Sub-region, I'd guess you'd call it. That would be the greater Fayetteville area. It's within the rockin' Fort Smith area, but Arkansas is the region so the whole state reads everyone's NaNoWriMo region-mail.
Hi, I'm Ben, my NaNo handle is Longhand, and I'm the Fayetteville-based Municipal Liaison for the 2008 NaNoWriMo. Some folks in Washington and Benton counties head to Eureka Springs for NaNo support and fun, and others prefer Fort Smith. But in the Fayetteville area we're setting up some good times and welcome empathy and advice -- without the 60- or 90-minute drives.
None of this is exclusive. Nano'ers will get notices of virtually all meetings and you're welcome to attend any. If you're driving through Conway, hey, they'd welcome you at a coffee-shop write-in, I'm sure.
My first year was 2007. I got about two-thirds of the 50,000, and hope to finish this year. What was needed by me were the weekly write-ins and related get-togethers throughout November, I think.
At this early stage, the thing for NWA Nano'ers to do is sign up as my, Longhand's, buddy so I can e-mail you directly. You go through your Web site profile and mail page for this. Also, I need a head count for planning and to order official NaNoWriMo goodies I get to hand out. Volunteers to help me will be appreciated, too.
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Longhand (Ben), NWArkansas municipal liaison
Fayetteville, Arkansas
20,172 / 50,000
Sep 26, 2008 - 18 45
Welcome aboard!
I guess this means that Joe will not be MLing in Fayetteville.
We have three people in your region who come to our write ins. (we morphed our NaNoWriMo write-ins to a full fledged writing group. We meet every Tuesday night)
Anyone willing to make the drive is welcome to attend our gatherings. The Kick Off Party is going to be a blast!
I'm excited about November!
----------Co-ML Fort Smith and Surrounding Areas
http://shay-writes.livejournal.com/
18,302 / 50,000
Sep 27, 2008 - 00 06
We got up to 6-7 of us by the first week of November, quit meeting after about 11/10. Joe sent out one email to all of us in late October, and that was it. The little group wrote and asked him to join our coffee house meetings or to suggest where and when he'd rather meet, if it was inconvenient. And no one got any response. We know he had been ML for Fayetteville/Springdale in 2006, and made more effort then. I volunteered for ML a couple of weeks ago but also wrote them I'd bow out for anyone with more experience or had made 50k. I got an email saying I was it so I guess I'm it for here.
Something I want to say to you is that again this year I want to make it to the Ft Smith Nano group for something, if I can work around my odd job hours. I was born and raised in FS, just over a mile from the Sweet Bay near Creekmore Park, as a matter of fact. Does the FS gang ever meet on a Sunday afternoon? It'd be my best time, but maybe I could work something else out.
----------Longhand (Ben), NWArkansas municipal liaison
Fayetteville, Arkansas
20,172 / 50,000
Sep 27, 2008 - 00 12
We usually meet Tuesday nights, but we might be able to throw in a Sunday afternoon write-in.
I have a weird work schedule too, so I completely understand.:)
----------Co-ML Fort Smith and Surrounding Areas
http://shay-writes.livejournal.com/
10,954 / 50,000
Sep 29, 2008 - 19 28
Welcome, Longhand! Glad to see you already on the job! I'm the ML for Eureka Springs, we do have some crossover, but I'm glad Fayetteville has its own group. I don't know how big our group will be this year, usually we have anywhere from 7 to 10 folks. You and the Fayetteville folks are always welcome, and we'd love to do challenges and other fun stuff with you guys, since you're the next closest group to us. It's going to be a great Nano this year!
----------**********************************
ML-Eureka Springs, Arkansas
0 / 50,000
Okt 3, 2008 - 17 58
Hi everyone! I'm Barbara and just moved to Fayetteville from Kansas. I'm, right now, about 45k words into my current novel, so not sure how the timing will be to start a new one in November, but I would love a chance to get to meet you other local writers and cheer on your nano success.
18,302 / 50,000
Okt 3, 2008 - 18 27
Glad to have you aboard, Barbara. Right now there are so few of us in NWA for 2008 that I've posted just two pre-November get-acquainted sessions -- the last two Sunday afternoons in October. That can change as needed by participants; they're place holders in the NWA NaNo calendar, linked at the top of the Arkansas region page of nanowrimo.org
Again, all NaNo participants in Washington and Benton counties are encouraged to give me a shout in this region forum so we can work together for mutual activities and mutually agreeable times. Some people like writing exercises, some just informal tip sharing and some want to go it alone. It's good to know who could use what.
Parties and write-ins, though, are a great help for new novel writers.
Ben
----------Longhand (Ben), NWArkansas municipal liaison
Fayetteville, Arkansas
29,149 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2008 - 07 05
Heya Ben,
I'm Amelia, or Mela. Either is fine. Returned resident to these parts, having spent last year's NaNo in faraway lands (aka Kansas.) This will be my fourth NaNo. I'm looking forward to some write-ins and meet-ups. We had a really nice and organized group in Kansas last year.
I'm going to go ahead and add you to my NaNo buddies.
-Amelia
----------www.toboldlynano.com
35,030 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2008 - 21 46
Hello folks! I am Erin, and this is my first year doing NaNo in the great state of Arkansas. I participated way back in 2000 and managed to finish, then gave it two more tries in 01 and 02 with not as much success. The writing bug seems to have bitten me again, so here I am.
I'm in Fayetteville too, and looking forward to meeting some of you in person!
18,302 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2008 - 17 00
Great to "meet" you, Erin. I'll put you on my "buddy" list right away.
Ben/Longhand
----------Longhand (Ben), NWArkansas municipal liaison
Fayetteville, Arkansas
0 / 50,000
Okt 10, 2008 - 18 20
Hey folks, I suppose I'm a bit young to go chill out at any meetings, but I live in Elm Springs. I'm glad that there is a few people gearing up for this event.
18,302 / 50,000
Okt 10, 2008 - 18 54
Glad to hear from you. I like the handle, UnrealClock. I'll keep you and everyone posted as we firm up our dates and places for a few meetings. We'll meet at some coffee shop for a couple of hours, perhaps 3-5 or 7-9 Sundays. You don't say how young you are but if you're not driving yet, someone could take you and hang around. That's no problem. My wife comes to the meetings but she's not really writing a novel, for example.
Otherwise, watch for tips and stuff on the postings at the Region page and any Forums that look like they apply for your interests and concerns. It's pretty easy to read so much of this stuff and not get much writing done!
Ben/Longhand, NWA municipal liaison
----------Longhand (Ben), NWArkansas municipal liaison
Fayetteville, Arkansas