MUSKEGON

Hi Ray! Good to hear from you again! And, hi's to Mrs. Ray too!

I'm not sure how to react to being in the number 2 position,

But,

Diana here! From Irons, Michigan, I'm in, I'm excited, and I'm ready! Can't wait to get started!

I was so excited, when I got your e-mail, I clicked reply, and send, before I realized that it was going to noreply. So, just in case you don't get it in your NaNo-mail, I'm ready for the kick-off party! And hopefully I'll be bringing a couple more new partisipants with me...

I'll be waiting to hear from Who? You! on What time, When, Where, (send a map of directions on how to get there!)
Why, because I only know you by name. There, that took care of all 5 Writing W's. How'd I do?

Good luck, and if there's anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask! And I'll see what I can do!

Diana

3rd year running, hopefully winning again for the 3rd year! I've gotta go get my halo back next week, so my name doesn't look so bare!

2006 Blind Aspiration *Winner*
2007 Untitled *Winner*
2008 Blind Escape *Winner"

Whoo! Hey Ray, hey all!

Glad to be here again - this is year four for me!

And Kick Off party sounds super awesome - I'm sure it's in capable hands!

~ kata
twitter: katagirl AIM: nanogirlt (hit me up for word wars)

Welcome back Katagirl, it's the third year for me, and right when I think I'm all ready, my mind tells me that it's time to change my story writing preferences... I don't know to be lazy and stay with my original plan or get to work on the planning stage all over again... I don't know what I'm going to write now, but I'm here!

Ray! Where are you? and what is that little box entitled subscribe on the end of your post?

About the kick off party, it is going to be before the 31st right? Wrong?...

Ok, I'm waiting to hear!

Sooo many questions, never the right amount of answers!

Good luck to all you writers out there...

Diana

2006 Blind Aspiration *Winner*
2007 Untitled *Winner*
2008 Blind Escape *Winner"

Kick off party should be November 1st - so with lots of coffee and encouragement, we can get off to an awesome start!

~ kata
twitter: katagirl AIM: nanogirlt (hit me up for word wars)

Here's my two cents; To Ray, Katagirl, and whomever else is here now...

I don't know, but I think it would be nice to have the kick off party a few days, or the week-end before!

If we have the kick-off party on the 31st of October, and start writing at mid-night, which would be November 1st. "Night-Writer's start writing on October 31st, at midnight!" - 'that's me"...

So wouldn't it be considered a Kick-off -First Write-in party? Is that the way it''s usually done?

I could bring my laptop, on the 31st, and at midnight start writing, but I must warn you, I"d have to wear my jammies! Bring my pillow, and woobie! That'd be ok, because it's Halloween, Right?

Well, there went my two cent's worth! I don't mind going over, as long as you honor me with a running tab!

I'll be waiting to hear the final plans... I'm sure looking forward to meeting all of you this year!

Good luck on the planning phase!

Diana

2006 Blind Aspiration *Winner*
2007 Untitled *Winner*
2008 Blind Escape *Winner"

If it's late enough, I could do the 31st. See, I've conned the neighbor to let me go with their kids trick or treating.... I need to load up on the candy this year.... *grins*

~ kata
twitter: katagirl AIM: nanogirlt (hit me up for word wars)

Hello kata and oldgirl. I'm very pleased to see that you've returned for your annual dose of literary abuse.

I'm still working on figuring out the kickoff: Saturday would probably work better for me, since I work Friday evening, BUT........... November 1st is my wife's birthday. She's cool with hosting the kickoff, but then, what do I do for her birthday? Postpone it another week?

Doesn't seem right.

Suggestions are welcome. I'd also like to hear from other Nano'ers - assuming any more show up.

Remember Dragonbuster? He's in the Army Reserves now (not sure if he's done with his training or not, so I'm not sure if he'll Nano or not).

Do y'all know what you're gonna write this year?

We need to be coming up with good places to meet this year - both in Muskegon and Whitehall.

Seems Mickey's is closed for repairs (SAD!) so no more 2am coffee rushes. Preferable spots have comfortable chairs, outlets for laptops, flexible hours. Anyone have any ideas?

There's a coffeeshop in Whitehall/Montague but it closes at the ungodly hour of 6pm. So we could do a daytime write in there.

~ kata
twitter: katagirl AIM: nanogirlt (hit me up for word wars)

I'm at work and it's slow and I'm bored, so I thought I'd clutter up this here forum with nothing in particular. Forgive the meandering that follows.

So.......... I'm open to meeting at a bar for late nights. Course, that would exclude anyone under twenty-one, and we usually get a few of those. I should be available for more daytime write-ins this year. Depending on the 'thing' that's come up.

And I've heard from Dragonbuster. He gets done with his military training in early November; he may yet be joining us. Other than that, I've been trying to recruit a few other writers I know. It'd be nice to have a little bit bigger group this year. HELLO OUT THERE! ANYBODY WANT TO WRITE A BOOK?

I've got a great idea for my Nano novel (different from what's on my profile). I truly hope I get to write it. It's about a set of panpipes that can open a portal into the spirit realm. To hide it from his enemies, the shaman/wizard guy breaks it into eight pieces and hides them in the dreams of his acolytes. A hundred generations later, my MC is kidnapped by a team of privately-funded, paranormal dream researchers, and forced to enter the acolyte's descendant's dreams to find the pipes. The kid is an ideal 'Dreamhunter', because his brain damage (shaken-baby, cerebral palsy, monothematic delusions) makes him a powerfully lucid dreamer. In the waking world, his disabilities make him frighteningly vulnerable to the nightmarish 'guardian' that's trying to stop them.

So what're you guys planning to write about?

Hey, everyone. I live in Muskegon too.
I always find that going to Grand Traverse Pie Company works really well for me. The treats are awesome! The atmosphere is alright but I get a ton of writing done there. I am available anytime. Daytime is better but my husband is very understanding in November.
Keep me posted on the kick off!

Whoo! Glad to see more people trickling in.

The Pie Company may be a great place to plan a daytime write in or two. Also, I'm not at all opposed to finding a bar - provided they're friendly to a bunch of nerds filtering in!

I'm also planning a few daytime writeins up in Whitehall by me.

~ kata
twitter: katagirl AIM: nanogirlt (hit me up for word wars)

Welcome, bpratt. I don't know where Grand Traverse Pie Company is, but I'd definately go there to meet other writers.

I'm assuming they serve coffee?

It's out by the Lakes Mall. They serve coffee, pie, sweets, sandwiches, ect. They're open until 9pm on many nights. Plus it's usually quiet. Lots of people go in there to work. I see them all the time. It was just a suggestion though. They expanded recently and doubled their seating.

Well, Muskegon is closer to me than Grand Rapids... >.> So, if there is a meet up time, I might try to make it. :)

Hey syntruth. Glad to see you. I definately want to get some meetings together, so I guess at this point, we need to find out what time of day works better for everybody. Last year we had the best turnouts after midnight. Lot's of coffee and bleary eyed freaks getting stupid -- in other words: good fun.

I'm a second shifter, so mornings, mid-days, and late-nights work best for me.

Welcome to all the new joiners!!!!

Just to add to Ray's thought. I am good for anything from 8am until 6pm during the week. After midnight is hard for me but might be able to make it.

Any thoughts on a kick off?

I work an 8-5 Monday through Friday; Saturday's are my D&D nights (which I won't be giving up >.>) starting around 7pm, but otherwise I can be flexible.

Some place around the Lake's Mall would work best for me, but as long as it is within driving distance, I should be good. The Pie Company is a nice place. El Burrito Loco is a yummy place, but it can get kinda loud in there when busy. The Panera here in Grand Haven is nice as well, normally quiet, with some comfy couches, but that might be a bit far to drive for you more northerly folks. ^.^

Still, pretty much, I'm flexible. I'm a rather shy person, but I am eager to really give this year a good go and see what I can do.

Syntruth,
Totally off topic but where do you play D&D? My husband and I have been looking to play recently.

I enjoy panera as well but it is a little bit of a drive....But I too am very flrexible.

I'm pursuing a film career, so my hours are wide open. I'm hoping to do at least a few write ins up Whitehall way during the day.

And a few down in Muskegon as well.

I'd really (really really) like to find some place that's open 24hrs or at least till Midnight for those few diehard fans (Ray and myself) who like to stay up late, drink coffee and make fools of ourselves for our writing. Apparently, Mickeys' is actually closed - don't know the story behind that.

So - 24hr restaurant or coffee place. Does such a place exist?

I'm hoping to do a Friday night midnight kickoff. Somehow, somewhere.

~ kata
twitter: katagirl AIM: nanogirlt (hit me up for word wars)

There is always the Rendevous in Grand Haven. Always open at least last time I checked. I can't think of anything here in Muskegon though....
I'm a massive insomniac so I'm up for some late nights.
I'd love to do a midnight kick-off!

Anyone interested in doing a midweek mid day write-in? My most flexbility is while my husband is at wotk.

So here's what it looks like so far:

There are five of us (with more to come by November): me, kata, oldgirl, bpratt, and syntruth. To keep things simple, I think we need to have a weekly write-in in the evening (mainly for syntruth's benefit), and one at midnight.

Grand Traverse Pie Company sounds like amicable nuetral ground for the evening write-in, so let's lock 'er on in. Only thing we need to decide now is an exact time, and what day of the week. I won't be able to make these because of my pesky and annoying job, so it's up to y'all.

For the red-eyes, unless a coffee shop or diner suddenly decides to stay open 24 hrs, we're probably limited to bars. I happen to know of one that's pretty empty on weeknights, is willing to make coffee, and has wireless internet - Old World Pub on Laketon. It doesn't matter to me which night of the week, but I'm thinking 11 pm for time.

For the kick-off, my wife is still cool with having it at our house, on her birthday, but that makes me feel icky. Honestly, I'm hoping kata comes up with an alternative something that is cool and exciting (with free drinks and swag, and comfy chairs -- no pressure, though, kata). I'd still go, but it would take a lot of pressure off Mrs. Ray to not have to host something on her birthday. Cuz you know guys don't contribute to that kind of stuff.

Once we've settled on everything, kata will graciously volunteer to draw up a colorful chart and nanomail it to everybody: dates, times, places, and participant biographies (with detailed coffee preferences). That kata sure is a wonderful gal.

Alrighty then. Let's hear some feedback.

Random and pointless change of subject:

This is gonna sound totally brag-ey and childish, but I just found the coolest picture for my book cover. Go check it out on my profile.

Yeah, I know this isn't the same story I was talking about earlier, but I had to change my mind. Really really good reason.

Okay, here's what we have so far:

Weekly evening write-in at Grand Traverse Pie Company, I'm thinking maybe Monday nights, as I'm down in the area before Monday Night Football (say from 6-8pm for me, but obviously the world doesn't revolve around me.... or does it?)

Weekly day-time write-in: Wednesdays at noon, Book Nook and Java Shop in Montague. They've got space for about five to ten, the coffee is good too.

((Ray, can you edit your original post to include that?))

Now as far as a kick-off, the last thing I want to do is crash Mrs. Ray's birthday. So I'm working hard to try to find a location where we can do something Saturday night. I know it's not the immediate kick-off, but it'll be more likely that people will make it to an evening thing, rather than a 12:00am thing.

I'm very much open to ideas and suggestions for that. Now as far as free swag goes.... that might be a little more limited. So let's put on our thinking caps!

~ kata
twitter: katagirl AIM: nanogirlt (hit me up for word wars)

bpratt: Right now, I run my game from my macbook. ^.^ (Running 4E D&D) My group is spread across the USA, from California to Texas. We play online with a free java app called MapTool, and meet up on my IRC chat server. I miss the face to face game, but the online table-top offers quite the benefits for the GM.

As for the meet ups, Monday evenings work great for me (sure, sure, I'll be missing Heroes and The Summer Glau Chronicles, but I'm okay with that... >.> The DVR will be there after November.) Time and place, and I'll do my best to be there. :D

Oh, the Rendezvous is still open 24/7; not the best place in the world, but it might work. I can't think of any other all-night place in the area.

syntruth: let me know if you decide to run something on paper and have space for two!

Tuesday or Wednesday evenings work the best for me but if Kata and syntruth like Mondays, I'm cool with that. As far as day time, Tuesday through Friday are wide open for me(housewife).

Late night one, doesn't matter to me on day.

I hope this helps your planning!!!

Well, let me clarify that, bpratt - Monday evening is a day i'm down in town already and can do something in Muskegon. I'm not the end all, be all here. If something works out better and you want to plan something, go for it! I'm just your friendly helper!

~ kata
twitter: katagirl AIM: nanogirlt (hit me up for word wars)

Since Monday is good for two of you, I'll make it work. I would need to leave about 7 so if we met about 5:30, it would be better for me. Then with Wednesday up your way, it breaks it up. Let me know which place and how to get there.
Do you know what day Ray was thinking for the late nighter?

I wish I had kick-off suggestions. I could offer my house here in Muskegon. But I don't have a coffee maker...

I am glad you are planning the write ins. I do some church admin stuff and it's nice to not be the one in charge!

Likewise about planning; I have a work deadline already coming up so my mental resources are wholly diverted to that. So, thanks guys for doing this. :)

I'm gonna go ahead and arbitrarily say Thursday's for the red-eyes. Anybody object?

If not, that would give us:

Monday's, 6 pm, Grand Traverse Pie Company
Wednesdays, 12 noon, Book Nook & Java Shop (in Montague - I can make these BTW)
Thursdays, 11 pm, Old World Pub

Kick off: bpratt's house where she will make us dinner and buy a coffee maker and espresso machine and give out back rubs while her guests are all hard at work on their wonderful novels and anyone who passes out from creative exhaustion can spend the night and be treated to bacon and eggs the following morning.

Just kidding. The kick-off is still up in the air.

Since I've apparently flaked out on hosting it, I'm gonna tentatively volunteer to host the 'Thank-God-It's-Over' party.