This year we are looking to write in a variety of places. Below is a list of locations we're considering. Are we missing your favorite place to write? Do you have an opinion on some of the places we're already considering? Sound off, below!
South Bend:
South Bend Chocolate Cafe (hours: Mon-Thur 6a-10p, Fri 6a-midnight, Sat 7a-midnight, Sun 8a-10p). Relatively busy.
Chicory Cafe (Mon-Fri 6:30a-6p, Sat 8a-6p)
Ugly Mugs (Mon-Fri 7a-5p, boo)
Mishawaka/Granger:
Barnes and Noble (Sun-Thur 9a-10p, Fri-Sat 9a-11p)
Victorian Pantry (Mon-Fri 7a-7p, Sat 8a-4p, Sun 8a-1p). Not a lot of outlets for laptops. But! The best foccacia in the universe. It's a trade-off.
Indulgence (Mon-Wed 6:30a-5p, Thur 6:30a-9p, Fri 6:30a-10p, Sat 7a-10p, Sun 8a-3p). Hasn't been particularly busy when we hit it on weekends.
The Beanery (Mon-Thur 7a-6p, Fri-Sat 7a-10p, Sun 8a-3p). Awesome nooks for small gatherings.
Jumpin' Juice and Java (Mon-Thur 8a-9p, Fri 8a-6p, Sat 9a-6p, Sun 11a-4p). Scattered outlets. Kids' area.
Notre Dame-ish:
Reckers (24 hours)
Lula's (Mon-Thur 7:30a-10:30p, Fri 7:30a-11p, Sat 9a-11p, Sun 10a-10p) Great space, good number of outlets.
Elkhart:
Bristol St. Martin's
Daily Grind
Sunrise Canyon
Nappanee:
Main Street Cafe
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38,034 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 16 23
Victorian Pantry is a place where my muse vacations, so I think that would be a good place for us Granger people:)
50,333 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 19 23
Anyone know how friendly Libraries in Mishawaka are to NaNo'ers?
We have a Library down the street, and I was thinking of slipping away to there over the weekends during November to write, because that's easier than finding 75 cents for the bus and going to B&N :)
~Angel
(Hopefully this is the right place to ask this, cause I didn't want to flood this board with another thread >.>)
----------2007: Lonely Nomad (2k) Fail
2008: Wolf Princess (56k) Win!
2009: The Doorway (?) ?
40,064 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 22 25
Actually, I was going to recommend the MPL as a possible write-in place...they have a Writer's Corner now hidden back by the Large Print books and the Help/Reference Desk. I'm going to try and stop in sometime this week (must...read...George R.R. Martin...even though I'm only going to be horribly disappointed when I finish the last "Ice and Fire" book because the next one STILL isn't done) and I'll see if they have any meeting rooms and what they offer a writing group. They've got to have something, because there's a local Writer's Group that meets there monthly!
----------"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco
50,333 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 05 53
That's cool!
I live in a house with my three brothers so writing at times is hard because they want to tell me what's new in a video game of theirs ;)
This year it'll be worse because I think TWO of them will be doing NaNo too! (or at least writing some story in November)
I was between the library and a park for free places to slip off to with my journal.
----------2007: Lonely Nomad (2k) Fail
2008: Wolf Princess (56k) Win!
2009: The Doorway (?) ?
40,064 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 07 17
No, I hear you there. I'm moving back in with my folks for a little bit because of finances and my brother's going to have a baby...so we'll have six adults, one toddler and one infant-in-the-making in the same house. I'm probably going to have to do some of mine at the YMCA because they have short-term day care. The remainder may be written in my parent's garage, because we're going to get that shuffled around so we can have a mini-clubhouse out there.
And my husband and dad are talking about joining in this year.
----------"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco
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Oct 4, 2009 - 15 24
Is there a day/time of the week that you'd like to plan for MPL write-ins? Out of those considering writing there, is there a common time that works for everyone? If we want to announce a regular (every week) or one-off event, we can add it to the calendar!
50,333 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 16 36
The one on Lincoln (sp?) way I can get to whenever you need me, it's about a 15 minute walk from my house. I'd love to go to one there!
Any time of day and most days I'm free, I'll tell you if I have a work schedule if I ever hear back from my applied jobs. >.>
----------2007: Lonely Nomad (2k) Fail
2008: Wolf Princess (56k) Win!
2009: The Doorway (?) ?
40,064 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 19 51
I'd love to do something weekly. I'm free Monday through Wednesday nights, and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during the day all day. Also some availability late Wednesday afternoon (after 1:30)...then I have a much needed baby sitter. Because Ro is only cool with the library in short doses, as long as he can stare at fish or run away from me with a book clasped in his chubby little hands!
----------"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco
50,522 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 03 52
I'm on the ND campus on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. I drop my youngest at preschool at 11:45 and then find a place to write (has been outside, but that will have to change!) for a couple of hours. I'd love to throw it on the calender for November and make it official. Folks can join me or not. Not being a student, though, I'm not very familiar with campus. Any suggestions of places to write that won't be too crowded at noon?
35,708 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 08 23
I'd love to join you, though on Tuesdays I won't be able to make it until 12:30. I think most places with food are fairly crowded at noon, so our best bet might be the library. There are some lovely (and comfy!) restaurant-style booths and group study rooms in the basement that usually don't fill up until late afternoon. Anyone else know the campus well enough to make a suggestion? Should we add a drop-in session to the calendar?
52,111 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 09 17
We can certainly add these to the calendar! I'll just set them up as recurring, T/R, 12-2 p.m., Hesburgh library basement for now (if we change our minds/stop holding these/skip Thanksgiving, etc., we can adjust the calendar).
50,333 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 17 55
Could we by any chance do at least one write in at a Mishawaka Library on Lincoln Way? So I can come to one ^^
If not that's fine! I can try to find my way to one of the other ones... -try- being a key word ;)
----------2007: Lonely Nomad (2k) Fail
2008: Wolf Princess (56k) Win!
2009: The Doorway (?) ?
52,111 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2009 - 02 52
Of course! As soon as you and Barb and whoever's interested nail down a time, we can add it to the calendar.
50,333 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2009 - 10 10
Hey Mrs. Barb can we do it Fridays? During the day would be awesome, That would be so much fun for me :)
----------2007: Lonely Nomad (2k) Fail
2008: Wolf Princess (56k) Win!
2009: The Doorway (?) ?
40,064 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2009 - 18 42
Yes, I believe I could work that out. Mid-afternoons work better for me; say 12:30-2ish or somewhere near there. Does that work for you?
----------"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco
50,333 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2009 - 18 56
Yes! It would at the moment, seeing as I have no job... and it's not looking good for one soon >.>
I will tell you if I get a job, but at the moment it's not looking so wonderful, :P
I can walk to the one on Lincoln way from my house, takes about 30 minutes but it's good exercise xD
*tried it out walking there the other day*
----------2007: Lonely Nomad (2k) Fail
2008: Wolf Princess (56k) Win!
2009: The Doorway (?) ?
52,111 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 10 39
Carrie and I wandered about the area today to scope out some places. I had never been to Lula's, even though it's practically on top of ND, and now I kind of wish I'd spent more time there for the past five years. Sigh. The Beanery also looks like a cozy writing place.
I'm so excited for NaNo to actually start. Now I just need something to write. Oops.
50,522 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 15 39
Thanks for the additional info I think I'll have to go explore this week. Tough job, I know.
35,708 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 15 56
I also went to Lula's for the first time today--it's a great place! Any firm meet-up places yet?
52,111 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 16 03
The "sure things" are listed in the calendar. We'll be hitting up Indulgence at least once, and B&N on Sunday nights has been a tradition for this region since as long as I've been here. The "TBD" Saturday writes tend to be for locals who won't be at the football games, and given traffic and such, will likely be in Elkhart.
If you have suggestions for a time for Lula's, or elsewhere, make it known, and let's see who else agrees it works!
40,064 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 17 09
Wednesday nights! (If I recall correctly, there's no room to sit and read a book at Lula's on the weekends even w/o football madness, let alone bring a laptop.)
----------"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco
26,123 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 19 36
The only thing about Wednesdays is that 1) that's when Mustard meets and 2) that's when they tend to do their MFA readings at Lula's. So it would still be crowded, at least until 8:00ish.
----------NaNo 2006 winner
NaNo 2007 failure, due to the flu
NaNo 2008 winner, due to lack of internet
40,064 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 20 03
Oh...Monday nights work, too. Or Tuesdays. I don't work those days.
----------"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco
36,923 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2009 - 12 38
We also have a set date for Wednesday nights at the Martin's on Bristol street.
52,111 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2009 - 13 15
Right. That's in the calendar too. As are the Tuesday/Thursday gatherings at Notre Dame.
36,923 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2009 - 11 51
Hey gang,
I just heard from a friend who told me Bear Creek Cafe in downtown Elkhart went out of business. But she also confirmed Sunrise Canyon Cafe off of 17 does have free wi-fi. I say we give that one a try one Saturday.
52,111 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2009 - 03 22
Gah! Foiled again!
But, certainly, we'll try out other cafes over there. We have to find a way to meet locally on football Saturdays, which mostly means steering clear of a three-mile radius of ND.
50,522 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2009 - 06 24
And we have two to contend with next month. Of the places you explored over the weekend, are any far enough away? Any of those in the Mishawaka/Granger category?
Regarding outlets: I'll bring along a power strip to increase the number of places we can plug laptops. I'll see if I can get my hands on more. Then we can magically transform any place with scanty outlets yet good eats and drinks.
36,923 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2009 - 07 01
I always carry a power strip in my laptop bag, just in case. I usually don't think of it, so I bought an extra that lives in my bag all the time. There were times when everyone forgot theirs and I was the arriving hero! I was the savior of batteries and word counts! The crowd went wild!
26,123 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2009 - 10 43
and then you found five dollars?
----------NaNo 2006 winner
NaNo 2007 failure, due to the flu
NaNo 2008 winner, due to lack of internet