This is topic Need a NaNo Buddy? in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.


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Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
Sometimes it helps to have someone to bounce ideas off of when working on a project as big as NaNo.

Here is the starter to the Buddy Thread from last year:

quote:
It's that time of year again! All those crazy writers who have pledged to write a novel in 30 days, are away to the races as yet another NaNoWriMo begins.
It was suggested that we begin a Hatrack Support Group for those dedicated souls who have taken the plunge this year, and several people have volunteered to participate even if they aren't doing NaNo.

Instead of searching for those names in other NaNo threads, it would be helpful if NaNo participants could look at a short list of volunteers.

So...

If you are willing to be a buddy, please post the following information:

1. What type of support you want to offer. Asking for writing progress reports...Acting as a sounding board for ideas...Sending out encouragement e-mails...partial critiques...etc.

2. What sort of commitment you want to make. As needed...Partner for the month...Weekly check-in...etc.

3. What sort of writing you enjoy, favourite authors, etc. so participants can find good matches.

If you are participating in NaNoWriMo, you can e-mail these volunteers for help as you need it or want it.

Good Luck!!



 
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
I'm officially volunteering to be a NaNo Buddy.

Last year I did some one-time sounding board stuff, periodic encouragement e-mails, progress report requests and full partner for the month for one person.

This year I'm willing to the same. If you need a hand with something, or just want to receive encouraging/accountability e-mails let me know.

I'm not actually participating in NaNo, so I am available for the entire month, as long as I have computer access (which is Monday - Friday, 8a-5p MST).

I enjoy most styles of writing but particularly enjoy action/adventure, sci-fi, thriller, mystery, etc.

Some of my favourite authors include: Earl Stanley Gardner, Agatha Christie, Alexander Dumas (both of them ), Ray Bradbury, OSC, Frank Peretti, Robert Heinlen, Robert Louis Stevenson, Isaac Asimov, Victor Hugo.
 


Posted by nimnix (Member # 2937) on :
 
I could probably use a writing buddy. Heaven knows I need people to kick my ass midway through a project. I'm writing fantasy if you're interested. I've never attempted to write more than short stories before, so this will be strange.
 
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
Not a problem, I can send you little e-mails along the way, and if you decide you need a sounding board for ideas, or you get stuck and need some help brainstorming, or someone to ask you a few questions, let me know.

Send me an e-mail (my address is in my profile -- icon with the face and "?") so that I have your address and outline any concerns you have at this point (if any) and I'll see what I can do. Also, be sure to let me know what your NaNo login name is, so I can spy on your progress over there.
 


Posted by nimnix (Member # 2937) on :
 
sent you an email. So far I'm just writing until I hit a wall.
 
Posted by JmariC (Member # 2698) on :
 
I need a buddy and would like to try being a Buddy too.

I'm Quasipsyco on the board.

Type of Support:
I am great with coming up with ideas and fodder, bear(sp?) in mind that it will most likely be absurd and crazy things so if you don't want wild and weird, be warned. I have a limited idea of how to be an idea sounding board, as I am most likely to suggest different paths to take the idea, which is great if you are having a problem, but not so good if you just want a pat on the back.

Commitment:
As needed and as frequently as I can be I will be happy to ask for a progress report, which is part word count check and part idea well level. I promise to help you NOT stop writing as best as I can!

3. I enjoy a wide variety of writing though mostly I'm a fantasy fan. I also have enjoyed thrillers and horror as well as humor. I've dabbled in almost every genre for reading and studying of how to write.

What I'm looking for:
Someone(s) who will check on me, particularly on weekends to make sure I'm writing and not just watching movies. Funny comments and a reminder to NOT take this seriously. I would like someone to kick me if I start to lose the humor I've attached to this.

:-)
IM's welcome, I've got Yahoo, MSN, AOL (and ICQ but I tend to stay invisible)
 


Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
JmariC,

While I'm not around on the weekends, I could ask for a Monday morning report each week...

E-mail me if you want me to add you to my list of NaNoites.
 


Posted by cvgurau (Member # 1345) on :
 
It's been pretty easy going so far (2K words a day), but I think I might need one later on, for encouragement.

Or now, I suppose, for a sounding board.

I don't really like what I have until now, but then, that's not the point, right?

I'm writing a sci-fi murder mystery/space adventure, if anyone is interested (the plot, truth be told, is a little vague, even in my mind).
 


Posted by Gnomeinclaychair (Member # 2926) on :
 
I'd like to be a buddy too.

I certainly could use one!

I can do the encouragement thing pretty well, I think. I'm a teacher so I oughta. Critiques in depth or otherwise. Sounding board. Yep, I'm game.

I'm working on a novel, aimed at Young Adult (13+ I'd say), set in the near future, about an enclave of super-thieves. I'm about four chapters in.
 


Posted by nimnix (Member # 2937) on :
 
It almost looks like the beginning stages of a writing circle/mailing list thing. Scary.
 
Posted by Monolith (Member # 2034) on :
 
I'll volunteer for the buddy position. I'm usually on everyday during the week as well as on the weekends too.

I like to read a variety of genres. Sci-fi, fantasy, alternate reality, military sci-fi. I also read King, Koontz and Crichton(?). Ihave read John Steakley (Armor) Heinlien, William W. Johnston (The Ashes Series) uhm, and of course the DragonLance Trilogy.

I can give words of encouragement, ideas, crits, or whatnot. Just email me (it's in my profile above) and put on the subject line NaNo Buddy or something like that. I check my email everyday.

Robyn,this post is a great idea.

Thanks,

-Monolith-
 


Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :
 
I need a Nano buddy right now. Should I give up or go on?
 
Posted by JmariC (Member # 2698) on :
 
Never give up!
Never surrender!
 
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
 
My Nano-buddies last year were fantastic!

I can offer encouragement and brainstorming, but I won't have time to read.
 


Posted by JmariC (Member # 2698) on :
 
Eep! My Supporting character, the mysterious and emotionaly deadpan woman, is going to save puppies from a burning building for the MC, but she doesn't know how.


Neither do I.

My SO, said she grabs and axe. I've decided she's going to grab her horse, now named due to this.

[This message has been edited by JmariC (edited November 03, 2005).]
 


Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :
 
Sigh.

I guess I'm going to quit on this storyline and pick up a different one.
 


Posted by JmariC (Member # 2698) on :
 
What's the issue?

If you'd like, I'd be happy to give you a spare flying cow!

Share your woe and watch it go (away).
 


Posted by NMgal (Member # 2769) on :
 
JmariC...

Puppies!! Ooh, yay, puppies!! It kinda reminds me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (I'm a huge fan of the series). Any time they wanted to show a character as being really, truly evil, they would threaten harm to cute, cuddly puppies.

Okay, enough rambling...

 


Posted by Monolith (Member # 2034) on :
 
JmariC,

I think most of us have seen "Galaxy Quest", but it's great.

I'm still offering my help. Just sound off.

"You are our only hope"

Well, back to your regularly scheduled forum.

-Monolith-
 


Posted by cvgurau (Member # 1345) on :
 
I got 4K+ words into my NaNo submission, and suddenly remembered that I have no idea how to write a mystery.

Oh well.

I feel like starting over too, but I'm loathe to throw away the characters. Maybe. . . redirect the story? Make it about something else? (this is me, thinking aloud. Or in print. Whatever.)

Hmm.
 


Posted by JmariC (Member # 2698) on :
 
Keep it going and make it something else.
 
Posted by nimnix (Member # 2937) on :
 
/ramble

I just found out my fluff character has a secret and a personality, and likes hunting, and I think a couple others might be heading towards a relationship.

I learned my seers have their own gesture language. Just learned today, 4000 words in.

They taught me how to say "duty is pulling us in this direction, and our path is clear", and "we planned this obstacle so that we could stop here as part of my plot".

Each one is one hand gesture. I believe there's an intricate curse gesture that deals with bloodlines and animals... Old ladies have some seriously dirty minds.

I think gremlins are eating cookies in my head and dropping crumbs all over the floor. I wonder what the gesture is for that.

/ramble over

back to writing, before my writing buddy breaks out the whip.

EDIT: Oh, I can try my hand at idea bouncing if anyone needs it.

[This message has been edited by nimnix (edited November 04, 2005).]
 


Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :
 
I'm not doing NaNo, but I would like to kick around a novel idea (to start next year). I've been worrying it in my mind and not getting a way to resolve it. Time travel.
 
Posted by JmariC (Member # 2698) on :
 
24, 15, 50, um, other numbers - Hike!


Time Travel, eh?

 


Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :
 
Yes. I want to find a way to get people in an alternate timeline, in which a Maya-like civilization has modern technology (taken from time travelers), in contact with our kind of Americans. There is already a novel with time travel, and I have established that time tampering doesn't erase a future, but creates a new branch.
 
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
 
CV: I did a murder-mystery last year and had never done one before.

Here's the key. Have a couple possible suspects, and make sure your detective's prime suspect is the wrong one. That way, everything can click together at the last minute. The fun thing is that you can change your mind about who the real murderer is right up until the end.

Everyone else: I'm in desperate need of someone to read chapters as I finish them and to prod me. I don't need critiques, but questions are enormously helpful. I'll post the first thirteen lines in F&F.

I started to email the buddies on the list, but I couldn't tell who had already paired up.
 


Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
Mary, I loved your NaNovel from last year, but I've got a few others I'm already sort of working with.

If you have trouble pairing up with a buddy, let me know and I'll see what I can do.
 


Posted by Monolith (Member # 2034) on :
 
Mrs Robinette,

At present, I'm not paired with anyone. I would be willing to read your chapters as you finish them. If I have any questions, I'll ask them.

If you want my email is above. I check my mail at least everyday.

Thanks
-Monolith-
 


Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
 
Robyn_Hood, I'm totally missing having you and Minister for buddies this time. It has been sucking. Dude volunteered on F&F and just got back to me with good feedback (Thanks!) so I'm feeling a little saner.

Monolith, thanks so much for the offer. You're a doll.
 


Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
Mary, Looks like you're being well taken care of. Good luck with this year's project.
 
Posted by Corvus (Member # 2632) on :
 
Oh! I guess I'm coming a little late to this thread, but anyone who (still) needs a sounding board or other support, please email me. I check my email at least every other day.

I don't think I've seen any descriptions on this thread that don't look interesting, so . . . anyone?

(I'm not writing one myself this year.)
 




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