Introduce Yourself!

'Ello again, Tim!

Hi guys, how's it going? Mostly everyone refers to me as Crim or CB, but call me whatever you like. I've been doing NaNo since 2005, so this will be my fourth year. I really can't wait until it starts up again. I'm aiming for 250K+ this year, and a NaNoWriDay on the 1st if anyone wants to go ahead and join me. I need all the words I can get on the first weekend. All of my classes are honrs this year, plus basketball... Hey, it's life.

Anyway, Can't wait to see you guys around the forums again!

"If everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn't thinking." - General George S. Patton, Jr.

Hey guys! My name's Karina, and this is going to be my 3rd year doing NaNo. This year is going to particularly difficult for me, because I just started college in the city, and I'm going to have a LOT of homework to do! But, I'm also living in the city now (I moved from the suburbs, now I'm living in the loop!) so I should be able to make it to some group write-ins this year! :) I'm very excited for this year because I came up with an cool seed of an idea, which is a little boring at the moment, so I can't wait to see how it'll grow and evolve in 30 days.

-Karina

Hi! My name's Cyndi, and . . . technically I did NaNo in 2005, but I only made it to about 1700 words, so for all intents and purposes this is my first time. I'm aiming for the much more reasonable (I think) goal of 30K this year; it's still be by far the longest thing I've ever written.

I moved to Chicago two years ago for school, but I'm taking a year off, so I have plenty of free time but not so much motivation to manage it. I'm looking forward to trying this out with all of you, though, and hopefully making it to some meetups!

Hi guys. :)

Welcome aboard, Custard!

"If everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn't thinking." - General George S. Patton, Jr.

Hey everyone! This is my fourth yesr doing Nanowrimo but I have not completed it yet. I'm hoping that this year will be the year.

I don't think that I will be able to make any meetups as I only have a desktop but I will be there in spirit.

I'm sure everyone will do a great job!

Hi Everyone!

My name is Erica. This will be my first year participating in NaNoWriMo. I've wanted to do it for about six years now, but never could get down to business once November came. This year is going to be the year, though. I just graduated from college and there is no studying to get between me and this project. I'm very excited!

I'm Anna, a highschool student, soon to be college student. I learned about Nano through Teen Ink (I was published there 3 times now) and I plan to major in English.
First time I'm doing a Nano <.<
All of my friends are expecting me to be horribly busy and unsocial now *sweatdrop*
Other than publishing stuff, I write fanfiction (I go by the same name on Fanfic.net). I've presented one of my fanfictions in an Author's Night at Terminus (A Harry Potter convention that was held last August.) I've participated in a lot of writing/art contests and programs in my district as well.
I'm also a Beta reader (http://www.perfectimagination.co.uk/), but I have warned all of my authors that I probably won't accept to edit their stuff during November.

Good news: I have the basic idea and format for my story, and the title too.
Bad news: I haven't planned more than the basics and a few random facts out.

Love as thou wilt.

Well, I'm Cindy and this is going to ge my third year doing NaNoWriMo. I completed '06, but got half way done last year. So far, my novel will be young adult/sci-fi/faith-based with a possibly some romance. We'll see it how it all goes.... Hopefully I'll complete it this year.

Hello Everyone!

My name is Jim Markus and this is my second year participating in NaNoWriMo. Last year, I lived in the Detroit area and participated in only a few events. This year, I plan to make the most of my proximity to the city. Expect to see me writing non-stop throughout the entire month!

I look forward to meeting you. Best of luck!

- Jim

Hi! This will be my third NaNoWriMo. I didn't quite make 50,000 words in 2004, but I won in 2005! Both novels were junk, but I loved the experience and felt it helped my writing immensely. I've been busy the last two years getting my MFA, and I wrote a children's novel, "Rachel and the Cousins." For NaNoWriMo 2008, I plan to write the sequel. I can't want wait to spend time again with Rachel and the gang! I live in Chicago, and I look forward to attending writing events. I work as a curriculum designer full-time, and I live with my teenage son and three feline friends. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone! Diane

Hey there!

I'm a first-timer in NaNoWriMo; I wanted to do it last year, but AP classes were hectic and I decided that I wouldn't be able to handle it. This year, I have to worry about schoolwork, chess, and college applications, but I think that I'm better equipped to handle the stress.

I used to write mainly fanfiction, but I've been getting more interested in writing original fiction. This year's idea is a sci-fi sort of thing, dabbling in the post-apocalyptic future.

y halo thar!

So I'm Amanda, or Mandy, and this is my second time doing NaNo, though I feel like I've done it a zillion times before. I won last year, but through a horrible turn of events (I lost my novel, I found my novel, I lost (aka left on the Red Line) my laptop that my novel was on but not yet backed up) I lost last year's novel. I'm supposed to be working on a set of 4 novels, and I thought I'd just do a rewrite this year, but I think I just want to move on!

November is going to be made of hell for me, as if last November wasn't! (Last November I was working full time and in a show). This Nov. I will be: (1) In a show, (2) Working full time, (3) In grad school, (4) Transitioning to become Company Manager of the theatre company I work for, and, (5) Doing NaNo.

Not to mention that this year I actually have a social life. I think that's going to have to be put on hold during Nov!

Anyway! I talk (and type) a lot - so if you go to a write-in and there's a loud, obnoxious brunette - that'd be me.

TIM, we still need to do drinks.

Welcome aboard and welcome back people - and lets get writing!

MWAH!

~~~~~~~

"Object permanence is not my gift... somehow I figured you'd just disappear."

2007 - Archives of Atlantis; Water (Winner!)
2008 - Archives of Atlantis; Fire

~~~~~~~

"Object permanence is not my gift... somehow I figured you'd just disappear."

2007 - Winner!

Hello everyone!

Sorry it took me so long to get on the forums, it figures I'd be out of town on the weekend NaNoWriMo sneakily launches!

I'm Michelle, and I'm lucky enough to be joining Tim as one of the Chicago MLs this year. I was an ML in Ottawa, Ontario for the last three years, and in Iowa City, IA for a year before that. I've been doing NaNo since 2002, but I think 2008 will be the best year yet and I cant wait for November!

This will be my first year doing NaNo while employed full-time (I've been a student in the past), so fingers crossed that I can figure out how to balance work and writing!

Can't wait to meet you all next month!

Michelle
ML for Chicago, IL
ml-michelle@chiwrimo.org

Hey! I'm Bre. Also, this year's word war captain. I've been doing NaNo since 2002. I won all but 2004. Last year I wrote around 75K, but I've been known to write as few as 52K and as many as 175K, so it's anybody's guess.

This year, I'm shooting for between 75K and 100K with (yet another) modern day fantasy/alternate universe/mental illness exploration/erotica/mostly fictitious memoir. Mostly there's vampires*.

*No, Cedric Diggory Edward Cullen is NOT involved.

-Bre
(Captain for Chicago's 2008 WORD WAR SMACKDOWN)

Hey--

I'm Bonnie. Last year I was a NaNo newbie and managed to win. Now I'm back for more and ready to compete. I'm planning to continue a series I started last year, which is set in Chicago and involves mystery, kids with psychic abilities and runes. I'm still editing the first book as well. Last time I only made the final party, but hope to come to many write-ins this time around. I've called Chicago home since 1990 and have lived in Avondale (kind of north west Logan Square) for 6 years.

Every 100 years--all new people.

Wow, I am really excited for this year! I'm Shadow (also known as Jazz) and I originally hail from Milwaukee but will be down in Chicago for November, minus fall break, for school. This will be my 5th NaNo I think, hopefully 4th win, although I'm contemplating NaPlWriMo (like Script Frenzy but in November). I have a car on campus but I'm in a northern suburb so I'm not sure how often I'll be able to meet up with you guys. Hopefully more than once though.

Hey all! My name's Mary and I'm a second time Nanowrimo writer. I'm a sophomore in college in the city working on a BA in English-Creative Writing and Journalism. Not quite sure what I'm going to write about yet but I've got a vague idea and a bunch of really amazing friends to provide support (and late night coffee...)
Good Luck All!
BE

Hey everyone! I'm Johanna. This is going to be my fourth (third? I can remember... 3 previous attempts so yes, fourth) attempt at NaNo, and I really feel like this year might be the one. I'm nineteen-years-old and I live in Oak Park. Last year was the closest I've ever gotten with 36,000 words on an Epic Sci-Fi that I'm still just calling "The Untitled Belinda Valory Epic", but I'm thinking this is really going to be the year. I'm going to be writing chick lit and I've already got a pretty good idea of what's going to happen, but who knows? Everyone needs a plot ninja now and again.

________
"The race is long, and in the end it's only with yourself."

Hey, everyone!

My name's Gina, and this will be my second NaNo; last year I managed not only to win, but to write 70k+ words, which can only mean there will be horrific, soul-crushing disappointment this year.

I'm a stay-at home mom with a kid finally in school full-time. This means I'll have many more hours to myself in which put off writing come November, especially since I have no idea what I'm going to write about this time. Then again, I thought I knew what I was doing last year, but those pesky characters ended up with minds of their own....

Can't wait to get started!

Hey. I'm Andi. I've never done this before, but I do know a few people who have. I was going to do it last year but chickened out at the last minute. But I moved up here from VA about three weeks ago, so I figured, why not? I'm restarting just about every other part of my life, so it's a good a time as any to try and write a 50k word novel in thirty days. I think the most I've ever written for anything was 20k, but that never got finished because I was bored with it.

Oh, yeah. I'm a terrible procrastinator, too. All of my best work is done under ridiculous amounts of pressure.

Hello everybody!

< /Dr. Nick >

My name's Kei. (Pronounced just like Kay, or the letter K; it's short for Katherine; no, I don't really know how it happened either.) I'm 21 years old, and this is my fifth NaNo. I've been trying and gradually failing less miserably since 2003, though I skipped last year because I was going to school full-time, working 30 hours a week, and volunteering on Mondays. I know, excuses, excuses.

Anyway, never let it be said that I'm not persistent. I'm getting back on the horse again this year, and I have a feeling this is the November where I finally stand triumphant. (Or, more likely, sit triumphant, as typing standing up is somewhat less than comfortable.) I actually have the foundations of a plot which is concrete enough to not leave me completely clueless as to where to go next, but still flexible enough for plenty of improvisation. I have a likable (if extremely flawed) protagonist, with plenty of colorful supporting characters popping up around her. I have a semester off school and more free time in general. I also have medication. All of these will indubitably be of great use to me next month.

Of course, I also have a boyfriend returning home shortly after the election, who I haven't seen since August. Needless to say, I'm going to be trying to get a serious head start during the first few days...

-----------------------
lajeunefolle: for people who hate not wasting time compulsively reading journals

Hello (again. My first post got eaten by the server outage)

I'm DaWaterRat, a SAHM with bunches of hobbies, all competing for my time.

This will be my fourth NaNo, and while it will probably be my fourth year reaching 50K, I'm hoping it will be my second actually finished novel.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NaNo 2005 - Win NaNo 2006 - 50k+ NaNo 2007 - 50k+
NaNo 2008-Hunters of the Lost Sun

My name is David and this is my second NaNo.

Last year I wrote a horror satire. I tried rewriting it but gave up after a few months because, well, sometimes you just have to let go. And that's what I did. This time I'm going to shoot for lit fic. It's a vaguely autobiographical story I've been wanting to write for a while but never got around to it. I've been spending the off-season writing short stories, a couple of which I have completed. In fact I am planning on writing an anthology of short stories based on the 2007 NaNo.

I'm looking forward to talking to all of you. Maybe I'll actually show up for a write-in this time.

Hiya,

I'm k-lee and this will be my second consecutive year doing NaNoWriMo. Last year I succeeded in writing 50,000 words by slacking off for two weeks, then writing madly and furiously for the next two. It was fun. I am hoping to avoid the slacking part this time, though, to make it less stressful.

I moved to Chicago from Southern California in May of this year and I've just gotten a job in book publishing. I always have the idea that I am a creative person but yet I never take the time to do creative stuff. I like NaNoWriMo because for one month out of the year, I have a creative project that I pursue relentlessly.....or does it pursue me? There is definitely some intimidation involved.

Anyway, hi, nice to meet you all via message board, and I'm hoping to go to some IRL writing gatherings in Chicago next month.

Hello all you wonderful ChiWriMos!

I'm Stacy, 6-time NaNo survivor and holder of the dubious last-to-finish (11:59pm on November 30! Really. Several people in this thread witnessed it.) distinction in 2007. I live in the South Loop, work in River North (at Open Books, which will host weekly write-ins, the Mega-Friendly And Amazingly Mnemonic Kickoff Write-In And Baked Goods Brunch, and the Grand Final 15-Hour You Can Do It Yay Yay Writefest And Cookie Swap), and can't wait to see all of you in person. :)

Also, I would like to commend Tim on his unbelievable prolixity:

I myself usually settle for just one.

;)

LOL Duly noted and corrected!

(And heyo!)

Tim
Co-Municipal Liaison for
NaNoWriMo::Illinois::Chicago

Hey all, my name is Bob. This is my first NaNoWriMo. I was going to do it last year but I, um...well, I chickened out. But not this time! My birthday is November 6, and as a gift to myself I'm going to finally write the story I've had in my mind for years now. It will be loosely based on my love life, and if you know me you will understand why I can't figure out if it would be considered a comedy, tragedy, or just plain fiction! No matter where it ends up in the genre column, I'll have finished something I've wanted to do for a long time. After all, isn't that what WriMo is all about?

P.S. to check out some of my writing in the meantime, you can visit my site http://www.wordrebel.com

Always viewable at www.wordrebel.com

I thought I was going to be the most experienced writer to post so far but Stacy (Pico) beats me for that title.

My name is Michael and this will be my sixth NaNoWriMo. After crashing and burning in 2003 in my first attempt, I have completed between 55 and 70k the last four years. My goal this year is to actually have an outline (gasp!) and finish my novel (write THE END) for the first time since 2004.

I suspect the word war will get in the way of that again as I pad exciting scenes to squeeze every last word out of them, add superfluous and unwarranted actions and crack stupid jokes to read aloud as in past years. But I really will try.

Congratulations to Bre to being this year's word war captain!

Hope everyone loves the experience of this month as much as I end up doing every year. I just keep coming back for more.

"New York City, center of the universe. Times are s****y, but I'm pretty sure they can't get worse. It's a comfort to know when you're singing the hit the road blues; that anywhere else you could possibly go after New York...would be a pleasure cruise."

Hello hello!

I'm Jackie, and this is my first time nanowrimo-ing. I'm absolutely terrified, and very excited. Also, moderately hungry.

I live a bit north, but I'd love to come to at least one write-in. Onward!