Last Minute Write Ins

Writer 2006 wants to meet at the North Hills Starbucks (the one by Panera, as opposed to the other one by the movies or the other-other one inside Target) Saturday morning around ten. I'll be at that one, and all the other Raleigh folks are also welcome to join us; this time we might actually write!!

Bibi Rodriguez and I met today at Starbuck's but moved to Panera bread (better seats and much quieter)..Anyway, we wanted to see if anyone inside the beltline was willing to meet us (tentatively) on Saturday mornings at New World Coffee (it's next to El Rodeo off Pleasant Valley road) Actually it's part of the same shopping center as Wal-Mart off Glenwood (Highway 70--the one that goes to the airport)..If interested, please Nanomail me or Bibi and let us know.

--Writer2006

I'll think I'll be at the Crabtree Barnes and Noble tonight after work - I get off at 6, but not sure how long I'll hang out, I'm finding myself hitting a block.

Tonight being Sunday :) Maybe I'll even convince our esteemed leader to join us.

Michelle

Who is going to be at the central Raleigh write in on Thursday? I really want to attend more write-in's this year than last :) Let me know.

I'm intending to be there... it'd be great to see everybody there again if it could be managed!

Botrytis has set up a last minute write-in for Monday at the Broad Street Cafe in Durham. http://www.thebroadstreetcafe.com/. Meeting at 7:30, or earlier if anyone feels like it. She'll be bringing chocolate *bribe*.

Just a friendly reminder about the write in tonight at the Cary Borders (corner of Walnut St & Buck Jones Rd) starting at 6. I'll be there until at least 8:30.

I would LOVE to go to the central RALEIGH write-in on Thursday night!! Please post the time and exact location.

Although Panera bread was better than Starbucks for the free wifi and comfortable seats with outlets, I did want to remind everyone that there are numerous small, indy book-stores and cafes who welcome us. New World Coffee has the greatest free-trade, locally roasted coffee in town plus free wifi. Quail Ridge Books at Ridgewood sponsors numerous book reading and book signing events, and is convenient to Meredith and NCSU. Let's remember to support our neighbors who support us; it's good for the local economy and it's good for individualism and creativity: win/win. Ah! and lest we forget that Katniprrr has placed the Lazy Lion at our disposal in Fuquay Varina!

The Central Raleigh Write In on Thursday, Nov. 8 is at the Borders on E. Six Forks - INSIDE the beltline (404-101 East Six Forks Rd.) - starting about 6 pm.

As mentioned in other posts, as well as the Regional Email, all scheduled Write-Ins are on our Regional Events Calendar which can be found in two places. First one being at the bottom of the main Raleigh-Durham forum listing page as well as on the Calendar view page (which you can get to by clicking on the 'More' button on the bottom right hand corner, of the main Raleigh-Durham forum listing page).

In both places, click on the Write-In that you want to know more about and a window will open giving you the date, time, location and a link for directions.

As mentioned previously, if anyone wants to schedule a Write-In let Boytrytis (our newest ML) or myself know and one of us will add it to the Events Calendar. Please give us a minimum of 24 hours notice so that we'll get it posted before it happens. If it's less than 24 hours, simply post it here.

Having said that, I will not post any official Write-Ins that take place where there is a minimum age to enter (unless the age is 13). This does not mean that yall can't have them or post about them here, they just won't be Official. The reason being is that not everyone in this region is over 18 and all regional forums are considered 'kid friendly'. There are plenty of options that are open to everyone participating.

Some places that have been mentioned are not especially ..receptive to having us in their store. They're concerned with us being too loud, too big, too -whatever. That's fine.

As far as the Lazy Lion in F-Q, Katniprrr & I have been trying to determine when would be a good time for a write in at her store, that would not adversely impact her business. If we're able to find a time, I will let yall know.

--

The write in at the Cary Borders tonight was a lot of fun. It was a good mix of chatting and writing as well as idea and plot sharing. Personally, I was able to write over 2,000 words.

The owner of the Port City Java on Martin and Fayetteville Streets is Maria, and I'm here with her right this minute.
Maria says that last year's ML put signs on her doors inviting people to write-ins, and that she loved all their business! This year, no one has put any signs nor has any 2007 ML asked her about hosting write-ins at Port City Java, but she wishes they would. There is FREE WIFI!!, they have comfy couches and arm chairs, and lots and lots of tables. Maria also hangs local artists...hahaha.... their work, that is! They are open Mon-Sat til 6pm, and Sunday til 3pm, and she makes alot of the food herself. The coffee is great, and the lattes have more shots than at other places.

Maria wants EVERYONE to know that she WELCOMES write-ins, individual writers, and wishes the ML would bring two (2)posters for her doors.

Wish I could, but with the whole working thing, I don't usually have time to write until later at night. I'm more of a night owl anyways.

Plus with the parking downtown, lol, I moved away from Boston not to have to deal with that.

I know it's silly, but I do prefer Barnes and Noble and Borders type places. I know it's not as homey, and that we should continue to support our local shops, but the bigger shops do have the convience.

Maybe you can head up an official daytime write in at Port City Java, Bibi? I'm sure TheLorax can forward you the posters to bring, and I have no doubt she'll list it on the main page... It sounds like more fun than listening to guys put in laminate floors, but the house does take priority over my happiness at times.

Michelle

Yea, unfortunately I don't ever get out of school before 6, and I image the early hours would be difficult for others as well. I do remember the write-ins there last year being rather popular, though I never made it to one. If you pick a time and date when you'd like to have a write in there I'd be happy to put it up on the events calendar, and I'll see what I can do about sending some posters her way.

Exactly what kind of convenience is it that you find in a Barnes and Noble and not in a smaller shop? Personally, I prefer the smaller shops because they usually have more comfortable seating, but this is the kind of thing that's good for an ML to know. What do you like to see in a write-in location?

The Barnes and Noble at Cary Town Center does have comfy chairs (at Crabtree they only have two, and are normally staked out for hours and hours), and at Borders last week we took over their whole comfy chair section.

I like the fact that they are bigger, and I don't feel like I am intruding and damaging their business. I have managed numerous stores, and as a manager, I want people to come in, spend money, and leave, so that someone else can come in and spend money. I don't want someone to come in, spend a minimum amount of money, and take up space I could be using to entice more paying customers in, and making a mess that I'll be forced to clean up after they have cost me business and wasted my time.

I like that they have lots of things to distract me and take my mind away if I can't come up with my next line. I like that they have lots of parking. Parking is key, right up there with a central, easy to get to location.

I like they have hours that are more convienant for me. I work retail, and I tend to be a night owl. I don't want a place that will kick me out at 9 because they want to close (not that I blame them in any way shape or form). I loved that over the weekend we were able to go to Gypsy's (they are a mom and pop shop) - they are open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays. We got food from them, left generous tips, made sure they didn't need the table for another party, and didn't feel rushed. It was great. No Wi-Fi, and yeah, you had to worry about getting chili cheese fries on your laptop, but it worked great.

Last but not least, I know what kind of coffee I am getting when I go in. With smaller shops, while they often have much better coffee, they sometimes have much, much, much worse coffee. Barnes and Noble and Borders have consistant good coffee. Not great, but never terrible.

Michelle

590+ in RDU region!!
Downtown has no shortage of free, on-street, at-the-door parking on week-ends and after five. The RDU region has no less than 590 subscribers, many of whom are bound to work and/or live downtown anyway. They may prefer a location convenient for them, as they do not live anywhere remotely near Cary. Maria, who owns Port City in Raleigh, had write-ins every Saturday last year, and specifically asked me why this year's ML has not thought of her place. She does also have free wifi, btw.

I also stopped by Quail Ridge Books at Ridgewood last evening, and was told that our ML has not inquired about hlding a write-in there. Their events coordinator is René, QRBRene@aol.com. This is the ONLY place in Raleigh where I buy books, because I appreciate the great events they sponsor for writers and avid readers. There is ample parking at Ridgewood, and the Wholefoods is right there. it is about 15 minutes from downtown Durham, just inside the Beltline behind Meredith.

Every weekend I go into New World Coffee, one of the (I guess) two locations for Larry's Beans, locally roasted fair-trade coffee, and encounter between six and twelve people enjoying the best coffee anywhere while surfing the free wifi on their laptops. There are tons of great, comfy seats, gobs of parking, and as of Sunday, (when I asked,) no one had spoken to them about any write-ins.

Many people are like me, and prefer the camp atmospheres of the indy places to the muse-quashing sterility of national chains. Indy owners are not likely to shoo groups away to their mega-competition, and the three places I specifically asked had not even been approached by a ML about hosting any write-in.

If I am any barometer, and as a native of this area, I deem that I am a very good barometer, people from around here want a "writerly," bohemian environment to inspire the mood, comfortable seating, free wifi for quick reference while writing, location convenient to home/work/school neighborhoods, and something other than fast-food if/when they are hungry, pretty much all in that order. If our homes fit that bill better than the neon-lit formica desert of a chain-store
where the official write-ins are scheduled, many of us will simply never meet.

I really appreciate and thank you for asking!!!

Have you missed The Lorax asking people's opinions on where they want to meet?

Or the fact that she told you to give her notice and she'll post it and make it an official meeting?

Or the fact that yes, people might be like you and want to meet in these local places, but that people are like me and want different things too?

Cause I mean seriously. I know I have a Boston accent. And I know I live in the dreaded Cary - which in your opinion seems to be somewhere below the 9th circle of hell, but people from Cary are people too.

And I am sorry for sounding rude, not nessecarily sorry to you, because the tone that comes across in your typing - which it's so hard to really judge, so I am sorry if I am misreading your tone - but to everyone else who this is going out to.

I moved down here eight years ago because I heard this was a friendly place to live. And I moved to Cary because I found a condo I liked there better than any I saw in Raleigh. And I have never been treated so poorly because of that decision as I feel you have treated me.

Again, I am sorry if this rant is uncalled for, and I have no doubt our ML will call me down for it, cause she really has every right too, but I hope you can adjust your attitude.

My MC might not like all those darn happy people, but happy people are more pleasant. Try it sometime.

Michelle

I accidentally made the same post twice, I can't seem to delete it, but I've edited it to make it look intentional or something. Man, I'm the lamest forum moderator ever.

Lets all please try to remember that we're involved in this to have fun, not to demoralize one another.

I'm going to go ahead and schedule some write-ins at Port City Java. I like cozier settings as well and I think particularly great that the owner is so enthusiastic. There will still be the Raleigh Borders write-ins on Thursdays, so that ought to cover the bases. Also, as the Durham Rep. I would like to invite anyone from Raleigh or Cary out to Durham, we'll be doing a tour of some of Durhams finest small business cafes.

TheLorax and I are trying to set up write-ins that will keep everyone happy, but we aren't going to make it perfect instantly. I'm new to being an ML and TheLorax is new to the area, we are both doing our best but we need your input and your patience.

As hard as we try, the write-ins aren't necessarily going to be in your exact ideal location, there are too many wrimos with too many differing opinions. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the borders atmosphere either, but I am willing to make the compromise to be in a social setting and get to know all of my fellow wrimos. There's no one forcing anyone to camp out in a tiny cafe against their will. Just try to think of the inconvenience as a trade off for the experience of sharing the novel writing experience with a group of supportive and entertaining people.

If anyone has any further complaints or grievances, please send them to me in a PM. I don't mind at all if you have a wild rant to get off your chest; I'm happy to sympathize. I'd just rather they not be posted publicly, lest it upset someone else, who in turn posts another angrier rant, and, well, you know how these things escalate.

Thursday, November 08, 2007
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

Location: Cary Public Library
Cary Public Library
310 S. Academy St.
Cary, NC 27511

Editor, Book Reviewer, and Lecturer Molly Weston leads a multimedia discussion of Mystery authors and their specialties.

Hi Everyone,

I just found out about this. If you don't have to work today come join me. I am going to get there about 12:30pm and write until the lecture.

Paula

hey all -- i haven't posted on the boards until now, but just wanted to drop a note to say that i'd be game for daytime write ins at the downtown raleigh port city java. i am one of the masses who work downtown, and can take an hour from my workday (aka "lunch") to walk to port city and write a few paragraphs. or hopefully more than a few... i am falling off pace.

Excellent! I know Botrytis is trying to work something out for there on the weekends and that Bibi has mentioned wanting Write Ins there as well. Let me know what time frame and days you'll be there and I'll post them on the Events Calendar and include them on the region wide emails. I need specific time, date, location input on what people want in order to post it on the calendar.

Personally, I can't get there during the day because of work and most of my weekends are taken up by a different job. Which just means that someone else will have to post the NaNo signage. If you want to do that, let me know & I'll email you the stuff to print out and post. If someone else reading this wants to do that, let me know and I'll send it to you. I only ask that you post in the forums where and when you'll be using the signs and that it's not in an age restricted location.

The Write Ins are for everyone, regardless of where they live and when they're available. So pipe up with Specific details, not just what you wish would happen.

Thanks :)

Sounds great! Thanks for sharing, Paula. I hope others are able to join you. I've got The Crud and doubt I'll be going anywhere outside today. Plus the flooring guys are still here and I can't leave til they do.

If you could, would you post a review of what happened? Maybe some key suggestions and advice?

Here! Here! We're all after the same goal, let's work together not make derogatory comments about where people live. Superiority complexes need not reply, okay? So everyone take a deep breath, a step back and resume the writing.

Precisely. No matter how many we schedule at various locations across our region, not everyone will be happy. We have to compromise. If you feel your area/wants/needs/desires aren't being addressed. Set up a Write In of your own! It's totally cool and Much appreciated! This way you're at least happy and possibly others are as well. Just tell us the specific time, date and location details and we'll tell everyone else about it.

Actually I lived in Raleigh for over six years before I went to Wash DC for two. So I'm just new at being back, not new new. :)

Same goes for me. PM me to your hearts content. Actually, if you have Raleigh-Durham set as an affiliated region, then you have a working email address for me. So email me if it's easier.

Just as a heads up, I didn't become an ML for this region til Oct. 29, Botrytis joined the ML ranks within the last few days. So we're still scurrying about trying to get things under control and moving forward. We welcome your ideas and suggestions but in order to follow through on things we need the specifics of what you want. If you feel you've been overlooked or ignored, that's not the case.

All we really ask is that everyone patient, be kind, be supportive of everyone else in the forum. Okey dokey? :)

A reminder about the regularly scheduled Write-In tonight.

The Central Raleigh Write In on Thursday, Nov. 8 is at the Borders on E. Six Forks - INSIDE the beltline (404-101 East Six Forks Rd.) - starting about 6 pm.

Sadly, I won't be making it out. No need to infect anyone else with this crud I've caught. I would really like to spend some time with yall writing and plotting and commiserating, but it just doesn't seem fair for me to pass germies around. Altho the fever has given me some plot twists to ponder about.

Please, everyone who goes, gives us a report on how it went! Amount of words you were able to write, any inspiration you gave each other, questions raised, etc.

Happy Noveling!

It was a wild time at the Borders tonight! Food, coffee, diet Mt. Dew, and 30 cats named Henry! Oh, and there were quite a few books around, too.

Oddly, for a write-in, we wrote .... and I guess we were in, since it was really cold outside! Seattle's Best Coffee, the cafe in Borders, would not let us hold an autograph session, which did sort of dampen spirits. I suppose the public will have to wait for that honor, or else they'll just have to catch up with us outside the coffee shop.

I'm honestly not sure how many words I wrote, since they were written on graph paper. When I become a famous novelist, I can tell people that the secret to my writing was to write on graph paper! You have to pre-plan these things, you know.

Inspiration abounded, but I don't think we put much of it to use. We all were pre-inspired when we arrived. Pattipen's (I think that's the right name? Online names are confusing) story was a hit with everyone that saw it.

- Davian

Darn, I made an attempt to get out there, but was late because of school, and I got confused by the multiple Borders on six forks, and I ended up lost in Raleigh for a few hours and then I came home very disappointed. I also seem to have misplaced my purse (which contained my novel notebook!! EEK!!!) so now I have to go back to Raleigh today and revisit all the places I stopped for directions. I think I may have to stick to the Durham write-ins from now on!

*waves* I am here at Port City Java wondering where folks are! I thought more people were planning to show. Ah well. No matter. It's been fantastic for me to be somewhere other than home for writing. I've done over 2000 words since I got here around 1:30. Davian Lore just showed up, too. As bibi said, Maria is indeed a wonderful lady and happy to host us here. I took it upon myself to print a couple of the one day novelist flyers for her. She was greatly pleased to have them.

I know someone was complaining about parking further up the thread, and I didn't see if this was said -- but parking downtown is free on the weekends barring special events. There are a number of parking decks close by, for example, on the corner of Wilmington and Davie -- about two or three blocks from Port City Java. I believe there's a public parking desk on Salisbury near the court house that would be even closer, but don't quote me on that. But anyway!

I, too, work downtown, so maybe it's just that I know the area a little bit better than others who don't get to spend much time downtown.

Well, it has gotten down right frigid in here and I can't feel my feet! Time to back it in and head for home. Hope to see more of you guys if we make this a regular thing! Happy writing!

Thank you, Space_Samurai, for getting some posters to Maria. I felt bad about setting up a write-in that I wouldn't be able to attend, and was hoping to send someone with some posters but got caught up trying to set some things up for the Durham region and kind of forgot. So, thanks for doing my job for me :) Hopefully more people will make it out to Port City Java next weekend.

No problem, Botrytis! I was happy to do that bit. I did a stint as ML myself two years ago, so I can be sort of ML spackle for the Port City Java location if neither you or TheLorax can make it. :) And if more folks show up next Saturday, I'll even take pictures!

ML Spackle - I love it :)

And thanks a bunch for getting the flyers down there.