What the hell? I don't know what I'm doing here. I tried to google a recipe for lobster bisque that uses spam instead of lobster 'cause who can afford lobster, when I found myself at this website. I mistakenly filled in the sign up form because I thought I was applying for a reality showed called "South Beach Insane Asylum Yachting Club." Next thing I knowI have to write 50K words in, like, 30 days! WTF! I mean, come on, the most writing I've ever done is to fill out ebola exposure forms, which until recently wasn't much writing at all. But have you read the terms and conditions forthis? I didn't. Like everyone else I just clicked the "agree" button and hoped for the best. Apparently, if you don't finish they can A) kick your goldfish B) take possession of your soul and C) send a nasty message to your grandmother telling her about the things you did in Tijuana in order to get a hot meal during the Tequila Embargo of '93. Well, I don't have a goldfish or a soul but I thought what happens in Tijuana stays buried in that place in your memory that no amount of showers can wash clean.

Damn! So I have no idea what to write. Can this be autobiographical? I could write about the time I worked procuring bodies for medical dissection for those med. students, but that would just bore you, plus I quit when I found out they weren't really medical students after all and apparently grave robbing is frowned upon. I could detail my time as a tattooist, but I don't want to relive that mess. Do you know how hard it is to tattoo a live duck? They have beaks like vise grips! I guess I'll just write a fictional story about bucolic life in the suburbs - you know, mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges, getting the mail, chasing down those damn chipmunks that burrow under my porch, collecting their heads and panting them like sugar skulls to use in my chipmunk Day of the Deaddiorama!

Oh well, I'm off. I don't have a writing instrument except for that old manual Smith-Corona typewriter that's missingall of the vowel keys except I and Y. I'm writing this on a computer in the children's section of the library and the librarians, bless their souls, are giving me the stink eye. I should have never come dressed in a pig's head mask and a shirt that says "Don't F***with Mister zero."

Best of luck to you all!

I think I remember you from Tijuana. You sure earned your hot meal that night!

Hi! I'm Debbie and I won last year. It was a terrific experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've continued to work on my novel and edit it throughout the year. I've also done a few short stories, as well. I decided to shadow NaNoWriMo this year because I really want to work on the editing, and completion,of the novel I wrote last year. My goal is to finish my novel this year and then write a new one next year. Good luck to me and everyone else!

I'm from Orland Park! I'm working on the novel I wrote during NaNoWriMo last year and I am going to use this Novemberto continue to push my editing and re-writing, so I won't get near the word count. I really enjoyed the bang out writing, just getting it down, not worrying about editing, sentence structure, etc. I knew some lines were awful as I wrote them! But I just kept going; that is what is so freeing about this month long process. Best of luck to you!

Man, am I late to the party.

Pvt. Spellguns, AKA Joe, reporting for duty. Glad to see our region being huge and awesome as usual.

This year, I'm working on an ACTUAL science fiction story, except it's about weaponized psychics in a future of solar-system conquering resource wars. I'm a ploster to the bone, and I'm suffering from a lack of preplanning this year. (Curse you, busy october schedule!)

Oh, for anyone who wants/needs it, I'm in the process of maintaining a "worldbuilding wiki-kit" that's designed to make setting up a wiki for your writing project real easy. Check it out here:http://nanowrimo.org/forums/worldbuilding/threads/184227

I'm a little late to introducing my self too! I got so wrapped in planning and writing that I forgot to stop by the forums until just now!

I'm Silira and I glad to be part of NaNoWriMo and this region again this year. I'm feeling a little daunted by my story this year--I've got some unruly characters and more ground to cover than I realized--but I am excited to be writing, I look forward to this throughout the year.

Well, I've got to get back to writing now. Good luck everyone!

Hi Everyone! Trying Nano again. I'm not doing fiction this year...well not all fiction only short bits of fiction.. I'm a Rebel this year. My "novel" is a mishmash of topics. My husband is also doing Nano. We are in the Darien-Willowbrook area.

Hi everyone!

I'm Liz and I seem to do NaNo every other year. The last two times (2010 and 2012) I reached the 50K goal. My 2010 story is still a WIP, but I eventually completed and self published my 2012 novel. (As an homage to Nano, I actually published it on November 1, 2013, even though Amazon says it was October 31 - grr). I'm back for another round this year and more behind than ever, but still determined to finish now that I finally worked out the plot of my story. Looking forward to attending some write-ins this year. I wasn't able to in 2012 and really missed them.

Heya.

Just moved into the area (Glendale Heights) in October. Came from Madison. I'm a classic gamer/anime nerd. Writing around trying to find a job and dealing with a bunch of ridiculous drama that would undoubtedly make for a better story than the scifi stuff I'm working on. My current undertaking, Hubris, is sort of a sister novel of the one I wrote in both 2011 and 2012. If it goes well, I'd like to get both brushed up and published. If it goes as expected, however, I'll probably be working on another 50k words for Hubris for NaNo 2015. =/

The only people I know down here are the two I'm living with, so any anime/gaming enthusiasts in the area feel free to drop me a line.

hahahaha I FOUND YOU! even though you are no longer doing it! ha!

I met a few of you at the NaNoWriMo write in today and i had tons of fun. and most of the "about me" is in my profile..

but what can i add that i never did?? i dunno. First time doing NaNoWriMo and i've aways wanted to do it since i heard about it 10 years ago...but never did it. never thought i was capable, never thought i would have the time.

well, so far! i love it!! even if my fingers and wrists are hating me.

I am at 30k words so far and i should be at 50k well before the month is over. after, i REALLY want to try and edit and have my friends beta read and then do my research on how to get self published (since i alreaady know how to e-book it)...or even how to get an agent...or maybe get advice on how long people usually spend edititing or WHAT they edit or what rhyme and reason there is FOR editing (so if anyone has any good links to good threads....)

i mean, aside from writing...i really don't know the first thing about making a book.

but other than that! i am excited to be doing NaNoWriMo and i am excited to attend write ins! If i go out to my local cafe or something, i'll definitely give a heads up becuase it was fun to write with others!

but now, it's time to shower and sleep. my brain..can't brain...too...tired

Hello and welcome! I'm sorry I didn't get to meet you at the write-in, but it looks like you are well on your way!

Just wanted to suggest joining twitter. There are tons of authors and bloggers who are willing to give tips on editing, publishing and general polishing of your story. You can also find others who are in the same stage of writing as you are,and are willing to be a critique partner for you. I suggest this more than giving your book to friends to read, because a lot of times, friends won't be honest. They won't want to hurt your feelings and will tell you your book is great... which doesn't actually help you make it better.

I joined a couple months ago and have learned a ton.

Good luck!

Lisa