Okay, everyone, let's sit in a circle, take a deep breath, and introduce ourselves.

Name: Phil

SN: Philzors

NaNo history: Known about it since 2003, first officially tried and won in 2005, and followed up in 2006 and (hopefully) 2007.

Plots of previous novels: High fantasy, sword-heavy, magic-lite in 2005. In 2006...yeah, I have no clue what I wrote in 2006, but it was 50,000 words, so there.

This year's novel: In tribute to a few of my favorite fantasy/sci-fi authors who have passed this year (Madeleine L'Engle, Robert Jordan, Leigh Eddings :/ ) I'm continuing my high fantasy, sword-heavy, not-so-much-magic-lite anymore series. Intrepid hero has some new stuff to do, and some of it might actually be boring! Woo!

Interesting stuff: I'm a trivia nerd, several-time College Bowl participant, and I always try and catch Jeopardy whenever I can. (Totally rocked that Brain Bus action last week--and all I got was a [strike]lousy[/strike] sweet T-shirt.) I'm also an English major, and I read. A lot.

Dare: My last dare was fairly geeky, but I have an even better one this time. Write a scene based on a real fortune cookie you've received (ie. You will go to a strange party and meet someone important-yes, I actually got that one)

Name: Robert

Screen name: ColorOfSakura

NaNo History: First heard about it in 2005 and participated, but didn't win. Won in 2006 and hoping to hit it again this year!

Plots of previous novels [if applicable]: High fantasy and sci fi (2005); Fantasy, militarism, and political corruption (2006)

This year's novel: I've currently titled it "Project GANYMEDE" as a filler title and don't know much else outside of that. I know it's going to contain multiple parallel universes and travel between them.

Interesting things to know about me: I'm a gaming nerd, especially music gaming and RPGs. I like to read and write novels in my spare time (I'm actually currently writing the 3rd book of my Mists of Centarium book series), and I also am working towards becoming a professional DJ. And yeah, Phil and I went and tried the Jeopardy Challenge when it was here in Springfield last week. I won myself a hat, haha.

Dare for the novel: Take one chapter in your novel and base it around one of your favorite (vocal) songs. If you do chapter titles, make the chapter title the title of the song. Also include the lyrics of the song as dialogue between characters.

Name: Karen

Screen name: take2max

NaNo History: I jumped on the bandwagon in 2005 and I've been completely hooked ever since. I won both years (last year BARELY), and I'm hoping to make it three for three this year.

Plots of previous novels: The novel in 2005 was so bad that I'm not even sure WHAT the plot was. I used that year as an excuse to simply write garbage - true and utter garbage. However, the experience liberated me and now I feel I CAN write without constantly looking over my shoulder. Two thousand and five was also the year I started blogging, and posting on a regular basis has gotten me into the habit of writing daily. Last year's plot was about a female cop who lost her son in a fire - or did she? She spends the majority of the novel chasing a ghost and then the last 1/3 of the novel running from the ghost.

This year's novel: I honestly don't have a clue. I'd like to write something a bit off-the-wall and risqué: one, because I feel comfortable with that kind of writing and two, it's what interests me. So really, anything goes at this point but I'll most likely stick to either mystery or romantic suspense.

Interesting things to know about me: I've been married for 17 years, have two teenage sons and feel like a grandma compared to ya'll. *smile* I graduated from MSU (then SMSU) in 2003 with a Technical writing major/Creative writing minor (yo Gayle!) and have been spending the past four years web designing. (Go figure). I currently design and maintain websites for several area public schools and work out of my home. And, I love my job. *smile*

Dare for the novel: One of your characters reaches into his/her mailbox and pulls out something sinister and/or disturbing.

Here we go! *geeks out*

Name: Sarah

Screen Name: Alecya Giovanni

NaNo History: I've been doing it since 2005 and this year am the yin to Gayle's yang for the group (that's how it works right Gayle, we agreed you're Yang?) I won in a pretty quick amount of time in 2005 and hit somewhere in the neighborhood of 30,000 last year, but had no internet and thus, no way to prove it. Most of you from last year won't know me, as I missed all the write in's because of a prior problem regarding being let out of the house (they kept me under lock and key. No! Really!) That's not going to be a problem this year.

Plots of previous novels: 2005 a lit fic about growing up in a fmily of women and learning to accept change. Set at Christmas. Last year, a peice of crud based on working in a restaurant and not being sure whether or not your best friend has a cruch on you. (they do, by the way)

This Year's Novel: A Lit Fic peice (suprise!) about discoveing who you are through internet surveys.

Interesting (ish) things about me: I'm also a double in Creative and Technical writing at MSU. I also work full time and carry a full load and when I'm free I sleep and karaoke. If you like karaoke, talk to me. No, really. I met my wonderful finacee in a short story class at school (who says writing doesn't = romance?) and we aren't getting married anytime as soon as Gayle and THE BOY but it doesn't stop me from obsessively planning and making poor Gayle look like she isn't interested in her wedding (she is. I promise) I want to get Two Master's and a doctorate. I want to teach. I love to cook. Wine is my friend and I have the coolest truck ever. I am the queen of asides (can't you tell?)

Dare for the Novel: some of my old one's are fun, but let's say there's a child with an unusual imaginary friend. Like a weird animal. A vulture or something. "This is my friend Jimmy. He's a barracuda, at night, when the boogey man comes, he bites him."

Resounding Nano endoresement: Writing will make you happy. It is cathartic. It is fun. Writing brought me the love of my life. NaNo brought me my best friend. It is going to make my career. That said, let the writing commence!

Name: Jason

Screen name: daleandelisdad

NaNo History: Did it in 2004 and 2005 and won both times. Planned to do it last year but life got in the way so I took the year off. Back to win and annoy Sarah.

Plots of previous novels [if applicable]: First was a coming of age story about how you can't always believe what you hear about someone else and the second was a Christian serial killer novel.

This year's novel: Elliott "Bon" Scott is seventeen years old and about to graduate from high school. He is also the best baseball player anyone in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania has ever seen. Pro scouts have been following him since he was in little league and he is singly responsible for two high school coaches refusing to play his team unless he used a wooden bat instead of a metal one.

He's also young, opinionated and stubborn. He has a good heart but he's also hardened by a drive to be a baseball superstar. He knows he can be the best ever. He has no problem telling others that. He also has a dream to be a live long member of the Philadelphia Phillies...but he will likely be drafted by someone else.

Will Bon be the best ever? Will he sign with whoever drafts him if it's not Philadelphia? Will the money corrupt him? How will he respond to growing up under the microscope?

Most of all...when Bon finally walks away from the game...he be the best there ever was? Will he be "The One"?

Interesting things to know about me: Let's see...I went to hell and back since 2005. I have two wonderful sons and a beautiful fiancee who will be my wife in May 2008. A little girl who didn't have a daddy now calls me daddy. I like Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends.

Dare for the novel: I'm not a big fan of the NaNo dares, honestly. I like to just throw up quirky things as I think of them and work them into the novel. If I had to write a dare, it would be to name a one-scene character after a fellow Springfield writer and have them utter some profound truth that alters the mindset of a major character.

Name: Chan

Screen name: Chan!

NaNo History: My singaporean friend introduced me to this lovely 50,000 word race in 2004. So this will be my fourth nano in a row! So far, I've won. We'll see if I can do this in record time (for me).

Plots of previous novels [if applicable]: The first was a sci-fi story based off of an intricate dream I had as a young teen. Oh, it turned out rotten! The second was pure fantasy, also rotten. The third was a total revamp of that fantasy plot, still rotten (and I'm STILL rewriting that dern thing! It's a LITTLE better, least.)

This year's novel: This year I plan on roughing the second novel in the series of the previous mentioned fantasy plot. The characters are a bit older and instead of the plot circling around a civil war, it will be based on a war between countries. I always have fun where mayhem and character hardship is involved! (And some of my best plot points 'happen' when it comes to random writing. Gambatte to me and all involved!

Interesting things to know about me: Mrr? I'm a misfit malcontent who is strong on gay/lesbian rights, world peace, solving world hunger, and killing TV's. I have a four-year-old son and a vicious fur dragon that keep my household jumping. Hm? Oh... coffee.... *drool* Oh, yeah, I've also always wanted to write novels since I was a kid. Nano has helped immensely with word discipline.

So look out, word counts! Here we come!

Name: Jayke, aKa Renga

Screen name: Jayke (Go figure, eh?)

NaNo History: I started in '05 with a bunch of other freshmen from drury, and we're all still around. Won that year, and had a bit of a meltdown midway through last year and only came up with 16k across three books. Doesn't count, unfortuntately.

Plots of previous novels [if applicable]: '05 was a long version of a short story about a soldier coming home from Iraq with Post traumatic stress syndrome. Fun stuff, eh? Last year... well..> i'm ignoring it ever happened.

This year's novel: Uuh.... O.o. I'm either fleshing out the backstory of a TCG that I'm making decent progress towards getting published, writing a novel about a prison guard that gets attached to an inmate on death row or re-writing a mash-up of Hercules and The Karate Kid set in modern times to the whole MMA thing going around. Not sure yet.

Interesting things to know about me: I like caffeene, but since beginning to learn accupressure and eastern medicine, have capped the amount that I take in. I'm a Writing Major with a Global Studies and Philosophy minor at Drury and I'm a twin.

Dare: One of your characters is hard of hearing, but only when someone starts a scentence with the letter "T", and only until they start another scentence with "T".

Name: Cathy

Screen name: damagecat

NaNo History: Participated in 2004 without completing my 'novel'. Won in 2006.

Previous plots: My single win was a vampire story that was much better in my head than in a Word document. 'nough said

This year's novel: Group of teen thrill killers led by a charismatic boy with an ulterior motive and the detective who will stop at nothing to capture the murderous band.

Interesting things about me: Displaced health care worker forced into a career change after twenty-two years. I have requested applications to Drury and MSU, and plan to thoroughly consider my options. I am an avid if not necessarily talented digital photographer and spend many hours manipulating images in Photoshop.

Dare: Nothing springs to mind. I reserve the option to edit this post and add a dare at a later date.

Name: Morwen

Screen Name: MorwenElda

NaNo History: Last year was my first Nano. I won. So this will be my second year and hopefully my second win.

Plot of Previous Novel: Follows an elf named Adrian as she witnesses the extinction of all magical creatures by humans.

This Year's Novel: No idea yet. I know that I want to have a completed novel at the end of November, and that I want it to have vampires. I also know that should I finish early, I will be working on a 15k piece I call Under Three Suns that I plan to enter into a Sci-Fi Fantasy contest.

Interesting Things About Me: Half of the people I'm close friends with in town, I actually met online in various chat rooms (that should go to show how little life I have). I am still in the process of recovering from my third surgery and am a bit of a psychological wreck this year, and thus plan to use nano as stress relief. I'm on a hiatus from school, unsure of when I'll go back. Ideally I'd like a major in Creative Writing and a technical degree in diagnostic sonography.

Name: Valorie

Screen Name: Valierran

NaNo History / Plot of Previous Novels: Started in 2003 with a bdsm vampire novel, started another vampire novel in 04, this time with a pyro, and decided to write with my cowriter instead. I did the same thing in 05, but managed to write alone last year with a Mercedes Lackey Valdemar spinoff that reached 50k but alas, didn't reach its -end-. Still planning on finishing that someday. Not -everything- I/we write is smut. Sometimes we're building -up- to the smut.

This Year's Novel: I'm wavering between an erotic dark fantasy, and a mundane romance. I've spent so long planning each that I may just pick one of the dozens of cast aside starts from my cowriter and I and just use it as a springboard to do god knows what.

Interesting Things About Me: Long distance romance with cowriter, partner, fiance, whatever word comes to mind probably fits. The hardest part of NaNo for me is writing alone, since he and I write together every night and weekend that we possibly can. Can't -wait- till that boy gets outta gee... :::cough::: grad school in December and we can BOTH do NaNo next year. w00t!

Dare: One of your characters hears their name on the radio, doesn't matter how, can be a birthday announcement, commercial, whatever, and has a compulsive need to find out who is responsible for aforementioned mention.

Name: Diane

Screen Name: H. Diane Tucker (forgot to use a fake one, like my usual one: NatureWoodchuck)

NaNo History: Entered and won 2005 and 2006 (I got the word counts but didn't finish either book yet). Some friends bet me in fall of 2005 that I couldn't write (I think they wanted a writing partner and win a free dinner) I smoked 'em with a win after 75,000 words. (I never did get my dinner for winning. *sniff*) Last year, I bought myself a congratulatory dinner.

Plots: 2005: "Tightlipped in Rootwad" is a yet-to-be-finished tale of two feuding Ozark towns, one a small but thriving village with a famous historic mansion, the other a growing city with a lot of lake business. 2006 "Taking Care of Goldy" another yet-to-be-finished novel, this time about a college graduate (with a degree in anthropology) with a lack luster temp job getting an inspirational life lesson by taking care of a yellow tom cat and a goldfish. (By the way Gayle, by coincidence the protagonist in the TCoG starts the story spending the night inside of a large crate in a back alley. So, I can understand the whole pink striped galoshes thing... )

This year's novel: I have a lot of ideas and I'm trying to narrow it down to one of two: One is about a successful writer who suffers from book promo burnout 'getting away from all the stress' by escaping to a friend's cabin in the mountains. After three days of almost complete isolation she is talking to sock puppets. The socks become more and more elaborately 'dressed' as they help her make up wild stories about the mundane residents enjoying the 'off season' peace of the nearby resort town. The other story is set in feudal Eastern Europe where refugees from several coastal area start a new village called "TreSeSa" at the foot of ominous mountains. Their history and legends about the mountains, its treasures, dangers and dragons wind through stories by gypsy travelers from the village......and it gets murky from there. Considering I can't seem to finish stories but do a great job at getting word counts, I'm mostly considering which one of these will keep me writing, possibly finishing, without getting bogged down by TOO MANY CHARACTERS and minor details.

Interesting things about me: I am a natural/historical 'interpreter' at a local state park, have a wonderful 16 year old daughter, 3 cats, a bunny, and various outside animals. I spend most of the year so bogged down by administrative duties and park programs that I can hardly wait for the fall when I can take some vacation time and 'goof off'. I consider writing the best way to focus my fantasies, dreams, and desire for revenge against the insanity of working for state government into a form of closure.

Dare: My first year I dared someone to join me in putting 'pea salad' somewhere into a food event and the pea salad took over the plot of my book.....really! However, this year, my dare is to make up a fake song, book, or movie title and have that show up somewhere: The first year "RoadKill for Dinner" was a song playing on the radio while the protagonist was driving to a trailer court. The second year, the protagonist was reading one of her mom's murder mystery books (with a needlecraft specialist) called 'Killing Crochet". You get the idea, right?

Diane
Daydreaming with a purpose!

Name: Austin

Screen Name: Tested

NaNo History: 2005 and 2006. Both failures. Third time's the charm.

Plots: Oh my, oh my, my plots. My first year I came up with a really, really random plot, and none of it made any sense at all. It was actually a decent plot, but it was random and short. I found myself at a dead end quickly. My second year, I decided to just go more random - very, very bad idea. It also was full of fail.

This year's novel: This year I'm leaning back and forth between a fantasy war and a sort of suspense/thriller/horror/mystery thing. I can write more about the latter, but it won't be as interesting. Maybe I'll finish in 2 weeks and do both. ^.^

Interesting things about me: I'm gonig to be writing this in large part of my Nintendo DS. Hooray for touchscreen keyboards. It isn't as fast as, say, a laptop, but, um, I don't own a laptop, which is a bit of a deterrent.

Dare: Have a character make references to "the squirrel incident." Don't explain what this is.

Name: Joely

joelysueburkhart

This is my first year trying NaNo, so I'm excited to be here and a bit nervous! My novel will be some form of fantasy/romance that I'm plotting out this month. Looking forward to getting to know you all.

Joely

"...and thus plan to use nano as stress relief."

I'm bloody envious that someone can use this event to actually UNWIND! My kudos!

All right! Nanovirgin! I'm trying to recruit two other people this year to join nano for the first time as well.

I hope this works... I tried posting in another forum and the post has not showed up yet... Well, here goes.

Name: Amy

Screen name: Leighmur

NaNo History: Done and won in both 2005 and 2006.

Plots of previous novels [if applicable]:
2005 was all told from the perspective of giant squid. In real life, biologists have in fact captured live giant squid larvae, but try though they might, they were unable to keep them alive. My novel explores why they were unable to keep the squid alive and what happens when they do actually manage to save one and raise it in captivity. My novel was also inspired by the (then current) news of the first-ever video taken of a live giant squid in the ocean. I am very fond of my squid universe and would like to return to it this year.
2006 was called Mannequin Gazebo, for no reason in particular. The only thing I knew about it going in was the title. Thus, it is rather random, but I did somehow involve gazebos and mannequins. It also involved plants gone wrong, a wedding interrupted, and a one-legged kangaroo who was a manifestation of childhood. Like I said, very random, but it does have some salvageable bits.

This year's novel: I plan on returning underwater to my cephalopod friends. My tale from 2005 is not finished.

Interesting things to know about me: I am a Drury student double-majoring in Writing and Biology. As you might expect, I am interested in writing and biology. This November will be really busy for me because I actually have a job (two, in fact). I will be unavailable most Saturdays, which is unfortunate. Though I will be busier than ever this time around, I will try my hardest to do this thing and see it through.

Dare for the novel: Your main character is plagued by a fungus yet unknown to medical science. The severity and location of the fungus are up to you.

Well, the site is finally being cooperative. Time for me to introduce myself, then, before it has another spazz.

Name: Dana

Screen name: taidhbhse, which is pronounced THEV-shee and means 'Ghost or spirit of the dead' in Irish. I tend to use it online because it's never taken. ;)

NaNo History: This is the first year I've had the opportunity to try this, although I've known about it for years.

This year's novel:I'm uncomfortable speaking about any WIP. It just kills it. I'm not being cagey on purpose, just protecting my Muse.

Interesting things to know about me: I have left hemiplegic spastic cerebral palsy. Meaning my left side doesn't function properly. Along with this comes arthritis and fatigue issues. NaNo is going to be a real physical and mental challenge for me, but I figure if I can do this I can do anything. And if I don't win I'll still have a chunk more on my novel that I'd not have gotten otherwise. I'm half excited, half terrified!

My husband and I don't drive, so meet-ups will be challenging. I'm going to the one at the library tomorrow, for a short time. I'm looking forward to meeting y'all!

Name: Sarah

Screen name: Angelic Assassin

Answers to: Sarah, hey long haired girl

NaNo history: Last year was my first year, I made it to 26k before my computer crashed (fortunately I had it backed up)

Plots of previous: Um, well, a soap opera is simpler than last year's nano plot

This year's: I'm torn between an alternate universe video game fanfic (no need to worry about naming main characters or world building) or something about a group of pirates that by all logic should not work but somehow manage it, the mage would get sea sick, the cook would try to kill the tinkerer and so on and so forth.

Interesting things to know about me: Um, I studied French, Japanese and Latin in high school, and I intend to be a foreign language major. I'm originally from St. Louis at one point durring my time there, I bragged that I could go for a month or more without ever geting in a car or on a bus or anything else that didn't move by my own power.

Dares: This is something I did in a novel that I worked on all through my Sophomore year in high school, have a character hanging from the side of a cliff (if bonus points are possible, bonus points if said cliff hanger is at the end of a chapter)

Name: Jared

Screen name: Styphon

NaNo History: heard about NaNoWriMo in 2003, but didn't try it due to computer problems; 2004 started well, but there was a computer crash a week or so in; 2005, lacking my own computer, I used other peoples computers and a floppy disk... got halfway there before my floppy disk putzed out and knocked me back to 12k and I promptly quit; 2006, other people's computers were hard to get my hands on, but I got over 10k hand-writing in a notebook dagnabit!

Plots of previous novels [if applicable]: going by year...
2004: mostly a random collection of plot stubs that I was going to weave together... mostly Mystic China/Nightbane, or, to put it in non-Palladium terms, a bizarre cross of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, John Woo martial arts/gun craziness (my main character was the god of guns, a minor position in the Chinese Celestial Bureaucracy), and White Wolf's World of Darkness (for the much darker supernatural flavor). That doesn't really explain things at all, does it?
2005: vaguely connected with the first novel, now focusing on the gun god's daughter and an anthropomorphic mutant lion with vague King Arthur connotations involving a post-apocalyptic New Rome (founded by two wolf brothers raised by a human farmer... Remus named the city after his brother after Romulus fellin battle against the local tentacle beasts). For those who know Palladium, there was a LOT of After the Bomb involved in that one... also a disturbing amount of furry porn once that mink character managed to work her way in, but let's not go there.
2006: alternate universe craziness! The gun god runs afoul of his alternate, who ran into some Very Bad Guys who ripped his wings off and got him kicked out of the Bureaucracy... or that was the plan anyway, though I spent the entire time on side plots and set up. XP

This year's novel: not sure... I'd intended to do a prequel involving the gun god's mother and just where the gun god came from, but I've got bupkiss for that idea and random furry characters are popping into my head trying to drag me into After the Bomb craziness again. And there's this pesky plot bunny bugging me about how American wizards haven't been developed in Harry Potter, but I really shouldn't do that since all I've got to go on is second hand knowledge and the first book. Oh, and there was a plot involving the gun god's necromancer son that fell through somewhere else that I might throw into the novel for closure or something...

Interesting things to know about me: Obviously, I spend a lot of my time on RPGs... unfortunately I can never really find anyone to play with, so I end up with characters stewing inside my head and nothing but the occasional bit of livejournal rp to let them out. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea if I sacrificed my time every November to appease them.

Dare for the novel: I don't have one... maybe later.

Name: Some of you may know me as Holland. In fact, I'm pretty sure everyone does, who knows me. If not, you probably know me as some kid who has a really unusual name, but can't remember the name. I've gotten that too.

Screen Name: As is fairly evident, I am The Damned Scholar. Don't ask me why.

NaNo History: I've at least quasi-attempted it each of three years prior, but never made 50,000. On the other hand, I have three really decent works in progress for when I get around to finishing them.

Previous Plots: Last year I did an elaboration on a myth (Isis and Osiris) and a ghost/crime story.

This Year: An urban fantasy story, possibly multiple small ones with the same setting/characters.

Dare: Give five of the characters in your novel matching hats. They all happen to wear the hats at the same time on occasion, but only when all five are present.

If you want to know interesting things about me, you'll have to find out yourself. Or bribe those people also doing NaNo whom I know. Cookies make for wonderful bribes.

Name: Janet

Screen name: jandav

NaNo History: First heard of Nano last um October I guess it was and didn’t take much arm twisting to get me to join. So um yeah one year down so far. I have a shiny new laptop this year so I could, ideally go to a write in or two (couldn’t last year) and then what do you know the “lovely” boss reworks my schedule and I work weekends now L

Plots of previous novels [if applicable]: a disjointed work about a woman who contracts HIV back in the beginning of the HIV days (before blood bank testing). The story is not told in chronological order but through various memories and flashbacks of her family.

This year's novel: not one iota of a clue! I have a very short one page piece that demanded to be written out a few months back and I’m seriously tinkering with trying to figure out exactly who the characters are and why they demanded that I tell just one glimpse of their story.

Interesting things to know about me: My laundry talks to me? I am blonde and all that being a stereotypical blonde encompasses, I’m the one they write the jokes about :D My writing forte is actually writing short essay type dillyhoppers on random senseless things and taking everyday life and capturing just small tidbits that many of us tend to overlook.

Dare for the novel: um yeah well I’ll get back to you on that

Name: Joanna

Screenname: Sheherezade

NaNo History: I tried to do it last year but got swamped with homework and rehearsal and so I couldn't finish.

Plots of Previous Novels: I didn't do this for NaNo, but once I tried to wrtie something about vampires. And it sucked. No pun intended.

This year's novel: I have no idea yet. Thinking...

Interesting things to know about me: I'm a junior in high school. Even more than writing my absolute passion is theater. I've been doing it for thirteen years. All my family's friends are lots and lots of crazy irreverent gay men and loud obnoxious women. It's a good life.

Dare for the novel: Involve a frozen turkey somehow. This is a very important frozen turke that is critical to the plotline.

Joanna

Name: Andrew
Screen Name: Stalos

NaNo History: Third attempt. I first tried in 2003, I believe. Got to 12k words (or so) before I gave up and allowed life to take over. Attempted last year, made it to maybe 4k (?) before stopping because of life. I think I'm certifiably insane for even thinking of trying it this year.

Previous plots: None, really.

This year: Something epic. Maybe with superheroes, ninja, fantasy, swords, magic, and undead penguins.

Things to know about me: MSU student. Senior, majoring in accounting and minoring in Economics. Have a term paper about the recent economic development of China to write this semester, too. Work part-time, sell things on eBay for a family friend, and am president of a student organization (Tabletop Gaming Club, for the win)

Name: Bobbi

Screen Name: byoung31599

This will be my first year doing this, I actually just found out about it from writing.com and thought it would be fun. Wish me luck everyone!!

This yrs novel: I don't know yet what I will be writing about, something to do with romance or mystery genre. Since those are my favorites.

Name: Casye

Screen name: Writing_is_life (because, well, it is)

NaNo History: I discovered NaNo on November 2 of last year (2006) and jumped in. I got to 48k and, with 4 hours to midnight, my computer crashed. No joke. But I'm back to win this year!

Plots of previous novels [if applicable]: Um...basically a gothic romance. It...involved vampires. And a voodoo womna from New Orleans. But it took place in New York City. Salvagable, I think, but still pretty bad.

This year's novel: It's kind of a social commentary on how much people suck...in the form of a psychopath's "Most Dangerous Game"-esque gore-fest. I'm really excited about it.

Interesting things to know about me: I'm a senior at Central, in the devilish IB programme, which involves ridiculously difficult coursework and a demon librarian with a community service deadline sheet. I love theatre, espcially musical and am currently in Children of Eden at my school. It doesn't finish until November 10th, so the first week of NaNo may be rough. Also, I play the violin.

Dare for the novel: Hmmm...make a specific color belong to one character. Be sure to mention how that character wears clothes in that color or has eyes/hair that color. (eg: Patrick's lime green turtleneck matched his eyes perfectly. Unfortunately, after he got off the roller coster, it matched his pallor too.)

^.^ Casye

Name: Matt

Screen name: mattsand (clever eh?)

NaNo History: none. zero. nada. zilch.

Basically, I keep trying to write a novel, and keep bogging down around 50-60k words. I'm hoping this will provide that ever elusive incentive to aim "lower" and complete something. And maybe make writing fun again. Oh, and to give me something to do while drinking coffee by the gallon.

Name: David

Screen Name: mr.wren

NaNo History: Well, to be honest I had no idea anything like this existed... until yesterday when someone mentioned it off a forum and recommended I check it out. So... I guess I'm a NaNo noob, a first timer, never before opened, freshness still sealed in, kind of writer. The competition sounds like a blast, and I'll be impressed with myself for even attempting this thing!

Plots of previous novels [if applicable]: Currently not applicable... oh well. Something to look forward to for next year!

This year's novel: Absolutely no clue. I'm just going to sit down and the first idea that comes to mind is what I'm going to chase. Well, until the idea changes; then I'll change the story with it.

Interesting things to know about me: Well, I don't know how truly "interesting" some things are about me; but there are a couple traits that I really like about myself. I enjoy seeing other people enjoy themselves, IE. making people laugh or just having a good time. I can't help but try to incorporate a little comedy into everything I do. Seriously! I mean I don't know if it's simply an "interesting thing" about me or a medical condition. Some times it works better then others =) I like appealing to a large audience and I like making them think, laugh, and enjoy the process the whole time. I've never studied writing, or taken any classes on it. Well, with the small exception of high school English; but to be fair that was more reading famous books with future boss suck-up training hidden in between.

Dare for the novel: To have your inspiration come from something different every day and incorporate that into the novel somehow. For example; if you were craving a hamburger that day make your characters plan a cook out, or eat a hamburger at a completely inappropriate time, or they get a pet and name it hamburger. Who knows where it might lead you!

Name: Emily

Screen Name: Tigeress

Nano History: Won 05 with "Adventures of Captain Robinson", fantasy, and 06 "The Unhappy Mechanic", sci fi

Plots: female pirate captain trying to change the world, female mechanic on a military space station

This year's novel: Confessions of a Twenty Year Old Ultra Virgin. The story of a junior studying abroad in Greece who needs to rant her frustration about the people she's with. Sort of based in real life with situations blown way out of proportion

Interesting things: Won Nano in 5 days last year. Won't happen again.

I'm not going to have much time this year considering my school work load and the fact that I'll be in Spain for a week without a computer.

I MISS EVERYBODY! I WANT TO DRINK COKE AND WRITE WHILE SCARING SMALL CHILDREN!!

I’m ldygrey (that’s a lower case L and not an upper case I..it gets confused sometimes). I’m kinda old in years, but young at heart, and I’ve wanted to try this for a couple of years. I think I finally have a novel (of some sort) in my head….word count is another story, so to speak. Good luck to all.

Hi,

I registered in 2004 but never tried this before. Always too busy with school. I graduated this spring so now I have no excuse.

This year's novel: You know how so many sci fi and fantasy stories are about one person with a special destiny, a chosen one? Well, they're all true. And it's the same guy. He's getting tired of it.

things to know about me: I got a MA in English at MSU and I directed the movie Motor Home from Hell which premiered at the Moxie this March. I haven't put it out on DVD yet because I haven't figured out how to sell it but whatever.

Dare for the novel: Two characters reveal their emotional state and desires in a conversation that doesn't openly mention anything emotional. Two guys talking about sports or work, two strangers at a bus stop, whatever. It has to have an emotional impact and neither character is consciously trying to affect the other, it just happens like that.