The Introduction Thread

Yay, we're back!

I'm Infojunkie (Patti). This is my 4th NaNo, 3 wins one loss due to new baby being expected in the middle of NaNo. I'm hoping to push myself past the 50,000 mark this year and aim for 75,000...I'm not crazy though so it will be only one novel! LOL

As my username suggest I'm addicted to all things information...my husband gave me that name after the 1000th time I ran off to look something up. My current writing partners are 7 cats, 3 dogs, and 1 almost 3 year old...whose birthday will come in the last few days of NaNo.

Looking forward to talking with every one again!

Support me in the Ride to Conquer Cancer!

Hello Hamilton yet again,

I'm Tristan and this will be my third year, after two failures maybe I can make a dent this year and do it. I have been writing a lot more this year and I got got something good for a setting, just hammering out which plotline I want to start with. But I'm sure many of you know me as the one guy from Burlington who still somehow manages to drag myself out to as many write-ins I can. Though I'm considering courting the Oakville group as well since I go to Sheridan, but I know too many of you guys to not come out.

So yeah my attempt to generate a persistant universe for my books finally has taken real seed this year, I'm sure since we swap what we write around a lot that those interested will find out eventually. Wish me better luck this year.

Hi, I'm Chris, four-year veteran of Nano, four times won. (Twice I broke 100k, just to toot my own horn a little.) I live in east side hamilton, go to work for a software company in burlington as a web programmer and database guy. I don't drive, and I collect digital devices, from the everyday to the somewhat more unusual. Will probably be showing off some of my writing machines at write-ins and other group meetings, like my alphasmart dana and my newest netbook. I love chocolate but don't drink coffee.

I have one idea so far - taking place on board a small spaceship on a many-generations-long exploration trip to another star system, and the kind of changes that hit the commuity when they realize that their children are going to be the ones alive when the ship actually gets where it's going. May be doing something else as well, not sure yet.

Hi, I'm Rhee, and I'm sixteen years old and live in little old Haldimand County (I'm not allowed to say more specifically, so says me mother). This will be my second year doing NaNo, and by some insanity I managed to win last year, and just under 60K. Maybe possibly will I be able to convince my parents to bring me out to some write-ins, but it's not a sure thing, since it's about a half an hour drive to the mountain.

I live with my mom and dad, my younger brother who will be turning 14 this month, two dogs (both named after Hobbits) and five cats. Oh, and two beta fish, if you want to count those.

I love reading and writing, and have been an avid reader for years now, and writing seriously for at least a couple years.

hmm, yeah, I suppose that about covers it.

Sulare

2008 - Casien (I won! But it needs serious work before others may read.)
2009 - Twenty Thousand Different Beings (Plot is lacking, but it aslways is for me.)

Hey all!
I'm back for another year :)
The name's Ooburii. I live in hamilton...somewhere..., and I'm a senior in highschool, trying desperately to fit nanowrimo into my hectic schedule for first semester! This is my third year doing nano, and hopefully my third year winning it as well~

My buddies Ammietia and Deadlyretro are my ultimate guiltmonkeys! (WWCBS?!!)
This year I'll be writing a hacker/mafia/possible romance novel with uh... complicated plot turns and stuff. 8D .....yeah...it's fuzzy right now.

Did I mention that I'm an anime/internet addict? :D

and Welestra, you're a gackt fan? 8D

NaNo 07 - September Rain [50,014]
NaNo 08 - Realtà Imperfetta [50,160]
Nano 09 - ???

Hi all,

This is my first year -- looks like I'm the only newbie so far -- I've been promising myself I'd do this since my oldest was a baby -- she turns 7 in January -- so I figured it was about time I stepped up. :) My focus is children's writing -- had a short story published...once...many moons ago....and have a first draft of a YA novel gathering dust on my desk. *sigh* Had some creative block issues that I'm working on....

So yeah, here I am....*waves to fellow Burlingtonians*...

I had a vague idea forming and then something I wrote for a writing prompt-thingy rather took hold of me and doesn't look like it's going to go away.....I think I'll just roll with it....another YA thing...perhaps...

~brightest blessings~

http://cluttertoshine.blogspot.com/ and http://creativeclutter-mel.blogspot.com/

*~Lichen~*

Guess I'll pop in for a quick intro.

I'm David, and while I'm not new to NaNoWriMo, I am new to Hamilton and am looking forward to meeting a whole new group of insane writers.

I skipped NaNo last year, so this year I have something to prove. I'll likely continue my habit of killing off all my characters in some horrible and unlikely fashion the moment I hit 50,000 words. :)

Hey y'all,

I write horror and fantasy. Last year's NaNo was my first successful one - I tried in 2006, skipped, 2007, and finally figured out how to put the pedal to the metal last year.

This year I'm challenging myself to get out a complete novel ms in the 30 days, aiming for 80-90k, though anything over 50k will do. My idea is to write a vampire / urban fantasy story about the trials and tribulations of a female vampire looking for love. I guess I'm just a little bit weary of the way vamp romance always seems to pair a mortal / vulnerable woman with a male vamp. I'm thinking of this project as Bridget Jones with fangs...

When I'm not writing, I teach tai chi. This year I've also become a reiki practitioner, so if anyone needs stretching or a chi tweak during NaNo, just let me know!

Hello everyone!

My name is Laura and I live in Burlington. I couldn't find a Burlington thread, so here I am. This isn't my first year doing NaNoWriMo, but I haven't won yet. The most I've written is 15k, so I'm really hoping that I can finally win this year. I just graduated from McMaster with a degree in English (minor in Classics), so now that I'm out of school I should be able to find time to write. Essays were always a pain in the butt in November.

This year I'm debating between starting a new novel or trying my novel again from last year. A friend of mine told me to finish the first one before starting a new one, but I'd like to have a second one as back-up incase I lose interest in the first one. I probably spend most of my time on the adpot-a-plot thread looking for ideas. There are some really great ones out there!

The novel I tried last year (since 2005, actually) is a teen fantasy. This year I'm going to do all of my writing on my laptop. By hand is too much work, and I think that's why I've never made it past 15k. We'll see how that goes :P

Nice to meet everyone. Good luck!

Laura Lynn Foster
2009 Novel: The Book of Songs (for the umpteenth time - I will finish it this year!)
Genre: YA Fantasy

Hi I'm KnightStar and this will be my 3rd year but it's going to be rough. I'm waiting for cataract surgery & lens implants in both eyes so working at the computer is extremely limited these days. (If you ever see a bunch of typos it's because I couldn't see them to fix them.) I'm going to write everything in longhand and someone else is very generously going to type it out for me. If anyone knows of good (and reasonably inexpensive) voice recognition software, please let me know. I'm not sure what my sotry will be about this year but you can bet there will be murder. Pklease forgive me for not following the boards and posting, I will be cheering you all on. Happy writing, KS

I feel like I missed the welcome train a bit by writing my intro late but...
Not only am I knew to NaNoWriMo, but Hamilton as Well. I moved from Mississauga so it's a big change and going into the eleventh grade just doesn't seem to be challenging enough. I'm currently Writing a fictional SciFi book that is approximately 35,000 words. It's about vampires but I am putting it off so that I can feel the crunch and learn how to write the NaNo way :P

The novel that I intend to write about this year will include demons the paranormal and a healthy dose of horror. I have yet to discover or create a name of my main character or the main plot but I still have until the first before I need to so I have a bit of time.

If you might not have guessed, I am a heavy metal freak, I love horror movies, anything paranormal, Sci Fi, zombie and I also like making photomanipulations.

That just about sums up my life, Well maybe I forgot to add that i love Nick Frost and Simon Pegg, okay, there done. :D

Shaun: [about Ed] He's not my boyfriend!
Ed: [handing beer to Shaun] It might be a bit warm, the cooler's off.
Shaun: Thanks, babe.[winks]

Hi there everyone, Josh here again. (Peter is first name, but I go by my middle name)

This is going to be my fourth Nano, the previous three (2006, 2007 and 2008) were all successful and I plan to do it again for a fourth straight year.

This year I am challenging myself by attacking a genre that is out of my comfort zone. I am writing chic lit this year. This will make for a very challenging month for someone who has only written suspense, horror and adventure during his entire writing career.

I have a crazy job that requires me to work a lot of crazy hours, and the kids are in school so while things are busy I am going to do what I can to write another 50K, possibly more.

Hope to see you around and good luck in November!

Josh

Hi! Fantasy Writer Guy* here. But you can call me by my nickname - Rich. I'm a two-time nano loser who got derailed around the middle of the month in both 07 and 08. This year I must develop a better strategy! Looking forward to seeing all my Nano friends again. Hope everyone is back!

[*hasn't actually written any fantasy since 2005 or so.]

http://fantasywriterguy.blogspot.com/

I have an idea I'm going to try this year:

Write 1667 words a day, once you pass it finish your sentence and call it for the day. Throughout the day after you are done writing you can take notes for ideas or just brainstorm. Not only do I think this will cut down or burning out on writing binges, but also giving yourself a bit of time to sit on where to go next may make the story go in a better direction and save frustration from running out of ideas. I think that might work a lot better.

Excellent idea!
The part about brainstorming while not write.
Heck, even stop in the middle of a sentence. [or, if you can't bring yourself to do that, stop in the middle of a scene. It'll help as you'll have something to jump write** into]
Yeah.
That's my advice.

Also, I'm Ziggi.
I don't think I've written in this thread.
Though, I already know how I was going to introduce myself ...

[** this was unintentional, but I'm going to leave it anyway]
----
Ziggle Blindy McDeaferson Wall D.W. Abba Abba Jo Lichken Treagol Walking-Talking-Map Princess Skull Winter!

Nanowrimo '08: Whiskey (83K)
ScriptFrenzy '08: The Attendants (4 episodes [hour long each], 192 pages)
Nanowrimo '07: Volens Piscis (79K

----
I'm from Hamilton, land of hysterical fiction filled with flying monkeys, dancing bananas, and sexy, cozy, violence

Hello,

Well, this is my first NaNo and I'm new to Hamilton too (my husband and I moved here from Ottawa, with a year in Toronto thrown in beforehand). We live in West Hamilton/Kirkendall 'hood and we really love it here.

I thought doing this in November would be a good idea, because: 1) I've always said I'd write a book someday and I don't seem to be getting any younger; 2) I'm self-employed and my work should be tapering off for a bit in November, so the timing is really perfect for me--unless something changes ;)

I'm not sure what I'm writing yet. I was thinking a mystery because having a bit of a formula to stick to might be helpful (and because I love reading them), but I also might try something a little more experimental. I really like the idea of just having to be creative and focus on output for the month and worry about editing later.

Really looking forward to the get-together on the 31st. See you then!

Lucy T.

Hi!
My name's Alisa, I'm 17, and I have never done this before!
I hope I can stick to it! I'm in university bound English(and all other classes) so..I hope I don't get too bogged down with homework to finish..I will persevere!
I've never written a novel, or even attempted it, but I've written many, many, many short stories.
I am a lover of mixed martial arts, singing, Ice caps, and passion shaken tea lemonades.
Good luck everyone~!

EDIT:
Oh, are we allowed to plan before hand, or is it November for the whooooole writing process?

Hey,
This is my first year.
When I'm not wondering what I'm going to write about (never written something that long, but I'm up for the challenge), I like to go to the gym, watch tv/movies, play on the computer (although no time for MMORPGs anymore (used to play DAOC and WAR)) and do anything else that may be seen as "relaxing". However, I can also be found working in Burlington or attempting to conquer the never-ending stack of dirty dishes.

Hello again my lovelies!

Carasin here, that lovable failure who makes typewriter cakes and never makes it out to the final get together cause she's too embarassed to show her quitter face amongst a bunch of crazed overachievers!

My actual name is Elizabeth but people often call me Bitty, I do also answer to Carasin, or the tried and true "HEY YOU!" works aswell. I've participated two years, 2007 (25k) . 2008 (I don't think I even broke 10...) and lost both, hopefully third times the charm! Previous years I was writing a vampire urban fantasy, Blood and Water, then a teen novel Shy Away but unfortunately, things got complicated and I just didn't get things done! As I'm out of school and currently out of work (; - ; need...job...going...crazy...) I'm hoping that I'll get TONNES done as I have nothing better to do most of the time.

Now with all this time and two years failure worth of drive, what's the hitch? I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I'M WRITING!!! I usually have ideas coming out my ears and have to narrow it down, but not this year. Ugh! Anyways, wish me luck as I wish all of you and I hope to see you at the write ins!

Hey Carasin,

I was feeling quite doubtful about not having a plot (I have a few ideas for characters and themes and stuff, but no plot yet), but yesterday I began reading the NaNoWriMo organizer dude's book, "No Plot? No Problem!", and now I'm actually feeling pretty good about the whole thing. I'd say this book is well worth the $15. I would be happy to bring it to the first get together if anyone wants to have a look.

And who knows, maybe you'll succeed this year because you aren't going into it so chalk-full of ideas. You'll maybe be more likely to build momentum this way rather than lose it?

I really have no idea what I'm talking about, as I've never done this before, but there you have it. :)

Good luck!

LT

You're allowed to plan ahead.
So don't worry about that.
The 'rules' state that you just can't write any prose towards the actual novel.
:)

Also: Lucy [I believe it is], you have No Plot, No Problem? I'd be interested in a look if you come to any of the meetings!! :O :)

----
I'm from Hamilton, land of hysterical fiction filled with flying monkeys, dancing bananas, and sexy, cozy, violence

*glee* There's more of us! Admittedly, my name's spelled Alissa, but I had a little excited freak-out over it, k?

Though question, how do you pronouce your name? 'Cause people mis-prounounce mine constantly. There is no 'sh' blend in my name people! Lol, mine's pronounced just like Alyssa (because people never seen to mispronouce /that/), ah - liss - ah. Not to complex, I think, right?

Lol, sorry from my randomness, I just have a thing with my name and people having the same one or one really close, because there are very few people who spell it like me.

2008 - Casien (I won! But it needs serious work before others may read.)
2009 - Twenty Thousand Different Beings (Plot is lacking, but it aslways is for me.)

Whew, got lots keeping me busy!

Infojunkie: good to see you again! Can’t wait to see you at write-ins.

TristanPEJ: hey, good to see you back. Looking forward to seeing you in Hamilton area again :)

Chrisk0: great to have you back! Always great to see you around.

Sulare: hey there, nice to see you! I hope you’re able to make it out to some of our events, even if it’s only one or two.

Ooburii: hey there! Book sounds interesting, and yes I am a Gackt fan. A HUGE one :D

Lichen: hi and welcome aboard! It’s always fun to have new faces every year. Hope you’ll join us out at our events!

Djw: hello to you too! Welcome to the Hamilton area, and hope we see you around.

Elizabeth Twist: hey hey! Your story sounds interesting, I love new takes on concepts. See you at the write-ins.

Laura Lynn Foster: welcome! I hope we see you at some events also!

KnightStar: hey again, and all the best for your surgery. I’ll shoot you a PM later, I think I know of a few voice recognition software programs. I hope you’ll try to come out to some write-ins, even if it’s just for the company :)

1nsomniac_Kat: welcome to both NaNo and the Hamilton area! Hope to see you soon!

Peter_24601: hey Josh, and good for you for trying a new genre. Sometimes it can be a really positive thing. A writer I know ended up making a career out of it lol

FWG: hey and good to see you back. Maybe this year will be your first win. I’m glad you keep trying :)

Ziggi: gotta admit I missed seeing you! Can’t wait to see you at the events.

Lucy T.: welcome! Nice to see yet another new face in the bunch. Makes me happy. See you at the events.

Alisarose: welcome to you too! Wow, we’ve got quite a few newbies! I know you and everyone else can succeed next month. See you around!

Mrstu: welcome welcome! Hope you’ll come out to some of our events next month!

Carasin: hello again! Don’t ever feel bad about coming to the end party! Even attempting NaNo is a feat within itself. The TGIO isn’t just for winners, it’s for all of us. So I expect to see you there this year missy! ;)

(Merenwen saunters in timidly...)

Hi, I'm Merenwen (known as Sam in the real world). This will be my second year for NaNo. Last year I won, but the story isn't finished yet. haha.

This year I'm going wtih urban fantasy, same as last year. Only this time I think it's more planned out than my previous NaNo story, lol!

Hey,

My name is Rob and this is my second year participating in NaNoWriMo so I thought this year I might, y’know, introduce myself instead of just following all the conversation from the outside. I’m from Burlington and have always thought about dropping in to one of the Williams write-ins and get togethers, but family life tends to be busy. I hope to get out to at least one event this year.

I was successful in my first year in the sense that I passed 50k, but my ‘novel’ (Spontaneous Larceny and Codeine Dreams) has been locked in an electronic trunk since December 1 of last year.

What’s the ruling on working on an idea that was already in progress before November 1st, but only counting the words written during the actual month?

Funny thing: during the summer I suddenly became aware of a lull in the messages on this board, and I sort of missed reading up on what was happening with the group (on my Blackberry).

Hey Merenwen, glad to see you back. Unfinished stories, I know those well lol They never want to end do they? lol

Hi Rob, glad to have you here. I hope we do get to see you at some of the events!

You would be okay. Obviously no one is going to know but you, it's all honour system around here.

X.x I'm so excited that I'll be doing Nano. It's halfway through October! Sorry for posting again I just decided that I will be writing a story about ghooooosts, demons, angels, spirits and MAN I LOVE THE PLOT!
In the Mean time I'm finishing off the fifth chapter of my book that i started last year until November begins.
Is it weird that I'm writing a Novel and a book at the same time? Well it should be because the book have seven other parts to it - series!

Anyways I'm probably going to derail my first year because I just found out that my uncle dog is pregnant and I will be helping her deliver them again. YAY! Anyone who might want a December puppy drop me a link :P

OKAY ALL NONRANDOMENESS.
I'm all for doing write ins and stuff but do we need to bring computers or is it like a place that has computers that we are going to. Oh my I am so confused.

Oh and to those English Majors - I failed English last year \o/

Shaun: [about Ed] He's not my boyfriend!
Ed: [handing beer to Shaun] It might be a bit warm, the cooler's off.
Shaun: Thanks, babe.[winks]

Third year of Wrimo here.

Hey I’m deadlyretro, but to save time call me Retro. As I’ve said, this is my third year and I just can’t wait til November. I have my topic for this year’s nano; I find it easier to just start with a general topic and some characters rather than a plot. Remember, no plot, no problem! I’ve decided to go with a more paranormal theme this year, maybe a ghost busters like crew, but each specializing in a certain area of monsters.

So, just a little bit about me: I’m in my last year of high school, looking to go to university next year, so unsure if I will make the 50k with Bio and Chem nipping at my heels. Whenever I’m on the computer I’m usually on Gaia, Mibba or Pet Society and Resturant City on Facebook. I enjoy writing, but I love reading even more. Right now I’m diving into a lot of the classics, along with some newer books. Another one of my loves in life is comic books. I’m not a hardcore reader—going out every Tuesday to get the newest issues—but I have read a few graphic novels and love the super hero movies.
Welp, that sounds pretty much like me in a nut shell. Just a feel of who I am.

Got any questions or wanna strike up a conversation feel free to send me a message.
Bye for now my lovely Hammertown Wrimos. ;D

NaNo '07 - Bohemian Dreamer - 2k short
NaNo '08 - Growing Up Super - Winner!
NaNo '09 -

Whoa, had my dates all messed up thar.

Hey
I'm Cayte (pronouced just like Kate, just a funky spelling) this is my third year of doing Nano, and although last year I made it to something ridiculous like 180 thousand or something, this year I'm just going to stick with 50,000 maybe double as to the increase of midterms that I am now recieving. So a little about me, I'm in my second year at McMaster University for Classic History, and it's totally awesome. I've been writing for as long as I can remember and I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing for this Nano, perhaps finishing up the series that I'm currently working, as I nicely finished the fourth book just last week. I am going to try and come to write-ins, I made it to a few last year, but I have shocked myself beyond belief as I look at my calendar and have something on at least once a week, so we'll see how that goes... there is not much more to say about me so I suppose that I will stop rambling as of now
cheers
Cayte