United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Word War! (Us vs. Harrisburg)

AlleyCat — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:57:56 -0700

I've just challenged Nellie and the Harrisburg region to a word war. Their region is slightly larger than ours, so we'll do our war based on word count per wrimo. So if you were thinking you'd get away with slacking, don't even think about it now! Our war will depend on your writing. :)

Please don't hold back on posting your word count for more than a couple of days at a time. It isn't fair for all of us to post all 50,000 words on the last day, making them think they're way ahead of us for the whole month and then slamming them at the end. We'll be checking our totals throughout the month.

Friendly "trash talk" is encouraged, and you can also post messages on their thread here:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3063068

Good luck, and may the best region win!!

Alice

----------
"Who's Taking a Bath?" ~a picture book by Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

NaNo cartoon of the day thread

AlleyCat — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 07:42:07 -0800

One Wrimo has started creating cartoons for every day of NaNo. Check them out at:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3068709

Alice
----------
"Who's Taking a Bath?" ~a picture book by Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Challenge: Save Your Pennies for NaNo

s_m_clark2006 — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:36:37 -0800

Hi, everyone!

This year, our region donated $175 (so far) to NaNoWriMo's non-profit The Office of Letters and Light. Woohoo!

I have a challenge in mind for next year. If our region collectively donated 50,000 pennies, one for each word of the challenge, we could donate $500 to NaNo. I think this is a great goal for us.

I am starting now to save my pennies toward the 50,000 number. Of course, donating directly is still a great thing to do, and highly encouraged, but for anyone interested, whether you donate on the site or not, please save your pennies either throughout the year or just through November. I know we can make this goal!

Already Looking Forward to November 2009,
S.
----------
2009 Stats
Pennies for NaNo: 354 / 50,000
Times quit: 0
Potential stories: 11
Outlines: 1.25
Cookies consumed in the name of Nano: 0
Current caffeine level: 0
Current sanity level: questionable
Best day word count: 0

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Squee! Contest Winning!

ComicBookGoddess — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:58:14 -0800

I may not have won NaNoWriMo, but the first chapter of my story was a winner in the Dead Robots' Society writing contest!

Speaking of which, there are some great writing podcasts out there. I listen to three of the four listed. :)

Dead Robots' Society - with Justin MacCumber & his co-hosts. This is a weekly podcast, the hosts start about by talking about their own progress with writing in the last week and then give their opinions on a specific writing topic. They also interview writers about their work.
http://deadrobotssociety.com/

Tale Chasing - with Kimi Alexander. This is a blog and podcast about Urban Fantasy writing. Kimi talks about her projects and interviews authors. She's gearing up for her podcast novel, Guardians.
http://www.talechasing.com/

I Should Be Writing - with podcast author Mur Lafferty. For the amateur author, she gives you tons of advice, then interviews people to check it. VERY popular.
http://www.ishouldbewriting.com/

The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy - with podcast author Tee Morris. All about promoting your book.
http://www.teemorris.com/blog/
----------
-- Need something to listen to while writing? Check out Your Moment Of Kim - sanity is not required. Http://GeekPantheon.com

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

NaNoWriMo Off-Season Writing Group - Trebuchet Guilt Monkeys

ComicBookGoddess — Sun, 7 Dec 2008 21:02:29 -0800

Hello! As we spoke about a few times during the event, we're going to continue our mutual writer support from NaNoWriMo through the next year.

As an initial plan, we'll meet once every 4-6 weeks and talk about our writing. Provided one of the Luzerne County fun people decides to help me out, we'll meet in one county one month, and the other county the next. We currently plan to exchange samples, critique, and maybe even give each other writer's challenges.

Although the wonderful NaNoWriMo forums are open all year, they do not send you neat email kicks in the pants to keep you writing and involved in events, so we're going to start by using an email group - Yahoo, at this point, because more people have Yahoo ids. We have the option of going over to Google groups if we don't like the features.

Click here to join the Trebuchet Guilt Monkeys

See you there!
----------
-- Need something to listen to while writing? Check out Your Moment Of Kim - sanity is not required. Http://GeekPantheon.com

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

T.G.I.O. Party

s_m_clark2006 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:12:46 -0800

Hi, all,

For those who weren't at today's meeting, we thought it was time to start talking about our T.G.I.O. So far, we are thinking of all meeting up at a pizza place.

If anyone thinks that they would rather do something different, or if anyone has a spot that they'd like to suggest, please post so we can talk it over.

Also, we need to decide when we'd like to do this - maybe the first weekend of December?
----------
2009 Stats
Pennies for NaNo: 354 / 50,000
Times quit: 0
Potential stories: 11
Outlines: 1.25
Cookies consumed in the name of Nano: 0
Current caffeine level: 0
Current sanity level: questionable
Best day word count: 0

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Lovely Purple Bars

s_m_clark2006 — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:19:55 -0800

They look great, guys, good work! We still have 2 more (weekend, thank goodness) days of noveling, so don't quit now! Anyone who needs a boost on their word count or some support to finish off their win, we are still on for Saturday 11/29 at Borders.

----------
2009 Stats
Pennies for NaNo: 354 / 50,000
Times quit: 0
Potential stories: 11
Outlines: 1.25
Cookies consumed in the name of Nano: 0
Current caffeine level: 0
Current sanity level: questionable
Best day word count: 0

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

RSVP - 11/29 meetup? Is anyone interested?

AlleyCat — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:23:19 -0800

As I mentioned at the kickoff, I plan to move to North Carolina over Thanksgiving, so the 22nd will be the last time I get to see you all. I haven't set up a meetup for the 29th, since it's the last weekend of NaNoWriMo and some of you may be frantically writing to catch up and win by Sunday the 30th. But if there's any interest in a meetup, just let me know and I'll add it to the calendar.

Alice
----------
"Who's Taking a Bath?" ~a picture book by Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Happy Thanksgiving!

s_m_clark2006 — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:40:51 -0800

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday full of food, family, and definitely writing! I know NaNo, our wonderul ML Alice, and the very supportive group that we have this year are going on my list of what I'm thankful for.
----------
2009 Stats
Pennies for NaNo: 354 / 50,000
Times quit: 0
Potential stories: 11
Outlines: 1.25
Cookies consumed in the name of Nano: 0
Current caffeine level: 0
Current sanity level: questionable
Best day word count: 0

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Graph of Us, Because it's Cool

s_m_clark2006 — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:24:26 -0800

Please reply to this post if you want to be included in the following graph: Scranton, PA

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Link to Trebuchet Club thread

Shadowspun — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:46:54 -0800

Here's the link to the Trebuchet Club thread. Have fun.

Heather
----------

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Sketch program link

Shadowspun — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:12:14 -0800

Here's the link to the sketch artist program. Have fun bringing your characters to life!

http://flashface.ctapt.de/
----------

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Giving to NaNoWriMo

AlleyCat — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:31:38 -0800

If you've stuck with us this long, you're probably taking your novel pretty seriously and you're bound and determined to win. You've also seen Chris Baty's notes reminding us that websites like this one aren't cheap, and that donations are the only thing keeping NaNoWriMo going every year.

On this 10th year anniversary, Chris would love to see 10% of Wrimos donate to help keep this event running. Donations are easy - you can mail a check directly to the Office of Letters and Light, you can use paypal (you don't need an account - just a credit card or checking account), or you can give the cash to your ML to mail to headquarters. And if you're truly broke, there are ways to donate without actually giving money at: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/donatingwhenbroke

If you donate at least $10, you'll get a spiffy new halo for your NaNoWriMo ID. But more than the halo, you'll also have the pride in knowing you helped create this wonderful event, and will be helping to keep it going next year.

Okay, pledge drive over - back to your novel!

Alice

----------
"Who's Taking a Bath?" ~a picture book by Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

RSVP - Borders 11/22 at 2:00 p.m.

AlleyCat — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:06:24 -0800

I tried to update the Google calendar, and it's not being cooperative today. As soon as I can set it up, I will. But for now, consider this your calendar update. :)

Alice
----------
"Who's Taking a Bath?" ~a picture book by Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

I've got to vent a moment...

Zuke174 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:56:11 -0800

OK, those of you who've seen me at the write-ins on the weekends know that I had ordered a new battery for my laptop over a week ago. The web site I went to proudly claimed that the battery was "In Stock," and still does, as I check on th site right now: http://www.bargainbasementbatteries.com/thinkpad-390-bl1283.html
So, when this thing didn't show up for more than a week, I grew curious. I checked on my credit card I used to buy it, and where the charge for it had previously been "tentative," it was now gone. So, I emailed the people at this site, asking them "WTF?" for short.

When I got their response and followed the link to my order status, I found out that my order had been cancelled.

Yeah. CANCELLED. You'd think that might be something I'd want to know about.

Turns out that they don't make these batteries any more. Another potentially useful piece of information.
*grumble*
So, anyway, all it means is that I'm at the mercy of the venue if I want to actually write at a Write-In. And, besides, I used the energy to write out a particularly emotion-driven set of scenes, and I'm okay now.

Oh, and also, when I used the brand-spanking-new word count verifier, it comes up about 100 words short of my count. I was planning to over-write anyway, but I thought that would be worth mentioning.
----------
"There's more magic in a baby's first giggle than in any firestorm a wizard can conjure up, and don't let anyone tell you any different."
- Harry Dresden, Fool Moon

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Scranton Times

Shadowspun — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:46:51 -0800

We made the newspaper, guys! There's a teeny, tiny little article about NaNoWriMo on the front page of the Lifestyles section for Saturday.

Okay, back to writing and listening to my new favorite radio station: Pandora internet radio. You simply plug in an artist or genre you like and it generates its own radio station of like artists and songs!
----------

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Tell us how it's going

AlleyCat — Tue, 4 Nov 2008 07:35:36 -0800

Is your story flowing smoothly because you wrote a flawless outline? Or have your characters suddenly mutinied and run off to Hawaii?

Have you suddenly decided it's time to clean out that closet you don't even like to open because stuff falls on your head every time you do? Or clean the grout in your bathroom with a toothbrush, one centimeter at a time?

How is it really going? What can we do to help, if you're floundering?

Alice

----------
"Who's Taking a Bath?" ~a picture book by Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Adopt a plot, character or dare

AlleyCat — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:43:11 -0700

Characters:

A paranormal investigator named Lou
An ex-con named Roderick Pickens. After serving eight years for an armed robbery he got a job at a convenience store. He really wants one more big score, one last heist...
An alien biker
An outer space penguin
A five year old named Leo. He has just seen the circus parade led by a huge elephant. He goes off on his own to find one.
Antimaxus, a pirate queen, aged 22. Brash, confident, rich. Has decided she needs a man and will now devote time to this. Only wants a man to breed.
A "tortured" hero who is cursed to laugh uncontrollably when he sees any type of feather - real or fake.
An out of work teacher.
Suave, debonair chef, very sophisticated who is hiding his interest in a "manly" sport like football.
A home-assist monkey that knows sign language.
Young bully who's very stupid.
Rich, spoiled, overbearing woman with a cocaine habit and a boyfriend who is a horse racing jockey.
Kipher, 5'1" tall, blue hair, gray eyes, 16 years old. Has an obsession with old movies and haunted houses.
Joe Smith
A narcoleptic tattoo artist.
Ex-Vegas showgirl who is currently in a coma.
An elementary school teacher who loathes children, but still wants them to like her.
A woman, 30ish with two cats and fighting against the notion she's a "cat lady"
A thief who leaves "IOU" notes. He vows to replace whatever he takes, either exactly or by equivalent value.
Bernard, a 30ish banker terrified of the color green.

----------
"Who's Taking a Bath?" ~a picture book by Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

My Guilt Monkey is Beautiful

s_m_clark2006 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:19:28 -0800

... but I didn't know he was a predictor of events. Seems, though, if I shake his little house like a snow-globe ... hmmm.

Love the lovely guilt monkey present, thank you, thank you.
----------
2009 Stats
Pennies for NaNo: 354 / 50,000
Times quit: 0
Potential stories: 11
Outlines: 1.25
Cookies consumed in the name of Nano: 0
Current caffeine level: 0
Current sanity level: questionable
Best day word count: 0

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

RSVP - Barnes & Noble 11/15 at 2:00

AlleyCat — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:59:59 -0700

Post your RSVP for this meetup here.
----------
"Who's Taking a Bath?" ~a picture book by Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Anyone want to reach in the hundred(s) k with me?

CROWcatalyst — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:31:44 -0800

I am shooting for quite a bit.. I was hoping 800k or more.. o_o But I do not count on it! I always seem to run into some trouble... But it's good to shoot for a few hundred thousand, right!? :D

So, come on, guys! Anyone wanna shoot for a high goal with me? Get some ideas out and runnin'?
----------
- ~ -
'07 :: Even Without Kingdom Hearts (14k)
'08 :: Rock Rock Crushes Roses; One Breath Away; [Untitled]; When a Writer Goes Crazy... ((and a few other variations or short stories))

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

RSVP - Borders 11/8 at 2:00

AlleyCat — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:59:16 -0700

Post your RSVP here for this meetup.
----------
"Who's Taking a Bath?" ~a picture book by Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Our own "Night of Writing Dangerously"?

s_m_clark2006 — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:59:33 -0700

Okay, so I can't promise a goody bag or a chance to win a laptop, but I definitely can't go to San Francisco for the real thing. Is anyone interested in us putting together a small-scale version for us here? Or even somehow make that week's meet-up extra special?
----------
2009 Stats
Pennies for NaNo: 354 / 50,000
Times quit: 0
Potential stories: 11
Outlines: 1.25
Cookies consumed in the name of Nano: 0
Current caffeine level: 0
Current sanity level: questionable
Best day word count: 0

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

Headstrong Characters, anyone?

Carmen_Snow — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 21:11:09 -0800

So does anyone else ever feel like strangling your main character(s) for failure to cooperate with your plot? I hate it when they decide they're going to go off the chart and do something completely different, shocking the hell out of you, the innocently bystanding author.

I really hate it when the things they decide to do are exactly the things my readers saw coming in the last book, and which I loftily denied would ever happen. Yes, yes, of course someone will think, 'well, the thought was planted in your weak little mind, and therefore you are simply carrying to fruition the plot variation that was already planted there.' BUT! It's not like that. I had a plan and I liked my plan, and they are just not going to do things that way. I was honestly shocked at what these two maniacs suddenly went off and did. I'm just recording it, I feel like; I don't even feel that I can predict with certainty where this whole thing is going now.

It's like they take off and say, 'Plot? What plot? Who the hell cares about your damn plot, this is my LIFE! I'll do what I want!'

Great! (I really reeeeaalllyyy hope I'm not the only spazzy one with uncontrollable characters)
----------
'The road to hell is paved with adverbs.' - Stephen King

United States :: Pennsylvania :: Scranton

I hate my story

bendock73 — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 11:01:21 -0800

I know, I know... you don't have to like your story, you just have to keep writing. Luckily, this year I am. I've already past my total word count from last year, which makes me feel great and also makes me realize how pathetic I was last year. (This would be a great situation for someone with a split personality)

Since I hated my story, I changed gears completely and have begun to go in a completely different way. I have no idea what I'm writing about, have no clear plot and one main character that seems almost purposely slow to develop. This character is in no way related to any of the myriad of story ideas that have gone through my head, so I have absolutely no idea where this story is going to lead. It's pretty much taken on a life of it's own. I have to admit, I'm having fun.

This is to give some encouragement to all those writers out there that may not like they way their stories are going... No Plot, No Problem. :-)

Happy Writing
----------