Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

How goes it?

MissMimic — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:27:13 +0000

Just drop a note in here to let us all know how it is going so far, have you crossed any barriers you thought were insurmountable? have you changed your plot? have you killed off you MC?

Just a thread for your thoughts so far!

For me... well, today I broke out my rewards scheme. Mini-toblerones. Yup, I bribe myself with chocolate! Every thousand words, I get a choccie, and you know what, it works!

I've been struggling since I have assignments due, and once I write them one of the last things I want to do is try and think creatively. I thought I was stuck today, so I headed to my favourite local cafe, broke out the notebook and pen and scribbled down a few things. Then I went and bought mini-toblerones!

And then tonight I've written almost 2k words that I didn't have this morning! And I don't hate them, which is always a nice bonus! And I can finally stop referring to my MC as 'the woman' and 'she' 'cause she has remembered her name!

And that's where I am now. How about the rest of you?
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Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Central Queenslanders!

Greg Bray — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:46:34 +0000

Anyone from CQ doing the Nano this year? Pop by, say Hi, then feel free to keep in touch during this months' event. I'll be here to cheer you on, and help where possible (hey! I'm not mowing lawns or painting anything!!).

Looking forward to catching up with any scribblers from CQ typing their hearts out :)

Cheers,

Greg (from Gladstone)
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Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

What's your novel about?

Scarlett Fire — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:11:25 +0000

^kind explains it, really..... Tell us the basic plot outline for your novel, if you want and don't forget to check out everyone elses synopsis' and excrepts.

So, I guess I'll start... My novel is about a young girl who grew up with her vampire aunt (Very Jesse/Maharet, I know) who bumps into a stranger while running an errand for her aunt. That stranger turns out to be a werewolf and so we have this crazy plot with kidnapping, murder, dead bodies, past mistakes, bargins & deals, betrayl, love, sex, violence, magic, mysterious villians and a lot of secrets. Hmm. I wonder where this all ends up? I'm less than halfway through writing it and it's already complicated.... Oh well. What do you think?

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Every story needs a Begining and an End. What you do with the empty pages inbetween is left to the imagination-Unknown.

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Happy ML Appreciation Day!!!!

Kamu — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:57:30 +0000

Let's all express enormous buckets of gratitude to our MLs who give up so much of their precious Nano time to help ours go all the smoother.

You rock guys :D
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"Find the next word. Write it down. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat." - Neil Gaiman

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Tasmania - she'll be apples, mate!

Moggity — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:00:01 +0000

Okay enough of that - hey Tasmanians!

I hope to at least try to meet more of you this year. Perhaps a casual get-together some time? At any rate let us all know what you're writing and how you have done in Nano in the past.

As for me, I write just for fun - have done it 3 years in a row and won even though nothing really becomes of my idiotic drivel. I just enjoy it.

How is everyone this year? Excited?!
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Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Your Nano Survival Kit

Kamu — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:03:35 +0000

What's in your NaNoWriMo survival kit this year?

Mine contains....
My manuscript book and trusty waterman, ink refills.
A gold pen for noting word counts (I'm handwriting btw and it ROCKS!). A purple pen for writing notes as I go along.
I Ching balls for massaging aching hand
A calculator for calculating said word count
An Excel spreadsheet because I like to see said word count in all its colourful 3D graphy goodness
Notebooks each for character, regional, and cultural notes
The map of my world so I know where everyone is, or will be.
Tarot cards for giving me random plot direction that sometimes works
"No Plot? No Problem!" by Chris Baty because he tells me what I should be feeling
Some early music and celtic harp music for setting the mood.
Tea. Lots and Lots of tea. And water. Hydrate your brain, people!
The Nano web page and chat room for procrastinating
Twitter for exchanging trash talk with Uxintro during our month long word war.

What about you?
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"Find the next word. Write it down. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat." - Neil Gaiman

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Regional NSW - North (Mid North Coast, North Coast, Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands)

tallblondie — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:46:08 +0000

Thread for introductions and meet-ups for NaNo-ers on the coast from Port Macquarie to the QLD border, and north-western inland regions.
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"When one states that they are the 'picture of mental health', one wonders if they mean of the Picasso variety or the average 6yo..."
Sanity is for the uninspired.

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

New Creative Writing Group

Sandie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:23:35 +0000

Hi,
Just thought I'd drop a line in here letting people know I'm starting a Creative Writing Group after NaNo, it will be held at the East Maitland Library on the 2nd Saturday of the month for more details you can email at mcwriters@hotmail.com

Hope you all have a fantastic NaNo

Sandie
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Sandie
http://www.sandiehudson.com
http://www.sandiehudson.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/sadiehudson

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Victorians - Be Loud and Proud!

TheCarlyWalker — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:06:12 +0000

Hello everybody! ^_^

I'm on the hunt for any other Victorians doing NaNoWriMo this year. This is my first year doing NaNo, and I'm excited. I got into it because of a post one of my friends made on FaceBook. I've been aware of it before, of course, and read some Fan NaNoWriMo.

I'm 17, from Bendigo. Where are you guys from?
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Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Dares

Kamu — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:32:32 +0000

Inspiration lagging behind? Take on a dare to rack up some words.

I recall last year we had a Melbourne Cup dare, so thought I'd bring that one back, considering it's today.

And for those of us with no interest in horse racing, I'm borrowing these from the official dare thread....

Rain is deadly.
Bonus Points: It's not acid.
Double Bonus Points: It is referred to as "Eraser Rain"

(and my favourite, but not something I think I can use, so I hope somone does)....

Make one character Rickroll another.
BP if youtube hasn't been invented yet.
DBP if the computer hasn't been invented yet.
TBP if Rick Astley has yet to be born.

Add some more!

Have fun.

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"Find the next word. Write it down. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat." - Neil Gaiman

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Experienced with Cattle stations? Writing about the Outback?

Linny_p — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:25:59 +0000

Hi there,

If you have experience with Cattle stations or writing about the Outback then I'd love to meet you. These two areas have been on my mind a lot lately. Anyway, I'd love a buddy to cross reference the occassional fact with and I'd also be helpful and supportive anyway I can. :-)

Cheers,
Linny
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Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Riverina/Wagga Wrimo-ers?

edintransit — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:13:16 +0000

Anybody in or near Wagga, the Riverina or South West Slopes? Albury-Wodonga even?
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Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Sister "city"?

uxintro — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:27:42 +0000

I was just having a break (read: procrastinating) and having a look at the Perth :: North forum and I notice that they are having a competition / war with a region in the US. They have some people from there posting on their forums and it sounds like a lot of fun.

Could we consider doing something like this? Maybe for next year or even this year if we can manage something.

I like the idea of finding another Elsewhere in XX region, another group of "Elsewhere Wrimos" and dealing with them. I notice there is an Elsewhere in England and an Elsewhere in Canada. Probably more but I didn't look past the first page.

Anyone else like this idea or is it just me? Perhaps look to our MLs for doing the diplomacy on this?

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Shayne Power
2009: Jericho Man (Superhero adventure)
Won in 2008 after less successful attempts in 2006 and 2007

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Illawarra write-in, 14th November

Natnie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:15:27 +0000

Hey people in the Illawarra - Wollongong - Shellharbour type area!
I have a free weekend next week because a different event I was trying to organise fell flat on its face.

So, I propose this! We have a great big fun write-in at my place! With pizza, coffee and limited amounts of alcohol. It can be an all-nighter if you're up for it.

Send me a private message if you wanna come.
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Donate & get your own shiny halo!

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Townsvillians!?

xhan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:50:21 +0000

Hey guys and girls!

Anyone from the Townsville area doing Nano this year? We had a few last year and it was a fun crew to write/stress/flail with. If you've been here before, then I look forward to hearing from you. If you're new? Welcome to the brain strain and pain that is nanowrimo. <3

GOOD LUCK!

-xhan
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Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Gold Coast Write In

JWTam — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:52:17 +0000

Hi Everyone,

I'm just letting you all know that Jordan Lee and I are planning to run a write in on the Gold Coast on the 7th of November. So if you're in Northern NSW or on the Coast, here's your chance for a local(ish) write in. Post below if you're interested. At this stage location is still TBA. If you have any suggestions post them below, just keep in mind we will need power for laptops.

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ML for Brisbane, Australia
2008 - Star Seeker - Winner
2009 - Tri-Blood

Australia & New Zealand :: Brisbane

Let's go Bundy writers

Stelvio — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:41:10 +0000

Evening all

I hope you are sitting with fingers ready and clear heads so that you can at least write the first few pages of this year's masterpiece.

I have notes in front of me and the house is quiet.

Good luck to all, may your thoughts be clear and the words flow like a running brook.

Stelvio
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Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Bundaberg-Wide Bay region writers?!

MissMimic — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:54:24 +0000

Well, I've noticed we have a couple of Bundaberg resident writers, and I'm in Hervey Bay , just putting a shout-out to them and any other other nearby NaNoers, to if we could arrange a real-life meeting for the region, perhaps sometime at the mid-way point? Or more if people are interested. There, the shout is out... :D
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Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Magna Carta I and II

Kamu — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:10:42 +0000

I know that some of you have read 'No Plot? No Problem' the insightful, inspired and often downright hilarious guide to 30 day novel writing, written by our illustrious founder, Chris Baty. For those who haven't, you should. Right now. And until you do, I'd like to share one of the more interesting suggestions he writes about........

The Magna Carters. I and II.

Two lists, The Magna Carter I is where you list everything you love to read in novels. Character types, themes, styles, plot types, chapter sizes, page numbers, anything. The Magna Carter II is where you list everything that you hate to read in novels. The opposite to the first list.

The idea is that you keep these lists handy when you're writing your novel as a guide of what and what not to include. "...the things you'll appreciate as a reader are also the things you'll likely excel at as a writer."

Thought it might be fun if we share our lists here. Perhaps at the end of November we can come back and reflect on how close we got to writing something that we would each like to read.

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"Find the next word. Write it down. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat." - Neil Gaiman

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Currently online in the chatroom!

Keladryie — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:44:46 +0000

Whenever you're hanging out in the chat room, in any other time than an official online write-in, please post here alerting everyone of that! Someone may be online at the same time, and, seeing your post here, come and join you! :D

Because whenever you post, it'll say that this thread was 'last updated x minutes/hours/days ago' . . . so even if someone only sees your post 20 minutes after you've posted it, they'll be able to make an educated guess as to whether or not you're still in there :)

Get to it, guys! The chat room is awesome and it's fun to talk about your novels with fellow Aussie WriMos! :D

Link: http://geesee.com/provide/show-chat.aspx?chatid=24805
Password: smokobythedunny
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___
· Katharine
· ML of Elsewhere Australia
· Elsewhere Australia has a Twitter!

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Newcastle & Hunter Valley Writers?

Insouciance — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:59:25 +0000

Are there any other writers from the Hunter area? I know there's been a few of us floating around the last few years :) I'm just outside Newcastle, myself.
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Winner 2004:: Cigarettes & Love Letters
Nano 2005:: Girl Most Likely
Nano 2006:: The Paper Doll Paradox
Nano 2007:: The City
Nano 2009:: Counting Time

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Nano 2008 Stats To Beat

Kamu — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:11:38 +0000

Here are some regional stats from last year. Let's Smash 'em!!!!!!!!!

1st Place World Wide - USA Washington: Seattle - 25,865,208 words total. 31,736 average words

1st Place Locally (#20 World Wide) - Australia/New Zealand: Sydney - 9,671,846 words total. 33, 699 average words

We Elsewheres last year came in at #44 World Wide with 5,893,478 word total and 30,855 words on average.

I have us placed in fourth place locally, also behind Melbourne (#23 - 9,234,150 and 27,401 avg). I seem to have missed who was third.......

By last years stats, getting into the World Wide Top Ten would have us somewhere around London's 2008 tally of 15,057,563 (avg 28,978).

On average counts, we rate among among the best. Which I think is pretty cool :D

Let's try at least for a local #1 place this year!

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"Find the next word. Write it down. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat." - Neil Gaiman

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Anyone from the Illawarra or South Coast?

prettybirdy979 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:09:33 +0000

Just wondering how many of us are from the Illawarra or South Coast (if there's a difference. I'm not sure). I'm from the Northern Surburbs (Corrimal and I know little about anything south of Wollongong!) and want to know how many people in NaNo are from my local area.

Plus it's nice to know you're not the only person in the entire city doing this...
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Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

SE QLD - Toowoomba-rites

Gothiccas — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:58:25 +0000

Hello,

Is there anyone here from Toowoomba or the darling Downs area??

This is about my 3rd (or 4th) attempt at doing NaNoWriMo, but this year I'm going FINISH!!!!!!!!!!
At least I'm off to my best start ever if only I can keep it up!

Carole aka gothiccas
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"A cat spends her life conflicted between a deep, passionate and profound
desire for fish and an equally deep, passionate and profound desire to
avoid getting wet. This is the defining metaphor of my life right now."

Australia & New Zealand :: Elsewhere in Australia

Your Character's Theme Songs

Kamu — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:52:00 +0000

I've stolen this thread from the Melbourne forum because I thought it was cool (yeah, so....? whatcha gonna do about it Melbourne?!)

What are your characters theme songs? (not necessarily the music you're listening to when you're writing, but a song that somehow encapsulates you character in mood, or subject etc)

I've only really gotten to know my MC at this point. Her name's Ayla and her theme song is "The Wind" by PJ Harvey.

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"Find the next word. Write it down. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat." - Neil Gaiman