Kickoff/Outlining Party

I work until 6 PM every week day except Thursday, but I will be rendered unable to do anything on Tuesdays and Thursdays (same as last year). If we set a date, though, I'm sure I could get off at 5 PM or sooner to go to the write-ins, but as for this kick-off party, I'm open to Monday, Wednesday, Friday, the weekends... weekdays would have to be after 5 but maybe a weekend would work? Or... I don't know, any time during the weekends should be fine.

I fully support your idea, as I only have two characters (whom you know very well, poofiemus) but no plot :C

WHOOO I LOVE THESE NREW FORUMS! Beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous work.

NaNo '08
Genre: Fantasy Western
Title: Boot Hill

Art | Blog

You can't make it on Thursdays either? Bugger. I have classes pretty much straight from 8 to 8 on Thursdays. I don't know WHAT I was thinking when I picked my classes in spring. I was kind of hoping you'd be able to make Thursdays if that ended up being our only write-in day, but I guess Thursdays are going to be on a purely volunteer-sans-ML basis.

And the only-having-two-characters or only-having-one-scene-in-mind problems are the whole reason I want to make it into an outlining party. I don't want anyone in Flag to suffer like I did last year. ^^; I loved last year's characters to death, but they seriously needed some sort of outside motivator to get them to stop picking on each other and get moving.

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I'm the best on Friday/Saturday, because those days I don't have very much else going on. Wednesday I'm free from like 4 to 9, so those are okay too. Thursday evenings I'm free, and Tuesday/Monday and Sunday I'm completely unavailable.

I'm pretty excited for this year!

Bugger, I forgot to mention that I'm thinking of holding this party at the Campus Coffee Bean, which is behind the Arby's on Milton (You know, near Target). Part of it is that the place has a great atmosphere, but they also happen to serve burgers. Really good burgers. But if there are a bunch of people who are against this, I'm open to alternatives.

But I'll still probably smuggle in a Campus Coffee Bean burger wherever we go. =P

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I'm all about burgers. (Actually, not really, but I do like them.)
One thing I am truly all about is things that are walking distance from campus, and CCB definitely meets that qualification.

Will we also be considering CCB for write-ins? Will they allow us to plug in multitudinous laptops (and maybe a desktop :P)?

Other candidates for write-ins may still include Peter Piper Pizza and Bookman's, along with Applesauce (if we must), and there are a variety of places at the university we could meet, for NAU-specific write-ins, if we wanted to plan anything like that.

It's also worth noting that NAU's new on-campus starbucks-like location (which replaces the Java.com that we used to have), is open pretty late, like until, 2 or 3 a.m. So if you feel the need for any late-night north-campus noveling, there's a good place available.

Unfortunately, the only 24-hour venues available to NAU students are the South Learning Resource Center (Bldg 61 on south campus, between the DuBois Center and the Business building -- it's a 24-hour computer lab) and Cowden Hall's computer lab (only really adviseable if you live in Cowden Hall, and like it when you don't want other NAU NaNoers to find you noveling).

Yeah, CCB happens to be even closer to my apartment than Bookman's, so I am definitely going to look into making it our write-in locale as well. But if they don't let me plug in my desktop I'm kinda screwed. XD

I'd almost forgotten about the Union's Starbucks-esque venue. I'll consider that a possibility as a location for a potential Emergency-End-of-Month write-in place. That way, if we end up having one this year, we could write all the way to midnight on the 30th.

Cory, don't you work at the South Learning Resource Center? O.o

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The Starbucks-like establishment actually has starbucks branded employees and coffee and stuff this year. Who knows whether it's set up like a real Starbucks though. I may have said this before, but, "I'm from Seattle, and I don't drink coffee."

Yes, I do work the SLRC, Sunday nights, if any NAU students need somewhere to go to make themselves too tired for Monday classes, I work 11p to 8a. :P

Also, if you can't get your desktop computer plugged in at Apple Sauce, I may or may not have a spare machine available, with a nominal amount of battery life, in addition to a power adapter, a screen, a nice keyboard, and a copy of Microsoft Word. We'll need to scope out the location first though, so we can be aware of hurdles (and things like whether or not we can or will-need-to bring a power strip.)

Anyway, I'm also totally up for an end-of-month emergency write-in. :D

Good to know if we ever decide to collectively invade your workspace. :D

You mean if I can't get it plugged in at the Campus Coffee Bean. I'm pretty sure I saw outlets there the last time I went, though, so it may not be an issue. I'll make a point of bringing the spare power strip again this year at any rate, though. Thing was a lifesaver last year, and I have no doubt it will be again.

Yeah, I didn't get the mass email out in time for last year's end-of-month-emergency write-in. I'll do better this time, and it'll actually be a real write-in going to like, midnight and stuff.

I've also heard mid-month parties can be fun, but I don't know if we'll do one of those yet. Depends on how busy November ends up being.

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Yay for Workplace invasion!

Seriously though, last week, I got ZERO calls on the overnight shift. It would've been downright amazing to have some novelwriting to do, or to have some nanoers pop by. :P

The biggest thing about planning write-ins and stuff is that the earlier you let me know, the more likely I am to be able to attend.

Also, let me know anyway if electricity is not a concern, but you maybe still don't want to haul around that iMac.

The 'Starbucks' in the new Union Expansion is an actual Starbucks, but it lacks table space. Mostly chairs/couches, and particularly loud. Besides, frequenting that establishment might put a damper on my Sodexho boycott :)

The South LRC seems a much more equipped location, as it is a computer lab, stealing a power outlet or data connection shouldn't be a problem. We might even be able to get official help from NAU for it, maybe through the English/LA department?

Matthew W.

It'd probably be fine for you students to have mini write-ins at the LRC once in a while for catch up and what have you, but it's limiting and discouraging to non-students like myself. As one of the more regular write-in attendees, I don't think our write-ins or parties should take place there, as the high school kids who participate and the non-students are completely left out. :C The whole idea of these public outings is for everyone to be able to come and join in, and it defeats the purpose to not include people. If, however, I'm the only one who seems to have this issue (as in, there are no high schoolers or "seasoned" persons participating are wanting to participate in the write-ins or parties) then don't worry about it :) That'd just be a huge inconvenience to everyone else, which I don't want.

oljksafs I want my halo back, WTF. Oh, I was wondering, Poofiemus, if you wanted to co-ML this year again or just take the reins yourself. I don't have ML privileges currently, so that's totally up to you. Or if you'd rather have another student as the ML to help you out, that's fine. Just let me know soon so I can contact Lindsay if need be.

NaNo '08
Genre: Fantasy Western
Title: Boot Hill

Art | Blog

Yeah, it'd probably be a backup/emergency write-in place. And a Let's-entertain-Cory-on-his-shift place. XD Besides, the LRC doesn't have food. I want our write-ins to be held someplace with food, dangit! (/onetrackmind)

I'm totally up for a co-ML, especially since my immune system appears to be made of epic fail this semester. (Sick twice in two weeks WTF? Hopefully I'm predisastered.) I'd love to have you back! We get along pretty well, and this year we'll have super-ninja Google Calendar powers.

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Google calendar D:! *flails about*

Okay... I guess I'll email Lindsay about co-MLing again this year :D AS LONG AS YOU'RE SURE, YO.

NaNo '08
Genre: Fantasy Western
Title: Boot Hill

Art | Blog

OMG, Google Calendar Power! :D :D :D

Also, I'm totally up for being bugged at work, especially on that boooring Sunday overnight.

I agree though, for general meetings, it would be best if we could scout out a location with food.

I don't know what their outlet situation is, but Black Bean in downtown, in this little courtyard area (It's best described as being accessible by one of the alleyways across from Heritage Square), is uh-may-zing.
UHMAYZING!!!!

... anyways.
With my freeze ray! :)

also: Yay for Michelle as CoML! :D

I'm like, OMG TOTALLY SURE because you're AWESOME and this way I have an AWESOME RIGHT-HAND WOMAN so if something goes wrong November DOESN'T END UP TOTAL FAIL.

And. . .YAY CAPS LOCK ABUSE. XD

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ljkfasdf OMFG. RIGHT-HAND WOMAN.

It's just like a WESTERN. Only not :C

NaNo '08
Genre: Fantasy Western
Title: Boot Hill

Art | Blog

You mean your novel's just like a Western or the caps lock abuse is just like a Western?

XD We need Ritalin or something. This thread is all over the place with some serious ADD.

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LOL. Nooo me being your right-hand woman is like a Western. Or the mafia. ... hm.

RITALIN?! 8D

NaNo '08
Genre: Fantasy Western
Title: Boot Hill

Art | Blog

I love CAPS LOCK ABUSE! Especially when it's performed in an ADD/ADHD manner! :D I think it has been helping to keep me sane this year, so my novel may abuse it terribly. "oops"

Also, you two as our MLs need a theme song.

THEME SONG? *flails about festively* WHAT WOULD IT BE? I'm currently brain dead at the moment. :C

NaNo '08
Genre: Fantasy Western
Title: Boot Hill

Art | Blog

Omigod, a theme song? You really think we deserve a theme song!?

I vote for "Schadenfreude,", "We Like the Moon", or the Invader Zim opening theme song. But that's just me. And I'm sick and a little looney, so maybe it's best to just not listen to me.

XD Caps lock abuse in a novel is going to be just SO MUCH FUN TO EDIT.

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hem...

I must say, I got lost along this thread (and I'm a foreigner, it doesn't help... T_T)
Have you already decided on a day and place for the Kickoff party?

Aww, welcome, Renour. Sorry about that, we're a little wild and crazy, if you know what I mean. But we're not too bad, I promise!

We haven't decided on a time and place quite yet. We're working on it. Are there specific dates and days that will work for you? We were planning on waiting for a few other people to come around the Flagstaff thread for more input before we set up a date and time and place. :)

NaNo '08
Genre: Fantasy Western
Title: Boot Hill

Art | Blog

Welcome, Renour! :D You say you're foreign? Mind if I ask where you're from?

I don't blame you for getting lost in the thread. Thing is, Cory, Intention, and I have been keeping in touch all year outside of NaNo, so it's really no surprise that a lot of our rambles only make sense to us. ^^;

Like Intention said, we're trying to gather some more data before committing to a single date and time. Unfortunately, I *still* don't have the power to email the region for some reason. I've no idea why. I've gotten some major ML-specific glitch, and it's a bit problematic. A lot of people probably won't check and/or reply to the board unless I email them and ask them.

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Yes, you sure sound like you know each other very well...

I'm from France, (exchange student) I'm at NAU for a year ^^

All of my october Saturdays are taken by field trips (and of course they never tell us at what time we'll be back...), but I have nothing planned on the other days...

also I'm on-campus an on foot, so yeah... not too far, please. é_è

This is only my second year participating, and I'm not aiming very high, but having meetings and such sounds so much nicer than staying alone in my room in front of the computer!

I know Poofie and I are both on foot, and near campus (I'm in Gabaldon Hall, she's in an apartment off campus, but close by still.) and so we're trying to pick places that are walkable.

Campus Coffee Bean is really close to central campus, and it's a five to ten minute walk from either Tinsley Hall, or Gabaldon Hall (where I know most of our international students are.)

Also, yes, much of our bantering is crazy because we've been keeping contact outside of nano, so we have a bad habit of bringing inside jokes from outside of nano.

Thus far, thursday and friday evenings sound the best in general.

Thursdays for me equal VERY NO. I have classes from 8AM to 8:30 PM. I might be available for a virtual noon write-in over AIM, but nothing in-person. We'll probably be doing Friday write-ins from the look of it. A good way to start the weekend. :D

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Awesome! Well, welcome to Flagstaff, Arizona, and the U.S.! You got lucky and dropped right in the middle of a pocket of enthusiastic novelling nerds.

Not only am I on foot, but I actually bring my desktop iMac to write-ins, so I definitely want someplace close! XD I love my computer, but it sure is heavy.

The write-ins are really a fantastic thing. Not only do we get the chance to ask for advice, dares, and ideas when we get stuck, but we challenge each other to several word wars a session that are just wonderful for your wordcount.

And just for reference, this is only my third year. I won my first year, but failed miserably for several reasons last year. (Deciding not to have a plot on purpose + wisdom tooth extraction on the first = hugely bad idea, apparently.)

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Hi everyone! I've technically tried NaNo before, but only wrote, like, one chapter, so....

Anyways, I'm free Mon, Wed, Fri after 3pm, and on most thursdays I'm free from 2-4 and then after 6ish, and I don't really have anythin to do on weekends except Church on Sundays, but that's only in the morning or evening. Yep.

As for a kick off party, if we do it on the 11th, can we do it after 11am (I assume no one wants to get up early to go noveling, but you never know).

Hmm... The Campus coffee bean is good for me, but don't forge that Downtown is really close for ya'll who live on campus, so yeah.... I don't have any preference....

Welcome! And that's why we're outlining this year. To help everyone succeed at NaNo! (And to possibly kick the snot out of Japan. :D)

Downtown sounds close until you try getting there lugging a 20 pound desktop computer on your back. ^^;;; <--has no laptop

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