according to a quote, coined by I don't know who, there is no such thing (as a stupid question, of course). if you buy that, there is no need for this disclaimer. if you don't, then here are a few, just for you:
this is my first year doing the NaNo thang. I'm just beginning to understand the insanity, but write-ins are still a mystery to me. I plan to attend as many of them as I can during November, as many as work allows, so beforehand I basically just want to know what to expect.
if the write-in is being held at a restaurant (like the one on the 1st at McAlister's), am I just supposed to guess the table by how many people there are scribbling in notebooks or is all that going to be worked out after we're supposed to arrive at 12 or whenever, or what?
on the kick-off thing on the 24th, at the library, what all is gonna be going on? since we're not writing until November, should I still bring my notebook?
aaand, I think that's it, for now. many thanks to whoever cares enough to clear this up for me.
----------
39,781 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 20 21
oh and also, since there doesn't appear to be an edit function here and this question just occurred to me, what is a TGIO?
----------53 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 20 36
TGIO is Thank Goodness It's Over.
50,000 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 20 56
A write-in is an event where large groups of nano participants get together in a place of foodservice (or wherever they'll allow us) and write/socialize (let's face it, a lot of both happens). You can usually find us by looking for (as you so eloquently put it) the large group of people typing away on their laptops/writing feverishly in their notebooks, or (at least at McAlister's) by going to the roped-off section of the seating area.
There isn't any real need to bring your laptop to the kickoff party unless you want to (I know I rarely go much of anywhere these days without my laptop being at least in the car, so its not as much of a stretch as you might think).
By the way, the TGIO is a party dedicated to the participants having made it all the way through the competition. It stands for "Thank Goodness it's Over".
38,700 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 22 16
If Jenny/Dev plans on being there, look for a lady with bright pink (or whatever color it might be during November) hair. Or a highlighter yellow shirt, if the MLs break those out as well. Usually, we'll be talking (sometimes loudly) about NaNo so that's a good idea as well. If you look lost enough, we might as you if you're one of the NaNoers and then you'll know for sure! We don't bite. Well, most of the time.
Bringing a notebook is up to you. Sometimes it's nice to have something to write down all the randomness on. Like names and ways to identify people if you suck with names. Like "Dev=pink hair". I like to get dares form the Dare Jar, which I think we'll have this year once our amazing ML finds it...? But it's nice to write them down. Or just have paper to write more dares down on, which I was doing during work last night.
At the kick off, we'll mainly be socializing and getting to know each other. I think there may be some games involved too but I'm not positive on that. :D
Oh and trust me, I asked the ML some pretty dumb questions my first year.
----------32,031 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 22 52
The Kick Off is mostly a meet and greet kind of thing, a change to mingle with fellow writers before the actual writing starts. So no, you don't need a notebook or laptop.
And it'll be pretty hard to miss us at write-ins. Like Dani said, I have pink hair (partly- it's grown out quite a lot since most o f you have seen me) so that's a good sign right there. And I don't think Kara and I will be wearing our bright yellow ML shirts at every write-in (I'm buying a Camp NaNoWriMo shirt and I wanna show it off) but I'll try to bring mine and hang it somewhere conspicuous.
You can also host your own, if you want! I know I said I'd post about that last weekend, but I'm lame and haven't yet. I will, though, before November even!
----------____________________
Jenny, co-ML for Memphis, TN
39,781 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2009 - 04 38
thanks, y'all. having a helpful local group should definitely make the upcoming madness a lot easier. if I got anymore questions, I'll be sure to ask. :)
----------42,691 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2009 - 17 59
Write-Ins are awesome and everyone else has pretty much explained them. Dev and I are still working out the word war details for this year though (prizes are involved). I've been negotiating with several venues other the past few weeks, and as of now all of our write-ins but two are set, as well as our kick-off party. So make sure your check our our regional google calendar!
----------Kara
Co-ML, Memphis TN
~*~
"However, if anything is missing from above the knee level, there's only one person who knows about it, and is hiding the details because he's too afraid to tell his wife." - Laurie Notaro, Autobiography of a Fat Bride
39,781 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2009 - 11 28
after a word war do the participants generally read their pieces aloud or anything like that?
----------32,031 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2009 - 14 54
Nah, we wouldn't get any writing done if we did that, but we do read excerpts at the TGIO.
----------____________________
Jenny, co-ML for Memphis, TN