Introduce yourself to the region!

Hi!

I'm MarthaJoy and this is my third year. I wrote a romance novel, Patience, in 2009 (just a hair over 50,000 words) and then flamed out in 2010. (I was trying to write a novel about the future and had done no planning. I couldn't figure out what to do after the second chapter). I'm back this year writing a story about an abandoned tiger cat who finds a home. I also write non fiction and just finished a history of our local fire department out here in the western suburbs.

I'm a little behind on my word count as I had company last week. But I have a plan for my novel this year so I'll get back on track (I hope!)

The COD writer's group sounds interesting. I'm going to check that out as well.

Good luck everyone.

Hello there. My name is Frank and this is my third nanowrimo. I have finished it successfully once and am hoping for a second win this year. I live in Lombard and enjoy writing more than almost anything.

The story I am writing is one I have been thinking of off and on for three or four years and finally decided to pull the trigger on it this year and write it. It is a sci-fi story about a teenage kid sent to exile where he is forced to find a place in a clan for survival against villains, predators, and the elements.

Anyway, I'm a little of a late joiner, but am hoping this is a good motivator to keep me on the right track. Thanks for all the wonderful e-mails and posts. Good luck to all!

Howdy,

I'm Sunny, and I live in the outskirts of Naperville, depending on who you ask.

I've chosen to nano during the worst possible time--meaning I'm extremely busy and have practically no free time whatsoever! But this is all part of the plan. The pressure and structure of nano will balance my life and force me to spend time not thinking about homework (writing=fun relaxing time). The challenge is the actual nanoing part. The trick is to squeeze in some words before school, during lunch, and during homework procrastination time. I'm already thousands of words behind, but this struggle will make "winning" all the more satisfying. :D

My novel: I had a pre-planned idea, but on a whim I've decided to wing it with a different less-thought out idea instead.

May the force be with me.

Hello, everyone.

I'm just getting around to introducing myself eight days in, but it's better late than never (am I right?)!

My name is Amanda, and this is my fifth year attempting NaNoWriMo. Maybe it will be the year I finally win, but I doubt it! I'm in my second year of graduate school, studying political science, and everyone in school knows how messy things get in November. For example, I have two research projects due at the end of the semester (early December). I'm still going to try my best, though, as I have for the previous four years.

This year I am working on this plot bunny that popped into my head this past spring and just wouldn't leave. It's a post-apocalyptic zombie novel, which is a first for me (usually I stay in the high-or-urban fantasy realm). Another first for this novel is the fact that it is a first-person narrative. It's going pretty well, considering how little time I've actually had to work on it.

Hey! My name is tim and I live in Lombard, a little farther than most people seem to be. This is my second year attempting NaNo (the first, I ran out of steam around 20k) and things seem to be going uncommonly well this time. I write my novel in vim, back it up with git, and write over ssh when I'm away.

My novel is about an earth which cheap space travel has mostly left abandoned. The Magic Comes Back, there are Civilized Animals (I'm a big fan of TVTropes), and a character will try to reestablish communication with other towns around the world (just writing this has helped me a ton; I wasn't sure that that would even happen). I I've been derailed by what was meant to be a short interlude about an immortal cat during the Siege of Syracuse.

Some of my favorite authors are Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett (Snuff is waiting in my backpack until I have enough time from writing...), Neal Stephenson (... as is REAMDE) and Ursula K Le Guin. I like computers and punk rock and cooking.

Hi! My name is Cydney and I represent Elk Grove Village. My story is a continuation of a series that I started last year, based on the 60s TV series "Hogan's Heroes." The series is about POWs who run a successful smuggling and espionage/sabotage ring, right under the nose of their Kommandant. This story is a very supernatural one, as I have made all of the characters either werewolves, vampires, and I even introduced a wizard in my last story.

Hi, my name is Shanna and I'm writing a story about a boy who can see and interact with dead people. He's more than a little freaked out by this and just wants to fit in and be a normal 12-year-old. His name is Caden and the book is called "The Weird Club."

Thanks!

Shanna from Oswego, IL

Hello all. I'm Cathy from Roselle.

Hoping to use this month just to get back into the habit, discipline, of writing every day. After only 8 days I find that I don't like my story idea or my characters. So, I'm going to start over and whatever I get done will just have to be OK.

For me, just writing daily is the goal. Perhaps next year I'll feel a little more knowledgable about my story. Having a great time reading the threads and thinking about things.

Break a pencil!!

Hey guys, my name is Ben and I'm a junior in high school. I heard about NaNo from a buddy of mine and thought it'd be a good opportunity to get some of the ideas in my head out on paper. Liking it so far. I've fallen a bit behind because of unavoidable conflicts, but not too far--it's all good.

My novel, called "Deep", is about a group of scientists working in an Antarctic research station to break through the ice to a subterranean lake. Little do they know it holds a deadly threat.
Ben

I think I've done this before, but . . . here goes AGAIN! I'm on my sixth book and really needed this push to get the sucker finished. I live in Naperville and have been writing for 20 years.

Got my second write -in under my belt today at Caribou Coffee. Even though we conversed a lot, I got more written in the time frame than I usually do. Much farther along on Veteran's Day than I was during my first NaNo last year.

Hi! I'm Krystal and I live near the border of Joliet and Plainfield. I have planned to complete nanowrimo for the past 2 years, to no avail. This year, once again, i am very behind and have completely changed directions with my plan, but i hope this time i can push myself to make it happen!

Hi, I'm MMMoreau. I'm working on a sci-fi themed novel. Hit over 30K today so that makes me happy. Haven't been able to make it to an event but I hope to next week when other obligations are done and over.

I know it's a first draft, but I still have a strong urge to go back and start over. (I won't, but I want to).

Smiles Everyone.

Hi all, I'm really late at this introduction thing, but better late than never, I guess.

My name is Wendy and I'm really excited to be participating in my very first nano. I've attempted starting projects in the past, but have never followed through with them, so I'm really hoping this will give me the kick in the pants I need to finally finish something. I'd like to eventually make it to some of the write-ins this month, so maybe I'll see some of you there.

Happy writing!

Hello everyone! I'n Nathan, I am living in Elgin, and this is my second nanowrimo. Last year I made it 14,000 words in before I lost it. This year, even though I caught bronchitis at the beginning of the month and lost a week, I am fully committed to finishing. I just passed 25,000 words today so I am finally caught up!

My story takes place 100 years after the world Outside has become uninhabitable to humans. What remains of the human race live inside The City, over 600,000 square feet of connected big box shopping mall, farming on the roof and never setting a foot Outside.

Life is good, and hasn't changed much in generations, until Kara finds a pigeon with a message attached to it's leg. There are others, somewhere, Outside. This revelation will change Kara, and The City, forever.

I hope to attend a write-in soon and I look forward to meeting people!

Hi everyone, I'm callalily05 or Cici. This year I am trying to write a Thriller/Suspense. It's been full of highs and lows. I live in Chicago and have been writing seriously for almost three years. This is my third NaNo. I've won two years and hope to make this my third year. I have a lot of catch up. I lost of few days because of a very bad cold. I keep pushing forward and I have my eye on the prize.
Happy Nanoing!

Cici

Hello, all! I did NaNoWriMo during my freshman year of high school in '09, took last year off (and regretted it) and am now doing it again! I go to college now, counting my credits for high school, as I am currently homeschooled (And not doing much better for the workcount than when I was public schooled when I last did it. Silly job that I have now takes up so much time.) Last time, I wrote an absurdist/surrealist story, so this time (being a real story with plot etc) is even more fun! :D I'm writing the book that I've always wanted to read. *epic pose, gaze into the distance*

Well, 'night all! Back to writing!

Hello All!
I'm Art and I live in Naperville. This is my first NaNoWriMo. I came across the NaNo meting at Nichols by accident in October and have been excited to see what I can do.

I'm a big fan of comedy (hence the name ComedyNut). I have actually performed as a Stand up comedian, an improv performer and as an "actor" in murder mysteries. Along with my wife, I've written nine murder mysteries for performance and have also written many custom sales and training shows. I'm a believer that people learn more when they're laughing.

I'm also a fan of mysteries and have been since I was a little reader. Of the classics, you name it and I've read it.

I intend to write a mystery that has some lightheartedness in it--even fun! We'll see how it goes.

I love the idea of just writing and not worrying about editing. Tim (New Mexico Kid) said to just keep writing, no matter what happens.

So off I go! I hope to see you all there at the end!

Art

I am a bit late on this, but I'm Chrissie :) newbie as well.
15 years old, and my first shot at writing anything longer than a short story, but I'm going for it.
Basically, we had to give speeches at the beginning of this year on one word that described us, and my friend gave on on 'Words', and mentioned this site, so here I am.

Basically the novel is just a drama sortof thing about two young men who are thrown into independent life and have to negotiate and make a place for themselves in a cold and traumatizing world.

Don't wanna give away too much, but that's the gist.

Kbai ^_^

<3xo

Hello!
I'm Jez and this is my fifth year doing NaNoWriMo (though I've only won once...so far). I'm a recent graduate and so far haven't found a job to put my new English degree to work, so I figured it was best spent on NaNo. My current novel is about a group of time-traveling Historians who go back in time to study various historical events and people. I've been really enjoying writing this story, because no matter how complicated the time travel gets, it never fails to excite me. But, being me, it will only end in tears. I have set a goal for myself that in the future I will be known as the Joss Whedon of YA fic.