Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

[STICKY] Kick-Off Party (KOP)

koibittomegami — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:57:56 -0700

It is never too early to start this thread. In fact, the sooner the better.

For those who don't know - the Kick-Off party usually happens one or two weeks before NaNoWriMo offically starts. Its to get the excitement levels up, find out who else in the area is doing NaNo this year, and be able to put a face to a username.

This will be happening IN MID-LATE OCTOBER so if you have that area free in your calendar right now, please try and keep it that way for the next two weeks if you want to come along.

These are the usual happenings:
We start around 10-11am so we have enough time to bludge around and act crazy
We do this somewhere in or near the CBD so everyone is able to get to the location easily enough.
We all bring along a little something in regards to food or drink (I've never met one person able to feed a hoarde like ours by themselves ;) )

Now the usual questions appear:
Would you prefer a weekend or a week-day?
History serves to favour weekends but this is open to change if enough people prefer a weekday.

Where would you rather go? A park, a library, a coffee-house or 'other'
Roma Street Parklands has served as our meeting place for the last 3 or 4 KOPs but we've had requests for libraries and coffee houses or even the botanic gardens before.

Do you have somewhere specific in mind for a meet-up place? And do they allow 20+ loud and odd people randomly dropping in on them?
We tried dropping in on Fat Tony's in Fortitude Valley for our very first year back when we had about 15 people show up. They liked us until we stopped ordering food ;)

Gimme some suggestions, folks. This is a decision that'll be made by majority vote.
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Ellie
co-Municipal Liaison for Brisbane, Australia
NaNo Title: tba
Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

Blogs, Chat, art sites...

koibittomegami — Mon, 6 Oct 2008 03:15:26 -0700

We usually have one of these but it didn't quite click until a minute ago that it was missing from the forums.

So, if you have:

BLOGS: Livejournal, Blogspot, Blogger etc
IM Chat: MSN, Yahoo, Skype, AIM, etc
ART SITE: DeviantArt, Storm-Artists, RedBubble etc...

That you wouldn't mind having people friend you at - post it here.

For me:
Blog: LiveJournal = bishounenjunkie
IM: Skype = ellie.tennyson (just put in 'nanowrimo' in the friend request add notes)
Art Site: DeviantArt = cookiekitty-stock
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Ellie
co-Municipal Liaison for Brisbane, Australia
NaNo Title: tba
Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

Creative Writing Group!

Kess — Sun, 5 Oct 2008 00:26:55 -0700

Hello everyone!

Just can't wait for November to get those writerly juices going? You're in luck!

A new creative writing group is starting up on Friday 10th October. It caters for writers of all abilities, from beginners to experts. It will be an exploration of writing in a relaxed atmosphere, through exercises, discussions and workshopping.

Here are the details:

Where: The American Bookstore, Elizabeth Street, Brisbane CBD
When: Friday 10th October, 5:30pm - 6:45pm

The group is free - all you need to bring is paper and a pen!

A little about me - I have a degree in creative writing and English literature, and I ran a creative writing group for a year in the UK. I moved to Brisbane earlier this year, and as I couldn't find another group in the area, decided to start up my own.

Everyone's welcome - I hope to see you there!
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~Mel
co-ML for Brisbane, Australia
2007 - Queen of Diamonds
2008 - Shuriken

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

A couple of questions

honeyelle — Fri, 3 Oct 2008 03:44:31 -0700

Hi all.

I thought I'd use my contacts - YOU! - to get my assignment done. Basically I'm doing a journalism subject this semester (I hate it) and it requires me to do news stories. I'm doing this one on Nano. If some people would be so kind enough to answer my questions, relating specifically to the Brisbane branch, I would greatly appreciate it. (Especially if the MLs could do this for me. You have a position of power, which lecturers like in our stories.)

However, I do need real names. (It is supposed to be able to be published in the Courier Mail.) If you feel uncomfortable putting them up here - email them to me at: honeyelle [at] gmail [dot] com . If you don't want to do either, which is the last, last, LAST option, I'll just have to deal with a username.

Questions:
1) Who participates?
2) What is NaNoWriMo?
3) Where is it held?
4) When is it held?
5) Why does it occur?
6) What events are taking place?
7) How many people are participating this year?
8) What is the point? - V. similar to question 5 I noticed.
9) How do you participate?
10) When did it start?
11) How did it start?
12) When did you personally begin?
-- Any further comments you would like to let the public know.

Also, anyone have a photo of a Nano related photo, that I could use? If not, take one with a book in hand? (I can't use me... although, I can use my sister. Mwahaha.)

I'm going to be using some stuff from the Official website and labelling it Chris Baty in the story.

But please, asap answers. (Monday night at the latest.)

Thank you so much! THANK YOU!
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07: ... *fails*
08: Twisted Fate (spec fic)

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

Introductions

koibittomegami — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:43:02 -0700

We do this every year not only to welcome our new writers in to the fold (the hazing rituals start at the kick-off party, newbies!) but also to find old friends from previous years and give a big ol' pat on the back to the returning crew for still being so masochistic.

So let's start, shall we?

Name: Ellie.
Age: 25 years old
Locale: Living out on the bayside.
Genre: This year, as every year, my story is going to change genres. I'm heading towards Suspense/Thriller this year so please remember to keep all sharp items away from me at the kick-off =P

I'm returning, yet again, as one of the Municipal Liaisons for Brisbane, Australia. That means if you have any problems with something or someone in the region, if you want a thread stickied, you want help setting up a write-in or social meet etc... you can ask me or one of the crew :)

I'm also going to be the big bad wolf in some respects, deleting threads if they're considered inappropriate and handing out warnings if need be. (Keep in mind, we've NEVER had to do that in this region but it is something to keep in mind).

Neeeeeeeeeeext? :)
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Ellie
co-Municipal Liaison for Brisbane, Australia
NaNo Title: tba
Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

Goodies for November

koibittomegami — Sat, 4 Oct 2008 00:44:20 -0700

So, there are going to be things us ML-types are going to give out at the KOP but there are also things you will need/want for November that you can download and use or print-off yourselves :)

First off... the one you've all been waiting for!

This years NaNoWriMo Report Card!!. This one is even more in-depth and helps you keep track of a lot more things.
This link was pilfered from TruckPoetry.net so go check it out for things like Character Creators and Plot Outline helpers :)

Don't want to be disturbed while writing? Whack a Door Hanger on your door to let potential disturbers of the peace know you mean business.

Book Title Generator is a good place to start if you are currently 'untitled'.

Now 2 of these are tech related and not really 'goodies' but stay tuned for a few more things being added here :)
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Ellie
co-Municipal Liaison for Brisbane, Australia
NaNo Title: tba
Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

The Dare Thread

honeyelle — Fri, 3 Oct 2008 19:05:52 -0700

Ah! I figured out which topic was missing! The Dares! Repost and fill it up! :D
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07: ... *fails*
08: If Only Superheroes

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

GAME: Word Association

koibittomegami — Fri, 3 Oct 2008 05:09:32 -0700

So for those of you looking to procrastinate a little during NaNo, the 'GAME' threads are going to be where you hide for hours, no doubt ;)

So lets start off with word association.
Y'all should know the rules by now. No names of people are allowed. Someone says a word, you reply with a word that either has a similar meaning or has the same theme.

Example (similar meaning):
Copy - Mimic. Both have the same meaning to copy or immitate something else.

Example (same theme):
Sea - sand. Both have something to do with the beach.

Starting with...

BACON!!! ^_^
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Ellie
co-Municipal Liaison for Brisbane, Australia
NaNo Title: tba
Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

Word Wars?

abba12 — Tue, 7 Oct 2008 17:55:54 -0700

MSN word wars got me through last years NaNo, and since I'm being insane and possibly aiming for 100k this year, I'd love to have some locals for WWs

abba12_the_first@hotmail.com

If you have AIM or something post that here too, I don't use mine lol.
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NaNo 07 - A Single White Plumeria - 50,032 (Bloody hell iit was close!)
NaNo 08 - ...uh, help...

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

The "Official" LiveJournal User Thread

PoxyReport — Tue, 7 Oct 2008 19:25:42 -0700

Because a large number of us seem to have them every year (and because I'm avoiding an assignment) I though I'd start "The Official LiveJournal User Thread".

I'm "poxy_report" over there (I know, it's going to be difficult to keep track), who are you?
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2007: Wizards Don't Cry (failed)
2008: TBA

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

Songs for nano

Princess de — Fri, 3 Oct 2008 05:39:11 -0700

ok so im looking for a collection ofsongs that eople think are best for writing nano to, like anything u listen to when u write

xoxox de
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xoxo princess de xoxo

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

NaNo for kids

Belmakor — Tue, 7 Oct 2008 13:30:36 -0700

Hi all,

I decided it could be fun if I involved my children in this crazy endeavour. My oldest two boys (age 7 and 9-going-on-10) are home-schooled. Of course, 50,000 words would be way too much of an ask for them, so what I'm proposing they do is to have them aim to achieve writing a 3,000 word story during the month. While I managed to sell the idea to my oldest boy in a matter of a minute (he wants to aim for 5,000 words so it is exactly 10% of what Daddy is trying to do, but I'm not convinced that is a realistic target for him and I want him to succeed) I haven't yet convinced the next youngest, but will keep trying.

Basically, I will do the following:

Set the official target at 3,000 words - average of 100 per day
Will use the rest of this month to help them plan the story
Planning will use a simplified version of the "Snowflake Method" linked elsewhere in these forums

I'd be interested in thoughts/ideas/suggestions from other NaNo participants, and I'd be especially interested if there are any other parents out there with kids who might be interested in doing something similar.
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Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

Nano-nights

Lady V — Sat, 4 Oct 2008 00:39:09 -0700

Now that AFK has closed, where are we all going to meet up for coffee and chatting and not enough writing?
Does anyone know somewhere that will let a bunch of us hang out and set up laptops?

Sigh. I miss AFK.

Lady V

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Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

Welcome Brissie WriMos!

koibittomegami — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:37:20 -0700

Well, 2008 brings another year for fun and games, hilarity, making new friends... and another chance to write something amazing.

Now that NaNoWriMo is turning 10 years old there are special things happening in the wonderful world of NaNo (besides the somewhat scarily excited faces on the coffee-shop staff whenever you walk by) and you've all decided once again to jump back in the handbasket ready to go through severe caffeine addiction, sleep deprivation, and RSI.

However, no one ever does this journey alone. After all, we need asylum staff to give us our meds and remind us that we are, in fact, rather insane to keep doing this to ourselves each and every year ;) We've got a whole region dedicated to our group as well as the surrounding areas - and whenever someone is in need, we're all here to give a helping hand and lift each other out of our slumps.

So why did you all sign-up? Or why did you sign-up again, if you are back for another year?
Did the thrill just get to much for you? Or the tag-line of it being a somewhat 'impossible' deadline? Or are you here because you have a book just burning inside to get written once and for all?

Give us your stories. Past, present and (hopefully) future ones as well.

Why are you a WriMo and what are your hopes for this year?

Cheers,
Ellie
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Ellie
co-Municipal Liaison for Brisbane, Australia
NaNo Title: tba
Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

Necessities

honeyelle — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:18:38 -0700

Like the KOP, it is never to early to start planning. ... Actually I wasn't talking about the story/plot/characters, I was talking about the necessities needed to be able to write. What do you always have around you to write? What are you using this year? Is it different from last year?

I'll post my own list, when I actually figure it out. But for starters:

-- MP3 with specific playlist
-- Alcohol/coffee (I'm 18 this year! :D )
-- Facebook
-- Livejournal
-- Nano forums
-- Inspiring wallpaper on desktop
-- A3 paper for note-taking/mindmapping
-- Car Keys + Car for the...
-- Gym/Swimming Pool for a break
-- BrisWrimo events.

And I've moved onto things I need to do to keep motivated - no! Just what you keep around you. :D
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07: ... *fails*
08: Twisted Fate (spec fic)

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

How do they check that you haven't started before the 1st of November?

websinthe — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:25:51 -0700

Is there some specific mechanism by which they can check or is it all just an honour system?

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Websinthe (Kieran)
My work: http://kieran-tales.blogspot.com
My Blog: http://websinthe.blogspot.com
My Comic: http://websinthe.thewebcomic.com
Genre: Suspense/Sci-Fi