The Story of The Smoking Pen Bar and Grill - A NaNo Hang-out

My son saw my word count last night and said, "Mom, what can you possibly have to say?" I laughed but told him he was a fine one to be asking that. Here is a guy who talks non-stop on the phone day and night!

I realized it is a valid question. I've been asked similar questions. What do you do? Why do you like it? What's all the excitement about? What kind of people do this? So, I decided to give you a glimpse of NaNo from my perspective and a peek into some of the fun.

About 100,000 people do it from what I gather. Why? As a writer, it is so much fun to immerse yourself in what you love to do. There are professionals and non-professionals, published and not published. Some of us just love to write and express ourselves. And there is a lot to do. In some locations they have meet and great parties where participants get acquainted. There are write-ins where people in your area get together in a local area and spend the evening writing together.

Then, there are the forums. They're like little on-line clubs for all ages. Some are divided up according to the type of novel you want to write, some are based on age, some on subject matter, plot problems, technique, general questions, family issues etc. You can participate in any forum you want regardless of who you are, how old your are and what your writing. They do tend to fall along age lines but in the 50+ forum we have several in the 40+ age group. The forums are support groups when you get blocked, when life is a problem, when you need advice from the technical to the personal. These are other people, doing the same thing you are who have the same problems you're having. And they all want to help you succeed.

So, I really enjoy some forums during NaNo. You can't stay in them long after Nov 1 because you won't be writing much if you do. Explaining a fun forums doesn't do it justice so, to give you a taste of what a fun forum looks like I've attached a link. The link below is to The Smoking Pen Bar and Grill. It is a virtual bar and grill where NaNo writers hang out and well, you'll have to read it understand. This forum began in September! Remember this forum and every thing in it is created by the participants. No one knows what the next person is going to write. I'm Dixiegirl so you'll recognize my posts.

Link To the Smoking Pen Bar and Grill