Hello, and welcome to NaNo 2009!
I'm Lily, Municipal Liaison for London, and owner of the region's esteemed mascot, Thaddeus the Meerkat.
This is my eighth year doing NaNo (lawks!), and my fourth year as ML.
This year, my novel idea can perhaps be best described as 'Midsomer Murders, in suburbia, with vampires'.
Right now, the plot outline has holes big enough to drive a combine harvester through (the fact that I don’t actually know whodunnit springs to mind), but heigh-ho, there’s still time to pin down those pesky details...!
I'm thrilled to see so many new people already signing up, and look forward to getting to know you all - do please take a moment to introduce yourselves!
(Needless to say, it’s also great to see a whole bunch of NaNo veterans back for another year. :) )
Just to fill you in on some of the things that we have in store this year:
Parties
There will be a series of big social events before, during and after NaNo, which will hopefully give you all the opportunity to meet each other, share ideas, and just generally get away from the novel writing/planning for a bit.
The dates are as follows:
- Thursday, 29th October - Kick-Off Party I - 7pm
- Saturday, 31st October - Kick-Off Party II - 2pm
- Thursday, 12th November - Mid-Month Meet I - 7pm
- Saturday, 14th November - Mid-Month Meet II - 2pm
- Thursday, 3rd December - TGIO Party I - 7pm
- Saturday, 5th of December - TGIO Party II - 2pm
Full details will be announced on the Forum, and will also be added to our Google Calendar - as will all confirmed write-ins.
I highly recommend bookmarking the Calendar - not least as a handy backup if the Forum is unavailable at any point.
Write-Ins
Those of you who took part in the British Library write-ins last year will no doubt be pleased to hear that Asphodele is planning to continue them, along with regular write-ins at the Southbank Centre. She’ll no doubt be posting more details in the near future.
If last year is any indication, there should also be a whole bunch of write-ins in different parts of London. As always, that will depend very much on local interest, so do keep an eye out for posts relating to your local area.
And if organising a write-in sounds like something you might be interested in doing, please check out the How to Organise a Write-In post for more details!
NaNo Goodies
Yes, it's the news that you've all been waiting for: the free stickers have made it safely across the Atlantic, and this year there is a choice of two exceedingly spangly designs.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to introduce our new executive sponsor, silk painter and veteran NaNo participant Jane Cameron, who will providing us with a whole range of fantastic handmade goodies.
Chatroom
We now have our very own regional chatroom on chatnano.net!
And finally...
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to NaNoMail me, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. :)
***
Right, that’s quite enough admin-y stuff for one post! How is everyone getting on with novel preparations?
----------
Lily
Municipal Liaison for London, England
'Nil Desperandum!'
14,726 / 50,000
Okt 2, 2009 - 03 28
Hello all!
This is my 2nd year doing NaNo (I'd been on the fence about doing another one this year, but eventually NaNo won me over!) so I'm no stranger to the process and the fun/stress of this event but I will be spending my 2nd NaNo experience in London.
I'm actually not a native Londoner (I'm a Canadian doing an exchange-thing in the UK) but as I am spending my November in fabulous London, I would love to meet writers from this inspirational city. :)
I'm still fleshing out the concepts and ideas for my novel, but it's gearing towards the Creative Non-fiction/Historical Fiction genre. I'll be doing more research in the coming weeks and putting together a brief, loose outline.
Those BL write-ins sound amazing. As I live in central London, that would be easy for me to get to. I look forward to meeting you guys!
0 / 50,000
Okt 2, 2009 - 07 51
I'm in two minds as to whether to participate this year. I'm still working on last year's novel after a very long stint of writer's block and would prefer to have it finished before I get on to a new challenge. Last year nearly killed me and by the time we start again, I'll be seven months pregnant so it could be interesting. Because I'm competitive, and if I go for it this year, I will have to reach that 50k mark even if it kills me. There is no going along for the ride!
55,070 / 50,000
Okt 2, 2009 - 13 28
Ooh, another Canada native! Though that said, I actually live here full-time, but it's nice to know that I'm not the only Canadian around the place. :)
That said, hi; this is my ... seventh year doing NaNo, and the finished (and fairly heavily edited) product of last year's is now available as a podcast novel. And I'm looking for agents. And I'm terrified.
Anyway, this year I'm keeping up the tradition and starting the second book in the series. I have a chapter-by-chapter outline and everything! I'm looking forward to the launch party and the write-ins, and meeting new people as well as touching base with all the awesome people I met at previous gatherings.
Good luck to everyone!
10,065 / 50,000
Okt 2, 2009 - 14 00
Hello, hello!
I work in central London but live south of the river, and will try and make it to the first kick-off party and some write-ins - which I've never done before but am really looking forward to! Won't be able to make the second kick-off party as I'm going to Manchester that day for a Green Day concert, so planning to start my novel in the car on the way home the next day!
I've attempted NaNo a few times before but only won twice, and not for the last few years. I'm determined to finish this year! I have an inkling of an idea but I'm trying to be faithful to Chris Baty's book and only prep in the last week of October.
Apologies for the disproportionate number of exclamation marks in this post. I'm getting a little bit excited. ; )
50,470 / 50,000
Okt 2, 2009 - 15 34
Hello :)
I'm Lili and am a French expat who after having done her 2008 Nano in Saint John, New Brunswick, is coming over to London for the 2009 edition.
I'm living in North London and am attending the London Met North campus for my MA in Marketing and Communication.
Concerning the Nano, it's gonna be my 5th year and hopefully my 4th win.
I'll be continuing last year story which is set in a world of Barbies and where weird stuff are happening. It is far from being finished and Nano is the perfect time for some pink glittery blonde goodness ^^
I'm writing in French as I started this story in the language but I tend to end up writing in franglais.
And that's about it :)
Looking forward meeting you all.
----------Lilibel
2005 : D'une rive à l'autre
2006 : 14 fevrier
2007 : Sans-titre
2008 : Barbiewire
2009 : La croisiére s'amuse : une divine comedie
28,239 / 50,000
Okt 3, 2009 - 02 43
Hi everyone!
I'm Claire, also a French expat' and I did my first Nano last year in London. So far, apart from rather bad fanfiction, I've written Sci-Fi - Space Pirates win *everything*! - and Romance/Slice of Life - written for Julnowrimo. This November, however, I'll be trying my hand at Historical Fiction, with the story of Irish siblings emigrating to America in the early 20th century. Don't ask me anything more about it, I don't know anything more about it yet. :)
As Lily mentioned, I will again be involved in organising write-ins at the British Library, in King's Cross and some new write-ins at the SouthBank Centre, in Waterloo. Our awesome team of write-in organisers - mainly Jenepel, rachnmi and I - shall gather very soon for a Brainstorming & Write-In Planning session, after which we will post a schedule of write-ins, including the BL and SouthBank write-ins.
----------2009 - A One-Way Ticket To Brooklyn - WIP
2008 - Stars Shine Brighter - Winner
50,065 / 50,000
Okt 3, 2009 - 04 52
Hey hey Londoners, back for another year :-D I should go to more than one meet, this time.
----------When she was good she was very very good - but when she was bad, she was fabulous.
51,492 / 50,000
Okt 3, 2009 - 15 34
I'm not new to NaNo -- this will be my fifth year -- but I am new to London! I'm studying abroad here at Queen Mary for the year. Home is California; I grew up in southern California, but I've spent the last two years at UC Berkeley in northern CA. I've interned at the Office of Letters and Light HQ for the past two years, and last year got talked into ML-ing for the East Bay region, which was fabulous. I'm sad to leave the folks at home but so excited about the idea of noveling in London! I'm really looking forward to meeting other wrimos :)
I don't know what my novel is yet, but it's either a silly romantic story about a girl who quite literally meets a man in one of her dreams and goes on a strange quest to find him in real life, or a humorous collection of tales set at a boarding house for supernaturally gifted youth who need help trying to cope with their skills/abilities/curses. I love science fiction, fantasy, certain eras of historical fiction, and romance mixed into any of these is always a plus.
----------I will continue to treat fictional characters as real people for as long as they continue to act like them.
46,434 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 03 41
Hi,
Third year I am participating, second year in London. Last year I spent the month on my own but might try to join som write-ins this year, if my work schedule allows it.
My story this year feels like the best one I have tried so far. It is about a young woman who lives with foster parents, because her parents died in an accident when she was young. Then she finds out that is not entirely true, her father is alive, but in prison for the murder of her mother and her grandparents. However, she is convinced that he is innocent.
----------Verdict is still out on the ending, I might see how it goes before I decided if he is innocent or not.
Josefine E
51,000 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 03 49
Heya Everyone!,
I'm Rhiya and I'm 16. This is my fourth year doing NaNo, and I'm writing tis year to appeal to all age groups.
The genre is fantasy....set in the 5th dimension! Hoping to have a more sophisticted form of language this year.
Any readers....Please give me your email addresses
Thank You (: x
971,178 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 04 45
Another misplaced Yank here; I'm originally from Washington, in the U.S. (no, no – the state, not the capitol), just moved to London four days ago for graduate school. I'm absolutely brimming at the excitement of the city, and anticipate many wonderful, lazy days writing on the steps of St. Paul's, nestled away in coffee shops and tea houses, and romping around exploring the wharfs.
I'm writing a middle grade novel about two young orphaned siblings who, having no place to stay, take up residence in the British Library and manage to live undetected. I dunno, it's not there yet – but it's coming together slowly.
This will be my first NaNoWriMo, and I'm particularly looking forward to the Write Ins... they sound creatively exhilarating!
27,016 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 09 53
Hi, this will be my second year during NaNo. I'm based down in Guildford in Surrey and hope to attend the kick-off and TGIO party as well as a few other meets. Looking forward to November and planning on meeting 50k this year.
28,239 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 10 06
What an awesome idea! You should definitely come to our BL write-ins, we'd be delighted to have you!
Same goes for everyone, of course, but the idea of children hiding in the BL is quite amazing as it's where I wrote most of my Nano last year :)
----------2009 - A One-Way Ticket To Brooklyn - WIP
2008 - Stars Shine Brighter - Winner
28,239 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 10 14
Woops, double post!
----------2009 - A One-Way Ticket To Brooklyn - WIP
2008 - Stars Shine Brighter - Winner
100,223 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 15 32
This will be my second NaNo, and this year I am hoping to make it out to the Big Blue Room* to meet some of you/us IRL, as that didn't quite happen last year.
----------*programmer-speak for "outside" - a lot of us don't go there very often
NaNo08: Clay Vessels 107K
25,150 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 15 47
This is my first year on Nano. It is my first ever novel... and I am quite excited about it. I think there are two people at my place of work who will also join. I am hoping to get along to at least one of the meets.
I am still trying to fix the ideas for the novel in my head, but I think that it is going to be a sort of spy novel based in 20th/21st century.
We will see.
Good luck, everyone.
----------Just avoiding typing...
60,010 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 00 38
Hey all,
My second NaNo, but my first in London. I really wasn't going to do it this year, due to other commitments (including trying to write a PhD), but when I saw a bunch of emails in my Inbox from NaNoWriMo, I couldn't resist. I suspect I may have very little time to write at home, so may have to write during daily commute - has this worked out for other people in the past?
Anyway, I have absolutely no idea what my novel is going to be about, except that I'm tempted to set some of it at the British Museum, where I'm based, or possibly a remote Scottish Island with strange goings-on!
Good luck all!
----------On Twitter @orbiting_star
NaNo 2008: Through the Yellow Mist (73,000)
0 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 18
Greetings All,
I live in the South East and work in London. I am writing a science fiction novel and working on the outline over October.
I've done NaNoWriMo for the past three years but never make it to the end. I usually do it alone as well. This year I think I would like to participate in a write-in. If there is anyone else in London writing speculative fiction please feel free to Buddy me.
Additionally I run a small speculative fiction writing group in London called The Cola Factory, which meets once a month. This is not a write-in group but a critique and networking/scoialising group for genre writers but please feel free to contact me about it if you are interested.
13,299 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 20
Hello all,
This is my fifth Nano, but my first time in London - I'm an American 2nd-year university student spending my fall semester abroad, in affiliation with University College London. I've been in London since late July, and think it's just fantastic! I'm also living just down the road (on Pentonville) from the BL, so it would be wonderful to do write-ins there!
My novel this year is historical fiction, centered around Dutch pirates in the period 1569-1573 - I'm planning to spend a week in Amsterdam on fall break in November, which will hopefully spur me on at a critical time!
Looking forward to meeting some of you,
AKA
----------2009 -
Sea BeggarsUntitled Mystery2008 - Freek (*hems and haws*)
2008 ScriptFrenzy - A Study In Scarlet (Winner)
2007 - RAF (Winner)
2006 - In Search of Comity (Winner)
2005 - Armageddon (Winner)
40,748 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 25
I definitely, definitely wasn't going to do it this year, but I can't stand missing out on things so here I am again.
Would be up for more BL write ins. They were really good last year, more or less the only time I was productive. I work right round the corner from it, so it suits me well.
If anyone fancies a Muswell Hill write in, that could work too.
----------Ben..
2009 - a place like this
2008 - Copernicus Undone (EPIC FAIL)
2007 - Monument (winner!)
2006 - Some Solitude for a Social Species (winner!)
0 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 32
Hi Guys,
I'm 24, based in Holloway - this will be my first NaNo so I think writing groups will definitely be the way forward!
I haven't really thought much about what I want to write yet. I never even considered it but then I came to the website and the forum and got all excited. I have a breath of an idea, but it's still very vague.
I'm apprehensive and very excited, and looking forward to meeting you all!
----------"There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea,
You became the light in the darkness for me"
2,122 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 34
Hey :)
I'm Taz, I'm 17. Living in South London currently, but I'm moving pretty soon. This is my first year here, so I'm a bit anxious as to what to expect :P. It seems like an awesome thing to be involved in though.
----------Jay says RAWR!
19,798 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 01 34
Hello all!
I'm a Brit but I only moved into London 2 weeks ago since I'm now attending University here ^-^ Unfortunately there was no group for folk living in Watford, so I haven't attended any meetups before... I'm very excited about going to some this year since I've only ever known one other NaNovelist in person.
I don't know what my plot is, and I don't know what I'm going to set my wordcount goal at. I hope things fall into place pretty soon :3
----------0 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 04 20
I thought I would give this a go to finish the sequel to my first novel. I reckon that 30,000 words ought to do it, so I'm kind of excited to get stuck in. Heaven knows its taken me long enough to get this far.
I'd definately be up for meeting people in the Richmond/Kingston area if there's a group around there.
Cheers
Russ
16,782 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 05 06
Ello ello! Long-time Nano participant here - never won though because I'm really bad at keeping it up. This year, though, I'm determined to win! I always write something fantasy-related and this year I think I've found an idea compelling enough for me to stick to, so fingers crossed. I'm 24 and I work in a soap shop. My life is thrilling. I live in Fulham so I can get pretty much anywhere for a write-in or meet and I'd love to meet other Nanoers this time round as last few years I haven't been able to! I had my own writer's group for a bit but it's fallen by the roadside last few months sadly, which is a shame as I love that sort of thing.
E xxx
----------40,021 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 08 59
Hi everyone.
2nd time I'm participating but first time in London. Wup wup :D
Living in Chiswick, working in Kingston, so if there is anything near one of those, I'll probably attend :D Not that I have a laptop I can use, but can always develope ideas to put on paper ;)
I'm writing my fantasy/fairytale thing in Danish, as it is my mother tongue and easier for me to write in.
I hope to attend some write ins, haven't done that before so could be fun!
----------2008 - Den blå månes tidsparadoks, 50088
Blog: http://zhelle.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/zhelle
20,078 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 11 05
NaNo time again. It's rather crept up on me this year.
It has been a truly horribly bad year, and I'm looking forward to a chance to relax a bit and get back to a spot of normality with NaNo.
I doubt I'll be able to attend any of the parties, as I have a nine month old to look after, but I may be able to make it to some of the nearby write-ins. Because of said child, my novel will be mostly tea-fuelled this year, rather than beer-fuelled as in previous years. Hopefully this won't completely destroy my literary creativity.
----------namsaga kashàm namhul kaskalàm
6,925 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 11 25
Hello everyone! I am absolutely thrilled to be here! My name is Kayla and I'm originally from Oregon, USA but I will be here in London for Nano while I'm studying here for a term. Last year was my first year doing Nanowrimo and I immediately fell in love with it. I won last year but never went back for revisions and I'm hoping to write something this year that I might actually want to revise. I don't yet know what that might be... but I'm looking forward to November nonetheless.
See you at the kick-off party!
Kayla
----------This must be what going mad feels like.
0 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 12 36
Hi,
This is my fourth year doing Nano. I won once in 2007 and really want to prove it wasn't a fluke. I'll be at as many meet-ups and write-ins as I can as I could do with the encouragement as I've just moved from East Anglia to South East London and am not sure how supportive my other half is going to be when the cleaning and laundry start getting neglected.
Last year one character completely took over my Nano and completely derailed the story. I'm thinking of giving her her own story this year, which may be cheating a bit.
See you at the end of the month,
Ellie
40,006 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 01 19
Hello all!
Lovely to see so many London people on here already! I live in Lambeth and I'm very excited about my second year of Nano- just managed to finish last year, but my working hours have changed, so I think there will be a lot more squeezing of time in this attempt.
My book might be classed as Weird Fiction (you know, the genre where you can't decide if it's fantasy, science-fiction or horror) and so far the plot is making more sense than this time last year; an accidental thief, a murderous landscape, a warrior who thinks he's dead... Looking forward to November very much!
----------...in, as you say, the mud...
http://theboxroom.dailyforum.net/