Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Passing the torch

Lokispants — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:14:03 -0700

Hey Everbody.

I know that you're all looking forward to another year of fun and insanity. Both Nikki Frankenberger and myself certainly are!

However, we've been having a discussion about the upcoming NaNoWriMo. We've decided that - although we love doing NaNo - we just don't have the time any more to do our novels, and be Municipal Liaison at the same time.

If anyone would like to take up the mantle of ML for our region, send an email to Lindsey Grant (lindsey_grant@lettersandlight.org).

We both enjoyed being your ML last year, and we look forward to seeing you all again for this year!
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Down The Pants of Insanity

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Rocking Out In The Regional Lounge

bojacky — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:21:26 -0700

...
.....

Time to rock out now...
Only 3 and half months to go!

Oh, maybe it's not quite time to rock out, then.
I will quietly exit!
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Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Colds, coughs, and electric blankets...

ShuntheNonBeliever — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:33:45 -0700

Damn 15 degree days... if I could I wouldn't leave my warm house, even my cat has a cold!
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Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Tis the season

MillietheMushy — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 15:02:23 -0800

Merry Christmas to everyone for yesterday!! I hope you all had a great day!

So time to spill. What did you get??
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I may not look like much but deep down...I'm a power ranger.

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

So...how 'bout that weather???

ShuntheNonBeliever — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:39:57 -0800

Yay for seemingly meaningless titles! Really though, what have you all been up to since nano finished??? Have you been good and sctually finished your story or have you been bitten by the procrastination bug??? Please share...i'm so bored!
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Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Christmas wish list

Lokispants — Tue, 4 Dec 2007 14:05:30 -0800

What's on yours? I haven't really thought about mine this year. There's a couple things that i just thought of though.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and 300 DVDs

Heh. Short list isn't it. I'm sure there's something else. But i just can't think of it.
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Down The Pants of Insanity

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

TGIO!

Nikki Frankenberger — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:47:31 -0800

We're in the home stretch. Two and a bit days to go, and the wordcounts are looming above our heads like giant flying saucers presumably full of aliens with scary pointy proby devices.

Unless of course you're one of those people who have already finished. In that case, congrats.

As Lokispants previously mentioned, the Thank God It's Over party will be held on Saturday the 1st of December at 7pm.

We will be meeting outside Woodstock which is located in Civic, just next to Garema Place. Mmm. Pizza.

If you're a few minutes late and we're not all waiting outside, we'll be inside at a table booked under the name of 'NaNo.'.

As usual, let us know here if you think you'll be able to make it (unless you've already said so in the other thread).

Hope to see a bunch of y'all on Saturday. Until then, good luck with your novels, folks. :)
----------
2005 - The Horizon Wakes - *winner*
2006 - Redundant - *winner*
2007 - Better Living Through Travesty Fair Paradise
** Hurling into the Void **

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

And the rest, was silence.

Lokispants — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:25:22 -0800

We've been discussing the TGIO party (Thank God It's Over for those that don't want to think). We're planning it for Saturday the 1st at 7pm. We were also thinking of having it at Woodstock.

What I'm going to need people to do, is post here if they can make that time. We'll need to book pretty soon, so if you can let us know as soon as possible if you can make it on Saturday the 1st, we'd appreciate it.

And keep on writing!
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Down The Pants of Insanity

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

And the last words were: The End

Lokispants — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:20:56 -0800

It's November 30th. The last day of NaNoWriMo. I'd like to thank all of the NaNoers who participated in our region this year. We all met some new faces and some of us caught up with some old friends. No matter the outcome, I hope that everyone enjoyed their writing overall.

I'd like to congratulate everyone on their efforts this year.

Good work everyone!
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Down The Pants of Insanity

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

A Departing Writer

Denor — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:36:06 -0800

Hi all!

My laptop power is about to run out (this has been a recurring theme; my first meetup featured me with a dead-battery laptop) so I can't make this as long as I'd like, but: Thanks!

Specifically, I got a lot of helpful advice in my "A Visiting Writer" thread, and the meetup was a lot of fun. I ended up all over the city (well, Kingston and Civic mainly, but still!) and did a lot of writing in exotic locales like The National Library :)

So, thanks again for the warm welcome, and tomorrow I'm off to my homeland, where I shall tell the tales of the friendly Australian Wrimos, and leave out the parts where I am eaten alive by flies :)

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Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

The online haunts thread!

Lyradi — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:10:20 -0700

So!

LiveJournal, Facebook, MySpace, Blogspot, MSN, Yahoo, AIM... did i miss any?

Here's the place to whack all your contact details and online hang outs, coz you all know you want everyone to stalk you when we're in the grip of NaNo procrastination, right?

links, of course, are good :) As are warnings? yeah...
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Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

The end approacheth! Weekly meeting take four.

Nikki Frankenberger — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:33:24 -0800

Hope everyone is doing much better on their respective novels than I am at this moment.

The weekly meeting will be held in the same venue and time as last week.

Being Mama's Trattoria at 2pm on Sunday the 25th of November

If I should happen to spend the entire meeting not talking and instead scribbling furiously, it's not because I'm rude.

Well, I am rude, but on this occasion it's not the reason. On this occasion, it's because of my powerful desire to not be thwarted when I'm only halfway through my novel.

I'll pause for a moment to insert an inevitable pep talk:

Yay! You can do it, everyone! You rock! Strive for greatness, etc.!

And this week, I shall also remember to bring stickers for those of you that remain stickerless.

Write away, folks. Hope to see some elevated wordcounts by Sunday.
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2005 - The Horizon Wakes - *winner*
2006 - Redundant - *winner*
2007 - Better Living Through Travesty Fair Paradise
** Hurling into the Void **

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

November Meeting Number Three: The Revenge of November Meeting

Nikki Frankenberger — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 23:32:30 -0800

Good day to all ye novelists of Canberra!

We've decided that this week's meeting will be held on Sunday the 18th of November.

And just for something different (hah, I made a funny) it will be held at Mama's Trattoria. At 2pm.

Oh, and there shall be stickers for the stickerless masses.
----------
2005 - The Horizon Wakes - *winner*
2006 - Redundant - *winner*
2007 - Better Living Through Travesty Fair Paradise
** Hurling into the Void **

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Where are you up to?

Lokispants — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:30:04 -0800

So, we're about halfway through the month. I'm noticing that some people aren't quite as far in their word counts as they'd like to be. Looks like I'll have to get the whip out at the next meeting. Heh. >:)

But that's not what this thread is about!

I'm wondering how your stories are going. Looking at your word count, has your story progressed to where you think it should be? Personally, I'm somewhat ahead of schedule. Things have happened in my novel which i was hoping would happen later. So are your novels where they should be story wise?
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Down The Pants of Insanity

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

South Siders?

pleasant_disarray — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:55:11 -0800

I'm just wondering if there's enough people on the south side to warrant a week day write in at Tuggeranong or Woden. I'm down in Gordon... any other people in the Tugg/Woden area interested in a write in?
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"Sometimes success demands a certain refined insanity." - Swallow, The Keeping Place by Isobelle Carmody

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

A Visiting Writer

Denor — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:36:03 -0700

Hello all!

I've done Nano for three years, and I've been on-and-off planning this year's novel for months. Then I got the news: There was a travel opportunity for me in my office. I could spend the second half of November in Canberra. Who could turn such an opportunity down? Not I!

But, I thought, I would have to give up my Nano. Because how could I travel tens of thousands of miles to the other side of the earth and then cloister myself in a hotel room writing, not seeing the sights, not meeting the people?

An epiphany struck just yesterday: National Novel Writing Month's name isn't fitting, because it's International! I'd be going out into the town, I'd be meeting new people and yet still writing my novel, because I could go to the write-ins!

So I've decided to go with my original plan and participate this year. I've affiliated myself with the region and, luck willing and word-count having been increased by a 16-hour plane ride, I'll be writing with you there :)

Any tips for a poorly-traveled American? :)
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Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Looking for some instant inspiration?

light.sweet.crude — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:29:08 -0800

Hi everyone,

I have been on a roll since I started using a template that makes each page look like a page in a paperback novel.

Lulu.com is a website that takes your manuscript and turns it into a printed, beautifully bound little (or big) book. They encourage you to submit your manuscript using one of their templates so you can see exactly how the pages will look when it's printed up.

I downloaded the small paperback template and cut & paste my NaNo novel into it, and something about seeing it all dressed up like a Real Novel has inspired me to keep going and going and going. I've been staying up waaaaay too late every night writing but I can't help myself.

I blogged about this (also doing NaBloPoMo) the other day and put the link in...

http://lightsweetcrude.typepad.com/light_sweet_crude/2007/11/day-eleven....

Cheers
Trish
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Trish
(www.lightsweetcrude.typepad.com)

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Weekday write-ins

Lyradi — Wed, 7 Nov 2007 02:50:25 -0800

So, i figured I'd get organised and provide an actual thread for people with no daytime job/education/life to discuss getting together to write.

Maybe we should start with anyone who's interested posting a reply stating that they are (!), what days/times suit them best, and which town center they are closest to. Also, which town center/suburbs are they willing/able to travel to.

Sound ok? then we can sort whatever out from there.

me personally? interested, but very restricted in where i can go - hence the big interest in doing weekday ones that (potentially) i could host (if my folks dont mind me having people over, which they theoretically shouldnt).

WHERE: I'm closest to Belco, but probably cant even go that far. Dunlop, anyone?
DAYS: All days except fridays, i guess. well, MAYBE fridays, if i can convince my mother that i can go somewhere and get her to take me there.
TIMES: anywhere between maybe 10:30 and 3. any earlier and i'll just have to get up earlier so i can do my writing earlier and be presentable in time for company. Its do-able.
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Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

suggestion for write-ins

Lyradi — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:16:29 -0800

just a random thought from my medicated mind...

we have a big group here. and its hard to find a day when all of us are free, and even if we do, its hard to find a place big enough to write at.

so, why dont we say that we have two write ins per weekend, and those who can do saturdays go to the sturday, the sunday people do that, and if you can make both, bonus for you?

just a thought. i personally wouldnt mind it if the group is smaller, and it would make it easier for everyone to attend if both days were options. also if you miss one you could go to the other, cafes wont die at the sight of us, etc etc.

just an idea. anyone got opinions?
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Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

The Second November Meeting

Nikki Frankenberger — Wed, 7 Nov 2007 00:45:19 -0800

Alrighty folks, so we seem to have come to a decision here.

The next weekly meeting will be held on Saturday the 10th of November at 2pm and should go until about 4pm.

As it went pretty well there last week, we will be meeting at Mama's Trattoria in Garema Place. We should be sitting in a large and loud group outside, but if it's cold we'll adjourn to the interior for coffees, cakes and assorted doo-dads (byo stimulating conversation).

Just in case you needed any extra persuasion to be joining us, We've got stickers for EVERYONE!.

If peoples want a write-in to take place after the meeting, this is completely do-able, but unfortunately myself and Lokispants will be unable to attend it due to other commitments later on Saturday afternoon. I still haven't heard a report on how last week's food court write-o-rama went. Did the wordcounts go through the roof? :)

And as previously mentioned by Lokispants, if interested parties would like to organise write-ins for during the week, we'll shower you with hugs and bunnies. And possibly extra stickers.

Frankenberger loves you all!

----------
2005 - The Horizon Wakes - *winner*
2006 - Redundant - *winner*
2007 - Better Living Through Travesty Fair Paradise
** Hurling into the Void **

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Please read, Peoples. This is Important.

Nikki Frankenberger — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 14:29:47 -0800

Hey everyone,

I'd just like to let everyone know that this is an all ages forum and as such, no adult material or profanity is allowed. I've noticed the odd swear word or sexual reference creeping into some of the posts, and I know it's a drag, but that sort of stuff isn't allowed in the regional forums. It's a new sort of rule, and they probably should have put little sun icons on all the regional forums to display it more clearly, but there it is.

As of yet my municipal liasoning powers aren't advanced enough to edit other people's posts, so please keep an eye on what you say, folks.

Thanks!
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2005 - The Horizon Wakes - *winner*
2006 - Redundant - *winner*
2007 - Better Living Through Travesty Fair Paradise
** Hurling into the Void **

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Saturday

Lokispants — Sun, 4 Nov 2007 01:16:42 -0800

So, we were thinking of having our next meeting on Saturday the 10th. It will probably be at 2pm like the one today.

I'd like you to post if you want to have a Saturday meeting, or if you don't want to have a Saturday meeting. We'll post something on Wednesday depending on how many are for it, versus how many are against it.

Ok... go.
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Down The Pants of Insanity

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Strangest things you've come across or done in the writing of your novel

Kyii — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 03:34:33 -0800

Well i start this thread purely on a whim, brought on by a scary dose of Power rock and Hammerfall. Yes it's a sex scene, strangest thing for me, in the fantasy novel i'm writing i have a sex scene going on to power rock music. Yes my MC's are banging each other to Hammerfall, could it get any worse, no... i guess not....

Well just wanted to see what other random or strange moment in writing this years novel everyone else has come across or something from last year too is fine. My last years one was my character screaming at me he wasn't gay and then admitting that he was at the end of a long week, he also admitted to liking the james blunt music i played writing battle scenes.

So anyone? and random things happen or strange things happen whislt writing a novel..?

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~Kyii
*******
~Age is only a Number, Immaturity is a choice~
~You can't wait for Inspiration, you have to go after it with a club~
~Power rock - the real way to get a woman into bed~
*******

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

Laptop

tgreywords — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:17:14 -0700

Hello, fellow Wrimos --

I am offering a laptop, free of charge, to a needy party. But a caveat or two, first.

Grey is a Toshiba laptop and he's about ten years old. Which means heavy and that he's not internet-compatible. But he's perfect for someone who just wants to use Word. He only has a 3.5'' floppy drive, so you might need to hunt up some discs or network him with another computer.

He runs Win 95 quite well and has a placid personality. He's served me well for many, many years and I conceived three Nano novels upon his keyboard, as well as countless ideas and stories.

But now that I have upgraded, Grey needs a new home. He's not damaged in any way, but the port to his power supply may need a bit of cleaning. He's also a little dusty from storage.

First in, best dressed, but only if you promise to be good to him. He's got me through some rough times and deserves love.

-Stacy
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2004- Rubion's Shadow (winner)
2005- Expressive Blue (winner)
2006- In Silence Reign (winner)
2007- The Stormgift (winner)
2008 - TBA!

Australia & New Zealand :: Canberra & the ACT

The first November meeting!

Nikki Frankenberger — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:00:48 -0700

Me and the pants of a certain mischievous Norse deity (aka el Presidente, aka my dork of a boyfriend) have discussed the details for our first November meeting and Write-in and we've come up with a plan that will hopefully suit most.

We have decided that meeting in the afternoon would probably be the best option, as lunch is too darned expensive anyhoo. However, cafes in the area don't tend to accomodate large groups but we definitely know someone who can.

SO!

We will meet at the Silver Cushion in Garema Place at 2pm and from there we'll probably move over to Mama's Trattoria for coffees, beverages, light meal-type things etc. This could change if we find a better venue.

The Write-in will be held at 3pm and for this, we'll meet back at the silver cushion once more to avoid any lost authors wandering forlornly around the city centre. We'll figure out a venue from there. Hopefully. maybe we'll invade Borders. Maybe we'll decimate Starbucks (maybe not) or maybe we'll chase the crowds away from Cafe Essen with cattle prods.

If you arrive late and we aren't where we're supposed to be, please give Lokispants a ring on 0438 211 463 and he will yell coordinates at you down the phone (or simply tell you where we are. Depending on his mood/sugar intake)

I hope to see you all there. :)
----------
2005 - The Horizon Wakes - *winner*
2006 - Redundant - *winner*
2007 - Better Living Through Travesty Fair Paradise
** Hurling into the Void **