NaNo participants - I'm composing a thank you email...

[Guest]

... to Chris Baty and all of his staff.

I'm going to send him a big thank you from me, and I thought it would be a nice touch to add a line or two from the other NaNo participants here at Lit.

If you could sum up what you got out of NaNo in a couple of sentences, what would you say?

How was the NaNo experience for you? Was it uplifting? Enlightening? Confidence building? Hard work, but well worth it? Life changing? All of the above?

Would you mind if I used those thoughts and put your name to them in an email to Chris?

NaNoWriMo is a non-profit organisation, they are all volunteers. So let's send Chris and his hard-working staff our thanks for the work they do.

Thank you, in advance,

Lou

 

[Alex De Kok]

Great idea, Lou. Count me in.

How did I find it? Exciting, frightening, uplifting, confidence building - yes, all of those. It's given my wife and I another shared interest, but perhaps most of all, it has persuaded us that, yes, we can write novels.

Alex

 

[Icingsugar]

What I Got Out of NaNoWriMo

A well deserved kick in the arse, as well as one of the most satisfying creative processes I've ever had the honor to participate in. A raw caffeine IV for my muse. Oh, and half a 100k novel

A sincere thank you from over here!

 

[Guest]

What NaNo meant to me.

NaNo proved that I could write a novel that wasn't a total steaming pile of crap. I think, with some editing that it will at least be fit to post here at Lit.

Mainly, it proved to me that after years of *wanting* to write a novel but not thinking I could, I learned that it was something I actually could accomplish. Having the deadline for a certain word count was a great motivator.

 

[pop_54]

Yeppers

Yep love send them my regards, and same as most I think.

I always thought I could write a reasonably sensible longish piece of work, the spur provided by NaNo helped me prove it, without NaNo I'd probably never have bothered to try, or got fed up half way through.


pops

 

[DirtyJJ]

I definitely second what the others have said to this point.

For me, NaNo helped me get closer to a dream I have had, but did not have the courage or motivation to start. It took what felt like an overwhelming task and made it seem more possible, and it helped me go to the next step by realizing what I personally need to have in place to write a novel.

JJ

Thanks Lou - I am actually looking forward to next year already. Wish I could have finished this year, but I'm still happy that I even tried.

 

[Guest]

Thanks again, Loulou.

NaNo was a catalyst and support to writing the work my writing life has obviously led me to. The exercise, control and new discipline was enough, in just the first week, to show me what was possible. I believe fully that I will go on to finish a 'real' book. Muchissimas gracias, Perdita (de San Francisco)

 

[oggbashan]

I would like to thank NaNoWriMo for:

Persuading me to write instead of thinking about writing;

Forcing me to barge my way through writers' block;

Providing a challenge I couldn't resist;

Encouraging me to share the challenge with others;

Providing help and advice on the site (the support came from the AH and Tatelou);

Constructing a writing competition where the only person you are competing against is yourself; and finally:

Inspiring people across the world to produce something they can be proud to have created. NaNoWriMo does more for the creative spirit than most Government funded art events.

Og

 

[wildsweetone]

Great idea Lou

My two goals for joining NaNo were to begin my novel and to have self dicipline with daily writing.

Thanks to NaNo and the support given by the other NaNo participants at Literotica, I achieved both my personal goals.

Thank you!

 

[champagne1982]

I found Nano to be a challenge well worth the effort. Even though I didn't complete 50,000 words I have a fantastic start and premise for a novel that I will finish. The challenge gave me the self-confidence to think I may have an ability to write.

 

[raphy]

I've tried a dozen times to write down what Nano meant to me. I've failed a dozen times. Feelings, concepts, thoughts - These things seem to become less than they are, when given form.

I think I'll just say that Nano unlocked in me a muse that I had never suspected, a talent that I had never thought existed and a determination that I had never before seen.

Forward momentum

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone!

You've all said some great things here, and each one of you reflects how I feel about NaNo.

I'll send the email later this afternoon and copy it into a PM, which I will send to all of you, just so you know what I said about you lot.

If anyone else wants to add anything, there's still a little time.

Lou

 

[wildsweetone]

Thanks everyone!

You've all said some great things here, and each one of you reflects how I feel about NaNo.

I'll send the email later this afternoon and copy it into a PM, which I will send to all of you, just so you know what I said about you lot.

If anyone else wants to add anything, there's still a little time.

Lou

Lou, just a thought...

To PM multiple recipients via PM you'll only be able to do five at a time. I don't know about everyone else, but I wouldn't mind you copying and pasting your email into here if it saves you some time.

wso
*hugs*

 

[Guest]

Good idea, Sweets. Save your time for writing, Loulou.

Purrditta

 

[Guest]

Good thinking WSO.

Thanks, P. I'm still writing.


Ok, this is the email I sent to Chris Baty this afternoon:

A BIG thank you

Dear Chris,

I want to send you a personal note of thanks for your brainchild, NaNoWriMo, and the huge effort you put in for novelists and would-be novelists all over the world.

I was introduced to NaNo by a good friend of mine, Mike B, a winner in 2002 and now 2003, from the Bay Area. His enthusiasm for NaNo rubbed off on me and my subsequent excitement about the event also got my husband, Adam S, involved. We both completed our 50,000 word novels. Thanks to NaNo beasts have been unleashed from within us, the beast of the novelist. We had one of the best times of our lives writing our novels and we not only completed the challenge we are also very pleased with the results.

One of the best parts was being part of a large group of NaNoWriMo participants. I am a member of the Literotica.com forums and I got a group of 24 people from the Author's Hangout there to join me. We had a support thread running there and on the NaNo boards, and everyone got an awful lot out of it. 12 out of the 24 of us completed the 50,000 words and had our novels validated, and a few others came very close. Even those that didn't complete enjoyed the whole experience and reached many personal goals, which is the most important thing after all. Many of us are still writing our novels, and there are some real gems.

They asked me to pass on some messages of thanks, and thoughts on what they got out of NaNoWriMo 2003:

"How did I find it? Exciting, frightening, uplifting, confidence building - yes, all of those. It's given my wife and I another shared interest, but perhaps most of all, it has persuaded us that, yes, we can write novels." - Alex de Kok, UK.

"What I Got Out of NaNoWriMo. A well deserved kick in the arse, as well as one of the most satisfying creative processes I've ever had the honor to participate in. A raw caffeine IV for my muse. Oh, and half a 100k novel
A sincere thank you from over here!" - Icingsugar, Sweden.

"What NaNo meant to me. NaNo proved that I could write a novel that wasn't a total steaming pile of crap. I think, with some editing that it will at least be fit to post here at Lit.
Mainly, it proved to me that after years of *wanting* to write a novel but not thinking I could, I learned that it was something I actually could accomplish. Having the deadline for a certain word count was a great motivator." - CrimsonMaiden, US.

"I always thought I could write a reasonably sensible longish piece of work, the spur provided by NaNo helped me prove it, without NaNo I'd probably never have bothered to try, or got fed up half way through." - Pop_54, Oxford UK.

"For me, NaNo helped me get closer to a dream I have had, but did not have the courage or motivation to start. It took what felt like an overwhelming task and made it seem more possible, and it helped me go to the next step by realizing what I personally need to have in place to write a novel." - DirtyJJ, US.

"NaNo was a catalyst and support to writing the work my writing life has obviously led me to. The exercise, control and new discipline was enough, in just the first week, to show me what was possible. I believe fully that I will go on to finish a 'real' book. Muchissimas gracias, Perdita (de San Francisco)"

"I would like to thank NaNoWriMo for:
Persuading me to write instead of thinking about writing;
Forcing me to barge my way through writers' block;
Providing a challenge I couldn't resist;
Encouraging me to share the challenge with others;
Providing help and advice on the site (the support came from the AH and Tatelou);
Constructing a writing competition where the only person you are competing against is yourself; and finally:
Inspiring people across the world to produce something they can be proud to have created. NaNoWriMo does more for the creative spirit than most Government funded art events." - Oggbashan, UK.

"My two goals for joining NaNo were to begin my novel and to have self dicipline with daily writing.
Thanks to NaNo and the support given by the other NaNo participants at Literotica, I achieved both my personal goals.
Thank you!" - Wildsweetone, New Zealand.

"I found Nano to be a challenge well worth the effort. Even though I didn't complete 50,000 words I have a fantastic start and premise for a novel that I will finish. The challenge gave me the self-confidence to think I may have an ability to write." - Champagne1982, US.

"I've tried a dozen times to write down what Nano meant to me. I've failed a dozen times. Feelings, concepts, thoughts - These things seem to become less than they are, when given form.
I think I'll just say that Nano unlocked in me a muse that I had never suspected, a talent that I had never thought existed and a determination that I had never before seen.
Forward momentum." Raphael, UK.


That's just a few of the brilliant comments and views on NaNoWriMo. Btw, the last line of Raphy's comment is now our catchphrase. "Maintain your forward momentum!"

Thanks, Chris, for everything you do. Our thanks also go out to your very hard working staff, you are all awesome. Here's to the next year of writing!

All the best,

Katie S. (Tatelou)

 

[wildsweetone]

Go Wonder Woman, Go!!!




Awesome email Lou.

 

[Guest]

Thanks WSO! *hugs*

I've had an email back from Chris Baty this morning, this is what he said:

Hi Katie,

Wow. Your email gave me chills. Thanks so much for forwarding on all those wonderful comments. I'm printing them out right now, so I can read them anytime I'm feeling blue. And congratulations to you and your husband on winning! Hopefully I'll see both of your names on the participant's page in 2004...

With warm regards,

Chris
NaNoWriMo

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pretty cool, huh?

Lou

 

[Wills]

Katie,

My apologies for coming late to the party, I've been away dealing with family matters. Pleased to report everything has gone well back in UK.

What can I say about NaNo that has not already been said? I posted my immediate feelings when I completed my 50k and got them submitted and credited.

NaNo has been a revelation for me, it has opened my eyes to what I can achieve and given me the resolve and determination to continue.

The support from all of the people on AH has been tremendous, I feel privilaged to be in such excellent company.

I cannot express enough my sincere thanks to you and Chris for getting me started in this. My goal now is to complete the novel I have started and I know I have met through Lit. some great people how will continue the support and encouragement you initiated.

Many many heart felt thanks, from me and my wife, we are both so completely delighted that I have found a way to start something I lacked the confidence to begin for more than two years.

Will's

http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=118302
Christmas Joy A Special Delivery

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Wills!

You said some wonderful things there. I'll be sending Chris another email, so I'll pass on your comments then, I know for sure he'll appreciate everything you said.

I am so pleased to hear all is well back in the UK. I've been thinking about you and your wife. It's great to hear she's equally delighted about the consequences of you doing NaNo.

Lou