Back by popular demand, our very own NaperWriMo NaNo Faces community word count graph!

See where you stand within the region! See who has written the most words each day! Easily view the NaNo Faces of your fellow writers all on one page, like an extended Buddies page!

To join, just respond to this thread with:

• a brief synopsis of your planned novel for this NaNo
• how you are thinking to start your story (brief description of the scene)
• one of the things you treat yourself with when you've accomplished a difficult writing goal
  
  

Thanks!

--Tim

a brief synopsis of Shadows in the Closet

Transplanted from her home in Lafayette, California to Newton, Massachusetts to begin her sophomore year in high school, Maya Anderson feels like her life has not been the same since her father died in a mysterious lab accident two years ago and her mother, a year later, married her father's research partner. Maya begins experiencing strange episodes where she somehow switches places with analog Mayas in parallel worlds. When she discovers that someone or something is watching her, stalking her and her analogs, Maya must solve the mystery before it is too late.

How I am planning to begin the story

On the first day of school, Maya steps into her closet to get dressed and has her first swap with a version of herself whose life is perfect.

one of the things I treat myself with when I've accomplished a difficult writing goal

Some browsing time (nano forums, Illini basketball forums).

Hi,

I'm in.

Summary:

All was not well at the Trumbull Mining Stakehold. Even with it's location undiscovered still someone had breached their security and murdered one of their own - two, if you counted Shari's terminal artificially generated cancer. None of the four adults remaining at the stakehold could possibly be suspect. Some remnant of the Corporation Wars had breached Trumbull Consortium's security and found a way to threaten.

Or could it be the alien? Though ill, the timing of his arrival disconcerted them all.

With time's inexorable progression could they ascertain the source and breach the incursions into their existence before more of them died?

But time didn't seem to be on their side.

I'll relax and make bread from scratch.

Yay! Welcome back, giant graph!

• a brief synopsis of your planned novel for this NaNo

Elettre, the privileged daughter of a prominent pack of werewolves, has been betrayed, cut off from her family, and cursed to never again change her shape. If she is to survive, she will have to learn who she can trust.And if she is to get her revenge, she will have to learn to fight like a human.

• how you are thinking to start your story (brief description of the scene)

The story will begin in a Basilica, where the protagonist goes to escape all the pressure her family puts on her.

• one of the things you treat yourself with when you've accomplished a difficult writing goal

Getting lunch or dinner out! It can be hard on the budget, but it's a nice reward--plus it means I'm not wasting valuable writing time on cooking or cleaning up!

Hi! I'm in.

This is more of a logline/pitch for my proposed Nano Novel:

Contemporary Young Adult: BASELINE

Two BFF junior tennis pros conspire to play as rivals for a reality show to save their fledgling tennis academy. When the rivalry gets too real, each girl must choose: their career, or their friendship.

How I'm planning to start the story:

Hey, I have the concept, isn't that enough? Okay. Assuming it's first day of senior year back at the academy where they go to school and train for hours a day. Senior year is supposed to be awesome, only a financial scandal has rocked the already-struggling academy. They find out in their first day orientation (mandatory, even for seniors--groan) that some changes will be in order for the year.

Treat Myself:

I'm a bit of a gamer and Fallout 4 comes out in November. I'm going to treat myself to game play. The trick will be knowing when to stop!

(Hello again, competitive side. I haven't seen you since last November! Feel like writing another novel???)

Cozy Mystery. Sequel to last year's story. Accountant becomes detective and figures stuff out. Blah blah blah x 50,000 words. Ta da! A book is born.

I won't go to bed until I've got my daily word count done. Is sleeping a treat??? Well, during November it is!

This year I'll be reworking a novel I wrote a few years back titled "BarnYard Heroes II - The Havarti Travel Bureau Conspiracy or How I Learned to Survive and Love the Cow Zombie Apocalypse". I will be rewriting the beginning and adding several chapters to the middle of the book.

Synopsis:

As the BarnYard Heroes travel the globe to stop the Havarti Travel Bureaus spread of animal zombie viruses, they begin mysteriously disappearing one-by-one. Soon the cow finds herself all alone. Will she find and save her lost BarnYard Heroes friends? Can she stop the Havarti Travel Bureau from unleashing the human form of the deadly zombie virus? Will she learn the truth of how hamburgers are made? Will she be able to survive the cow zombie apocalypse without turning into a zowbie herself?

Opening Scene:

The novel will now start off with a secret agency raid on a old-ladies knitting club in a tiny farming community church and will quickly move on to cow zombie and caterpillar zombie attacks.

Treat:

My treat for completing a difficult writing goal is sleep. I get to go to bed and get some sleep. I like sleep.

Synopsis:

Nicholas Priest joins Chroma Corporation and becomes involved in their shadow war against the demons of Hell. Satan has just been assassinated, and hundreds of his former generals now vie for power. Hoping to gain an edge over their rivals, demons now seek victories in the human world, and it's up to Chroma's teams of field workers to stop them from inciting the Apocalypse. Nick is joined in this epic task by his senior partner, a descendant of an ancient demon-hunting tribe, and a demon who forsook his heritage to become human. In addition to the multiform denizens of Hell, very personal struggles assail the team: Self-doubt caused by a past revealed to be a lie; A marriage in trouble; Loneliness born from a secret that can never be shared.

Start:

Nick is engaged in a heated MMA fight. After winning, he collects his share of the earnings and returns home to his blind sister, who reminds him his job interview tomorrow. Having just been clobbered in a fight, he doesn't make the best first impression, but they give him a practical skills test, anyway. When he passes, his whole world is turned on its head. :)

Rewards:

Zoning out in front of the TV or a video game.

I love the nano faces - but I can't see it - it says server not found. :(

Anyway,

Synopsis - - it's a YA Horror about a 16 year old Cheryl who accidentally summons demons and cause innocent people to die and become ghost. So now she is haunted by human entities that are restless and demons.

Story starts -- she's in a fire, she's trapped and can't get out.

treating myself --- ummm --- i don't really - I guess just Starbucks or some Chccolate :)

mochomito wrote:I love the nano faces - but I can't see it - it says server not found. :( Anyway, Synopsis - - it's a YA Horror about a 16 year old Cheryl who accidentally summons demons and cause innocent people to die and become ghost. So now she is haunted by human entities that are restless and demons. Story starts -- she's in a fire, she's trapped and can't get out. treating myself --- ummm --- i don't really - I guess just Starbucks or some Chccolate :)

Thanks for pointing that out, Alex. I've fixed the link. :-)

--Tim

Synopsis:

Riley is living two lives. In one, he's a vampire lord trying to keep from being overthrown by his three juniors, collectively known as the Council. In his other life, Riley is playing the part of a teenage boy in high school, a role he's played for centuries. It's a balancing act he's perfected long ago.

Riley moves into town after a gang of newbie vampires began stirring up trouble. What should have been a routine mission turned far more dangerous after Riley discovers a greater threat in his new high school, a witch. With a single spell, she ruins Riley's life forever. She turns him human.

Riley tries to continue his duties as a vampire lord as if nothing had happened, but the Council becomes increasingly displeased. They want to meet with Riley in person but the Council would never allow a human to rule them and there's no way Riley can defeat all three of them by himself. His long life is rushing to an ending faster than he expect.

Start:

Riley getting ready for his first day at a new school while complaining to his most trusted ally about vampire politics and 'emo' fashion.

Reward:

For daily/weekly goals, um, sleep?

I usually only reward myself after finishing my book and hitting 50k. I pre-ordered a book that comes out December 1st so I'll be reading that. Otherwise, catching up on all the shows I ignored in October and November (The Flash, Supergirl, anything else that looked good). Isn't writing for hours without end until I'm half blind reward enough during November?

I'm In!

My synopsis is pretty much non-existent (yay discovery writing!) but it deals with the idea of a one year exchange program to the world on the other side of mirrors. And it'll start with one of the MCs coming home from school and making sure her parents covered all the mirrors to prevent her being sucked into one before her time.

I usually treat myself to bragging rights. I don't often give myself actual treats, now that I think about it. But I like writing with some - cookies and tea. Yum.

Synopsis:

New homeowner, Samantha Darling goes from mildly sick to "oh oh, this is serious stuff" in a turn of events that can only be described in an episode of "House". On top fo that and new home owner issues (such as repairs, setting up utilities, and unpacking) her house is haunted! Yikes.

When the ghost eventually goes from demonic spirit to just...spirit, Sam still has stress form her new home, her illness, missing work at her new job (thanks, illness!!), and falling in love with a dead person...Not to mention mounting bills that only get worse when she gets laid off.

Starting:

She is in her bedroom unpacking some boxes, the phone on her shoulder...as she is talking to her mom about how she is fine and not to worry and "i am sure this bug will go away by tomorrow..."...she only hangs up with her mom because there was one of those "bumps in the night" followed by a broken dish

Reward:

Probably food. Like..cake, or ice cream...or BOTH!

I love the NaNo Faces status and stats, very helpful in keeping me on track with word count throughout the month. After I hit 50K I use it as a secondary goal like getting into the top 20. I have not gotten far in my planning beyond my initial concept but here is what I have so far.

Synopsis (sort of): Three sisters have a brother who does not communicate with the world outside his head but is always immersed in the world in his head. They discover a way in and adventures occur in both worlds.

Start: I imagine a scene with the brother pacing up and down a hallway/room talking animatedly, gesturing with his hands, and completely oblivious to everything going on around him.

Reward: Most days I don't start writing until after the kids go to bed and the minimum essential chores are done, so I am with the previous writers who say sleep is the reward for meeting the daily word count goal.

YAY! I love this graph.

• a brief synopsis of your planned novel for this NaNo - I will finally finish last year's story. A re-telling of my study abroad trip that got so far off of my study abroad trip I barely recognize it.
  
  
• how you are thinking to start your story (brief description of the scene) - that part is already written. It is the middle that I need to figure out. It starts out on an airplane.
• one of the things you treat yourself with when you've accomplished a difficult writing goal - CANDY!!! Or a chocolate pastry from Panera. Or anything equally bad for me but delicious. I also only allow myself to read if I meet my word count goal for the day. Otherwise I get sucked in to the book I'm reading and get nothing done.

I love the Faces graph. It really motivates me to push hard to keep up on my word counts! I love watching the big word count writers too. They are very inspiring.

I am writing the second book in my paranormal investigator Possession Series! I plan to finish this novel during NaNo!

I'm not very good with treats. I just end up getting resentful about having to wait so I just eat it without finishing the goal! I get a rush from actually reaching my writing goals and watching my NaNo graphs change with my word counts. That is motivation enough for me.

For this

1. a brief synopsis of your planned novel for this NaNo
2. how you are thinking to start your story (brief description of the scene)
3. one of the things you treat yourself with when you've accomplished a difficult writing goal
   
   

I have this

1. A reporter's "working vacation" to Shadow Island turns out to not be an ordinary vacation as she struggles to unravel the mysteries of this tropical island and the colorful people who live there.
2. The first scene will be a fast-paced summary of the reporter's travel itinerary and experiences as she travels from the US mainland to the remote island.
   
   
   
3. Chocolate. Important: imported.
   
   

Yea! The graph! You know that I want in.

So I'm thinking of doing a horror story that begins with me vacuuming underneath the computer desk. I'm going to call it "Night of the Living Dust Bunnies."

I reward myself by taunting my co-workers with threats that if they don't leave me alone, I'll create a character resembling them in the novel and then kill them off in the most nonchalant manner possible.

I'm in!

Synopsis :

The second book in the Prophecy Series. FINDING DESTINY shows our Hero (a human) and Heroine (a super-fae) on their journey to discovering the truth about themselves, their inevitable destinies, and the magnitude of their importance in the Prophecy. This time their journey takes them to Earth where they further uncover long-kept secrets of the Fae and humankind.

Brief description of Starting point:

So glad you asked! Since I'm starting where I left off last time, I guess I should go in and familiarize myself with what I have already written! If I remember correctly, the hero finally gets in touch with a professor who might know something about the gray stone tablets they've been in search of. He's on a cell phone at a gas station.

Treats:

Whatever strikes my fancy that day. Sometimes it's a Bloody Mary or wine, sometimes it's chocolate or some kind of baked good.

I'd love to be a part of this again this year!

• a brief synopsis of your planned novel for this NaNo

I'm writing contemporary women's fiction this year, and I'm still very busy planning my Novel. (Ahh!) At this point, I'm planning to write about a successful career-minded woman who has the rug pulled out from under her and is forced to start from scratch.

• how you are thinking to start your story (brief description of the scene)

A packed conference room where the MC leads the meeting and has the men and women seated at the table, eating out of the palm of her hand. What she doesn't realize is that simultaneously, her career is crumbling.

• one of the things you treat yourself with when you've accomplished a difficult writing goal

Time to read! Or edit other things I'm working on.

Thanks!

This looks really cool!!

• a brief synopsis of your planned novel for this NaNo

Allaxara Rinva is an unwilling participant in a project that might just save humanity, and Nandri Kylar is so blinded by revenge that she doesn't give a damn about the imminent apocalypse. As the universe begins to accelerate toward its death, revelations come to light that shake the foundation of everything Allaxara and Nandri hold dear. They must choose between making an incredible gamble that may cost their lives, or taking the easy way out and compromising themselves entirely.

• how you are thinking to start your story (brief description of the scene)

Allaxara is an engineer working on small exploratory shuttlecrafts and minding her own business, when she receives the news that the universe has begun to accelerate toward the Big Crunch.

• one of the things you treat yourself with when you've accomplished a difficult writing goal

Time playing video games, chocolate/junk food, or a Pokemon card booster pack.

Love the chart...count me in!

My novel is Traveling to Spice Town, a YA/ coming-of-age/ historical fantasy.

Synopsis: The protagonists are present time 15 year old Jane Sparrow and her parallel self from the Old West, Birdie Siniak. They travel down overlapping paths, connecting time and place through their dreams eventually learning how to physically exchange places through a train depot gateway. Professor Z is Jane's history teacher and Mama Pepper, a former brothel madam becomes Birdie's mentor. Talon Cooper is the evil train conductor and time traveler also looking for his parallel self and the girl who jilted him. The ailing, yet imposing Old Vulture, the Gateway Guardian appears in both of the girls dreams and later helps them. But time is running out for the Old Vulture and for the girls under his protection.

Opening Scene: The story is told with two narrators. I'm opening with Jane first who will introduce us to some of the people in her life, Also I want a dream to occur, a confusing, frightening one that introduces the mythical Old Vulture and later some glimpses of Birdie that Jane will record in her dream journal.

Reward: Besides a good word count for Nov 1... maybe some hot "dark" chocolate, now that the weather is turning colder!

I'd like to join the faces graph!

• Synopsis: four supernatural twenty-somethings fight a man who wants to monetize them and a power-hungry priest who has stolen their demon leader
• Beginning: a young woman working at Jo-Ann Fabrics weaves a spell out of yarn and someone watches
• Rewards: Netflix!!

Glad to be back. Here's hoping I actually finish this year, after a few false starts the last couple times.

• a brief synopsis of your planned novel for this NaNo

After a long writing dry spell, I decided not to go back into some epic series. Instead, this year, I'll (attempt to) write First Oblivion, Then Pizza, a goofy sci-fi one-off. I'm going for a "Bill and Ted's Excellent Journey" meets "Portal" kind of thing.

• how you are thinking to start your story (brief description of the scene)

First person perspective, per my usual method these days. It would be from the perspective of one of the trio of teenagers, specifically the "smart one," as she chronicles the events of their adventure on the fairly likely chance they don't ever make it home.

• one of the things you treat yourself with when you've accomplished a difficult writing goal

Probably my usual video game and/or internet video time. This assumes, though, that I'll manage to peel myself from those in the first place.

Four years ago, magic was unleashed upon the world. Before heading to college in the fall, with plans to study parapsychology, Evie is taking a road trip through the continental U.S. state capitals, blogging about it as she goes, talking to people about how their lives have changed since magic came to the world.

The opening blog post will be the day before she leaves, wrapping up things in her hometown before the trip.

I don't have treats planned yet... still thinking about it.

Synopsis for Darrow's Doom:

Jericha has found evidencethat the legendary treasure known as Darrow's Doom is no mere myth, and if she can find it, she'll be a legend in her own right. She embarks on a journeythat leads her to trouble, betrayal, and danger long before it ever leads her to treasure, and she's not the only one with ambitiousintentions for the prize.

First Scene: (yay for completed scene summaries and copy/paste!)

Jericha has an argument with a buyer she doesnt have the wares she promised because the trade routes are cluttered and shipments arent getting through. The buyer leaves, and she vents her frustrations to the lad who helps stock and unload goods. She tells him to go home because shes worried she wont be able to pay him what hes earned, and he insists on staying to help. He tells her that shell be in charge someday, and shell need good people to help her (the boy has a sweet spot for her?). Jericha looks at or thinks about her father and the retirement she wants for him as the scene closes.

Special Treat:

My treat is usually the sense of accomplishment I feel when I see my spreadsheet numbers turn green and my word count app tell me I hit my goal. But since this is NaNo, my rewards will involve getting out of the house for something fun - a trip to the movies, the bookstore, dinner, something along those lines. Whatever I feel like at the time. (^_^)

I'm ready to try again this year. I kinda ran out of steam last year.

Synopsis - a loosely connected collection of tales of travel, real and imagined.c

First Scene - I'm not sure yet. I have a couple of ideas I'm contemplating

Reward - Chocolate, always Chocolate

Yesssss the graph!

I don't have a title yet, but I'm writing a haunted house novel set in central Wisconsin. Andromache quit her job as a technical writer and set her career on fire, so she's trying to make a go of it as a freelancer. She resents being cooped up in the apartment with her roommate and best friend, and she hates that she resents it, so when she finds out she's the executor of her great-aunt's estate, it seems like a great distraction. It's a bigger estate than she'd expected, though - piles of antiques, boxes of old journals and papers, a drafty old farmhouse with a couple of ghosts...

The first scene I'm planning on writing is Andi (still working on a nickname) and her friend driving out to the old house for the first time.

I like to spend November bribing myself with candy corn, one piece to a hundred words will get me through a big bag (discounted to a buck on November 1st...). And this year, if I finish on time and don't have a giant meltdown, I'm buying myself a new phone. (Okay, I'm buying myself a new phone regardless. But if I finish NaNo, I'll splurge on accessories and upgrades.)

My brief synopsis for planned novel for this NaNo

Title: The Daughters

Daughters from affluent families, conceived years ago as a result of the purchase of Smith College (or other elite college)girls eggs, are systematically being murdered/eliminated until Abigail Millstone, an up and coming genealogist, solves the mystery and puts a stop to the murderous plot.

This novel is about:
A young woman who learns what it means to be a true daughter (not an imposter)from her namesake Aunt Abby
As her mother descends into dementia
As her DAR (daughter of the American revolution)mother/biological mentor betrays her espoused values and as
She gains the gift of intimacy that makes it possible for her to have a future family with criminal detective love interest Marc and have a real relationship with her recently discovered biological sister Amelia.

brief description of the opening scene (one possibility)

Tentative Idea: Prologue from 30 years ago - Brilliant but financially needy college girl at elite schooldiscovers ad soliciting eggs from college girls to assist childless couple, makes decision to sell hers to finance education.

Move to Scene I where protagonist Abigail Millstone responds to urgent phone call about mother's demented state, stops and sees her on way to delivering her first keynote at DAR or NGS convention. Arrives at convention and begins keynote but is interrupted by discovery of dead daughter, firstcalls her to victim. Her mentor and fellow genealogist at DAR, comforts her but calls her to action to help find other potential targets.

one of the things you treat yourself with when you've accomplished a difficult writing goalUnfortunately, I will be treating myself during the time of the TGIO party with a trip to Washington DC to do some family history research at the National Archives, feeding my other hobby/interest which is genealogy. I'll have to reconnect with everyone on The Journey whenever that commences?!

You go, fishmama!!

Have a great start on Nov. 1!

Barb

Okay I posted my reply but I have no idea how to eventually post my word count.

How does my name and picture get added?

How do I daily add my word count?

thanks

Barb

I'm in!!

Synopsis: This is the sequel to the nano novel I wrote a couple years back called Unfinished. Seth is dragged back to the world of Pagus by his old mentor Artifex. After noticing the world around him changing in ways that are unexplainable and impossible, he realized that there is something wrong in the great library. Sneaking back to Pagus with Artifex, Seth discovers that Mendacium has returned and had been victorious in his quest to control the library. With the use of the seven pens he is revising our world in an attempt to bring back an evil that all of Pagus thought had been banished forever.

Story start: Seth is confused as he sees things that he knows are not possible happening around him. History is different, people are back that should be gone. He is scared and knows there can be only one explanation.

Treat: If I meet my word count, or have a great day of writing I reward myself with a movie or a video game. In November I prohibit myself from both until I have met my daily goals. It makes the game or movie much sweeter.

Im completely pants-ing this years novel. I had intended on writig the third and final installment of my current published series but my characters have decided to Themla & Louise on me.. so instead its off to new stories.

My novel is not yet named.... I was think Aegis but apparently its a bit too esoteric for a Romance Novel.

Rough Synopsis

So- yeah. My story is about a girl (yet unnamed) who is the daughter of El Jefe the notorious drug lord. She of course does not know that she is El Jefe's daughter because her mother escape with her when she was a little girl and had been on the run with her for most of her life. The main character had always assumed her mother was a miscreant who couldn't hold down a job and therefore schlepped her daughter from city to city but of course it was because she was always trying to stay one step ahead of El Jefe and his gang. Flash forward to now and my main charachter as yet unnamed is in her twenties working for the Kansas City Chiefs when someone breaks into her house and tries to kill her. She's living on the sketchy side of KC and so she assumes its just some strung out meth head and wasnt a targeted attack... but the local beat cop- who is a former DEA agent suspects differently. The yet -unnamed DEA Agent left the agency after his parnter was killed while following the now-cold trail of the El Jefe drug cartel. He had no idea that El Jefe had a daughter let alone that he was about to step into her house and stop at nothing to protect her... that is until he finds out that she is the daughter of the man responsible for killing his partner and his dishonorable discharge from his life's work.

Opening Scene

I'm going to drop the reader right into th emiddle of the action- and start my novel either at the scene where El Jefe takes his daughter hostage and then tell the story in flashback/flashfoward OR I'm going to start it at the point where my main character is in the process of being almost killed by the strung out meth head. I havent decided yet. I'm letting the story marinate for another 24 hours before I start writing exactly at midnight.

And- I usually treat myself with online shopping :) okay.. and probably the left over halloween candy.

• a brief synopsis of your planned novel for this NaNo
• how you are thinking to start your story (brief description of the scene)
• one of the things you treat yourself with when you've accomplished a difficult writing goal

Synopsis - Dana no longer knows which is up and which is down. A lifetime of caring for others has left her feeling drained and wanting to be selfish for her sake. Thinking she has it all figured out, Daman walks back in. Both of them want a relationship, but while Dana wants to save him, Daman feels the only way to save her is to step back. Yet when her discovery of the deep dark secret of the clans is revealed he has to step in to protect her from herself.

Start of story - Dana working on her project (as she has since the start of the series) and she leaves her computer alone to run the genetic test when someone (I need to know who) comes in to tell her that her grandfather, her rock, has passed away.

Treat - No clue. I bought myself my treats. Maybe I'll play on World of Warcraft or something XD

I'm in. Almost didn't join this since I don't expect to write at my 'normal' pace. But I'm going for a new normal. My goal, as always, is to finish the first draft of my novel before the end of the month. I *hope* that is 50-70,000 words this year, so about 2,000 words on average a day should do it. I may start out stronger than that, and the all-day write-in on the 13th should be higher, but the week before Thanksgiving I expect to be extremely busy at work. So, it should be quite possible to be above me on the graph. Honest.

French Consequences:While working in France for a year, Miriam returns to the States to see her children, start the process of selling her house, and recruit members for an important work project. Nothing goes as planned. Her son is thinking of not finishing his dissertation, her daughter's summer internship fell through, and there's a dumpster in the front yard of her house.

Estelles romantic life is thrown into chaos once again only this time it's not Miriam's fault. Two women from different cultures learn from each other how to make good choices even when life slaps them in the face.

(This is book 3 in my series, book two used to be called FC, but changed to French Encounters during the revision process.)

Starting with Estelle having dinner with a new romantic interest and gets a visit from her almost-ex-husband who is devastated because his son (aged 25, from first marriage) died. Miriam's scene starts with her getting ready to go for a quick visit back to the States.

Treat - walk outside if possible, around the house with lots of stretches if not.

Title: Frostbite

A phenomenon has occurred where random individuals have been granted superpowers. Being one of the recipients, Eri refuses to use her powers, believing it would corrupt her. But watching one her closest friends Alec, also having been granted powers, using them to play judge, jury and executioner at will, she reluctantly decides to use her powers to stop him. Having succeeded, she decides to continue to use the powers to help others in need. But when personal tragedies strike, and the desire for revenge is planted deep in the heart, Eri begins a journey down a path that she had once feared...

Opening scene:

A role playing game that Eri and her friends are playing. This will foreshadow some of the positions and actions that Alec and Eri will take when they receive the superpowers.

Treats: Italian Beefs, Netflix

Title: Nightstone

Synopsis:Leyhla Fenn cant remember her childhood. She doesnt remember that her parents are alive, and she most certainly doesnt remember that she is an Allcaster, the rarest of the magic-wielding Transcendants. All she knows is stealing what she needs to survive on the streets of Westmouth, and the training shes received from a weapons master she once tried to pickpocket. When she steals the presumed-to-be-mythical Nightstone, she only thinks of the wealth and security it could bring her. But the Nightstone has more power that she could ever have imagined. The myths are real, and some people will do anything to harness the stones ancient power.

Opening Scene: Leyhla has just finished dispatching 5 guards in her efforts to steal the Nightstone when she hears another personcome into the house and start up the stairs.

Treat: I will probably only reallytreat myself after NaNo is over, but I haven't decided what I will treat myself with. If I get mentally exhausted after I finish my word count goal for the day and can't write anymore, I will treat myself with some TV.

Add me to the word count graph!

2nd adventure of Fran Brewer, traveling medical lab tech temp. She finds herself caught up in the social network ofsuburbia. She's never had so many activities, from a book club to running with the local joggers. The undercurrent of discontent rivals any soap opera she's heard. Members of the book club start dying and Fran has to figure out whothe killer is before she is permanently dropped from the social register.

The book opens with Fran entertaining the new single friends she's made since moving to Indianapolis for her next contract job. They are enlisting Fran's help toprevent the married women from taking over the book club and having too many rules. Being the new person enables her to not have a lot of prejudices against members... yet. This story will focus more on Fran's currentprivate life than the first mystery did.

My reward for getting a lot of writing done is to read something fun.

I'm ba-aack! No prizes please - your inclusion in the online events is more than payment enough!

I am starting 2 novels this time. I think one will fizzle and the other will rise but I am giving both a fair shot.

The Parent Permit: Rhea and Marvin want to have a child. In their world, a life must be given up before a life can be created. They will take on an elder (anyone single over 55) from their community. They have to share a home with the elder, giving all necessary care and interaction for 6 months before they can be granted authority to try to conceive. The complication, you know there is one -- at 6 months, they have to kill the elder in person, up close, hands-on, in order to capture the life essence before they can complete their application to be parents.

Inside-Out -- On Their Own: Drake and Maddie leave their post-apocalyptic home (NANO14) after it was blown apart by seige-plunderers. They strike out on their own to try to save their lives. Maddie doesn't trust him, Drake is too gentle to push but has to move past the treachery of his wife and the death of their daughter. Drake learns more of Maddie's past, and they both are tested as individuals and as a couple in finding their new purpose.

How do these stories begin? Well, the characters will let me know, I'm sure! Treats... um, yeah. Art supplies? Of course! I am starting with several premade meals in the freezer! Stoked!

My story synopsis:

Where in the world did the word "elves" come from? Turns out, it doesn't come from this world. It comes from the next. Elves, short for elevens, are the children who leftthis world. Saint Nicholas came to all of them, in their eleventh hour, and welcomed them through. But the North Pole, the haven for all elevens, is in danger. There's a dark magic spreading in the barren wastes, getting closer every day. The Pole is falling apart and without it, living kids and elevens alike will be in danger of losing their magic forever.

How it starts:

Vera, 10, dies from an accident while climbing a tree. Woo hoo! My kill-a-character square is already filled in!

How I'll reward myself:

Oh, probably youtube. I like to reward myself beforehand and get a cup of coffee and get a comfy seat at the coffee shop.

I'm in too. Always a motivator to look at the graph every day or so.

Brief outline of novel "Forward"

In 1876/7 Wisconsin mandatory school attendance is just being discussed. Our heroes would like to go on to high school but aren't "welcome" into this elite group. Back then only 5 to 7% of eight graders were thought worthy of four more years of school. Charlie Hoffmann and Jake Herschel will just have to find another way to fame and fortune.

Opening scene is the first day of first grade, years earlier. A teacher scurries across the playground to separate a group of brawling boys. Charlie is pummeling a third grader while Jake trembles in the grasp of another older boy. Their mothers meet for the first time in the principal's office. School is not looking good for the bookish Jewish boy and his new best friend.

A brief synopsis of Three Starry Nights... Well, I have two versions of that--the spoiler version and the non-spoiler version. Spoiler version is much easier: It's the story of Cinderella, from Prince Charming's point of view. I'd like it to not be immediately obvious that it's Cinderella, though, and Prince Charming's name is Galen.

In the opening scene, the king informs his son that it's time to think about getting married. To encourage him, they're going to celebrate his birthday with three balls where he'll be able to meet and greet every eligible maiden in the kingdom, and probably a few from the neighboring allied kingdoms, too. Galen is rather appalled at the idea of choosing the next queen in a matter of three nights.

And what I do to reward myself depends on what I'm in the mood for and what sort of writing just happened. If I'm super proud/excited about it, I might do a victory dance. (Yes, really.) Otherwise, maybe I'll have some chocolate, or some other tasty treat. Or, since we have a new dog who's a juvenile delinquentan energetic adolescent, maybe I'll throw his ball for him a few times.

All you have to do is update your word count daily where it says word count in on the top of the screen. The graph will update automatically, because Tim has set it up really awesome.

Hello! I love the NaNo faces, and I can't wait to join in this year!

My novel: It's about a young woman who loses her lover, so she has to travel with her girlfriend's ashes as well as her girlfriend's brother all the way back to California from Chicago to spread them in the ocean.

As for treating myself, I generally don't do much, just because if I treat myself, then I get lazy and slack off. I do like to fist pump (like Bender from The Breakfast Club) when I do something I'm proud of.

Seems romance was the winner this morning. (I reserve the right to completely change gears, though.) But for now...

Synopsis: Jilted bride finds new love. (I'm pantsing this year, so that's all I have.)

Opening:So far this morning, my bride accepted a proposal, got left at the altar, flashed back to the day she found her first fiancee buried to the hilt in his brother's high school girlfriend, married another guy, and got drunk and nearly drowned.

Rewards: I don't really have a reward system.

Can I join :)

Synopsis: My story is YA scifi, in which 14 year old Cornelius accidentally discovers time travel while attempting to bring life to his paralyzed legs. When the wrong people discover his secret, Cornelius begins a journey through time to gather a team of people who have the skills tohelp him not only defend his time travel secret, but to discover the technology needed to heal his paralysis. His "dream team" will consist of Harry Houdini, Babe Didreksen, Leonardo da Vinci, Maria Gaetana Agnesi, and Alexander the Great.

Opening scene description: Cornelius is locked in his room by his aunt and sole caregiver, per usual. He tinkers with a device that he believes will allow him to walk, and is accidentally transported to 1902, where he witnesses Harry Houdini escaping from a pair of handcuffs in Scotland Yard.

Treating myself: I've never done this before, but I think I ought to start!

The story is taking the Old Testament Scriptures, 2 Kings 4:8-37, and putting it into a modern setting.

And so it begins.

That was actually the first sentence I wrote. It really starts with the Shunammite in front of her first Bible Study group wondering how things will turn out after much upheaval and a church merger. She's unsure how she's going to pull this diverse group of women together, and the only one she really knows is her best friend.

I haven't really decided how I'm going to treat myself, but I was gifted 6 cases of Starbucks K-cups last week, so I know how I'm going to keep myself going!

Best of luck all!

Bonnie (Me-n-Jesus)

Tim, how often does the site update with our numbers?

Kiela Starcatcher wrote:Tim, how often does the site update with our numbers?

It should be roughly hourly for the NaNo Faces graph. It might be less frequent depending on when you updated your numbers on the NaNo site and how far away that action is from my cron job (that currently runs at the top of the hour but only updates the wordcount per individual if the time since the last file update is more than one hour). Also the NaNo word count API only does updates of your own numbers hourly itself.

--Tim

Gotcha. Thanks, Tim! See you at the kick-off write-in! (^_^)

Synopsis: Vanessa, aka the Grim Reaper, decides to quit her jobfrom escorting souls out of their bodies and on to the next realm. With souls having no where to go, they stay in their dead bodies and become zombies. Michael, the last person to die, must convince Vanessa to come back to work before Zombies threaten to take over the world.

Starts off with Michael dying in a car accident.

I usually treat myself to some chocolate when I achieve a writing goal.

So my novel this year is about a young girl who gets offered a chance to be part of a social experiment where participants must go one year without having contact with their family. In order to get people to participate they put them up in hotels and pay for the expenses plus the individual gets payed for it. Before the experiment begins about half of the people who initially accepted the offer have dropped out so in order to avoid losing the rest before they can really see how it plays out they use the the extra fund that was going towards housing and paying those that dropped out to set up a reward for anyone who successfully finishes the year. The main conflict is what is worth more the money and amazing opportunity to live a much better life for a year or her family.

I'm really excited and I'm doing something different this year in that its all written, or mostly written in diary format as opposed to chapters. So the first bit is taking place the night before the experiment begins she explains how the opportunity presented it self to her and how she struggled with deciding to do it but ultimately decided that there was no harm in trying since she was free to drop out at any time.

Right now I'm rewarding myself with cubes of muenster cheese. I don't really have a reward system this year though I might develop one if the writing alone stop being enough motivation.

Hi.

Sandy here. I'm writing another Urban Fantasy, titled (for now) Seeking Destiny

Synopsis: The assassination of the Fae King visiting Chicago shatters the delicate status quo between the humans and the Fae, triggering panic in the city. Assassin Alanna is dragged from prison into the mess by the Queen herself who commands that Alanna find the ones responsible for her husband's death and kill them. Which sounds fantastic except the (having solidified this yet :))

Opening scene: Main character, Alanna is listening to the whispers of the guards and other prisoners.

Treat: Key Lime Pie, mmmmm

Almost forgot, Please sign me in.

Good luck to everyone this year!

I am back and I am in (this is my third year!)

Titel: Panther's Head - resurrected

Yes, I am writing about Trish again, she wouldn't leave me alone with her story :-)
It's a YA novel. The story is about Trish, a teenage girl, who stumbles over some family secrets and is suddenly confronted with her mother's past who once was a spy.

Hey all....

My book is set current day, and it is about how the main characters navigates many unexpected changes in their lives...starting with a moment where they are reminiscing about their environment and the many ways it makes them nostalgic.

My treat is that I'll get to read Carrie Brownstein's book "Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl" that I got hearing her speakon Friday at the MCA. I'd usually be reading through it now, but that reading time is writing time for Nov!

Good luck all!

Hello good to be back in Nano land with a good idea for a novel. I have not had much success the last few years but I plan to write and write this year!

• My first sci-fi novel! In the future, mankind has used science to colonize the stars and achieve dominion over the galaxy. But that was the evil cult'splan all along. . .
• I have started off with one of the protagonists explaining why he fully feels justified in hating the human race.
• I have never tried giving myself rewards for reaching a goal. I will try that this year.
  
  

Hi everyone! This is my first year attempting NaNoWriMo, and I'm excited/terrified.I'll be writing a YA/Supernatural novel with a working title of "Imaginary Friends."

Synopsis: Lydia Bernard had always had trouble with imaginary friends. While most children outgrew this stage fairly quickly, Lydia's "friends" stayed with her for nearly a decade. After extensive therapy and prescription drugs, Lydia's visions became manageable- and eventually stopped altogether.But when Lydia begins her first semester at Boston College, the troubles of her childhood she spent eight years suppressing come back full force. Lydia must face her greatest challenge headfirst while simultaneously trying to make friends, attempting to come across as not completely socially awkward at parties, and avoiding the freshman fifteen.

Opening scene: I kind of cheated a little bit since I wrote an opening scene for this as a writing exercise a few months ago.... but the scene is a flashback to when Lydia is about one year old andlearning to walk. Her mother is coaxing her across the room, but Lydia instead walks over to a figure across the room that her mother does not see.

Writing reward: After completing a writing goal, I usually reward myself with lazy internet time to give my brain a break. This usuallyconsists of watching Netflix or Youtube videos. I'd like to point out that this is a horrible reward system, as I more often than notget carried away on a Youtube binge or accidental Netflix marathon.

Synopsis: Tessa, Scott, and Lawrence find they have magical powers. They develop these powers under the guidance of a secret organization set on restoring order to Chicago. Secretly of course. However things go wrong when their personal feelings, goals, and lives get mixed up with the tensions of the organization and the special FBI unit that hunts magic users.

Start: Tessa accidentally makesan annoying guy lose his voice when he insists on "helping" her.

Reward: haha, as if.

So my the title for this Nano is:The Seelie Queen and the Bear

The Synopsis:As the yearly tournament of the Fae and Elves head to the Seelie Realm of Ereth, the young queen becomes intrigued with a gladiator Werebear with a hidden past. As the two fight their attraction towards each other, a plot is brewing amongst the gathered Fae and Elves. Loyalties will be put to the test, lives will be threatened, and most people are not entirely who they seem to be...

Opening Scene: Right now, it's the Seelie Queen greeting the guests of the tournament and her thoughts on each ruler that comes to visit.

Rewards: I haven't really thought of a reward system yet.

Title: Heartless (probably not going to stick with that)

Synopsis: Oberon is ahacker for hire who wants to settle down and try and join the rest of humanity, getting a job as a neutered IT guy for a faceless corporation and attending ridiculously slowtherapy to work on his anti-social behavior. Boredom quickly sets in, causing him to think outside his managers precious "Box" and drawing the attention of the company's owner and CEO. He is forcefully drawn back into the world he is trying so hard to escape as he is tasked with more and more difficult assignments requiring him to shed what little morals he has left.

I am having more fun than I could have imagined. The words are flowing and from the input i've gotten so far.. It doesn't suck! I have to pull myself away from the computer and force myself to take care of other business. At the rate I am going I will be done by Friday! I joke of course, I don't anticipate keeping up at this speed, as I need some more research and planning.

If anyone wants to read what I have just let me know. I am more than happy to return the favor. I am selfishly looking for constructive criticism.

I reward myself with TV shows and naptime so far.

Opening scene is Oberon sitting in his car at night staking out a house, beginning to realize he has come full circle in life.

Trapped in a Novel - Two guys get trapped in a novel and need to con someone into reading the whole novel in order to escape.

It begins with them killing time in a bookstore while waiting on one guy's girlfriend to finish applying for a job there. They encounter the book, open it, and a ghostly apparition escapes and shoves them into the book.

I usually reward myself with short internet breaks, sometimes some M&M's if they're handy.

Title: A Garden at the End of the World

Synopsis: In a near future society dealing with food shortages, a greenskeeper, who must remove illegal backyard gardens, begins to question her role.

Opening: The main character is locked out of her house with a crying baby and a car full of groceries.

Rewards: My husband has hidden a stash of Halloween candy. I get one for every 2,000 words.

Hi. I am Emily!

Synopsis: A girl who ended up in foster care when she was 11, with no memory of her life before hand, is currently 16 and living on the streets when she suddenly discovers that she has a strange ability. She can become invisible. At first, she abuses her power, using it for ever day actions, until she starts getting sick because of it. She and her friend Gideon hunt for the truth about where she came from to find out more about why she is getting sick.

Start: I am starting it out in the scene where she and Gideon first meet so that I can establish their friendship before I throw them into a whirl wind of chaos.

Reward: Every 750 words I will go watch and episode on Netflix, usually of Arrow, to relax a little bit before I continue.

Thanks!

Yes, please put me on that graph with so many dots and lines it's impossible for anyone to find themselves! :)

1. My book this year is Century War, book 2 of my science fiction series about the first interstellar travelers aboard a colossal generation ship. Now the population of the ship has split into two opposing factions, each with very different views about the goals of their mission. Will things end peacefully? Not likely, given the title of the book!

2. For an opening scene, I'm including a prologue about the launching of the ship, two hundred years earlier. Just to add to the word count.

3. No rewards. Back to the laptop to type some more!

Add me please!

Urban Fantasy about a unwilling thief forced to steal for a crime lord after she steps into his crime scene.

Story starts:

Lexie teleports into a back alley in effort to avoid notice, but she stumbles into a murder scene.

This year I am writing a mystery/thriller.Possibly to be sent to the Minotaur Competition.

Synopsis:

A young drug dealer named Adam Krul was murdered. Grant Liu has been framed and arrested for the crime. After someone confesses, he must find out who did kill Adam, before other gangs find him and kill him.

Opening Scene:

The novel will now start off withmy main character being arrested for murder.

Treat:

My treat for completing a difficult writing goal is sleep and chocolate. I normally write before I sleep . Well this year anyway.

Synopsis:

New adult, romantic suspense

Young woman, first job out of college, may have attracted a stalker or an unhappy client.

Her roommate's ex Navy SEAL brother is asked to look into the issue before it escalates.

I start the story with the young woman's first day at her new job. Why she chose the career she did and introduce her to her eventual roommate.

When I accomplish a difficult goal, I immediately stop writing and take a break. The break helps to get my brain on the writing track again.

Synopsis:Cain, a werewolf uncomfortable witheverything except his solitude, finds himself Alpha of a pack and falling for a human despite his best efforts on both accounts. These two situations present more than their fair share of problems, the only thing that could make them worse? If they both happened at the same time.

Opening: Cain finds himself repairing a broken down mansion while trying to manage diva-like werewolf behavior in his pack.

Rewards... um. Dark chocolate and coffee.

A suspense romance where the heroine is trying to get away from her hired killer ex-boyfriend and testify against his clients before she ends up dead.

It begins with her walking home from work, generally in a good mood until she overheard herboyfriend's phone conversation.

Either I'm reading or role-playing'

• My book is a novel in which the leader of a walking/running group solves a mystery. Thereis asubplot of a slightly-obnoxious woman in the group who is working hard to get in shape but won't say what motivates her. There's also a hint of a romance in the story.
• The story begins when my protagonist finds a dead bird on the nature center grounds. The bird belonged in the aviary, alive. A short distance away, she finds a body. Are there two things connected?
• Daily treats for completing my wordcount is to let myself go on Facebook and hang out. (Normally I do this INSTEAD of writing!)
• A treat if I meet my weekly goals will be to rent a movie or go see one.
• If I complete the 50,000 wordsin a month, I plan to go to Suzette's Creperie. Always wanted to try that restaurant, and my husband would be happy to join me.

I am slightly behind, but not too bad. How canso many of you can beso prolific? I feel like i'm working hard but am not as productive as I'd like to be. Got to admit, I do way too much editing. It's hard not to.

Hello,

I am getting the hang of this word counting thing...I joined yesterday to get back in the swing of writing, and I really have a little over 4,000 words.

My book is a fantasy setting

Name: Dream of Tinda

Synopsis:

Nine years after a Wrato invasion in the city of Tinda, 16 year old Quessa Monts and her fellow fighters face a Wrato attack on their own and fail to protect one of the city's scholars. The team of five head on a mission to reclaim lost goods and the kidnapped scholar because as the saying in the city goes: "A city cannot survive without its scholars."

Opening: Quessa is late to the monthly training event and even after nine years she struggles to overcome her fear of facing a Wrato again even though she became a Fighter to avenge her father's kidnapping.

I feel like finishing the book would be a treat enough...but I'll probably go out for sushi!

Thanks!

I'm in and at 4608!

My story: Stylist Sasha Brennan finds herself teaming up with celebrity wrestler "Crusher" Webb when her brother, Trent, is in a horrific accident.

I started the story with Trent missing, and Sasha receives an unexpected visitor, Jack. They find out about Trent's accident and lean on each other for support.

Treat myself with more writing!

• a brief synopsis of your planned novel for this NaNo
• how you are thinking to start your story (brief description of the scene)
• one of the things you treat yourself with when you've accomplished a difficult writing goal

Thanks for setting this up, Tim. It's really inspired me to be more competitive and totry tokeep up with the big dogs. It wasn't my plan, but once I got off to a good start with the Kick-off write-in, it only made sense to keep up the momentum!

I know I'll slow down, but this first week of NaNo has taught me that the numbers Ithought I was capable are nothing compared to what I'm actually capable of. Suddenly 1,667 isn't just possible - it's a piece of cake. It's a lesson I'm certain I'll take with me for future projects.

~Kiela (^_^)

This is my first time participating in NaNo. My story is contemporary YA, about a teen who discovers a closely held family secret and must deal with the ensuing fallout. It begins with a teaser of the secret, then shifts to the main character and her boyfriend hanging out in her basement. So far, my reward is dipping into my kids' cast-off Halloween candy collection!

Hi all and happy writing!

My novel: a guy goes to school, in space!

Since this is a continuation of my work from last year, this year I started with my main character getting whiny and his Mom laying down the law.

Once I've finished a writing goal, I usually find a snack, preferably chocolate. Oh, and I watch a cartoon. I've got an episode of Bob's Burgers loaded up and ready to go right now in fact :)

Please add me to the community word count graph! It is inspiring to see the word counts of all the other writers! I have a lot of catching up to do, due to life rearing its ugly head last week. But NO excuses. I'm heading to the library now to double up my count, write a synopsis and upload the book's cover. Thank you for all your help!

Ark of Worlds: (Epic Fantasy) Inside a cosmic life raft called the Great Machine, the very last people of the universe struggle for control. The Royal Rebellion stands against the corrupt Senate and Church of Mechanism, desperate to shake off the oppression and over-taxation of the lower classes. A rural hunter becomes embroiled in the Rebellion and meets a black witch with a past she's keeping from even her employers. They find themselves at odds with an archmage and his general, as well as a host of invading monsters, unintentionally guided by the archmage's infected sister. But who will ultimately triumph? The Rebellion? What can they do in the chaos of the invasion? Or will it be the Interim State military? Can they prevent the Rebellion from snatching rulership from the Senate while they save the country? Or will it be the monsters themselves, seeking the eternal power locked away in the city's most important resource?

The story begins with Uaris, a Sarza huntress, a member of both the most oppressed race, and social status as she naively ventures out on her coming-of-age journey, only to find out the world is much more complicated and dangerous than she had expected.

I usually treat myself with a bit of a break, haha. I've found that I can only spend so many MP in a day, and I have to recharge after a good long run, usually with anime, manga, Person of Interest, or Good Eats or a video game or something.

Anyway, I figured I'd try to get back on Faces before the month is out.

And, since I've failed to say so this year, Hi, everyone. I'm back.

Hey, no fair sneaking in when you've already won! lol

Welcome back, and grats on the early win.

(^_^)