Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Areas

Hello everyone!

I think I've been popping my head in this thread once or twice a year these past three or four years... only I never get the chance to do the meet-ups or anything like that, unfortunately. So, well... hi again!

About me:
A/S/L ==> 22/M/Scranton
Genres ==> Fantasy/LitFic
Working Title ==> In Search of Elves
Haven't really banged out the novel's details yet, so I can't give a synopsis.

Okay, so...

You guys planning on doing any pre-/during-NaNo activities this year? Promotional stuff, meet-ups, or anything of the like?

<< I say starting as the book is planned for about 200k and well frankly that is just a bit more than I am capable of doing in one month if I want to have any hope of maintaining my sanity >>

Everybody knows that sanity's overrated, anyway ^ ^

I'm another long-time NaNo attemptee (succeeded only once) who has yet to be able to attend a local event. I'm just north of Clarks Summit. Oh, and I'm also semi-cheating this year. Although I will be following all of the other NaNo rules, I'll be writing a nonfiction/memoir-type book as opposed to a novel. I know it's breaking protocol, but NaNo gives me the incentive to finally get cracking.

Hello again, this is my fifth attempt at the 'wrimo. Last year I managed to squeak across the finish line, and hopefully I can do the same this year. In years past, I've not made it to any sort of gathering, but perhaps this can be remedied.

Also, who is the ML for the area? Just curious.

Best of luck to everyone here!

Hiya!

Last year, I successfully NaNoed from Manhattan, but this year I'll be taking on NaNo from Scranton. At last count, I was debating the pros and cons of five different novel ideas, and I've yet to reach a decision as to which I'll tackle. It's a question of which would be easiest to write versus which would be most interesting to read, and at the moment I'm leaning toward easiest to write. In an ideal world, I'd have my decision by the 15th of this month and spend the rest of October plotting and outlining. This is the real world, though, so I'll probably make a decision on Halloween and change my mind 6,000 words in.

I look forward to seeing everyone around, and I wish you all the best of luck in your outlining endeavors.

Hi everyone,
I have been trying and not been able to get into for the last three days, glad to see it the site and not my system messing up. I guess they will get it all worked out before the first.

As for 'who is our ML?' Well to tell you the truth, as far as I know we no longer have a local ML to plan local get togethers. Our ML had to drop out last year for personal reasons and I havent spoken to her recently so I dont think she is coming back, as our ML anyway.

If there are a bunch of people who would like a get together however it would not be difficult to plan a date and set it up with a local place like Barnes & Nobles. We would just have to get an estimate of how many and agree on a date and time then call their public relations person. I think here in Wilkes-Barre that would be Donna, at least it was two years ago when I set up a meeting there.

Hi all,

I'm back! *waves*

Gene and I would love to meet up again in B&N if you can arrange it.

Alice

LuRyan7, if you're planning on setting up the write ins, I might mention that I work at an independent coffee shop in Old Forge that would absolutely love to host write ins and the like. (I mentioned the idea to the owners back in August, and they've asked me several times if I'd gotten in touch with the ML yet.) We've got free Wi-Fi and plenty of outlets, and Old Forge is rather conveniently locted between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.

If you're interested, you can e-mail me at sjk359[at]gmail.com and I can give you more information -- I figure it would be easier to discuss it off site, given the technical problems we seem to be having.

I'd be willing to do at least part of the ML job this year. I can get the kickoff packages together and meet up with you guys before we get this thing off the ground, if someone wants to make arrangements at B&N. But to be honest, I live over an hour from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and regular write-ins and meet-ups are WAY out of my way, especially with gas prices the way they are. If someone else wants to arrange them, that would be great.

Anyone here near Laceyville?? :-D

Alice

Hi, everyone!

I am a first-timer, and absolutely terrified, of course, but I still can't wait to start! Just now it's still all so-very-exciting. I am from Dallas but work in Wilkes-Barre and spend some weekends in Wyalusing (so, Alice, I go through Laceyville, at least).

I'm in the north of Scranton part otherwise known as Peckville.
My parents are rather iffy about the whole meet-up thing, but I'll be there in spirit. =P

Hi! I am all the way out in Hamlin but I would LOVE to meet up!

This will be my 5th year NaNoing, and I am really excited. I am already trying to flesh out some characters and generate ideas. It's so much fun!

Sorry I have been sort of M.I.A. lately but I have been trying to get this outline put together. Some of you who know me know I tend to write outlines that are very detailed and sometimes are nearly 20k long themselves. On top of that this cold snap we are having is playing havic with my back making it hard to concintrate on anything.

As I said before, I can call Donna at B&N near the mall or the new store down town and find out about reserving a space to meet for a kick off sort of thing before the insanity starts if that is what people want. I live in Wilkes-Barre and I don't drive so I can only try to set up meetings here. If people would like to get together for write-ins or in other locations out of the city then I am afraid that someone else will have to set those up. Just make sure that if you do you email the ML for Pa elsewhere to have it put on the calendar. I was thinking about seeing if they were available for saturday the 27th, early afternoon. How does that sound to people? It would be for like 2 hours maybe so we could all meet and have a chance to talk about what it is that we are planning to write for nano.

Let me know if you all are serious about wanting this and then I will see what I can do to set it up. If that doesn't work or you would rather meet somewhere else please let me know so I dont set it up. Thank you.

Oh and if anyone discovers that we do in fact now have a local ML could you let me know that too please.

Well back to work for me.
Bye for now.

LuRyan
aka
Terrie

Ah, it feels good to be back here. So, I never ended up finishing last year due to school, the swim team, work, and all those other things high school students tend to do. But I'm hoping (even though I have a crazier schedule this year...senior year is insane) I will finish things off this year with my new venture.

Oh, and maybe you'd like to know who I am. I'm Kerry (if you couldn't tell by my username), and this is my 2nd year attempting the wrimo. I'm seventeen (I feel young) and I love the whole wrimo idea. I love to meet other people from my area who are attempting this.

The meet up sounds great, I'm always up at Barnes & Noble anyway, so I'd be pumped to meet up there. Starbucks + books = paradise, if you ask me. So count me in.

Good luck to everyone, if we don't see each other at the write-up!

Ah, it feels good to be back here. So, I never ended up finishing last year due to school, the swim team, work, and all those other things high school students tend to do. But I'm hoping (even though I have a crazier schedule this year...senior year is insane) I will finish things off this year with my new venture.

Oh, and maybe you'd like to know who I am. I'm Kerry (if you couldn't tell by my username), and this is my 2nd year attempting the wrimo. I'm seventeen (I feel young) and I love the whole wrimo idea. I love to meet other people from my area who are attempting this.

The meet up sounds great, I'm always up at Barnes & Noble anyway, so I'd be pumped to meet up there. Starbucks + books = paradise, if you ask me. So count me in.

Good luck to everyone, if we don't see each other at the write-up!

Ah, it feels good to be back here. So, I never ended up finishing last year due to school, the swim team, work, and all those other things high school students tend to do. But I'm hoping (even though I have a crazier schedule this year...senior year is insane) I will finish things off this year with my new venture.

Oh, and maybe you'd like to know who I am. I'm Kerry (if you couldn't tell by my username), and this is my 2nd year attempting the wrimo. I'm seventeen (I feel young) and I love the whole wrimo idea. I love to meet other people from my area who are attempting this.

The meet up sounds great, I'm always up at Barnes & Noble anyway, so I'd be pumped to meet up there. Starbucks + books = paradise, if you ask me. So count me in.

Good luck to everyone, if we don't see each other at the write-up!

Hi all,

I've been in contact with Erin about getting set up as ML for this area and it will probably take a few days. In the meantime, I'd like to set up that kickoff meeting. There are quite a few Scranton area people, so if you would prefer meetings in another location besides B&N, please nanomail me to let me know. I live equally distant from Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, so I'd be happy to meet in Borders also, if there is enough interest.

Terrie - since you already have a contact in B&N, would you set up the 27th for us? I'll see if Borders is available if we want to meet there, too. And I think someone mentioned a potential write-in location. Please nanomail me with the details.

Thanks!
Alice
ML in training

Hello, everyone.

I'm Nicole, and this is my first time doing NaNo. Be gentle.
I have no plot yet and no spare time - senior-year chaos is getting to me too, Kerry - so I'm not planning on writing anything too serious or coherent, but I am determined to finish!

I didn't expect so many people in the area to be into this, so this is a pleasant surprise. I hope I can make some meet ups.

Hi there! This is the young and the energetic.... :drum roll: RYAN!

Nice to see everybody('s posts, anyway). I'll try to get to the meetup at B&N but I'm not absolutely sure I'll make it.

Good news- I've started a Nano Club at my school and we're currently looking at 40-50 highschoolers writing novels in November. Yeah. I DID say 40-50. Maybe even MORE. Too bad I'm graduating this year, it'd be great to see this thing go on even further.

Anyway, I'll be very busy helping run the club all month but I'll try to get to a meetup or two.

Along with good news always comes bad news.

Bad news- I don't really have an idea for this year. >_< I may have to enter my notebook of ideas and make something come to me instead of the usual happenance of an idea hitting me like a sack of bricks in early October.

---I'm off!
-------Ryan J. Cornelius

I'm really excited that we'll be meeting up for write-ins! I did NaNo in Illinois a few years ago, and we met up a couple of times per week at a coffee shop or B & N, and had a great time. It added so much to the writing experience for me! We would do word wars, help each other when we got "stuck", share our favorite websites and helpful tips, and just have FUN. :) We even got interviewed for the local paper!

Ryan> I don't have any ideas either. Well - maybe the problem is I have too many ideas and I can't commit to just ONE!Or...maybe I'm spending too much time reading these fun Forums and not thinking of my novel! Hee! :D

I'm really excited that we'll be meeting up for write-ins! I did NaNo in Illinois a few years ago, and we met up a couple of times per week at a coffee shop or B & N, and had a great time. It added so much to the writing experience for me! We would do word wars, help each other when we got "stuck", share our favorite websites and helpful tips, and just have FUN. :) We even got interviewed for the local paper!

Ryan: I don't have any ideas either. Well - maybe the problem is I have too many ideas and I can't commit to just ONE!Or...maybe I'm spending too much time reading these fun Forums and not thinking of my novel! Hee! :D

Hello! This will be my first serious attempt at cranking out a novel. I'm looking forward to sharing the experience with you all.

Hi folks,

I'm happy to announce that we have a place for our kickoff meeting! Be in the Pink in Old Forge is going to host it for us on Sunday, October 28th at 1:00. If you need directions, please let me know.

This is an ideal location. They have lots of comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, and lots of outlets, so we can have write-ins there, too. And they love the idea of having us there! Borders and B&N are always very crowded and seating is at a premium.

If there are any folks who can't make the Sunday meetup in Old Forge, I'm willing to meet those folks in B&N in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday the 27th. I just need to hear from you all. I hope to have our NaNo-ing kits by then.

Looking forward to meeting you all!! :-D

Alice
Municipal Liaison

Hi Alice,

Sunday 10/28 in Old Forge sounds fine. Can you please send me directions? Also, just to let you know, my daughter is also participating this year so we'll both be there for the kick-off.

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Cathy (from Clarks Summit)

Hi Cathy,

That's wonderful! I'm looking forward to meeting you both.

I should really have Sara send directions since she works there, but I'll give it a go. I'm not a local, so this was how I got there last night:

From Clarks Summit taking the Scranton Expressway, get off at the Main Avenue exit, heading towards Old Forge. Stay on Main for about 4 miles or so. Once you enter Old Forge, it's pretty much in the main section of town. Look for a white sign on the sidewalk on the right, with pink lettering that says "In the Pink." There's a small plaza with a parking lot right there, and that's where the shop is. If you pass Arcaro & Genell's, you've gone too far. I think they said the Borough Building is across the street if you know where that is.

If Sara can give some local landmarks, that would be great! I missed them when I went last night.

Alice
ML

If you're coming from the north, you can also hop on I-81 South and take it to exit 182B, the Davis Street exit. Stay on Davis Street for about a mile and a half, and then turn left onto Main Street. From there, it's another mile and a half or so. You'll know you're getting close when you see a CVS on the right. After CVS, you'll pass a pizza place, a Burger King, and an M&T Bank in rapid succession. Be in the Pink is right after the bank. Like Alice said, there's a white sign with pink letters. I'll see if we can tie a few balloons to it or something, since it can be a little hard to spot.

Being from Scranton, I've never tried getting there from the south. I just put the address into Rand McNally, and the directions it gives seem quite accurate to the best of my knowledge, so you might want to try that. For anyone who wants to get directions that way, the address for Be in the Pink is 313 South Main Street, Old Forge.

I can't wait to get started! Thanks for taking the ML position, Alice. I expect to be able to make the 28th in Old Forge for the kickoff meeting.

Ahoy there.

I have no idea what I will be writing. I have no idea where I will start. I have no idea how I am going to finish. I have two weeks or so. Who cares? This is going to get hairy. More stressful for sure than the Bulwer Lytton fiction contest, possibly just as wretched.

I am in Wilkes-Barre and I have no time the way it is. Luckily I have a lap top and a slightly tarnished dream.

Excellent! I'll be there with bells on! And the rest of my clothes too! *har har*

Excellent! My wife and I will be in Old Forge for the meetup as well. We look forward to meeting everyone and sampling a new cafe. :D

I should be at the Old Forge meetup. Any idea what time we'll meet?