THIS WILL BE THE LONGEST POST YOU'LL SEE FROM ME ALL MONTH.
(Hey, this stuff doesn't count toward my word count, ya' know.) :-)
Hey Gang!
To first time Wrimo's -- Welcome. Congratulations on giving yourself permission to take on the madness and mischief that is a month of writing, guilt free!
To those returning Wrimo's -- Hey, where you been? :)
I'm Butch Wilson. (Williebee here at NaNoWriMo.) This will be my 4th NaNoWriMo. I've crossed the finish line each of the last three times. If I can, YOU Can!
We've got a good group of veterans who will be more than happy to help you get there.
We've got tips, tricks and toys to help you along the way. More on that later.
Down to business.
Take a look at a map of Southern Illinois and you'll see a vast area of highways with a lot of small towns and a few cities. And we are spread all over that map, more than a150 strong, so far.
Now Nano is the most fun when it is a shared madness. And, for most of us positive peer pressure is the only way we'll get to the finish line. Ask Katie, when you meet her. She was our youngest Wrimo last year, at 14 and finished her last (was it 8,000?) words in a marathon session on the final evening. What will really make you gnash your teeth is the stuff she was writing is GOOD!
Anyway, this means we need a lot of write ins, at a lot of locations, at a lot of different times. So, here's the link to the Google Calendar, that we're using to keep track of it all.
http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=6qam8jijtpa9sh35c45853fcu4%40gr...
Have a write in, gathering or other event you want added to it, drop me a line. Please note, this is a public calendar. The whole world can see it.
On that note, listen, the only person who's permission you need, to gather together and write, is yours. We're not telling you where and when to write, anymore than we'd tell you what to write. Our goal is just to help you get across the finish line.
The word "Our" refers to a number of veteran Wrimo Winners--
SeanJJordan, Senshi, and Jonathan Ingram, so far. I'm hoping there are a few more to come. Want to help organize a write in? Drop me, or one of the other folks, a note and we'll work it out.
KICK OFFS
Belleville -- The Calendar will show you a Kick Off planned for Nov. 1st, basically all day (Noon on) at Riley's Coffee and Fudge, in Belleville. Riley's will also be the central site for the Belleville contingent.
Edwardsville -- CH Valentino had already set up a kick off at the St. Louis Bread Co, in Edwardsville at 6:30, on the 28th, and a few of you have already arranged your schedules to attend that one. (BTW? A number of our group met there and at Sacred Grounds last year. Worked out pretty good.) There was some confusion on this, but I'm hoping that's past. Either way, the Bread Co. on the 28th sounds like a plan. For you first timers, some of the veterans will be there to welcome you and answer any questions.
Mt. Vernon -- (My hometown these days.) The high school is handling the details for their student program. See your teacher for details on that one. I'm planning on attending the kick-offs at B-Ville and E-Ville, so wasn't planning a kick off here, but could be easily talked into it. And, if you want to ride over with me to any of the others, drop me a note.
Carbondale -- Jonathan will be posting up write-ins to the calendar. More from him, later, if there is to be a kick-off event.
Carmi and other points north/south -- Well, this one is up in the air at the moment. Want to help out? Let me know!!
WRITE-INs
Check the calendar!! If you can't get to it, or need help using it, drop me a line.
FORUMS
This space is reserved for YOU! Ask questions, give answers, ideas, Dares, whatever. Share your journey to the finish line. Have fun!
I look forward to meeting you soon.
Williebee
"Shared Pain is diminished; Shared joy is multiplied." -- Thanks, Spider.
----------
You're never done.
Not as long as you've got a good story, and someone to tell it to.
8,603 / 50,000
oct. 9, 2008 - 20 20
Wow, so many write-ups! So exciting!
I will endeavor to be at the Riley's kick off, just to get to see everyone (and get some serious writing done, of course...) Glad to see someone's taken up the torch here in Edwardsville too! I'll definitely be at that meet up.
Man am I looking forward to a good season!
-Jenna/LostieBorden
53,961 / 50,000
oct. 9, 2008 - 21 06
I'm planning on going over to the Belleville one, (Riley's Coffee and Fudge) I just need to plan my trip around the bus schedule. Fortunately it ain't that long of a bike ride from the Belleville Metrolink Station.
----------David Foxfire of Foxfire Studios of Saint Louis
http://foxfirestudios.net
NaNoWriMo Project: Blood and Metal Book 1: Messenger
50,030 / 50,000
oct. 9, 2008 - 21 24
I'm glad to see we've got so many people organized on this! I'll probably be involved mostly in the Alton/Edwardsville area, but since I'll be in Oregon on the 28th, I might try and hit Collinsville for the kickoff. I'm ridiculously excited about actually getting to meet people this year, and being able to go to some write-ins. I think I'll do tons better having other writers for support. :D
----------Begin challenging your assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off once in a while or the light won't get through. -Alan Alda
3,789 / 50,000
oct. 9, 2008 - 21 35
So, will the Alton Bread Co be the main meeting place (after kick off, of course) for people living in Alton?
50,002 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 03 50
Count me in, Butch! With the help of this group, I completed Nanowrimo two years ago. I'm in again for this year, and I'll go to write-ins at Riley's. By the way, I'm pleased to say that the book I was working on last time is being considered at a division of Random House. That's not to say there's a contract yet, but they've had the completed manuscript since July. Yay!
Wordspring
12,106 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 06 11
I sadly won't be at the Riley's kick off. I'm going to be in Detroit dressed as varios video game characters.
Hopefully we can schedule some write ins at the Collinsville Starbucks so I don't have to drive to Belleville or Edwardsville (not having a job sucks). And since the C'ville Starbucks is only about half a mile from my house.... there you go.
Anyway... I'm excited, woo!
----------_______
Nano '03: Tsarina the Just won
Nano '04: Black Cirrus and the Witless Wizards of Atlantis won
Nano '05: Untitled
Nano '06: Untitled Fantasy
50,030 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 06 16
I think the idea people had brought up was to alternate between Alton and Edwardsville during the month. If you can only make it to Alton, we can try and schedule more stuff there. :)
----------Begin challenging your assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off once in a while or the light won't get through. -Alan Alda
52,791 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 06 24
Re: Collinsville, Sensei is working those out. (She did it last year, too.) Last year the Collinsville crew did a couple times a week.
Alternating Alton/Edwardsville sounds like it could work out.
Not to sound too clinical on this, but it all comes down to creating opportunites for positive peer pressure.
I think I sent this to Diane in a message earlier -- being surrounded by people hammering away at a common goal is very motivating, and more than a little bit liberating.
You have a license to write well, write badly, and write a LOT.
It's like being a race car and Indy Moter Speedway just came to your keyboard. Put the pedal down and go for it!
----------You're never done.
Not as long as you've got a good story, and someone to tell it to.
3,694 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 07 17
Well, I hope to make it to Riley's for at least the kick-off. I'm glad it's a Saturday so I can be there from noon until my bowling league starts that night. Gives me a good 5 hours or so (although lately it seems like my laptop battery is only lasting me 3 hours and I only have one). :) I look forward to meeting all of you!
53,691 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 15 43
What is planned so far is to do Wednesday will be the "Alton" day- Write-in at St. Louis Bread Co on Homer Adams Parkway from 5:30-9pm. Should be posted on the calender soon.
A blank piece of paper is God's way of telling us how hard it to be God.
-----------Sidney Sheldon
A blank piece of paper is God's way of telling us how hard it to be God.
-Sidney Sheldon
8,371 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 17 00
Hi all! Here's what's going on with Collinsville--
12 PM kickoff November 1st at the Collinsville Crossing Starbucks with plans to abandon post around 6ish and crash the insanity going on at Riley's Coffee and Fudge (let me know if you need a ride) :)
Every Wednesday in November I will be hosting write ins at the Starbucks with the potential of adding Sundays as well, depending on who is interested
50,636 / 50,000
oct. 11, 2008 - 12 05
I will be at the Belleville location for the kickoff and will probably be floating from Belleville and Collinsville. I might even be up at Edwardsville. It depends on the hubby (Sean J Jordan for those that don't know). I will probably be at all Belleville write ins. I will be helping with the ones when the hubby is in class. I can't wait for this to start! The research has begun.
----------The bestselling newbie to novel writing
55,123 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 10 34
12 PM kickoff November 1st at the Collinsville Crossing Starbucks with plans to abandon post around 6ish and crash the insanity going on at Riley's Coffee and Fudge (let me know if you need a ride) :)
Every Wednesday in November I will be hosting write ins at the Starbucks with the potential of adding Sundays as well, depending on who is interested
I'll be there on Wednesdays and you can count me in as interested in Sundays as well. :)
I think I'll probably do the kickoff at Riley's on the 1st since that's my usual Saturday routine now anyway, lol. I'd be willing to give someone a ride as well, btw. I may try to hit one of the Denny's Write-ins in Glen Carbon, but not sure. So if anyone would like to ride along there, let me know and we can figure out the details.:)
-kat
101,277 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 15 43
I'll be out of town till Sunday Nov 2 - so I'll miss all the kickoffs but I'm looking forward to getting back with y'all.
Dave Z
----------50,020 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 18 23
I hope to make it to the Kick-off on the 1st. I'm looking forward to another great year and winning for the third time. I'm trying to clean off my desk and get things to a point of either finishing or leaving them until Dec. Looking forward to seeing everyone again!
Michelle Connell
Belleville
chick lit/romance
52,791 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 18 43
Hi Dave! Hi Michelle! Welcome back!
----------You're never done.
Not as long as you've got a good story, and someone to tell it to.
50,030 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 18 52
Cool :D I'm glad to see that we'll have several writers in Alton/Edwardsville and that it's split up so we don't have to drive too far every time. I'm going to try and make all the Tuesday meetings, since that's a better night for me, and at least some of the Alton nights. I'm so excited! I'm gonna meet the Collinsville contingent first though, since I can't make the Edwardsville kick off, so I'll see y'all at Riley's on the 1st.
----------Begin challenging your assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off once in a while or the light won't get through. -Alan Alda
8,371 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 10 51
Okay--due to some requests I've decided to do a prekick off kick off in Collinsville :) It will be a great chance for everyone to gear up, meet, and get pumped! If you can't make it until the 1st, no big, you're all welcome any time!
Here are the details:
Wednesday October 29, 7PM
Starbucks Collinsville Crossing
Bring a pen and paper (we'll do some character sketches) and be prepared to discuss your ideas :)
12,106 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 15 14
Yay, I can actually come to that (although I will run home and pack furiously for my flight the next day). Niki, do you know if Tim and Natalie are doing it this year?
----------_______
Nano '03: Tsarina the Just won
Nano '04: Black Cirrus and the Witless Wizards of Atlantis won
Nano '05: Untitled
Nano '06: Untitled Fantasy
8,371 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 16 54
Yes they are! :)
12,106 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 18 01
Rock. This is going to be awesome.
----------_______
Nano '03: Tsarina the Just won
Nano '04: Black Cirrus and the Witless Wizards of Atlantis won
Nano '05: Untitled
Nano '06: Untitled Fantasy
50,110 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 18 22
It's wonderful to see so many NaNoers from Southern Illinois!
I'm going to the Edwardsville/Alton meet-ups, as many as I can and I look forward to meeting some of you.
55,123 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 19 55
Here are the details:
Wednesday October 29, 7PM
Starbucks Collinsville Crossing
Bring a pen and paper (we'll do some character sketches) and be prepared to discuss your ideas :)
Awesome! Count me in and see you there. :)
8,603 / 50,000
oct. 14, 2008 - 14 39
I'll definitely be there!
Any word on how long the Riley's meet-up will go? I want to attend, but I work till 4.
3,694 / 50,000
oct. 14, 2008 - 20 11
Any word on how long the Riley's meet-up will go? I want to attend, but I work till 4.
I was planning on being at Riley's until I need to leave for my Saturday night bowling league, which would be about 5:30. So you can at least count on me.
------------
2004: Zodiac (incomplete)
2005: Chasing Counterparts (incomplete)
2006: Captian Skeetch and the Shrimp Shack Shooters (incomplete)
2007: Splintered (not attempted)
2008: Marianne (We'll see!)
50,114 / 50,000
oct. 18, 2008 - 13 24
Anyone in O'fallon? I'm thinking I'll head to Bread Co in Shiloh on Thursday mornings to write.
----------Diana
www.pencildancer.com
Hearts on the Road-- Jan. 2009 from Barbour Publishing
50,002 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2008 - 13 56
I have to attend a baby shower at two on the day of the Riley's kickoff in Belleville, so I'm thinking of starting earlier that day. Is anyone else interested? What time does Riley's open? Also, how late are you all planning to stay? I may come back after the shower, if anybody is still writing.
I'm really looking forward to this.
Laurie
16,075 / 50,000
oct. 25, 2008 - 08 43
I always end up working on Saturdays, so I'm very sad that the write-ins for Riley's are all Saturdays, but I will at least be able to hopefully go to the kick off party before work! If I'm not dead from the night before. I look forward to seeing everyone~ I haven't seen you all in a year! If anyone plans on going to Riley's, say, Wednesdays or Tuesdays throughout Nov., I would be definately game. Even Fridays! :D
----------[size=1][i]...[s]Bring your [/s][b][color=darkred]strawberry[/color][s] [/b]car and come to the [/s][b]cabaret[/b][s] in my mind.[/i][/s][/size]
7,106 / 50,000
oct. 26, 2008 - 07 39
Hahaha, yeah it was the last 8k that I still needed to finish that night. I finished though. I'm so proud of that. I still tell my friends and they're like 'Katie, we get it already!'.
By the way, if my last sentence didn't hit your brain exactly right like I know it would never hit mine, I'm the Katie mentioned in Butch's post. :) I'll be so in this November. Now I'm 15 (16 on the 25th of Nov!) and armed with a driver's permit and brand new laptop! Duh-da-dah! *the crowd cheers* Too bad I still have no idea what I'm writing....*the crowd sighs*
But to keep from dwelling on such a fact, I'll try my hardest to be there at Edwardsville on the 28th and I will MOST DEFINATELY be at Riley's even if I have to beg my mother down on my knees and promise to work like a dog all through December (since, sadly, I am still reliant on her driving). So, to summarize, if any of you first-timers need help or have questions, feel free to drop me a message or email or ask me when you see me at various events and what-not. I'm hope my age was keep of anyone older who might want to ask a question (*worries a little*). Oh well.
Either way I am totally jazzed for this year and especially cause now I don't have to bother with getting to know anyone except the new people! Yay!
Still way more excited than she should be,
Katie
7,106 / 50,000
oct. 26, 2008 - 07 49
Here are the details:
Wednesday October 29, 7PM
Starbucks Collinsville Crossing
Bring a pen and paper (we'll do some character sketches) and be prepared to discuss your ideas :)
Yes! I'm so there since this is just about 5 minutes from my house. Yay! I'm so glad there is so much going on in Southern Illinois this year. I don't remember there being this much buzz last year...
EDIT: Okay so I was looking at the calendar and I noticed that there is a write in at Starbucks in Collinsville and then there is also the one at Riley's. So my question is: Who is going to what and where are there going to be more people? I really like being where everyone else is so I don't miss out on anything. :)