an active group.
Nice to meet you all!
7,666 / 50,000
oct. 2, 2008 - 19 30
As far as I understand it, everything that happened on September 30 was lost.
I'm working on it. =)
0 / 50,000
oct. 3, 2008 - 05 59
Hello, My name is Lynne and I'm a chemical engineering student at Purdue university. This will be my second year but my first time doing this while in college. I won't say that I am an amazing writer but I do like to do things that are completely and totally unrelated to anything engineering. Thats why I'm one of the normal ones, hehe. I've never participated much with the region but I think I would like to change that this year.
7,666 / 50,000
oct. 3, 2008 - 19 29
Me too. Maybe I'm just more of an extrovert than I like to admit, but I always found the social componant of NaNo really appealing (note my EPIC FAILs the past two years, due in part to a caffeine-induced insomnia and forum addiction combo) and the IRL version didn't seem to be as well-planned or regularly attended as it could have been (also note my compulsion to organize things).
Welcome, and I hope you can join us at some of the write-ins.
24,969 / 50,000
oct. 4, 2008 - 15 05
Hello. My name is Alex. I just moved to this area. I attempted NaNoWriMo a couple of years ago, and between my job and my schoolwork (jr. in college at the time), couldn't make it.
I've graduated, so I'm going to try again this year. I don't know how much I'll be able to do with the people in this area, however, because I'm trying really hard to get employment, and I have no idea what hours I'm going to have.
50,012 / 50,000
oct. 4, 2008 - 20 42
Jenny here, this is my 5th NaNo (previous 4 all completed successfully, I figure I'm over the hump by now).
Purdue alumna '99. BOILER UP!
0 / 50,000
oct. 5, 2008 - 05 50
Hi. My name is Keely and this is my second year doing this. I didn't finish last year, but I got far enough that I know I can do this. I'm a junior Biology major at Purdue. I've never been to any NaNo events before and I'm looking forward to that for this year.
50,057 / 50,000
oct. 5, 2008 - 17 51
*waves* My RL name is Rachael, depending on who you ask. I have more nicknames than I do notebooks, I think... Okay maybe it's tied... Anyway, I live on the Eastern edge of Lafayette (moved from Attica last winter) and attend Ivy Tech. I also work something around 30 hours a week in the cafe there.
This is my fifth year of NaNo, and I'm going for my fifth win. Every year I've increased my word count goal with last year being a double NaNo, but since I'm going to school full time and working 3/4 time, I figured I should drop back down to the standard 50,000. I'm pumped about NaNo this year - no ideas yet, but I'll come up with something.
If you need any help with anything, Britt, just let me know :-)
I'm not too busy most Monday and Tuesday nights, and sometimes Thursday... Friday nights are hit and miss. I'll be gone the first two weekends of November, but after that I'll be in town. Sunday afternoons/evenings are generally free as well. Hopefully I can go to some write-ins this year!
50,308 / 50,000
oct. 5, 2008 - 19 02
Hey guys!
My name is Nina, I'm 25 years old, and I live in Seattle, but I dropped by to say hi over here. I graduated from Purdue (computer science) in 2004 and I attempted Nano twice while I was in school. The rest of my family still lives in W. Lafayette, so it's my home in a way... but my word count goes to Seattle so we can keep that #1 word count spot. :) Good luck, everyone!
g.c.k.
0 / 50,000
oct. 6, 2008 - 11 06
Hey everybody. I'm Doug. I'm a junior at Purdue in Computer & Info. Tech., and this is my first NaNo. I'm really looking forward to it, and I've got tons of ideas bouncing in my head. Problem's gonna be getting those ideas narrowed down. I'll happily attend any of the events you set up if I'm in the area.
7,666 / 50,000
oct. 6, 2008 - 16 29
It's cool. I'm trying to plan something really good for the TGIO party, so try to make that one if you can, but nothing's officially set up yet.
You have much to teach me. =)
Me too!
If the times/meetings/etc I end up with don't work for anyone, feel free to set things up yourselves and post the dates/times in the Meeting thread.
Great. Sounds like a Planning Meeting is exactly what you need.
13,565 / 50,000
oct. 9, 2008 - 11 37
Here there everyone - Purdue Alumnus checking in to wish everyone good luck.
I graduated in May with a degree in Creative Writing - unfortunately said degree is powerless to actually get me published, keep me focused, or help me in any way this November (actually, knowing MORE about writing just makes me more picky about what I write).
Also, in case people are interested, I worked at the Exponent the last two years and I still keep in touch with some of the editors over there. If some Purdue students were interested in being featured in the paper, I could probably send along some of your contact info to the features desk and I'm sure they would be willing to draft out a story about NaNoWriMo and about Purdue's writers. Just let me know and I'm sure I can point some of the staff in this direction.
And best of all, good luck in November!
0 / 50,000
oct. 11, 2008 - 01 03
Hi, my name is Katie. I'm 21, a single mother of a 17 month old daughter named Kennedy, and a student of Kaplan Online college.
There's no other post that seems to be close to my locale. I'm in Kokomo.
This is my first NaNo. I typically don't have time to write, but this intrigued me. So here I am.
50,067 / 50,000
oct. 11, 2008 - 06 24
Hey I'm Mizu and I'm with Satoshi up there. She lives down the street by two doors and we will be doing along with more neighborhood friends and maybe my younger sister. I don't think that I'll be allowed to come to any of the write-ins, but Satoshi, other friends, and I are already planning our own set of get-togethers that revolve around crazy continuous writing with LOTS of caffeine. Satoshi is the only one of our group that has attempted it before, but she hasn't won yet, so hopefully we'll all be able to push each other towards completion.
We live in southern Lafayette and our group contains two juniors in high school, two sophomores in high school, and a middle schooler.
55,131 / 50,000
oct. 11, 2008 - 16 51
Hi, Illustria/Inez here, grad student at Purdue:) This is my 5th NaNo year, and I'm going to blast into it while doing my dissertation proposal. HAHAHA! Now if only NaNo could be my dissertation.
Anyway, are we up for a meeting? Was about to suggest Greyhouse on State St.
7,666 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 16 40
You might try making a Kokomo call-out thread. I remeber seeing one in years past so you're probably just the first one here. =)
I can totally respect that (especially the caffeine worship), good luck and happy NaNo-ing. Make sure to make some occasional posts in this forum, I'd love to know how all of you are doing at this.
Can't help you there but some fans of the Shameless Padding Approach will tell you that a dissertation can be part of a NaNoNovel. =P
55,131 / 50,000
oct. 14, 2008 - 21 11
Hehe - I'm actually quite wordy. But I was wondering if I could kill two birds with one stone and get the PhD while doing NaNo. ha! that would be fun! the 1-month dissertation!
I hope we have more members coming in!
7,666 / 50,000
oct. 15, 2008 - 19 10
NaDisWriMo? o_O
50,009 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2008 - 11 56
Hello, I moved out of the area the year before NaNo started so I'm just here for nostalgia/rabble rousing.
I went to Purdue and find it insulting that Bloomington gets it's own area and the Boilers are stuck in "Elsewhere." Discrimination, I say! (but with a snicker and no real outrage, just stating a fun fact)
I'm a pilgrim in an unholy land and wish whole heartedly I could join you in your novelling, but alas I'm stuck down south. Good luck to you all! Happy NaNo-ing!
55,131 / 50,000
oct. 19, 2008 - 19 44
NaDisWriMo? o_O
HAHAHAHA!!!
Oh wow - we'd be graduating hundreds of thousand of PhD's if that happened! Coolness!
waaaahhhh - still have no real plot!
Visit the Literary Gallery at http://illustria.thefreebizhost.com
Need anything multimedia? Contact Arielle Cruz through http://www.abcruz.com
Need NaNoWriMo exercises? Go to http://writeyournovelnow.blogspot.com
23,168 / 50,000
oct. 23, 2008 - 11 07
Purdue student here. Was hoping to find other Purdue students. Been a little sad not having anyone else to share my passion with. Was wondering if anyone from Purdue would like to have a small meet up before we start. :D
By the way, first year here, so I might get a little lost if you mention some places that I haven't heard of yet. :P
18,637 / 50,000
oct. 23, 2008 - 16 58
By the way, first year here, so I might get a little lost if you mention some places that I haven't heard of yet. :P
Quite a few of us from Purdue here I think. Maybe four...I dunno, too lazy to go back and count.
23,168 / 50,000
oct. 23, 2008 - 19 25
I wanna meet Purdue writers!!! Where I come from, I'm the only writer around, and it gets lonely. :P Was hoping to make writer friends when I got to the states, but I haven't seen any around so far.
50,019 / 50,000
oct. 23, 2008 - 20 08
I have lived in great West Lafayette since Kindergarten, and I am now attending Purdue. I am in my second year with an English Education Major and hopefully double minoring in Creative Writing and Theatre. This is my first NaNoWriMo and I can not tell you how excited I am, though the excitement could also be a very terrified gremlin creeping in the dark crevices of my mind. Anyways it is nice to see so many people from Purdue participating, I am not used to others having the same interests as mine. I hope to attend the write-ins, since this is my first and all, and hopefully learn more about what to expect and how to succeed with my novel. Name's Ashley by the way if you couldn't tell from my alias.
7,666 / 50,000
oct. 23, 2008 - 20 14
LOL. I moved here two years ago and I have yet to make any writer friends.
The closest I got was a Romance Writing Group that put up a flyer where I work. I emailed them and asked if everyone in the group wrote exclusively romance, because I don't write romance. They replied that they mostly write historical and contemporary romance but if I wanted to write "something really out there, like erotica" that would probably be okay. I never emailed them back. =(
I know exactly what you mean.