Link to Live Chat with Authors – Nov. 19

The Live Chat will be HERE

**We’ve been having trouble with firefox – if the chat does not show up in the page, try using a different browser**

Nov. 19th Big event

NaNoWriMo Write-In Event
Wednesday, November 19th
5:00pm – 10pm
InfoCommons @ West, 3rd Floor Library West.

SPEAKER LINEUP:

5:30 – 6:00 PM* – LIVE ONLINE CHAT <-click here for chat room
JEANIENE FROST
New York Times Bestselling Author of the Night Huntress
Series (Urban Fantasy/Romance), Published by AVON Books.
*5:30pm – tentative time

6:30 – 6:45 PM – INFORMAL TALK
MARJORIE “M.D.” ABRAMS
2006 Florida Book Awards Bronze Medal Winner, and
author of “Murder on the Prairie,” a North Florida Mystery.

7:30 – 8:00 PM – LIVE ONLINE CHAT <-click here for chat room
ILONA & GORDON ANDREWS
New York Times Bestselling Authors of the Kate Daniels
Series (urban fantasy), published by ACE Books.

8:30 – 8:45 PM – INFORMAL TALK
PIERCE KELLEY
Author of several Florida-based Mystery Books as well as several works of Non-fiction.

9:00 – 9:30 PM – LIVE ONLINE CHAT <-click here for chat room
ANN AGUIRRE
Bestselling Author of the Jax Series (science fiction),
published by ACE Books.

Coffee and sweet treats provided by Starbucks/Gator Dining
Contests throughout the evening for Book Prizes (some signed by the authors!).

helpful links:
www.nanowrimo.org

Nov. 19th Event – please RSVP

In order to make sure we have enough space and power strips at the big event on Nov 19th, we’re trying to get an idea of how many people will be there. The event runs from 5pm – 9 pm in Library West Info Commons. Please reply to this post and let me know the following:

1) Will you be attending the Nov. 19th Write-In ?

2) Can I use a screen capture of your NaNo WriMo profile page in the slideshow that will be running during the event?
(If “Yes” you can choose your “author info” page, or your “novel info” page – just let me know)

We have a lot of fun things in store at this mid-month write in, but here are some of the highlights:

-Two local authors will give brief in-person pep talks, and will be avaialble for questions after
-Starbucks will provide coffee and snacks – this year we also have tea!
-Two more authors joining us for online chats with more personal pep talks, and q&a for those interested
-Word wars with prizes for the winners

TGIO Party – please vote

We need to decide soon as to what kind of party we are going to have to celebrate the end of November, and our efforts at noveling, whatever the outcome. Everyone who signs up for NaNo WriMo and stares boldly in the face of the 50,000 challenge is a winner, for there are some who only look such a challenge with longing and regret, yet unable to take the step of actually accepting that challenge.

We have 2 options for a TGIO party (I’m willing to entertain other suggestions, if you’ve got them!)

1) Potluck – we’ll get a space, and everyone brings some dish to share. If we get the same room we had last year, we’ll ask for a $5 contribution from everyone to help cover the costs, and Alison and I will provide beverages and Ice.

2) Restaurant – find a restaurant (hopefully one with a back room) – and meet there, and people can order food and drinks as they please.

So, please reply to the forum or to this post and let me know if your vote by Nov. 20th, so we can get a space.

OH, and would Monday Dec. 1 or Friday Dec.5th be better?

Ice Cream Fund Raiser

Reminder about the Ice Cream Social and Fundraiser

WHEN: Wednesday Nov. 12; 7:00-8:30 pm (Social)
WHERE: Sweet Dreams Ice Cream
WHY: A chance to take a break, chat with other writers, eat ice cream, and raise money for NaNo WriMo.

The NaNo WriMo Ice cream cup will be on sale from 5:30 – 10 pm, so invite your family and friends, help raise money for the Office of Letter and Light.

DIRECTIONS: 3437 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
Behind Grandy’s – Plaza on corner of University Ave. and SW 34th street.

Veteran’s Day Write In

Tomorrow’s Veteran’s Day marathon of a write-in (11am-5pm) will be in the conference room on the second floor of Williamson Hall on the UF campus. To get to Williamson Hall you must first find a parking spot. Luckily the University is closed so we can park almost anywhere!

Williamson Hall is located on Stadium Road between the College of Journalism (Weimer Hall) and The Hub. There is a small parking lot next to it, as well as one across the street from it, but your best bet would be parking at the Reitz or at the O’Dome and walking up.

From the Reitz, you’ll walk north (towards Ben Hill Griffin Stadium) across the quad. Journalism will be directly a head of you with Williamson Hall diagonally to your right.

From the O’ Connell Center, you’ll walk south (towards the back side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium) on Gayle Lemerand Dr. to Stadium Road and hang a left. Williamson Hall will be on the right side of the road just past Journalism.

Once you are inside Williamson Hall, just follow the signs. ^_^

-Alison

Regional Word War Widgit

Should be a regional word war count – showing our word count, and that of our evil sister city of Peoria. Be sure to update your word count daily to help us beat them!

First Word War- Peoria Victory

From 12:30-1:30 EDT (11:30-12:30 CDT) 15 Gainesville, and 5 Peoria wrimos set to battle, via our chat room, to see who could win our first regional word war.

Gainesville beat Peoria’s total word count, 15,000+ to 8000+ words, but Peoria’s average words per wrimo, about 1700 words, beat Gainesville’s effort (about 970 words per person).

First victory to Peoria, but let’s vow that this will be the last!

Jar and Chat page added

I have added a page that acts as a portal to our Online Jar where you can go leave suggestions and draw suggestions in November as you get stuck with your novel. The 2008 jar is still a little slim, so if you run through all the ideas there, check out the “Jar of Nano Past” for over 170 card from old jars.

Also from the Jar and Chat page you can link to the Meebo chatroom that we will be using in conjunction with Peoria, and the word wars we have with them. A place where you can stop and see who is participating in the war, proclaim your progress, fling (friendly) insults, then get back to boosting your word count. (This is an open room, so you may find other writers in there during the month, feel free to engage in conversation, that’s what it is there for )