United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Pictures from Regional Events!

lheannon — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:49:08 -0800

I've started bringing my camera.

Be excited!
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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Intro Posts!

lheannon — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 23:48:26 -0700

Let's take a few minutes to get to know each other!

Name:
Location:
Why you do Nano:
What you are looking forward to the most this year:
What you think your biggest challenges will be:
Something funny about yourself:
Favorite Color:
Main Character's Name:
Thanksgiving Plans:

Have fun and I look forward to getting to know all of you better!
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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Seattle Week Three Pep Talk Email!

lheannon — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:04:13 -0800

It's the beginning of Nanowrimo week three and I think it's time for a Seattle based pep-talk.

We made it through week two. I am sure that many of you have contemplated giving up, or it's possible you have. It's time for me to step up and remind you of why you started this journey in the first place, and try to remind you why you want to keep going.

I've met a lot of interesting people this year while doing Nano, both online and in person. I've met a twelve year old who introduced himself by saying "This is my third year doing Nano, but this is the year I'll win!" His energy at write-in's is so exciting. He sits and looks down at his laptop and reminding me "We're starting a sprint in 3 minutes right?" I've met several people who started a week or two into the month and they are quickly gaining on those who have been participating this month. I've met a playwright who is trying her hand at noveling head-first by participating in Nano. I've also continued my online friendship with a mom who not only does Nano herself, but helps her children participate by transcribing their words.

Every single one of these people has a unique story and reason that they are doing Nano, and every single one of them is a reason to keep going. Every story is inspirational, and every time one of them excitedly throws their hands up in the air in excitement exclaiming "I just made xxx thousand!" I become more energized about my own writing.

Personally, I have a hard time keeping up with the 1,667 per day quota, and as a matter of fact I am still behind. I should be at 31,667 and I just hit 25,000 this evening at a write-in where we took up half a Starbucks. I was able to excitedly stop in the middle of a writing sprint between several members and say "Half-Way!" In the last few days I've written more than 11,000 words. Between write-ins over the weekend and "word-wars" online I nearly doubled my word count.

I say all of this to let you know that we are all there with you! We are all as excited as you are! We all hate the strange twists and turns our characters take (which reminds me, why exactly is my character pregnant?), but love where it can take our story! We all want to finish as badly as you do!

Oh and if that isn't enough, we, Seattle, are still number one in word count. However, we are only 138,506 words ahead of Maryland. We were number one last year, let's take on number one again this year!

You can do it, we are here for you! Need some inspiration? Post on the forums! Need to boost the word count? Come to a write-in! Laugh, type, caffeinate, and remember in the end you're doing this for yourself and in the end you'll be proud of yourself.

Good Luck and Happy Writing! There's eleven days left and you can do it!

South Seattle Municipal Liaison,
Renda/Lheannon
If only I could add this to my word count ;)

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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Important Write-Ins/Events Calendar

lheannon — Tue, 6 Nov 2007 18:42:45 -0800

Hey guys, I need you to post your events in the ANNOUNCING WRITE-INS thread. This way I can get them on the calendar and they are easily visible by everyone!

We all want to be able to attend all the wonderful events that you are planning, but if they aren't in that thread I can't make them as noticeable.

Here's a link to the Seattle Calendar

Thanks, your friendly ML!
Renda

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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Intro Post

BeckyGiger — Sun, 7 Sep 2008 22:48:54 -0700

Name: Becky
Location: Lynnwood
Why you do Nano: Motivation; When you work full time to pay the bills, and try to have a relationship you need all the help in just starting a page.
What you are looking forward to the most this year: That I will be involved! I missed the past few years because i was moving around too much.
What you think your biggest challenges will be: Balancing enough time to sit down in a day to write a few pages
Something funny about yourself: I am the biggest gamer nerd, who looks nothing like a gamer.
Favorite Color: Blue
Main Character's Name: I haven't nailed it down yet. It will come to me when i begin.
Thanksgiving Plans: Hopefully to celebrate! =)
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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Summer meetings

ancience — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:58:48 -0700

Does anybody want to get together before November to talk about their project this fall, or maybe have a crazy reading group or something? I'm new to the city (and a 2-time NaNo winner), and would love to connect with some fellow NaNoers. I'm in the U-District, but also spend significant bunches of time in Capitol Hill.
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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Anybody already brainstorming for NaNoWriMo 2008?

oui_je_danse — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:27:25 -0700

Our "NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison" has sent out an email about beginning brainstorming (and fundraising). I'm curious as to whether or not I'm the local duck already choosing character names and designing outfits in my head. Anyone want to brainstorm or start planning an opening event?
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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

South Whidbey, Anyone?

waynecrane — Fri, 2 Nov 2007 12:55:45 -0700

I know there are some writers out there from south Whidbey. So, greetings!
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waynecrane

United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Script Frenzy!

lheannon — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:42:12 -0700

Hello Seattle Nanowrimos!

Nano is several months behind us, and it brings us to that time of the year when Nano's baby brother takes the spot light. Script Frenzy is another exciting time of the year and it brings a different, yet familiar, challenge to the table. 100 pages of a script in 30 days.

I only decided today that I'm going to take a stab at Script Frenzy, and I invite all the Seattle Nano's to join me! I typically feel that I am a novel and short story writer, but I am intrigued by the prospect of the challenge and the stimulation of trying something new.

If you do choose to join S.F. I found this portion of the website invaluable. http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/eng/overview . Of course there are the Seattle forums as well! http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/eng/node/403712

If you choose not to join in on Script Frenzy you can always help out by donating, and of course we will see you in November for another exciting year of noveling!

Renda
Seattle Area Municipal Liaison

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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Spreading the word: ESTABLISHED writing group in Seattle/Redmond! :D

blahandahalf — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:35:58 -0800

Forwarding a message I received en masse:

"Make a resolution to honor your creativity in 2008!

Let Yourself Write
Writing groups in 2008

Writing together allows us to discover and celebrate our creativity,
unshackles us from the isolation that keeps us from picking up a pen, and
adds new voices to our internal dialogue. The acknowledgment, appreciation,
and respect of others for our fledgling words replaces (or at least
counters) the carping, mean English teachers of the past.

Writing emerges from--and carries us into--so much more than just our small
selves. When you take seriously your desire to write, you are met with a
host of jostling images, ideas, characters, all longing to be heard and
written down.

I am offering two writing groups in 2008: a weekly writing group in Redmond
and a monthly writing group in Seattle.

Which one should you do?

Join the weekly group if you want to make a regular, frequent commitment to
writing. We will meet Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at my cozy
office, conveniently located in downtown Redmond. The first meeting will be
Thursday, January 17, 2008.

Join the monthly group if your schedule is better suited to weekend writing,
if you want to have a more intense dive into writing with a group. We will
meet the third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m in Seattle:
January 19, February 16, March 15 and so on.

Both groups will offer an array of writing prompts, reading aloud (always
optional), and feedback from me and the other members (if you desire).
Feedback is always constructive, designed to give you a place to go next
with your work.

I'm a published writer with many years of writing and teaching experience
and a Master's in counseling.

Call me, Heidi Stahl, MA, at 425-882-0569 to discuss how these groups might
help you meet your writing goals in the new year."

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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

We're NUMBER ONE!

YeahHi — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:59:30 -0800

WTG Ducks!!! Keep those words coming!

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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Way to Go Seattle!

lheannon — Mon, 3 Dec 2007 17:45:33 -0800

It was an awesome year! I'm so proud to be a part of the first place team!

We had 249 writers WIN this year! That is amazing! I can't wait to see you all next year and congratulations! You all rock!
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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

It's December 1. Time to start editing!

Wayzgoose — Sat, 1 Dec 2007 10:56:38 -0800

Yes, I know you think you should a) let it rest a bit, b) finish the damn story first, or c) find out who else is living in your house. But really, is there any better way to approach the holidays than with a brand fresh manuscript to edit?

Here's my plan:

Write a synopsis. I know what I think I wrote, but a synopsis is all about what I want an editor to think I wrote. I'm focusing my next month working on the synopsis I want to send to agents/editors.
Edit the hell out of the first 25 pages. I'm focusing on entering a competition in February and the requirement is to submit a synopsis and first twenty-five pages. Those pages have to grab the readers by the throat and shake them around a little. They have to be perfect. They scare the hell out o' me.
Start writing the pitches. I know that in July I'll get the opportunity to pitch to an agent and to an editor. The agent will give me five minutes, but only the first 90 seconds count. I need the pitch that will get her excited in 90 seconds. Then I need the pitch that I can deliver in 20 seconds to the agent in the next stall in the bathroom. Believe it or not, that pitch got me a reading last year! And finally, probably close to the same as the 20-second pitch, is the one I print on the back of my business card. This is a new technique I developed last year and it is a real winner."
Oh, yes, edit the rest of the book. I'm not as urgent about editing the rest because I've got till July before anyone will possibly ask for it, But you don't move forward if you don't keep the red pencil sharp.

How about you all? What are your plans now that the frenzy is over?

Wayzgoose

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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

reminder: TGIO/write in TONIGHT 9pm, Old Peculiar, Ballard for 21+

peanutga11ery1 — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:24:50 -0800

Sorry those not 21...

the drunken write in crew invites all those 21 and older to come to the final write-in (9pm) tonight, Friday, at the Old Peculiar. We had a fantastic group this year, and nearly all of us are finished! We have a couple scrambling... keep going guys!

If you want to write, you might want to bring headphones, it can be a bit loud, and I expect Friday will be louder.

Come celebrate with us!

Ballard Drunken Write-In Crew
(me, injurylad, annachronism, noneko, tjlogan, gemms, runningactor, fyca, dunlin, and a few others who peeked in from time to time and we hope you will return to celebrate!)

WOOT! We did it!

If you can, try to add a few more words... every bit helps in the region war!
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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Reminder: TGIO Saturday

Mandrina — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:56:24 -0800

HEY all...
Good to see us all upo and winning again. I've been bad about posting my own word count (I have had particular trouble with the site this year- either it or my computer hates me) so I encourage all of you out there in wrimo land not to forget to upload your word counts as the week comes to an end. We can still be #1 in words... I feel it. :) And we ARE #1 in fund raising.
This is just a friendly reminder about Saturday's TGIO party in downtown Seattle. I absolutely encourage all of the gatherings on Fiday night- I know that I'll have to be some place other than my sitting room if I'm to get it done in time. Great to see everyone making use of the fact that this year NaNo ends on a Friday night.

Here are the details of the party on Saturday as posted back in October. Please bring along a page or paragraph that you're particularly proud of (if you have a piece that you are proud of), ice skates if you have them, warm comfortable clothing (gloves are recommended) and anything else that you wish to share with the group (cookies: good, flu germs: bad).

There will be at least one person with internet access throughout the party, so when we lave the skating area and head over to the center house we'll get it up on the forums. Also, if the party breaks up and any large group goes out for an adult beverage or the like, we'll post that, too.

Keep writing, keep winning!

TGIO PARTY: Saturday December 1st from 3:pm til 6:pm at Seattle Center. This is a Seattle wrimo tradition. We will convene at the Seattle Center ice rink at 3:00 and skate for an hour or more. By 4:30 we will move the party into the [much warmer] center house where we will gobble down fudge and beignets (or burritos and pizzas followed by ice cream), share snippets of our novels, and bask in the glow of a mission accomplished.

Hope to see everyone there!
-Manda

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4 time ML for the#1 Seattle DUCKS!
www.smartestgirlinthewest.com

United States :: Washington :: Seattle

TGIO Party

Princess Bree — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:22:17 -0800

I just wanted to make a post to congratulate all the participants of NaNoWriMo this year and how excited I am to see any and all of you at the TGIO party. We have all made great strides this year. We've met people that we never would have met, done things that we never would have done, (like writing 50,000 words when I've never written more than a short 5,000 word short story required for a class) and learned things about our selves. We were not able to meet everyone we would have liked to but now we have more to look forward to next year. The problems that we had this year, we can now plan for next year. The group I was with set up deals where those who could not be there with us were able to sprint virtually via AIM. Next year we could make that even bigger. We could have write-ins in separate places be able to be virtually joined if we choose. The more the merrier. I am proud of everyone for the amount of support that has been shown to everyone this year. I can only speak for the southern write-in group we had but this could lead to some great friendships.

So please everyone enjoy your accomplishment, whether it was writing 500 words, 5000 words or making it all the way to 50,000. We are all awesome!

And for those of you interested, remember the TGIO party at Red Robin on Southcenter Blvd on 12/1 at 2pm. We're gonna have a blast!
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The PuNk RoCk PrInCeSs

United States :: Washington :: Seattle

IT'S OVER!!!!

ilanabar — Sat, 1 Dec 2007 00:00:40 -0800

Praise the lord and pass the potatoes, Nanowrimo 2007 is officially over for the fair city of Seattle.
It's been fun, guys.
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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Half of 50,000 and pretty happy

Feetintheair — Sat, 1 Dec 2007 00:12:23 -0800

This November has been one of my worst, but because of Nano, also one of my best. I've always been a rather slow writer--the novel I'm currently working on (outside of Nano) has been in progress around 4 or 5 years, and I'm only half through at present. But during the last week of September this year, a good friend challenged me to sign up for the 2007 NaNoWriMo, and I thought, what the heck? What can I lose? Lots to gain, anyway!...and I took her up on the challenge.

I started November, discovering how fast I really could write if I let myself continue without editing. I found I could write about 1000 words/hour. I discovered the pleasure of the opposite of conciseness--write three or four words instead of one, the opposite of the way I usually write. To my surprise, I found this way of writing fed more details into my story, details that often acted as springboards for new steps in my plot, which, incidentally, hardly existed when I began writing on Nov. 1.

After a week of writing and racking up a pretty good word count, things started messing up around my house. My best friend and housemate needed surgery and was in the hospital and rehab for over two weeks, during which time our animals and I rattled around in the house without a lot accomplished. Nano-wise, I fell behind about 5 days, but didn't have the necessary stamina (or time) to catch up all the way. It soon became apparent that I prob. wouldn't reach my 50,000 word goal.

But by that time, I'd written between 12 and 14 thousand words, far more than I'd ever written in such a short time. At about the same time, the plot took off, and I decided to go for 20,000 words by Nov. 30. Now I find myself with over 25,000 instead. Just right.

Feetintheair
Kirkland, WA

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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Uploading Tip: How to disguise your novel (Microsoft Word)

Nevyn522 — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:19:54 -0800

I'm lazy, so I have a simple way to obscure my novel prior to uploading. It works for Microsoft Office Word 2007, and should also work for 2003 (I think the steps are what I did last year). Similar steps will most likely work for that Open Office thing.

For Microsoft Word:

Open your novel. (Remember: DO NOT SAVE)
Press <Ctrl>+<H> (it opens the Replace dialog)
In the Find What box, type:
^$
In the Replace With box, type:
x
Click Replace All (<Alt>+<A> -- it takes a while)

To upload (this is much more likely to work with Open Office):

<Ctrl>+<A> (Selects All)
<Ctrl>+<C> (Copy to clipboard)
Open the Edit Profile page
Select the Word Count Validator
<Ctrl>+<V> (Paste from clipboard)

Their word count algorithm is apparently slightly different than Microsoft Word's -- I gained FOUR WHOLE WORDS!

Good luck everyone! I'm going to go try to get the remaining nine thousand nine hundred and fifty six words.
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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

WORD COUNT: 50,000 (You made it!)

lheannon — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:24:15 -0800

Post here once you've made it to 50,000! We all want to celebrate with you! Awesome job and congratulations!!
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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Done and Done

YeahHi — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:40:16 -0800

My goal was 2000 words a day, every day. And I did it! I don't think I've ever written everyday for 30 days in my life. It feels good to finish!

Congrats to all those who made their goals, and big props to all you still clocking in the words. You're so going to make it! Best of luck all. See you at script frenzy.

Go Ducks!

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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Personal Goals

Seaboe — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:02:47 -0800

My personal goals for November, and how they changed:

Goal 1: make 50k (well, duh. It is NaNo).

Goal 2: rewrite from scratch the first novel I ever wrote, 25 years ago.

Both of those were in place by November 1st.

Goal 3: get far enough ahead in word count not to have to write on Thanksgiving (11/22) or

Goal 4: the day of the Seattle Marathon (11/25) (even though I was only doing the 1/2--walking 13.1 miles takes a while [3:38:02, unofficially]).

I hit both of those.

Goal 5: write the daily 1,667 on Thanksgiving anyway.

Hit that one, too (by 12 noon, even).

Goal 6: write on marathon day, too.

Hit part of that. I wrote 1k words that day; didn't have the stamina for 1,667.

Goal 7: come up with a main character that didn't belong on Kristin Nelson's list of over used YA fantasy tropes.

I did this, too. However, I wasn't about to start all over with my NaNo novel at that point, so I made notes. Wrote a bit of beginning and a couple snippets of conversation. Counted them toward my NaNo goal.

Goal 8: since I hit 50k early, keep going and keep updating.

No brainer, that.

Goal 9: (made about 6:30 pm this evening): post an extra 1k words without counting notes for rewrite.

Goal 10: (made about 8:00 pm this eveing): hit 55k without counting notes.

Well, it's 9:45 pm on 11/30/07 (well, it was when I started to plan this post) and I made 'em all. Ten changing and evolving goals.

What were yours? Did you make them all?

Seaboe
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Seaboe
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on." Wm. Shakespeare

United States :: Washington :: Seattle

Solo (so far!) write-in at Terra Bite in Kirkland!!!

highlandemma — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:02:05 -0800

If there's anyone interested in finishing up with someone else, I'm at the Terra Bite in Kirkland until they close/kick me out for ranting and throwing stuff when the NaNo counter doesn't agree with my word count... ;-)

Sarah
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"Not all those who wander are lost." --Aragorn, The Fellowship of the Ring
"Where are we going? And what's with the handbasket??" --unknown

United States :: Washington :: Seattle

announcing the final week ballard write-ins

peanutga11ery1 — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:00:26 -0800

(Renda, I emailed you)

Wednesday we will be at the Old Peculiar for the ballard drunken write-in (21 and up)

Thursday we will be at Miro tea in ballard for the regular thurs write-in

and NEW! SHINY! LOOK!

Friday Friday Friday!

The whole gang will be at the Old Peculiar at 9pm-past midnight

Come join us for a final sprint towards the finish line, a celebration of TGIO, or a commiseration of nanowrimo eating your soul.

Friday 9pm, the Old Peculiar in Ballard until as long as we can last past midnight (which may not be *that* long, but probably at least 30 min past midnight, possibly longer). If you sprint at home and get there before midnight, come on in to celebrate. Old Peculiar does have wifi but it's not necessarily the strongest.

We'll have sprints, prompts, and a general good time. Extra prize for anyone who shouts out "you sank my battleship!" (drunken nanos will know why)

For those who'd like to come and not drive, busses come by often--the 44 comes from the U district, and you can check other routes easily. Come on by! Have a beer, or a girly drink!

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United States :: Washington :: Seattle

WORD COUNT: I didn't make it to 50,000, but I'm still proud!

lheannon — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:26:45 -0800

Just because you didn't make it to 50k doesn't mean you shouldn't be proud of yourself! Good Job on what you did accomplish! Post here so that we can congratulate you on what you have done!
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