United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

NaNo-Day 18 Eighteen is my lucky number, and maybe it'll be yours too!

lollybob818 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:53:22 -0800

Total Word Count:
Daily:

I've been thinking that it would be fabulous to have a Saturday Write-In. Like I said in previous posts, write-ins seem to be where I get my work done. I was thinking that something a little more centrally located might entice more writers out of their November nests, and out into the world. What do you think? While I don't really have a time picked out I would like to do this. My hours are flexible, but I do not want to have it last more than 4 hours (I simply cant drink that much tea, sorry). So please let me know if this is something you all would like to do.

Also, for those of you who did not receive stickers for NaNo this year (you would have gotten them at the Kick-Off party, or the first Write-In) please let me know that you need one. You were a participant this year too, and should get something, if small, to show for it. We can arrange to get it to you by mail, and, or, I can simply hold on to them.

Please do not post your email addresses/addresses here, if this is something you are interested in, send me a private message (or ChocolateQueen) and we'll make sure to mail them to you. Chances are that due to the busy November schedule we'll probably get to mailing them out around the first of December, so please be patient with us. We're not trying to horde all the stickers. :)

Also, I've been noticing your word counts going up! Wow! Did you know that presently our word average is kicking Portland's butt? We average 200 some odd words a person more than they do. That's not to say that we're in the clear. With so many people writing over there, that number can change in a minute. For those of you who are specifically competing in the Battle of the Bridges (the Van/Portland word war) please keep up the good work! Also, check out the write or die website, it's surprisingly motivational, and it's made to help you get the wordcount you need. It's also FREE! The link should be in one of the previous posts, I believe CallMeMo wrote about it, and I know the link has been posted once or twice.

Other than that, I shall let you be!

----------
To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

NaNo-Day 17 Only 13 Days Left! How cool!

lollybob818 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:06:25 -0800

Total:
Daily:

I've been suffering from something called computer-itis. While I've gotten in my word count, most of it has been by hand (over the past few days) because my computer decided to take a vacation mid-NaNo. Never has there been a time when it's been more true, each word counts.

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

New Traditions Taking Hold

lollybob818 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:57:11 -0800

What new traditions have decided to apply themselves this year? Is this your first year writing a novel? What do you think might reappear next year? Hee that rhymed. How about you returnees? What has stuck?

My biggest new tradition is the inability to work well at home, and or alone. I seem to write my best when I'm out of the house, and when I'm in the company of other writers. Also, during NaNo, I have grown accustomed to having hot coco nearby, as well as some very good Earl Grey. I don't know what it is about writing that attracts me to the succulent yumminess of those drinks, but you can hardly find me anywhere during the month of Nov. when I don't have one in my hand. Oh, and I've become neurotic about gum chewing. Who knows why?
----------
To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Nano Day 16 - Skating Downhill!

aprildiamond — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:42:56 -0800

Hey, everyone, do you feel like you're skating downhill now with your novel?

Actually, I had a great - stupid - scary - skate downhill about 25 years ago when I first moved to Vancouver. I have been a street-skater (roller skates, not blades, not board) and so when I moved here, I just kept skating, mostly in the neighborhood where I lived at that time, on Evergreen near Grand. One time I found myself at the top of the Grand hill, facing South, looking at the Columbia River in the distance (this was before the whole riverbank was lined with condos). So, from the top, the hill didn't look any steeper than 24th Avenue in Yakima, which I had skated down numerous times. I started rolling.

I immediately knew it was a mistake - I was on the street, not the sidewalk, because it's smoother and I can't jump curbs. So suddenly I was rolling FAST. I was wearing black parachute pants (remember those?) and a sleeveless shirt with the emblem of the New Mexico state flag. I recall this, because I was thinking of how scraped up I would be when I tumbled. I was zooming by now. I tried slowing down the usual way, by turning the back skate sideways, all it did was stutter but didn't slow me one tiny bit - so I jammed my toe stopper into the asphalt. That may have reduced my speed from 20 mph to 19-1/2 mph, much more tolerable! I was rapidly approaching Mill Plain, praying, "change, light, change, light!" and just in the nick of time, the light changed to green - the only time I have ever seen a car at that intersection NOT run a red light - and I sailed through, then made a big loop into the parking lot across the street (way before the ARCO was there), thanking God and thanking God; and also slightly angry, because although I didn't fall and get all scraped up, nor did I collide with a car: but NO ONE SAW ME! Man! I made this fantastic run down a steep slope unwitnessed!

Needless to say, that was my last skate down a big hill... but my point, relating to Nano is, by now your story should be picking up so much momentum that you can't stop it, even if you want.

----------
Dana
http://danabooks.8k.com
Nano 2008: The Red Cloak
Nano 2007: Nightmares of Murder
NaNo 2006: No One Like You
NaNo 2005: Existing
NaNo 2004: All These Things
NaNo 2003: Kissing a Dead Man

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

NaNo-Day 16 Troublemaking Characters

lollybob818 — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:15:55 -0800

Total:
Daily:

Here comes week 3, are you ready? For most people this will be a breezy week, and the words will flow. For those of you who haven't reached the 2 week wall it's very possible you'll be reaching the 3 week wall. Don't fret. There are still write-ins available, as well as a nifty website (discovered by another wrimo) called write or die! For those of you who work best with encouragement and people around you this is a prime option. http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html Check it out! It totally rocks.

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Fund Raising (even while broke!)

lollybob818 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:57:54 -0700

administration purposes at the moment
----------
To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Dares

lollybob818 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:21:45 -0700

Take a 10 minute period of time and use it to create a story. We call this a writing warm up.

Taken from this thread in the main forums: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3000035

This can be done at home or during a write in. Here are some examples from a pre-nano write in:

Please post the dare that you used, and then post your writing. Do not edit. No matter how much you want to edit you shouldn't. Internal editors are being fired for the month of November, bringing un-employment percentages to an all time high. You can re-hire them on December 1st.

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

What's your last sentence?

Chocolatequeen — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:18:22 -0800

We've got our daily total thread going, and that's lots of fun. I want to know more about what you people are writing though! I can see the numbers going up, so I know you are writing... and I'm just dying to know a little bit more. So, for this thread you copy your current "last sentence" and paste it here. It'll give us a brief glimpse of your story world--sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, always interesting.

Here's mine: They were not among company here who must be impressed by their adherence to propriety; if they could not laugh here, where could they?
----------

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Write Ins

lollybob818 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:54:31 -0700

(Nancy stepping in to fill in the blank thread)

Write-ins are an integral part of NaNo. There's something about sitting down in a library or cafe with several other Wrimos that just gets the words flowing. Here's what to expect and look forward to:

1. Being away from home distractions. We all know how easy it is to get sidetracked when you're writing at home. There's the laundry to be done, dishes to be washed, the phone is ringing, the cat wants more food... Write-ins take you away from all of that for a few hours so you can just concentrate on writing.

2. Word wars. It sounds a bit scary, but when you challenge someone else to write more, you write more too. "Hey, the next person to write 1000 words gets a piece of chocolate," can be a pretty good motivation at a write-in.

3. Good coffee/tea/pastries. Write-ins are usually held at cafes, and we all know how yummy the goodies are there. In the past, the library write-ins had food as well. The library has changed some of its policies about serving food to patrons, so that's up in the air.

4. On the subject of the library... You're surrounded by reference material! If you have a question about anything, there's likely to be a book nearby that can help you. I'm planning to have a box full of things checked out from other branches as well, to supplement the supply.

5. New this year: The Plot Grab-bag. Lynds and I are working together to create color coded cards with plot ideas, character ideas, and setting ideas. If you get stuck, you can pull a card out of the bag and see if it un-sticks you.

So that's what a write-in does for your NaNovel. Since they're so helpful, we're hoping to have several a week, scattered across the county. I'll be keeping an up to date list of locations and times in this top post, so you can see at a glance where you can go.

If you decide to volunteer please reply via post here, and have the
following information included:

Date(s): (indicate if this will be a weekly or a one time thing)
Location: (address as well)
Who: (your first name)
Time:
Please also be aware that it is important to have at least one year of participation under your belt to participate. Age will not matter for a host, however commitment will. Please be willing to participate at the event you are requesting at least 1 time a week (with the exception of T-giving week).

We'll post this to our Google calendar within 1-2 days (if we're backlogged), but it will usually be on within a few hours of the volunteer's post.

Vancouver Write-ins

Click here to view Vancouver's calendar of Events

Panera on 164th. Mondays from 2:00-4:30. Led by Nancy
Cafe Sip-n-Play. 1:30-3:30 Mondays. Led by Ris.
Washougal Community Library. Saturday, 11/1 from 6:00 to midnight, Friday 11/7, 11/14, and 11/21 from 6-10, Saturday 11/29 from 6:00-midnight
Brewed Awakenings 164th Avenue. 5:00-9:30 or so on Fridays (except T-Giving Week). Led by Lyndsey
----------
To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

NaNo-Day 11 Do not read books during NaNo. Especially long ones.

lollybob818 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:33:13 -0800

Daily:
Total:

Heya! Bet you thought you were going to get through today without seeing another post from me! Well you thought right! Apparently I am a computer automated generation of random words. If this makes sense to you please take a nap. If this is gibberish, keep writing, you haven't tapped into that creative sub-thought yet. :)

I finally finished the darned book that I randomly picked up on a break from my novel 3 days ago. It was fantastic, and actually, I think I might be able to use some of the period parts to help me further shape my already colorful world.

Question of the day: What NaNo sin have you indulged in? Have you created shuddering characters, in order to get more w... wh.... wooords? Or someone with a speech impediment who has to repeat what they say often? How about a character who... you fill in the blank. My Mortal Combat sin was reading a very engaging, and crazy fantasy!

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Halfway today!

aprildiamond — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:45:42 -0800

We're halfway in time... are you halfway in word count? Yayyyy!

My story recently took an unexpected turn - it has a life of its own, and I'm just documenting it!

What do you have to do to be a writer? Write, right? Right! Write-write-write!

Dana
----------
Dana
http://danabooks.8k.com
Nano 2008: The Red Cloak
Nano 2007: Nightmares of Murder
NaNo 2006: No One Like You
NaNo 2005: Existing
NaNo 2004: All These Things
NaNo 2003: Kissing a Dead Man

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

NaNo-Day 14 TGIFantastic Writing Day

lollybob818 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:22:27 -0800

Today:
Total:

Two full weeks of writing, and what have you got to show for it? Hopefully a little bit. So by midnight tonight you should have at least: 23,338 words (if you're on course). My theory is, that the best writing happens when you're cramming. This was true in College/High School, and is still true today. Once you get yourself in that "zone" and push through it (with whatever your goal is) it seems to zoom by. Well, we have some motivation don't we? Remember at the beginning of November (or just before) there was a post here in the Vancouver Forum about a writing challenge between Vancouver and Portland to see who could win a word war? So far our average is up only a small portion from Portland (because we rock!), but we would do well to create a larger margin between us, in order to win. Here's the challenge: Every time you sit down to write, give yourself a quota of words. Do your very best to get to this quota. Whether it is 300 words, or 3000 it should help. Also, if you have a few spare minutes, and are thinking of cutting your writing short, as to give you a few more minutes to take a shower, or get ready for school/work, maybe put in 100 more words. See if you can stretch your count as much as possible.

Remember, even though November is National Novel Writing Month, it's also National Get Your Word Count Month. There is so much good quality story in your head that more words couldn't hurt. The time for editing will come, and that's when you can really sweat the little things.

Oh, and one of the little things is: For those of us who complete a novel/50k this year, The Office of Letters and Light has partnered with a great organization that is willing to bind our very first copy of our novel. While it's not publishing, there is nothing like seeing your work bound together. You won't qualify if you don't reach your word count, so do your best to get there.

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Words

lollybob818 — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:19:18 -0800

It occurred to me that my novel has been dumbed down, because the only words I can think of quickly enough are often he, she, it, is, where, there, hair, pair... And the likes. Usually they're no more than 6 leters, and have a simple meaning. In order to combat this silliness I figured I would offer a place for everyone to get their word on.

--pantheon • \PAN-thee-ahn\ • noun

1 : a temple dedicated to all the gods; also : the gods of a people

*2 : a group of illustrious persons

--temerity · \tə-ˈmer-ə-tē\ · (noun)

1: unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger or opposition: rashness, recklessness

2: an act or instance of temerity

--felicitous · \fi-ˈli-sə-təs\ · (adj.)

1: very well suited or expressed : APT
2 :PLEASANT, DELIGHTFUL

--abnegation · "ab-ni-'gA-sh&n · (noun)

: DENIAL; especially : SELF-DENIAL

--adulatory · \ˌa-jə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē\ · (adj.)

: in a manner that flatters or admires excessively or slavishly

--invective · in-'vek-tiv · (noun)

: harsh or insulting words

--ossify · 'äs-&-"fI · (verb)

1: to become or change into bone or bony tissue

2: to become or make hardened or set in one's ways

Do you have a word you'd like to add here?
----------
To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

NaNo-Day 13 You rock!

lollybob818 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:14:09 -0800

Daily:
Total:

Anything going on crazy in your life? We're nearly at the halfway mark and you've been postponing this or that for 2 weeks. What have you let go? Does your toothbrush even remember you? How about your family? How are you managing? Feel free to share your craziness here.

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Nano Day 12: 20,000 words?

aprildiamond — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:04:29 -0800

So are you there yet? Today we should be nearing the 20,000 mark. I'm not quite there, but am looking forward to a day in the near future when I can catch up after my low word count days, which are becoming increasingly popular with my super-busy schedule this month!

Write-write-write!

Dana

"The Red Cloak"
----------
Dana
http://danabooks.8k.com
Nano 2008: The Red Cloak
Nano 2007: Nightmares of Murder
NaNo 2006: No One Like You
NaNo 2005: Existing
NaNo 2004: All These Things
NaNo 2003: Kissing a Dead Man

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Missed Connections

lollybob818 — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:19:14 -0800

Heya, for those who are intending on writing at Brewed Awakenings today, I will be late. I have to run a few small errands between now and then I should be there around 3:45 (or before). I think this will only really effect Poetmage, but for anyone who shows up, I will be there, but will be running late. Please do not flee because you don't see me.

Thanks!
----------
To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Out of Context, but still funny...

CallMeMo — Tue, 4 Nov 2008 22:25:50 -0800

Hello fellow nanoids! Is anyone else doing a humorous novel, or at least a novel with humorous parts? Share a passage you find funny, help the rest of us relax and have fun with it!

Though this isn't yet part of my novel, I was hit by this brainstorm and these were the notes:
Annual Defenestration of the high priest!....

the pair [both main characters] will arrive in Candella (home of the Great Library of
the God of Knowledge) just in time for the annual defenestration festival.
This jolly holiday commemorates the defeat of invaders several centuries
ago; the enemy managed to break into the library tower itself, planning to
take the high priest hostage, but in the struggle the priest was flung out
his very high window. He was rescued by one of the God of Knowledge's
servants, a masked man with large wings. The god's servant then proceeded
to route the invaders, sending them back to their boats and country in
disarray.

The inhabitants of Candella celebrate this with a three-day festival whose
high-light is the Annual Defenestration of the Priests. Specially selected
young men play the part of the invaders, storming the Grand Entrance of
the library and systematically throwing the priests from the balcony
windows into the courtyard below..... The drop is not all that far and is
almost inevitably slowed in the last few feet for a soft landing. Debates
rage over whether this is caused by regular magic or divine will, but it
is accepted that any injuries are evidence of divine displeasure with the
victim. After landing the priests are plied with sweets in the shape of
wings and strong alcohol in anticipation of the High Priest's descent.

Flung by the town mayor and the heads of the guilds from the highest
window in the tower, the high priest descends to earth amidst the
fluttering of great, invisible wings and a lot of feathers. Children try
to collect as many of the feathers as they can, as charms and masks made
from them are considered to bring excellent luck.

I was also hoping to borrow a few characters to be adapted as priests or priestesses that get thrown out the windows. Just a name/nick-name and a few distinguishing marks for a pair of confused visitors who arrive in the middle of the Flinging Festival. Thanks!
----------
Haunted by her song;
a bird I dreamed of once.
awoken, lost forever.

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

A Challenge For All

lollybob818 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:50:44 -0700

Your ML's have been diligent in your honor this fall! One of our many cool surprises for you this year is a partnership with the Portland Region Novelists! We had a conversation with the guys and gals over there and are now fighting for our right to claim we're the best! If you guys decide you want to do it, they have challenged us to a duel of words!

This is not just any duel, it's a Word War Extravaganza! Anyone who wants to do this (on both sides) will have their words counted at the end of November in order to show who, between Portland and Vancouver is the most awesome at word count! Portland did pretty well last year. And they have a new ML this year, so that means they may have some hidden tricks up their sleeves. But we too have a new ML this year, and I'm certain our bag of tricks will kick their bag's butt!

What do you say guys? You up to the challenge?

Do you know what the Municipal Liaison from Portland told me? She told me that she was going to beat me in word count this year! I'm not going to stand for that! There's no way she's going to beat me. There's no way they can beat us!

Lets show them what we've got!
----------
To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Novel SOS

Poetmage — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:42:39 -0700

I read a helpful article on an author's blog that I enjoy. She posted a Ten Point Novel Concept Outline. Once it is filled it, it gives you a general overview of your novel's plot. I'm going to use it for my Nano Novel and thought other might find it useful, too. She also included a couple of helpful links.

Here is the link: http://pbackwriter.blogspot.com/2008/10/speed-outline.html

Carissa
----------

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Nano-Day 10: Thank Goodness for Write-ins and Swell MLs!

Poetmage — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:29:40 -0800

I'll get this started today since I'm psyched about my word count today! I pushed myself to get caught up and used two write-ins to do so: mine at the Sip N Play, and then over at Panera with Nancy and Lyndsey.

Daily word count: 3887
total: 16679

It feels so good to be caught up, especially since this is usually my crisis week (oh, the dreaded Week Two Wall) when it comes to getting my plot to gel.

Here's hoping everyone else can have as stellar of a Monday!

Carissa
----------

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Nano-Day 9 No fun encouragement here today. You're all doing so well!

lollybob818 — Sun, 9 Nov 2008 01:32:08 -0800

Daily:
Total:

Didn't write a lot yesterday (did research and came up with some fab plots I'd like to try out), but I intend to spend some quality time writing today. Since I'll be at Wordstock I think it'll work out pretty well.
----------
To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Music verses Writing?

Werf — Fri, 7 Nov 2008 21:10:28 -0800

I just noticed that Coldplay songs are amazing for me to write to, they help my writing flow. Especially Viva La Vida (if nothing else it has an awesome beat)

Do you write in silence? If not, what tunes do you listen to? Favorite song to write to?
----------
"Early to bed and early to rise
Precludes you from seeing the most brilliant starry nights"

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

NaNo-Day 8 This is a race against your inner procrastonator.

lollybob818 — Fri, 7 Nov 2008 23:44:35 -0800

Daily Word Count:
Total:

You are in a race with yourself. You're a race in and of itself. Don't postpone writing. Carry a pad of paper with you for those times that you're on your break, or in a doctors office. Each few minutes can add volumes to your novel. You'll find that those words count too. At some point you'll probably transpose them, but don't worry, hand written things count as well. At least 1,000 words or more have come to me in this fashion. Of course I'm always in some sort of meeting, so its often the only way I can bridge the gap. I find that if I don't write for more than 9-10 hours (sleeping in, or simply working) I don't really want to write when I get around to it either. I find that I've spent too long away from my characters, and they're not really ready to talk to me anymore. So, I do my best to keep in contact with them. The more time I spend thinking about the story, the more opportunity I have for words to flow out.

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

Adopt-a-Newbie

Chocolatequeen — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:06:17 -0700

Do you remember when you were a freshman and you were paired with a senior for a week while they showed you the ropes of your new school? Well, this is kind of like that, only without all the patronizing comments about how dumb freshman are. Let's face it: Writing a novel in 30 days is almost/at least/way more (depending on your personality) intimidating than school ever was, and there ought to be someone there to show you were the bathrooms are.

Yes, in theory that's what the MLs are for. In practice, we're only two people. We'd love to be everywhere for everyone, but we can't be. That's why we're hoping to get this Adopt-a-Newbie idea going.

Returning Wrimos, you remember what it was like, don't you? The forums are huge, there are people from all over the globe, and the only thing we all have in common is insanity. (I mean really, what sane person tries to write a novel in a month?) Even for those of us who love forums *Nancy's hand shoots up* it can be a bit... intimidating at first. We're not asking you to hand write someone's novel for them, we're simply looking for people willing to answer one person's questions as they chart the waters of their first NaNo.

And for the newbies... we've all been there. That's why we want to be here to answer your questions for you, on anything from the forums to word count tactics to juggling work and writing. (No editing questions though... these are moral support roles only.) We're all their for you in spirit, and your designated NaNo vet will be on the other end of NaNo mail, ready to assure you that you are not insane.

Post in the thread if your interested, on either side. I'll start--I'm Nancy and I'm willing to adopt a newbie for the 2008 NaNo.

*standard disclaimer: If any of this doesn't make sense, let me know and I'll try to explain it better. :)

----------

United States :: Washington :: Vancouver

NaNo-Day 7 Your novel is just about 1/4th the way done

lollybob818 — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 23:21:53 -0800

Total Word Count:
Daily Word Count:

I have no cleaver quips today, just encouragement to keep on writing! There is a Write-In in Washougal (at the Library) tonight, as well as Brewed Awakenings on 164th. Come and join us!
----------
To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve