TGIO Details: Saturday December 1, 4-6pm

For those of you who haven't participated before, or didn't attend previous TGIO parties, a regular feature of said party is the opportunity to do a reading from your work.

It's not required, purely optional. But you will have the chance to hear what fellow writers have created. There are sample from every imaginable Genre...and some unimaginable ones too, some great writing and some maybe not-so-great writing, and a chance to see what your fellow NaNo's have been talking about when they struggled with misbehaving characters or plots that led to brick walls.

Last year there were about a dozen or so that read, and we heard stories from inside hospital wards, from the realms of the imagination, and everywhere in between. We had a chance to meet characters so real you wanted to touch them. Some were better than others, but that wasn't the point. NaNo is about writing...warts and all. Only by doing do we get any better, and editing comes later. NaNo is about writing, not righting!

So...once this gets scheduled, come. We're a strange and funny group...some young and some old, some serious...or Sirius...and some never, some good and some better. It's a chance to share an experience with others who will understand. You'll leave discovering you're not so odd afterall, and maybe, just maybe, you'll leave inspired to finish that masterpiece and/or create another one next year.

GP
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2006 NaNo winner - Berlin, Witnesses at the Crossroads of History

A possibility I thought of: The Old Church. Rental rates aren't as high as they could be, we can collect money at the door, and we might be able to talk them into a lower rate due to the nature of the event.

What about the meeting room at the Central Library?

In addition, I would also suggest the possibility of calling some of the local hotels. Many of them have meeting rooms, and they don't typically charge much for them. Sometimes they have breakfast rooms which are available for use after 11:00 am.

If anyone else is still attending a public school, they MIGHT let us use a school gym/cafeteria for free because writing is educational and so forth.

People's Food Co-Op (SE 21st, between Powell & Division) has a community room. They will rent for $10/hr for members--I'm sure somebody's a member here!--or $20/hr for non-members. Not sure how many it'll hold, but the site is super-convenient.

Backup space has been secured. But keep in mind, parking is at an even bigger premium now. unmarked spaces are for residents, and there is towing. spaces with a green curb are for the senior building, and there are few visitor spaces. I would actually recommend taking the bus or even parkign at the Parkrose Max station and cabbing or busing it the few blocks (not well lit blocks, mind you, and the sidewalks are non-existent for a fair chunk of it).

Also the technical maximum people is 50. we didn't have nearly that last year... which was fine.

I can help plan things as well... but decisions need to be made now if we want a different space... no last minute like last year. We now have less than two weeks.

I reserved it for 5-10. We may or may not need the whole time... but that's what I requested. I get off work at four, and it takes a while to get home from Sherwood. I can change the time as well. And if someone does secure a larger location, I can cancel the reservation. No loss here. They would hand my check back to me. This is the community room of my apartment complex. the same place we held it last year.

So, anyone else working on securing a locale?

Amanda

Thanks, Amanda!

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. The public library meeting room was already booked the first weekend in December when I reserved it for the kick-off. Cubespace and other meeting rooms would run us $50-100/hour, which is a bit out of range financially this year.

However, I now know we're a bit smaller than our numbers suggest -- although there are over 1400 users subscribed to our regional forum, there are only about 400 people who list Portland as their home region AND who have posted to the forum or updated word count since Nov 1. That's the best measure we have of how many people are actively participating in Portland this year.

So, my current plan is to talk to Chance of Rain cafe, because I believe they're big enough for a group of 30+ people. And we know they have readings there, so it should work out for us to have our group NaNoWriMo reading there. It's not downtown, but it's close-in, on a bus line (#14), and there is free parking in the neighborhood. I'll let you know when I know more.

Heather

Which date, specifically, would this event be held? The 1st? I really really hope it'd be something like a Sunday night or so. Bartenders don't get weekends off.

Alright, I had a quick question. After the 30th will it be offically decided/announced where we will all meet, time and day? Or should we just go by the latest post on this forum? Thanks in advance. I'll try to make it if I can.

Ziplobob

Ziplobob - it will be announced before Nov 30, here and in a regional email.

Heather

Thanks Heather, I look forward to attending!

Ziplobob

I've never attended a TGIO for several reasons. 1) I've never been happy in the least for it to be over. I love nano and would love it more if it lasted over one month. 2) I assume (and I know I shouldn't) that there will be alcohol there and I don't want to be around people who are drinking. Not that I think drinkers are evil or anything but I find it difficult to be a nondrinker among drinkers. 3) This might be the biggest reason. I don't do crowds well. I don't like to be among a lot of people I don't know. For some reason write ins are different, most likely because people write more than they talk during a write -in. But, when I hear about events with lots of people being invited or likely to attend, my anxiety rises up past my nose.

So, can anyone change my mind? Is TGIO so much fun that I will be mad at myself for not attending others? Will I find my comfort level quickly?

Gostiee (aren't most ghosts nervous around humans???)

I have to say, my experience makes me agree with reasons 2 and 3. It's tough being a non-drinker in a crowd. I've never done NaNo before, but I have a hunch I'll be agreeing with reason 1 as well. Perhaps a virtual high-five is all that's needed for folks like us!

I can't say for sure, but if we end up using the backup place (the community room at my apt. complex, just like last year), there is no alcohol allowed. that is policy for using the community room, period. I know people brought beer last year , but only because of either one of two reasons:

1. they didn't listen
2. I didn't post that detail fast enough (if I remember right, i only found out shortly before)

So, I know some like having a beer to relax and celebrate, but no beer, no booze. and this year I will be more strict about it. if you bring it, leave it in the car. you can have the beer when you get home afterward.

Of course, this is if we end up here... I don't know what's going on with a primary place... but decisions need to be made ASAP. No last minute again like last year.

If we end up here again, then those who feel uncomfortable around drinkers should be okay... the party should be considered family friendly, as we do have teenagers participating.

Also, I have no &^%$##$ desire bringing home all the crap leftover beer people leave behind. I only drink Guinness, thank you. And, no, do not bring that either. the bottles people left behind are still here, in my apt. I could not leave them in the community room, as I would have gotten a reprimand for it, possibly even an eviction notice. so do not mess with the rules this year, folks... leave the beers at home. That's if we're here... Heather? any news? We're getting close again...

Amanda

Last year was certainly not an unpleasant experience. As Amanda said, alcohol was not a significant part of the event, and I doubt most people were aware there was any there at all. There were certainly no people who seemed to have consumed significant or excessive amounts, at least not that I noticed.

True, the group is (or at least was) an interesting assortment of folks. Some came with friends (fellow NaNos) but many were "alone." Some had met at various write-ins, but many had not. There was something for everyone.

The readings were all over the map. Well conceived, well plotted segments that made you want to see the rest of the book. Some much less so, but none the less interesting for it. You'll hear people with tremendous language skills, and people without. It doesn't really matter much, since that's not the point and there aren't any awards beyond the self-satisfaction you get from doing what you did.

As for how much fun it is...who knows. As for comfort level...yeah, you'll find some kindred soul there, and maybe make a new friend. If you go with an open mind, you'll find someone to share your thoughts with. Join us, I really don't think you'll regret it. And if by chance you do...then just include that terrible event in your novel next year.

GP

Alright, I had one question about TGIO on Saturday. Supposedly we could be looking at a snowstorm or just really bad weather. On the off chance it does get bad enough would TGIO be canceled or postponed, and if so, where would I go to find out about it? Here on the site I'm assuming? Anyway, just asking the big "what if" because I'm down in Newberg, so the last thing I want is to drive all the way up to Portland only to find out there. Thanks in advance!

Ziplobob

Hi Ziplobob,

If we have to cancel the TGIO due to weather, it will be posted in this forum AND sent out as a regional email message. We'll make sure to decide by 3pm on Saturday. However, unless we get a blizzard or an earthquake, I really don't expect to cancel it.

Heather

Thanks again Heather. I wasn't expecting it to be canceled at all, but felt it was better to ask now then wait. See you there!

Ziplobob

There will be at least two others coming who don't drink (at all), my partner & I (I because I just don't like the taste of it, period).

It's so [expletetive deleted by me] refreshing to hear other people talk about what it's like not being an alcohol consumer in large groups, you always think you're the only ones.

Also, the TGIO party is not so much a celebration that NaNoWriMo is over, but a chance to give this process some moment and bond with others who just went through it and really take in what you accomplished in the course of November.

Last year it was very relaxed and people were in a good mood and friendly - aside from the reading it was mostly people talking, sharing their WriMo experience with each other.

So do come if that sounds fun/worthwhile to you.

I was planning to make an appearance after work on Saturday, but unfortunately I'm having my wisdom teeth removed in about five hours, so I'm scramblign to get to 50k tonight so that I can spend the weekend curled up with a nice vicodin.

Er, book. Yeah.

Hey, has anyone else heard anything about Sunday weather? I heard that there's supposed to be a storm dropping by the coast, bringing with it rain, possibly snow, and hurricane-strength winds. Frightening, but cool, and awesome inspiration. Nature is such a great antagonist.

At last report....as of 1700 Friday...the first of a pair of storms was expected to reach the coast sometime Saturday...winds, rain, possibly snow on the valley floor depending upon how early it arrives. Weather for the civil war was expected to be rain, 40 degrees F and some wind. The second storm was expected to follow closely, probably arriving in Sunday AM. I'm sure that will change as they get closer, but that was the news at 5.

Go beavs....

GP

Sorry to have missed this. I'm sure it was fun. Maybe I'll make it next year.

You all,
I had a great time talking with many of you last night at the party and hope to do so again the next time we get together?

I am looking for a writing partner, and ij you would like to know more, give me a short note here and we can e-mail for more information.

Phoebe/ Paul