Breaking News

It's great to have everyone back!

As you may have noticed, today we're experiencing some "site unavailable" issues. We're working on resolving it. Don't worry, your profiles, settings, and posts are all safe.

The good news is that we're using a new hosting system with scalable servers and we can add more capacity at the drop of a hat (as long as "by the drop of a hat" you mean a hat that takes an hour or so to land). The next week or so are going to be a good test of the new systems and our expected site loads. We're going to be tooling and tweaking those demands as we go along so that things will go smoothly come November 1st.

So please bear with us for the next few days as we work to get things up and working peak efficiency.

We'll try to keep things updated on our twitter feed, so if you do get an unavailable message, we'll be keeping folks informed over there.

Cybele
Site Wrangler

Welcome to the eleventh-annual NaNoWriMo! Thanks to Dan Duvall's back-to-back all-nighters, and the staff's growing predilection for sugar-free Red Bull, noveling season has now officially opened!

As always post-launch, there are hundred little things on the site that are miscoded, broken, confused, angry, or lost. If you see some wayward web bits or encounter any orphaned text, please let us know over in the Tech Help and Site Bug Reports forum. Our team of bug squishers (and by "team," we mean the slightly delirious Dan) are standing by!

If you haven't already, check out the news about us moving to a brand-new server system this year. Dan will be fine-tuning the clouds over the coming weeks to get everything in speedy shape for November 1.

Hooray! We're so glad you're here!

See you in the forums!

Chris
NaNoWriMo

We are gathering testimonials from library staff members that have hosted NaNoWriMo or YWP events in their library. We're rolling out a library outreach program this fall, and your input will go a long way towards wooing the folks at these fine institutions.

If you’re able to contribute a short overview of your experience, please let us know by June 26, and we will get in touch with more information.

Thanks to everyone who sent in a photograph of your writing space! These snapshots of your writing lives are better than any of us here at headquarters could have ever imagined. Keep them coming!

Eleven minutes ‘til the weekend!

Lindsey

We broke ground this week on all kinds of exciting improvements to the site and store. Many thanks to our 2008 donors for bringing us ever-closer to achieving Drupal-programming perfection.

We are also working on perfecting our Blog!

In the spirit of Kyle Cassidy's Where I Write project, we're asking you to send in photos of yourself in your creative space. Send them in by June 19 with a short description of what makes your space so inspiring, and we'll post the submissions on the NaNoWriMo Blog throughout the summer.

Wondering if 'Drupaly' is an adjective,

Lindsey

It's been a time of great excitements over here in NaNoLand. The biggest news: Our Young Writers Program Director Tavia got married to her exceedingly handsome celebrity chef boyfriend John over the weekend. We all cried. And ate. Then cried some more because the food was so good and we'd eaten too much.

To celebrate Tavia's wedding, we're holding a crazy sale for the next two days on Script Frenzy items. Travel mugs for $10! Long-sleeve tees for $17! We'll also be picking an order from the next 48 hours at random and including a package of marsupial-themed chocolates I brought back with me from my sabbatical.

I'm not entirely sure what the sale has to do with Tavia's wedding, but I know there's a connection there somewhere.

Your friend,

Chris
NaNoWriMo

Hi Wrimos!

We at NaNoWriMo HQ received an email this morning informing us that NaNoWriMo.org has been named one of Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers! How cool is that?

I went to the site to see where exactly we were ranked; alas, the list is alphabetical, placing us at 45 of 101. (Too bad our name doesn't start with a double 'a,' eh?)

Nevertheless, we are wicked excited and honored to be grouped with such greats as Merriam-Webster (our favorite online dictionary!), MediaBistro (a personal fave from my grad school days) and Drew's Script-O-Rama (highly recommended over on Script Frenzy).

You can check out the article here, along with the complete list of best sites!

Going to visit all 101,

Lindsey

Hi Wrimos,

The issue with the forums has been resolved. Hooray! Thanks to Dan and Heather for their fast, efficient handiwork.

And there is more good news: I have already heard from two Wrimos who made it to the semifinals of the ABNA! If you made it to the next round too, email me!

Or, if you just have a great tale of triumph relating to NaNoWriMo, send it on in.

Nothing makes me happier in the off-season than hearing from you!

Going to check my inbox,
Lindsey

Hello Wrimos!

Many of you may have noticed that the NaNo forums are not updating. We're aware of the issue, and appreciate your patience as we work on the fix.

In other news, I have learned that there were even more ABNA quarterfinalists! The following NaNo-novelists also made it through:

stereotomy
mamavalerius
timeturner

Congratulations!

Off to wrestle a forums robot,
Lindsey

Hi Wrimos!

I am popping in from Frenzy Land to say 'hi' and share some good tidings.

We have heard from three Wrimos who made it to the quarterfinals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novelists Award contest. Three! Check out the Q&A on the homepage to learn more about their exciting journeys to the top.

We have also received our first 'yes' RSVP from a pep talker for NaNo 2009! She's been high on the list of popular votes for 2008 and 2009, and she wrote in this week to say she would contribute her encouragement and advice to you this very November! That is all I can say for now. The excitement and secrecy is positively agonizing.

Don't forget to suggest your favorite contemporary author for consideration!

Off to concoct a script plot that will equal (or best!) my NaNo-novel,

Lindsey

Hello Wrimos!

I hope you're having a banner off-season. While you're relaxing, think about the following:

• Who wants to relax anyway? Write a script in a month! Script Frenzy is right around the corner. The site has launched, and we're waiting for you to sign up!
• As you are sitting down to do your taxes, are you wishing you had more deductible donations? We can help! Come on over to the Donation Station and start collecting those tax deductions for 2010!
• When November does finally roll around, whose pep do you want to read? We're seeking published authors who will contribute their encouragement to your noveling journey. Drop by the Blog and add your two cents.

Hoping for Michael Chabon,
Lindsey