Hi everyone! Happy NaNo 2008. I'm looking forward to another fun year of frenzied writing, miscellaneous creativity, and fantastic camaraderie, and I hope you are too. I thought I'd start an introduction thread to get the ball rolling here. Because, you know, you can be totally defined by your name, age, occupation, and favorite color. Or not. Please feel free to introduce yourself here!
My name is Josh, and this will be my third NaNo (I won in 2006 and 2007 - while I hit 50K last year, I never really "finished" my story, alas). I'm currently a fourth-year graduate student at Notre Dame, living in Mishawaka. I like to play board games and video games and watch movies and television, when I'm not reading or writing academically or reading or writing for fun. I can't decide what I want to write this year, because I alternate between two entirely different ideas, but once November 1st hits, I'll be writing something...! So it will either be some supernatural-ish story or else some sort of mainstream fiction.
Best wishes to everyone!
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18,314 / 50,000
oct. 2, 2008 - 16 25
Hey gang! This is Michael. I was a 2006 regular, but had to bail last year because of grad school--I was in the MA English program at IUSB. I'm not taking classes this year, but I teach two sections of Intro to Theatre. My goal for this year is to develop a handful of short story ideas into a somewhat meaningful 50K. Read my master plan in my profile and all that stuff. I want to build up a repertoire of things I can send out, etc.
Hope to make it to at least a few things this year around. Happy October and Happy Planning....
82,151 / 50,000
oct. 2, 2008 - 17 26
My name's Barbara, and last year I finished my novel, but I didn't declare myself a 'winner' because parts of it had been written beforehand and it felt a little like cheating. I also started late. I'm hoping to do better this year as I work on writing the sequel to the novel I finished last year, which I'm currently trying to rewrite now in between moving to a new apartment and spending time with my husband and 2-month-old baby boy. I work at the South Bend Tribune as a copy editor -- which means I spend a lot of time proof-reading stories and writing headlines. In my spare time I adore watching movies and reading, although there hasn't been as much time for either as I would like. I'm also terribly addicted to medical dramas on TV, the show 'Life,' and memorizing the names of actors and actresses that most other people don't know or recognize. And I'm eagerly awaiting 'Fable 2' for XBox 360, which comes out the day after 'Mistborn 3.'
As for my novels, they are set in a fantasy world where magic is forbidden and science is the new magic, where an evil Empress rules over all and one girl has the power to change her world forever. I couldn't make it to any of the events last year, but I hope to change that this year. Good luck everyone!
0 / 50,000
oct. 6, 2008 - 15 57
-.- I love it when I type up nice long comments and then the internet browser decides to glitch and delete it all. Truly, those are my favorite occurrences in the whole wide world.
Anyway... howdy! ... take two.
I'm a freshman at ND, majoring in CHEG and possibly minoring in Japanese. We'll see if I ever actually can get /into/ a Japanese language course. That is, after all, necessary to the degree. I participated in NaNo in 2005 & 2006, although I didn't finish either year. 2005 I contracted some illness that put me out of commission and left me behind in my writing, and I never caught up. And in 2006 my computer died during the 3rd week of NaNo. Fun times. Last year there was just too much else to do in November, but this year! This year I'm gonna make it! (I hope).
My story is going to be either on grim reapers or a chronicle of the life of one roleplay character of mine. He's a ninja-necromancer. ;)
I hate writing essays with a passion, but I enjoy writing creatively on my own, and I love grammar. English and I would get on quite well if only it were possible to get an English degree without doing any sort of literary analysis or essays - simply writing stories and learning all those obscure, strange little bits of grammar, like the English subjunctive.
Outside of writing, I play a lot of video games, read things that interest me, engage in text-based roleplaying (which is really... writing, I guess. xD But it's not novel writing), do ballroom dance and will soon be learning how to play the bagpipes. I also collect dragons and dragon-related items and have an unhealthy interest in weaponry. ... any my favorite color is green, closely followed by purple.
There: I am defined for you. ^__^
(Oh, and I would also eagerly look forward to Fable 2 (because face it: Fable was amazing), except that I have no Xbox 360 and have no intentions of ever getting one - perhaps they'll put it out for PC eventually...?)
87,500 / 50,000
oct. 6, 2008 - 17 34
Hey! My name's Sarah, and this is my second Novel Writing Month (I did January). I don't really live in South Bend, or go to Notre Dame, but this is the closest region I had. I'm a big ND fan, anyways. I like to write (shock, I know), read, paint, play piano, and sing. I'm writing mainstream fiction or horror this year. I'm debating.
BTW, my mom works at ND, so if any of you are first year law students, let me know your teachers. Good luck everyone!
50,194 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2008 - 09 12
I'm Amanda and this will be my fourth year of NaNo chaos. I don't go to ND but have found this forum one of the most active for the Elkhart area and have met some great people through here, both students and non-students alike. I actually graduated from Ball State with a degree in creative writing and photo journalism. I'm currently a freelance writer for Flagship publications (run out of the SB Tribune) and I work in the financial office of a psychiatric facility during the day to bring home food and pay those silly things called bills. So if and when you have a nervous breakdown due to NaNo stress, call me; I can get you a kick-ass discount on therapy sessions. :)
I'm really excited to do NaNo this year; do I know what I'm writing? Not really. But there's just something about having NaNo kicking off on a Saturday and having five full weekends for writing brilliance that makes this years possibilities seem infinitely open.
Happy outlining/planning/brainstorming/panicking!
50,341 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2008 - 16 54
Hi, fellow crazy writers. I am Nicole and can't wait to get the frenzy going again. And that's not just talking about the copious coffee consumption. Caffeine... No wait, it's about the amount of words written. November is not National Copious Coffee Consumption Month, though really, it should be that too. Anyway, I come from Elkhart and this will be my 5th time doing Nanowrimo. I can honestly say that getting together at the meet-ups makes this whole thing way more fun. During the day, I sit at a desk, in front of a computer, and do nothing creative. During the evenings, I like to sit at a desk, in front of a computer, and write stories.
This year's novel will be based off the "30 Days of Death" concept. from last year. In which I kill my main character every day. No worries, she lives in the end. Maybe. Basically a Hollywood socialite (think Paris Hilton with a hidden heart of gold) gets hit with a really nasty curse. I look forward to seeing if anyone else takes up the 30 Days of Death idea and running with it. There is so much one can do with it.
Look forward to the meet-ups and seeing new people!
60,001 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2008 - 20 37
Too crazy! My NaNovel will probably be about grim reapers too. Last year at a NaNo gathering we were just talking random ideas and somehow "Thirty Days of Death" popped up and so I think some of us are seriously considering it this year. I've been developing the "rules" for my reapers and hoping I can squeeze a good story out of it. We'll see.
Crazier still, I'm studying chemical engineering. Weird.
60,001 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2008 - 20 40
Cool! The "Notre Dame" region certainly hosts a number of people from all over, up into Michigan (Niles, Dowagiac, etc), over to the east a bit (Goshen, Elkhart) and elsewhere... basically whoever's willing to meet up nearby. This region isn't Notre Dame exclusive by any means - but it's an awesome way to connect to some of the coolest writers in the area. :-)
1,012 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2008 - 21 59
Hello all! My name is Bob. This'll be my first NaNo--I've known about it for a few years but have always been too busy to commit the time. Just moved to South Bend, single, don't know anybody in town, so I figure the stars will never be better aligned for an intense 30-day writing binge than they are this year. My only concern is that I spend most of my days writing non-fiction (I'm a law clerk for a federal judge), so I'm a little worried about burning out. But I'm hoping we can get a good little community together to help motivate each other when we hit a wall.
My story this year will be a satirical take on post-apocalyptic fiction. I'm shooting for Buffy / Hitchhiker's Guide meets The Postman / Earth Abides.
I look forward to meeting you all--I'm pretty psyched to finally be doing this!
0 / 50,000
oct. 8, 2008 - 13 05
-whistles- Nice!
Josh: maybe you and I are twins separated by several years? The 'Thirty Days of Death' sounds interesting and is... actually along the lines of what I was going to write. ... that really is crazy. xD
75,390 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 05 44
Woo-hoo! I go by various names, though on the internet I usually just stick with "Jade," so that will work fine. I'm a junior at ND this year, studying English and Philosophy, but sadly I will be unable to come to any of the meetups because this fall semester I am in FRANCE, studying French-type things that I may or may not actually care about. I did my first NaNo in 2006 (and kicked its butt), but sadly last year I came down with a nasty, nasty flu/cold type thing during the third week and was unable to summon the energy to write an email, let alone finish my novel.
But! Seeing as I have a ton of free time on my hands over here, and I don't have internet at home, I'm fully confident in my ability to kick NaNo butt again this year. This year I'm doing fantasy (again) with a mix of political intruige (again). And I might throw in some Cinderella retelling, just for kicks. I'm a pretty typical fangirl, and...this will be my third major writing project of the year! Fun times!
11,227 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 14 37
Hey fellow crazy writers. I am Don and I have been doing Nano since 2006. I finished that year but did not the next. I was on a great pace and then lost interest in the story completely after about 35K words. I definitely am the farthest away for the ND region in that I now live in Arkansas. The friendships I made at the ND Nano were great and I kept this as one of my home areas in order to keep in contact. I also am involved in the Eureka Springs, Arkansas zone. There are about 6 of us but only 3-4 of us came to the meetings. LOL
I am doing a mini Nano for October with a 25K goal in preparation. I have been averaging almost 1000 words a day so I am well ahead of that goal but not at Nano speed yet.
I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do this year since I am working on 2 novels and a bunch of short stories already. Another novel seems ridiculous at this point. Oh well.
In terms of my writing, I got paid finally! As an update from last year, I recently got 2nd place at the Arkansas Writer's Conference in June and have a nifty check (which has not been cashed) and a certificate on my wall which I have framed. I am also involed in the local Poetluck dinner which takes place at a writing colony. We get together once a month, eat dinner and then, if you want, you may read up to three minutes of your work to the group. We usually have a published author staying at the colony as a guest speaker.
Other than writing and reading, I love movies and I am addicted to a website for super movie geeks. It is basically Fantasy Football but we pick which movies will perform the best. It has become and addiction. I have also been married for almost a year (on Monday) and living in Arkansas for 20 months now.
60,001 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 05 00
Good to hear from you, Don! In the coming years, I know a few more of us will have moved away from the "Notre Dame" area, graduating, finding a job, for whatever other reasons. But I think I'll have to keep up with this forum every NaNo whether I'm here or not!
Congratulations on getting paid for your writing! That's really cool. Sounds like you're really keeping busy and that writing is a good part of life aside from every November. I mean, I guess I write outside of November, but largely for academics. So, basically, I'm jealous. Heh.
60,001 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 05 03
Hi, Bob! Doing NaNo is a nice way to meet others in the area - I've made some really good friends through these forums. Not to be totally sappy, but it was literally life-changing for me.
I was in the middle of finishing coursework and writing my first paper for academic publication in my first NaNo and sort of worried about burnout, too. But NaNo is so much more than just writing, that whole act of creating and not editing and sharing the experience with other local writers... it's way more fun than it is a chore. At least that's how it's been for me!
Looking forward to meeting you at one of our get-togethers!
50,194 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 08 21
But you'll be here. You're not moving away. And Don will be moving back. In accordance to the prophecy... that I just made up. :)
50,170 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 11 03
Eep. I forgot these boards went live a week or two ago! Oops!
Anyway. My name is Aubrey, I'm 27 and have done Nanowrimo every year since 2002. I've only won in 2003 and 2006; I'm hoping I hit 50k this y ear! I work as a web designer for Woodwind and Brasswind in South Bend and I also like to knit, do origami, bake cookies, doodle, and talk peoples' ears off. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to write this year, and I hope I think of something good!
7,071 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 16 00
Hello all!
I don't know if some of you remember me or not from last year... but I'm Kiely, the girl who had really really really long hair.
I changed my username because... well, the old one was super unoriginal.
If people are doing the Barnes-and-Noble meetings like last year I would -love you forever- if anyone could give me rides - Katherine is not here this semester!
defining characteristics: I love European symphonic metal, Fantasy, Steampunk/Clockpunk, Anime/Manga, cosplay, drawing, candy, and tea. I'm 19 but I'll be 20 on Nov. 16. I'm an English and Japanese major. My favorite color is purple!
As for my story, I'm basically continuing the one I started last year. Of course, I'm not counting any of what I wrote last year towards my word count, so technically it's not cheating.
75,390 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 08 43
Kiely! I feel like we are not Facebook friends, but we should be.
Katherine is in Dublin! I should remind her about NaNo. Since we're practically in the same time zone and everything...
75,390 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 08 44
Don! It's good to hear from you! Congratulations on getting published...and getting married...and all that good stuff. :-)
50,029 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 10 42
Hey, folks. My name is Gabe Bradley and this is my third year doing NaNo in the more-than-just-Notre-Dame region. I am a third-year law student and a newly commissioned Naval officer. This year I plan to write the murder mystery that I wanted to write last year before my novel went off the rails and became a romance. Taking part in NaNo is probably the best decision I've made since moving to South Bend so I'm excited that it's almost November. It was good seeing everybody again last night — especially Michael, who had vanished for more than a year. I'm looking forward to the next meet-up and to another great month of noveling.
(And if Tomas is too busy and important to give people rides this year, I'm more than willing to do so.)
11,227 / 50,000
oct. 14, 2008 - 09 08
Wow it is good to hear from everybody from the old gang. LOL Glad to see that most of you are still going strong. Interestingly enough I have a novel started that slightly resembles the 30 days of death except that my character keeps attempting suicide and failing. Hilarious (to me at least and hopefully to a publisher).
Thanks for the thanks. It was the best feeling in the world. Even better than finishing Nano in 06. SInce I have moved I have become very serious about writing. Started a journal keeping track of my writing (times I wrote, word count, which story I am working on, where I wrote it, etc). Sort of a way to keep track for the future when I am famous. ahahah
Hey Amanda, nice prophecy. We will see if you have a future as a psychic. (Boy I hope I put the right name with the screen name...)
18,314 / 50,000
oct. 15, 2008 - 05 22
'Twas cool indeed seeing peeps on Sunday. Yay for my triumphant return from my vanishing! It's still going to be a challenge, as I'll still have my duckies' grades to worry about and a couple ND football weekends to work. But it'll be done. Last time I was unemployed and not in school and had all the time in the world. This time around feels more balanced.
Okay, just thought I'd share. Off to review the Mid-Term exam with my MW duckies!
Cheers
Michael
8,095 / 50,000
oct. 15, 2008 - 07 33
Hi Everyone. My name's Rory Carmichael and I'm a fifth year at nd doing a dual degree in computer science and english. I happened to start a creative writing group on campus a few years ago (Mustard for those students who actually go to activities night) and I'd love for anyone who's interested to come (you can contact me if you want more info). There are two people from the group who did nano last year, but this is my first. I'm not exactly sure what I want to write about. I have a fantasy universe that I've been trying to put a novel in for a while, but keep getting sidetracked, so I might do that. I also have been wanting to do a sort of modern re-imagining of the Irish epic The Tain. Regardless, I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and like I said, if you like writing you should check out Mustard.
50,014 / 50,000
oct. 15, 2008 - 12 31
Hey everyone! Happy NaNoWriMo! It's almost here! My name is Briana and I'm a junior at Notre Dame stuyding Spanish, Biology, and Medieval Studies. This is my fourth year attempting NaNo. The first year I finished in 2 1/2 months, my freshman year I managed to write 3,000 words in a week, so gave up. But I'm happy to announce that I did it in a month last year. Mostly thanks to staying at school for thanksgiving and writing 7,000 words a day for three days straight. But in any event, here's to finishing again this year! And good luck to everyone!
50,204 / 50,000
oct. 16, 2008 - 06 19
Hi everyone!
Wow, y'all crazy! But I guess I'm crazy too...and it's never been so nice to see so many other crazy people! Anyway, I'm a senior at Goshen majoring in art and minoring in writing (but that's just because they didn't get the journalism degree until this year, arg!) I've been doing this for four years, but I only won my second year, 2006, and that was with my satirical diet book The Mitochondria Principle.
But this year it'll be different. This year I'm again attempting the satirical nonfiction, (as opposed to fiction the two years I lost) and the title of my book is A Guy's Guide to Girls. I actually started something similar to this in high school, so it'll be fun to pick it up again.
Anyway, after reading all your introductions, I realized that I'm really not the youngest by far in the group...so maybe I'll have to come to some meetups this year. Gas, though, is a big problem. Oh well.
50,194 / 50,000
oct. 16, 2008 - 06 35
You're right, it's me! It's great to hear from you. Have you corrupted your wife yet into NaNoing? Or are you taking my husbands approach in that one person in the household needs to remain sane?
My psychic abilities tell me that when you become famous, you're going to give us all your autograph so we can say "we've been with him since the beginning! Now buy the autograph for 50k!"
Hey, a psychic has to make money somehow. :)
15,204 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2008 - 08 10
Hey, all. This is Katherine, the one who's in Dublin. Last year was my first NaNo--I made it to about 26,000 words--and for some insane reason I've decided to take the plunge again this time around. I'm writing what's intended to be a non-horror YA ghost story, but as it's my first time ostensibly attempting YA, we'll see how that works out. The story takes place at a girl's summer camp, which may or may not be affiliated with the Girl Scouts (I was one for thirteen years).
I'm technically a junior at Notre Dame, but am spending the year here at Trinity College. I'm an English major and, for some other insane reason, a Russian minor. I enjoy reading, writing, baking, singing, sleeping, and once in a while actually have fun lifting weights. I also write a semi-weekly column in the ND Observer.
For a long while my favorite extracurricular was anything involving theatre, but this year I'm trying to branch out in new directions. So, in about forty-five minutes, I'll be heading down to Rifle Club. It's fun to be picking up a new and potentially useful skill (I do come from Michigan, but not from a hunting family), even though I never plan on shooting anything that's not a target or a zombie.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the month ahead, and will miss all those gatherings at Barnes and Noble. Kiely: I'm so sorry, if I was there, I would totally drive you : (
But everyone keep in touch! Good luck!
Cheers.
0 / 50,000
oct. 18, 2008 - 07 09
My name is rose, I'm not very good at coming up with screen names. This year I'm working in SB at Crowe (accounting/IT possition). I'm 28, mariied with a 9 month daughter. She was the reason why I did not write last year. (I was very sick and tired most of the time.) I have not writen anything since Aug last year. I'm feeling so out of the writing thing. So I hope this year I will get back into writing.
In my free time I... now that I think about it I don't have much free time, but I like to read, play outside, and make Jasmine (my daughter) laugh.
Type of wiriting I like to do is fantasy.
Hey, cowluverluver, I live in goshen. I might be able to help with the gas thing. I also went to Goshen College. anyways.
It will be nice to see people from 2 years ago.
75,390 / 50,000
oct. 18, 2008 - 09 35
hahahaha Rory, who coerced you into doing this?
BRIANA I SEE YOU.
man, there are a lot of people this year! which is exciting and good! :-)
8,095 / 50,000
oct. 18, 2008 - 11 03
I wouldn't say I was coerced so much as convinced forcibly. And, if you must know, Jen Myers... current Mustard president. Ah well, I'm looking forward to burning myself out on literature rather than complex programming algorithms. I just hope that something worthwhile comes out of it.
In a topical update, I think I'm going to write a story based on a dream I had a few years ago. It'll be a sort of odd post-graduate education story set in eastern europe and involving such adventures as building a bridge over a mud-flooded road, discovering the wonders of opium, and living with five diverse and uncomfortably intelligent graduate students, all the while dealing with college-y stuff, desperately attempting to avoid learning the local language, and slowly dealing with the distorted borge's esque happenings which keep cropping up for the characters. It should be fun.