OK, Lafayette-area writers!
I'd love to hear everyone's feelings on times and places and venues for write-ins and the Launch Party and the TGIO celebration. Do you favor restaurants? Cafes? Libraries? Something else? In Lafayette? North or south? Day? Night? Weekends? I'll work with you all to have as many write-ins with as broad windows of time in as many convenient spots as you like (given my job and family commitments).
MY THOUGHTS:
I adore sitting in coffee shops for hours on end! It makes me very happy and I look forward to this most of all! Seriously!
In '07, we had frequent write-ins at the C.C.'s on Ambassador behind the mall, but it is not there any longer (not for lack of popularity--I understand it was a lease negotiation issue). I love the Community Coffee Houses (free WiFi, plus it's a local chain) but I'm totally fine with Starbucks or anywhere else similar (or not so similar). Diners or waffle restaurants are cool, too, if not as inviting (with their need for table turn-over).
I also have a great fondness for the new South Regional Library on Johnston (it's just beautiful, and very near my home), but I can travel. I'll ask them what sort of facilities they have available to us, though I doubt most of us want to be cloistered in a meeting room. My experience is that it's much more conducive to word counts be in open area with lots of passers-by (and sunlight is uplifting, as well).
Finally, I work in the Mall of Acadiana, and I am cool with having a friendly write-in in the center area by the fountains (or even in the food court) if that's what you like.
What are your thoughts, everyone?
I'll keep this survey open as long and as late as possible, to take into account people who might not even have heard of the National Novel Writing Month yet! I want to give the late-comers a voice in this, as well.
Chime in! I open the floor to you all. . . .
----------
God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.
54,773 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 18 59
I agree- coffeeshops are great. I'm currently nursing an addiction to CC's (used to work at the Kaliste Saloom location). To be honest though, I'd be happy with any location that has coffee or food or internet, etc. The Mall is an interesting idea. The fountain area you mentioned would be nice for writing. And I agree that the South regional Library is beautiful. I love those big booths they have!
So I guess I'm not much help in this issue- I'm pretty much open to going anywhere. It'd be a plus if coffee were available, but if there is no coffee, I'll just bring my own. Can't wait to meet everyone!
-Emily
8,047 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 19 03
I second CC's (anywhere) on account of the free WiFi. I often need Internet access during my writing sessions, because I use web references a whole lot. And I'm not willing to pay for Internet in a public cafe.
I'm also enthusiastic about Southside Library. I live right here, too, so it's very convenient for me -- however -- I'm willing to travel as far as University, Pinhook, or Kali.
Not crazy about the mall, but I'd do it if you twist my arm. I guarantee my writing for that night will be angsty.
I'm open about every night except Tuesdays.
Oh, and I'm all for a restaurant for kick-off. Food is an excellent icebreaker.
'Ailina
----------- 'Ailina
Done: 2001-2008
Won: 2001-2004
Website: Portrait in Linen
38,668 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 19 33
'Ailina
Oh, I should have mentioned that I'm a vegetarian. I'm fine with other folks eating meat and seafood, but I favor Eastern places or noodle and pasta houses or restaurants with a balanced menu. Seafood shacks and oyster bars and craw fish boils don't generally have much fare for me. That's all!
----------God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.
7,452 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 20 44
I won't be physically in town for most of the month but near the end I will be available. I am also a vegetarian and highly recommend Masala or The Noodle House or perhaps Thai Cuisine on Kaliste Saloom. As for write ins if we are blessed with some cooler weather in the home stretch what about one of the Girard Park Pavilions? We could bring a power strip and it might be quite nice.
Good Luck everyone!
38,668 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 20 54
The Park? That would be very nice! I encourage more suggestions like this. I go for a long walk every other day and I get lots of ideas while observing nature and critters, not to mention roadside refuse.
(Oh, and those restaurants are all great. I like Guamos and Cafe Habana, as well. Yay! I'm not the only veggie!)
OK, Bedtime for SeaN!
But keep brainstorming, folks! And, thank you!
----------God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.
42,948 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2009 - 09 24
Another vegetarian here! I'm all for any of those restaurants or CCs. I work weeknights at a Lebanese place on Johnston called Phoenician Grille. We don't have wifi and it isn't a big place, but if anybody wants to come write here I'll hook you up with an outlet. There are always extra tables so I don't worry about people taking up tables during our open hours.
My apartment is a veritable circus of distractions so I'll come to as many meetups as I can.
9,844 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2009 - 09 58
I prefer coffee shops--for the coffee. Internet access is nice but not a necessity for me, as I make up most of the facts I use that would need checking anyway. I even prefer an on-board spell-checker/dictionary to an on-line one. But let me know dates and times and I'll make whatever I can. I work in Broussard, so am not too far away for evening meets after work.
Off-topic:
Software recommendation:
WriteMonkey at www.writemonkey.com
1) It's FREE!
2) It's a (very) basic text editor whose chief appealing feature to writers is that it takes over the whole desktop and presents itself like an old 1980's era word processor. It's just you and the blank, black screen with green letters (color and font of your choice of course--it's not that old fashioned.)
Runs in Windows, needs Microsoft .NET framework 2.0 SP1 or later (available from MicroSoft for free also) to run.
I think I will be using this program to write in this year.
Regards,
----------John
Sincerely,
Soterios
9,340 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2009 - 14 41
I'm voting for the South Regional Library and CC's as well. As a huge caffeine addict I am big on the coffee shops :)
This is my first time participating so I am really looking forward to it.
----------Not quite sure what I got myself into...
38,668 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2009 - 17 19
UPDATE:
(a) It looks like enough of us are interested in a dinner meeting to make a go of it. How about a pre-launch meal for folks who are interested?
I am going to be out of town from the 22nd through the 27th, so how about a dinner party to launch NaNo on the 29th or the 30th? (I'll probably have to work the night of the 28th, and Hallowe'en is not a good night for obvious reasons.)
The 29th is a Thursday and the 30th is Friday. I'm all for something Asian or Lebanese. Noodle House might be too spicy for me, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Phoenician Grill would be fine--I've never been there so I'd love to try! Masala or Green Olive or anything like that would also be cool. What are your feelings?
(b) Regarding the actual day of launch, I am going to try to get that Sunday off of work and write all day to give myself a healthy head-start! I am planning to commandeer a big table in a coffee house (probably either the River Ranch or Camellia Blvd. location of C.C.'s), maybe leaving for a just a short while to get food, as necessary. I'll be there for hours so anyone who wants to do some writing can join me whenever and for as long as you like!
Then, I'm thinking that, for the people with busy Sunday schedules, maybe we could designate a certain hour (say, five or six, or earlier if you like) to have an official meet-and-greet? People who can only spare an hour can join us at this time and we'll go round the circle, introduce ourselves, and talk about our story ideas, and all that good stuff.
I'm open to suggestions and ideas! Fire away!
Sean
----------God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.
46,447 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2009 - 18 13
Hey CC at river ranch is perfect for me! Although I am up for a meet & greet & eat anywhere.... I nominate Nov. 1 for launch because it will be my last day in town for two weeks :/
54,773 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2009 - 18 40
Sean- that all sounds great! Hope to meet a lot of y'all there! :)
-Emily
38,668 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 17 05
OK, gang!
I am back in Lafayette and I can start planning things.
If it's not too late, would anyone like to meet on Thursday (Oct. 29th) or Friday (Oct. 30th) at a restaurant? If so, please speak up here so I can get a head count (although anyone who decides to show up at the last minute is certainly welcome).
AND. . . where would you like to go?
We've had nominations for Phoenician Grill (which I lean towards, since one of our group works there), and Masala and Noodle House. I'm okay with anything in town that has a veggie option. I favor any place that isn't super busy (like the busy places on Johnston by the mall), so that we can get a big table and hear each other talk, and small businesses are preferable (not a big chain).
Please chime in today or Wednesday, if you can. We'll each get our own individual tab (sorry, I'd love to treat everyone, if only I had the dough!), so factor that into your choice.
NOTE: If you cannot make this event, or choose not to, that is totally fine. We'll have our first official Write-In on Sunday, probably at the C.C.'s Coffee inside River Ranch. (I'm still working on getting the address and number.) It will be an all-day kind of thing, but I'll designate an hour, let's say 4PM, as the official Meeting and Introductions Hour, when we can chat about our projects.
Thanks!
SeaN
----------God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.
54,773 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 05 29
I won't be able to attend on either Thursday or Friday, but I'll definitely be coming to CC's on Sunday.
-Emily
42,948 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 06 23
Thursday night I have a family thing which I was guilted into after explaining the whole NaNoWriMo thing. You should have seen the looks I got during that conversation. I expect my friends who I'm not related to will be slightly more supportive.
Friday night I might have to cover for someone at work, but if you guys feel like coming to Phoenician Grille I'll be there either way (no pressure).
Otherwise, I'm committed to a full day of writing on the first.
7,452 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 07 05
I am in Connecticut for the duration of nano but I am there in spirit!
Eat some Veggi Korma/Veggie Pad Thai/Phoenician Grill for me!
9,844 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 07 59
River Ranch CC's
Address:
1042 Camellia Boulevard
Lafayette, Louisiana 70508
Hours:
6:30 AM - 7:00 PM [Mon-Fri]
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM [Sat-Sun]
Phone:
337-981-6167
Free High Speed Internet Access
----------Sincerely,
Soterios