United States :: Washington :: Spokane

TGIO Party

Jayce_Grae — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 15:53:29 -0800

Woohoo! Yay! *cheer!* The wait is over - time to celebrate your exuberant wordiness (or lack of) with us!

Where: The Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E Main, Spokane (check the calendar for a direct map link!)

When: Sunday, December 7th from 5 to 7pm!

What to bring? Your awesome selfs, your magnificent supporters and your unruly children/spouses! (Yes, they get to come too if only to verify for themselves it is finally over!)

Further details, such as food items needed, will be forthcoming. In the meantime, post your intent to arrive and those in toe with you here! I can't wait to see all your smiling faces! (Shiney!)

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Dana
"This is a lot more fun when they're not shooting back!"

Spokane, WA - Municipal Liaison (2007-2008)

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Word Count Standings

Dichotomy6958 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:43:57 -0800

Final Results:

141 home-region affiliates
115 homed authors posting word count (82%)
49 winning authors (35% of total / 43% of active)
(compare that to the overall rate of 18% NaNo winners overall )

3,377,868 total words written by Spokane authors
29,373 average word count among active Spokane authors

14 donors to date (10% of home-region affiliates / 12% of active)

906 forum posts
by 81 Spokane Homed Authors
for an average of 48 post per posting authors or
avg 6 posts per all 141 Spokane active authors (There were some folks who posted but never entered any word count. Consider them your faithful cheerleaders.)

Our word counts are now locked, but we can improve our standings regarding our regional donations. NaNo HQ won't finish the tally for donations for at least a couple of days. If you were planning on donating but hadn't gotten around to it yet, please do so now. Every little bit helps -- a donation as small as $10 will earn you your donor's halo. (And I'm not above resorting to bribery: There will be special prizes at the TGIO for those who are sporting a donor's halo.)

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_________________________
Samantha
Spokane, WA - Municipal Liaison (2003-2008)
Age Group: 50-Plus - Moderator

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

I'm Finished

truly.brave — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:48:14 -0800

I finished writing my manuscript this morning.

This book just wouldn't quit.

The characters had more and more to say until yesterday morning, when I knew that today was the day.

The total first draft topped out at 80,000 words. Something that I never thought I could do.

But this month is a month of miracles.... writers around the world turning loose their muse and letting the fireworks fly.

Keep on going, there are so many of you that are so close.

Those of us who have made it to 50,000 words are waiting to catch your staggering body when you enter the winner's circle.

We want to have a big crowd here!

You can do it!
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Thinking about giving up

sadiqah — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:11:18 -0800

Well... I've gotten up to 21600 words. But I really don't think I'll be able to make it to 50K by tomorrow.

I was so excited or NaNo 2008, looked forward to it since November 30th last year. Had ideas, inspiration (but not outline) before November... but the moment Nov. 1st got here... it all went out the window. Inspiration, motivation, ideas... gone. Everything suddenly sounded boring. I also feel like the "creative" part of my brain is towards the middle or back of my brain.. and I'm stuck in the front, just stuck focusing on everything else in my life (work, bills, errands, etc) and I just can't relax enough to slip into the back.

Anybody else with high hopes but giving up? I'm still adding to my word count. I'm so tempted to just scratch it for this year, and try again next year refreshed.

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Nothing interferes with my concentration. You could put on an orgy in my office and I wouldn’t look up. Well, maybe once.
- Isaac Asimov

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Woo-Hoo Congrats EVERYONE!!!!

Pacifika — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:50:51 -0800

Way to go everybody who wrote this month.
Excellent job of pushing yourselves!
Great job and extra kudos to those who finished there 50,000 and those who overcame all obstacles to even begin.
I'm patting my own back as well. I was shooting for 10,000 but I reconsidered about half way through the month and figured I'd be happy if I could make 5,000. Which I am proud to say that I did. (Beyond actually).

So again, WAY TO GO!!!!!!
and Congratulations.
See you at the TGIO party.
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Pacifika
NaNoWriMo Wins
2006 - Kismet
2007 - Flack Jackets for Girls
Script Frenzy attempt
Drunken old Writer (didn't finish but sure had fun!)

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

One Last Challenge

Dichotomy6958 — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:47:22 -0800

I just sent out a Regional Email Message extending the challenge to keep writing today -- so long as your story is not finished, no matter what your word count, whether it's 200 words or 60,000.

Those of you who accept the challenge -- post here and we can track our progress together.

My personal goal by the end of the day is 60,000 or the end of my story (which I am sure is many, many words past 60K). What's your goal?

Samantha
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_________________________
Samantha
Spokane, WA - Municipal Liaison (2003-2008)
Age Group: 50-Plus - Moderator

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Last Chance Write In

Dichotomy6958 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:27:56 -0800

The Last Chance Write-in will be our last noveling event of 2008; from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on Sunday, November 30th. We'll meet at the Associated Industries building where we held our All-Night Write-In -- 920 N. Washington, directly across the street from the Broadview Dairy.

There will be wifi, and we have a kitchen at our disposal, as well as all the coffee or tea you can drink. The training room is large and can easily accomodate 15-20 authors (more if we get cozy). There's a pizza shop just up the street, or you can bring in your own snacks and goodies.

I've reserved the building from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Come join us, whether you're trying to reach 50K, or if you already have your purple winner's banner, but still have a story left to finish.

In the meantime, while waiting for Sunday to arrive, we still have a couple of regular write-ins scheduled: Friday's Rocket Bakery (on Argonne) Write-in and Saturday's Cheney Write-in, which has moved to the Cheney Library (across the street from Cheney Delights) for this penultimate write-in.

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_________________________
Samantha
Spokane, WA - Municipal Liaison (2003-2008)
Age Group: 50-Plus - Moderator

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

having trouble finishing

DisenchantedDoc — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:11:37 -0800

I'm so close to finshing my NaNo -- I'm on the next to the last chapter, at the height of the climax, etc.

But I've bene feeling like crap for a week, so I went to my doc yesterday to find out what was wrong (Yes, docs see other docs).

I found out yesterday that after more than 2y of trying (and frankly giving up after being told by my OB that I'd need in vitro), I'm finally pregnant. I'm about 6 weeks along, No wonder I'm puking and exhausted...

This is my first baby, and I'm a little freaked out. I makes concentrating on writing a bit difficult. Maybe I'll find time to finish over the weekend.

Anyone else have a real life thing that's totally thrown them off this month?
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

oopsies.

mister_froggy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:26:38 -0800

So today I made a very stupid mistake. I had noticed that the word count validator was up for testing and decided I wanted to upload what I had so far to get it counted by the official counter. My novel was on my Alphasmart, so I had to transfer the files to the computer before pasting the text in the validator. Now, while the Alphasmart can send files to the computer, the computer can also send files to the Alphasmart, and I was not paying as much attention as I needed to and accidentally replaced a sizable chunk of my novel with an empty file from the computer.

LUCKILY, I had successfully loaded my novel on the computer last Saturday, so ONLY 5 or 6 thousand words were lost, but still, that's a lot of retyping. Grrr...

It was a fun part of the novel to write the first time around, so hopefully that carries over to the rewrite.
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Write In

Tigress7 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:38:51 -0800

I want to go to one of the write ins at the service station. That's pretty good for me- it's only a few miles from my house. So can I get more information on this? Do we need to sign up, or just show up?
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

The Inlander Fiction Contest

sadiqah — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:26:35 -0800

I just browsed last week's Inlander, and they're announcing their 13th annual Fiction Contest.

Winning entry to be published Jan 22, 2009.
Manuscripts must arrive at the Inlandre Dec. 18th by 5pm.
2000 - 5000 words.

More info at www.inlander.com/fictioncontest

Just thought I'd share.
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Nothing interferes with my concentration. You could put on an orgy in my office and I wouldn’t look up. Well, maybe once.
- Isaac Asimov

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

One small victory

SKSuncloud — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:52:53 -0800

It took me all month, but finally my word count beat Dichotomy6958!!

Dichotomy6958
37,834 / 50,000

SKSuncloud
37,910 / 50,000

If only temporarily, I'm going to take a moment to be proud of myself for those 76 words. XD
Now I'm going to go rest and ice my hands...
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"Nobody said it was easy, it's such a shame for us to part. Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be this hard. Oh take me back to the start...."

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

You rock!

Jayce_Grae — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:33:18 -0800

I just wanted to say congratulations to everyone who took time to write this weekend, whether at the overnnighter, a write-in or elsewhere. I didn't reach my primary goal, but I am caught up so I am satisfied. Now I need to get some much needed sleep and wrap my abused forearms. Kudos to the best group of wrimos this side of the mountains! Samantha and I think you guys rock!
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Dana
"This is a lot more fun when they're not shooting back!"

Spokane, WA - Municipal Liaison (2007-2008)

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Details on the overnighter?

RandomGemini — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:13:58 -0800

I know the what and when, but I'd like to know how much and should we bring sleeping bags and cucumber facial masks along with our pink fluffy bunny slippers?

Thanks!
RG
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Halfway there!

sparrowzingly — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 21:23:14 -0800

I broke 25,000 words today. I didn't think I could get this far but it feels amazing! Anyone else there?

If you're not... don't worry! You'll get there and it will feel fantastic. Keep plugging along!
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Roving Write-Ins!!

Jayce_Grae — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:26:43 -0700

What are they?

These are fun, unique write-in locations discovered and hosted by you! We've set aside Wednesday nights for you, that's right, YOU, to find a quirky coffe shop, grocery store aisle, bus route, or campfire just perfect for writing.

Add a post here with the name, location and time of a your write-in and watch for the responses. Please make sure (a) you have the permission of the owner/manager and (b) you can be there. Samantha and I will try our best, but we may not be able to make every write-in scheduled so it is important that you have some way for local Wrimos to recognize you.

Sounds easy right? It is easy! =) If you have any questions you can always send a PM (nanomail) to myself or Samantha (Dichotomy6958). Off you go!

Samantha here, to add my 2 cents worth

A couple of additional points when setting up a Roving Write-In:

It must be held in an all-ages location. Sorry, no taverns or bars.
It must be safe - both for you and for other people attending. Don't schedule a write-in at your home, or post personal information online.
If there is a limit to how many Wrimos your venue can accomodate, let us know. If there are only 2 tables available, we don't need 6 Wrimos showing up to write.
While it's not necessary to be online during a Write-In; many of us will show up with laptops, and if you're like me, you have an old laptop with zero battery life. Electrical outlets are essential, and if they are not well-spaced around the room, power-strips & extension cords will be needed. I carry at least one power-strip in my laptop case in November.
Dana &/or I will post one Wednesday Roving Write-In to the Spokane calendar Sunday afternoon for the upcoming Wednesday. If there is more than one contender, extra points will be given to creativity and unique venues. Perhaps you know someone who knows someone who can get us into an art gallery, a radio station, the roof of the Paulsen Building, a museum ... Of course, the perfect place might well be your neighborhood cafe or a classroom at your (or your child's) school we can use after hours.

Samantha

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Dana
"This is a lot more fun when they're not shooting back!"

Spokane, WA - Municipal Liaison (2007-2008)

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

How is it going for everyone?

GoosesGirl93 — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 05:52:09 -0800

Just stopping in to check and see how everyone is doing. This is my first nano, and I am utterly amazed at how many completely different emotions I have experienced over the past almost thirty hours. Right now, it is almost 6am, and I have been writing for several hours. Overall I am pleasantly suprised at my progress. Of course this is only after ALSO feeling excited, confident, exhausted, confused, depressed, insecure, completely out of control, completely in control, and proud. Is this normal?

Anyway, I hope everyone is making progress!! Keep up the good work, you can do it!

Heidi
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

What do you do when...?

sahara_runner — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:27:54 -0800

Well, its my first year doing this and I'm having fun. I'm at nearly 23,000 words and have realized it's going to be a much longer story than I anticipated. There's so much going on, so I thought I'd ask a couple of what do you do when's both to get some opinions, as well as to give those of us who feel the need to take a break (or procrastinate) that much-needed two seconds.

What do you do when...you're not sure you'll finish the novel before the deadline, but you know you'll get to 50,000?

What do you do when...a scene happens that you weren't expecting?
(I'm just getting to a part of the novel that I knew about at the beginning, but its taken me until chapter nine-short chapters-to get to it when I thought it would be in chapter 4. It was the strangest thing.)

What do you do when...your familiy thinks your premise or plot is particularly strange?
(I'm trying not to take it as an insult.)

and finally...

What do you do when...you've got no excuse not to be writing, but want to find one anyways?
(I like to do Sudokus or clean or play around on the internet, kind of like what I'm doing now...;)

Okay, so I'm mostly serious with the questions, but I had to have a little fun.
Thanks for the future advice.

Sara
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

password?

dragon-author — Tue, 4 Nov 2008 18:19:11 -0800

can some one send me the virtual password please, I cant find my packet right now.
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

"Let it suck!"

Jayce_Grae — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 13:47:35 -0800

A song of inspiration for those who need it.
Click here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3101963#comment-3244627

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Dana
"This is a lot more fun when they're not shooting back!"

Spokane, WA - Municipal Liaison (2007-2008)

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Procrastionation Activity.

RandomGemini — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:58:27 -0800

I often find myself looking for ways to avoid writing, especially when I'm really bored and the words just aren't flowing out of me. So I turn to my friends on twitter and one of them posted this this morning. I have seen it before, but I thought that you guys would find it hilarious. The badness of it cannot be expressed in words...

I will preface it by saying that if you've seen it, I'm sorry for putting you through this again. If you haven't... don't look at it with your children in the room because they will wonder why you're giggling so ridiculously.

Without further ado, I present to you, swedish dance bands of the 70s.

http://pics.yemii.com/swedish-dance-bands.html
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Challenges

sadiqah — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:24:09 -0700

Are we formally "challenging" anyone this year??

If I remember correctly, last year we challenged Seattle, the state of Alaska, some hermit writing type guy in the middle of nowhere, the entire country of Wales.... I want to know who we're challenging :)

And if it hasn't been discussed yet... I want to offer up Seattle and Toronto... I'll be at their Kick-Off party October 30th, and can formally issue a challenge in person, if everybody's in. Please, please, don't make me take on the city of Toronto by myself!! (Though I will if I have to!)
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Nothing interferes with my concentration. You could put on an orgy in my office and I wouldn’t look up. Well, maybe once.
- Isaac Asimov

United States :: Washington :: Spokane

HAppy ML Appreciation day to our MLs, Samantha and Dana

GoosesGirl93 — Sun, 9 Nov 2008 02:49:57 -0800

Thanks so much for all you've done for our little group. We appreciate the goodies and the write ins and the encouragement. You guys are awesome!

Heidi
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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Post your playlist

sunlit x tides — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 13:05:48 -0800

Here you can show off the playlist that inspires your writing, music you like or any other way it relates to your writing.

Heres mine:

1 Undeniable — Mat Kearney
2 Another Word For Desperate — Straylight Run
3 Better In Time — Leona Lewis
4 Mixed Tape — Jacks Mannequin
5 Disturbia — Rihanna
6 October Skies — Waking Ashland
7 Julian — Waking Ashland
8 I Am For You — Waking
9 Unwell — matchbox twenty
10 Look Me In The Eyes — The Jonas Brothers
11 Linkin Park - Faint — Linkin Park
12 Come On Get Higher — Matt Nathanson
13 Blurry — Puddle of Mudd
14 Tongue Tied — October Fall
15 Untouched — The Veronicas
16 Can You Feel The Love Tonight — Disney
17 Shattered — O.A.R.
18 Memories — Eisley
19 Should've Said No — Taylor Swift
20 Moondance — Nightwish
21 Holler Back — The Lost Trailers
22 Better Life — Keith Urban
23 Tonight I Wanna Cry — Keith Urban
24 Drowning — Backstreet Boys
25 You'll Think of Me — Keith Urban
26 Days Go By — Keith Urban
27 Picture To Burn — Taylor Swift
28 Linkin Park - Numb — Linkin Park
29 Trying To Stop You Leaving — Dierks Bently
30 Viva La Vida — Coldplay
31 Here It Goes Again — OK Go
32 A Thousand Miles — Vanessa Carlton
33 One Song Glory — RENT
34 My Darkest Hour — Scary Kids Scaring Kids
35 Slide — Goo Goo Dolls
36 Crush — David Archuleta
37 Light On — David Cook
38 Mercy — Duffy
39 Facedown — Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
40 False Pretense — Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
41 Your Guardian Angel — Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
42 Cat and Mouse — Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
43 Cinderella — Britney Spears
44 Everything You Want — Vertical Horizon
45 Black Balloon — Goo Goo Dolls
46 Overprotected — Britney Spears
47 I'll Be — Edwin Mccain
48 Pretty Girl — Sugarcult
49 Someday — Nickelback
50 Iris — Goo Goo Dolls
51 Insatiable — Darren Hayes
52 Seventeen Forever — Metro Station
53 Into the night — Santana
54 Lollipop (Candyman) — Aqua

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United States :: Washington :: Spokane

Desktop Calendar

GoosesGirl93 — Fri, 7 Nov 2008 02:28:17 -0800

I have this NaNoWriMo calendar on my laptop's desktop. It is cool looking, and it has the word count for each day along with pithy ideas to help you make progress or least to make you laugh. Samantha asked me to post the link, so here it is:

http://kiriska.deviantart.com/art/NaNoWriMo-Calendar-2008-101851781

There are also a bunch of desktop calendars in the "Reaching 50,000" forum you can browse through if you are looking for important work to do instead of writing your novel. :)

Keep it up...we've been working for almost a week!!
Heidi

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