Just in case you're not familiar with the term, a "write-in" is a gathering of NaNo-ers / WriMos for the purpose of moving further on their novels. Everyone brings their laptops or notebooks and pens and writes together in the same location for a couple of hours. It's a good chance to socialize while still being productive with regard to your word count, and a good chance to get ahead on your word count while not feeling like you're isolating yourself from the outside world. Strength in numbers, and all that. There's usually coffee.
I'd like to get a list going of potential write-in locations. We certainly don't need to nail down dates and times to have write-ins at these locations, but it'll be good to have a list of suggestions for when November gets closer.
A couple places that were either time-tested or mentioned in Sujin's "Who are you? Where are you?" thread:
Java Monkey - E. Ponce de Leon Ave. in downtown Decatur (across from Decatur MARTA station)
We've done Saturday afternoon write-ins here for a couple of years. It can be a little hard for everyone to find seats together on Saturday afternoon, but somehow we manage. Last year, we even did some in-person word wars here, which was fun.
Borders - Smyrna - Cobb Pkwy at 285
There's been a Sunday morning write-in here for the last few years. Folks usually meet upstairs at the cafe and push several tables together.
SIP - Lindbergh Center (Piedmont Ave and Lindbergh), across from Lindbergh MARTA station
New-ish coffee shop that also has tasty desserts and sandwiches. There's never been a write-in here, but I've done some writing here on my own, and the big table in the middle just begs for a NaNo event.
Where else?
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NaNo '06 - The Center of Gravity. 7 drafts since '06. Revising for editor!
NaNo '07 - Notes From Nowhere (YA novel, 50K)
NaNo '08 - Rob's Day Out! (YA caper)
http://weirdquietgirl.wordpress.com -life, writing, and YA lit
51,998 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2008 - 05 31
SIP sounds especially nice as it's right on the MARTA Line and quite central.
What are the criteria we should be looking for?
- quiet-ish
- coffee
- Wi-fi?
- tables & chairs
- plugs for dying laptop batteries
- parking?
- MARTA access?
With the size of this metro area, are there informal geographical sub-groups for folks willing to travel for write-in's (ITP, OTP-West, OTP- North,OTP-East, OTP-South)?
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2006 - 35K words of "Lorne" (as LiLi3333)
2008 - Children of the Moon
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Oct 6, 2008 - 08 59
For anyone who doesn't know, Decatur has WiFi--you get two (continuous) hours free each day, or you can pay per day or month. So, Java Monkey, or any place else in the square for that matter, would be a great location. The gazebo on the square would also be a nice place to sit outside. Plus, it's so close to Brickstore if anyone is up for drinks later.
The Decatur Square is very MARTA accessible--Just take the East-West line to the Decatur Station. Java Monkey is across the street (Church Street side) and the gazebo is on top of the station
----------http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/178419/the_eskimo.html
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Oct 6, 2008 - 10 38
Since it's right off MARTA, I'm game.
How 'bout everyone else?
Maggie
----------www.maggiewest.typepad.com
Maggie West
www.maggiewest.typepad.com
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Oct 6, 2008 - 10 39
Oops! I was discussing SIPS - btw.
Maggie
----------Maggie West
www.maggiewest.typepad.com
52,359 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2008 - 18 04
Decatur is a great place to meet up with other Wrimos. Not only are there coffee shops like Java Monkey, but if you happen to be writing something that involves any kind of research, the Decatur library is just a short walk from the square. The stores there are also a good distraction if you burn out and need a break (I recommend Heliotrope)!
There's a Borders in pretty much every area, so that's always a possibility, and there's usually both a cafe in the store and one next to it or just along the row. Just don't ever go on a Saturday morning and expect to get any work done, because that's when the little kids start singing.
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Oct 8, 2008 - 10 27
Decatur is a nice area, and a friend and I have actually discussed a few places we'd like to go.
One, of course is Java Monkey.
Another is a little further down the street, a coffee place called the Dancing Goats that has REALLY soft couches! (and good drinks)
The third, odd as this may be, is the cemetary. It would require pen and paper rather than a laptop, but cemetaries are always very quiet places that naturally cause me to think more calmly and fill up with ideas.
We have also discussed having an official emo/starving-artist day in which we dress up as such and go out to write in some public location. Just to stir up the place a little.
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Oct 8, 2008 - 10 51
I'm ROFTL about the idea of an official emo/starving artist day. I will have to start saving my rolls of pennies to pay for coffee...
Along that non-coffee-house vein, I actually really enjoy writing on MARTA trains.
No internet, but it's cheap to get in, heated, you can get off and get coffee anytime - a ride-in might even end up at a write-in location like SIP or Java Monkey - and there's an endless supply of characters, faces, outfits, descriptions and overheard snippets of conversation..... talk about inspiring surroundings!
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2006 - 35K words of "Lorne" (as LiLi3333)
2008 - Children of the Moon
8,983 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2008 - 13 51
How do you write on MARTA trains? I've tried it but the constant on-off-on of people and shifting of seats often leaves me unable to take the time to type more than a sentence at a time -- even at my 100+ speed.
Of course, I'm usually on them in the Five Points and surrounding area during rush hour. Maybe it's just picking the right location and time of day?
I'm down with a MARTAfest if we could do it somehow.
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Fifth NaNo, first one I'll win. I mean it this time!
http://lfvoy.net
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Oct 13, 2008 - 07 05
I live within walking distance of the Decatur Square, so I'm up for a write-in anytime in that area. Just let me know! And I saw someone mention Dancing Goats--that would be a good location. I love their coffee.
Another location we might be able to use it Wordsmith. It's a book store located right on the square that has a seating area.
----------http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/178419/the_eskimo.html
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Oct 13, 2008 - 11 31
I'm totally down for anywhere that is MARTA accessible and has places for me to plug my laptop in and get comfortable. I would prefer spots where I would not feel bad hanging out for long periods of time parking on people's sofas without buying much of anything (so Wordsmith's would be great but I'd not be able to buy a book probably to keep from feeling guilty).
As to coffee places, I have never been to SIPS but both places in Decatur have their merits. Java Monkey is closer to the MARTA station, is near the library, and has lots of interesting people come in. Dancing Goats is a larger establishment with a very open area which would allow for larger groups to hang out together, is not altogether far from the MARTA station, and is better lit/ has more windows, and (or so it seems to me, I may be wrong) a more artsy, yoga-loving crowd frequents there. It all depends on what kind of mood we want to inspire with our write-ins on that day, I guess, or how important it is that we can hang out in a large group together without taking up the whole establishment.
I think it would be utterly hilarious to have themed write-in days, like a "bring your totem" day, a funny hat day, a starving artist day, a comfy hoody because getting dressed detracts from writing time day... I don't know, maybe that's just me, but it would certainly help us find fellow writers and give us great stories to tell later and perhaps some inspiration to use while novelling.
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Nihil est omnino beatum.
NaNoWriMo2007: Fae Croaker (Won!)
NaNoWriMo2008: Hook's Neverland
Fae ???
51,998 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2008 - 11 50
OMG Themes! hee hee! I LOVE the idea of themed write-ins!
Is there a particular reason why we don't use libraries? do we talk too much? Not enough coffee?
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2006 - 35K words of "Lorne" (as LiLi3333)
2008 - Children of the Moon
51,940 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2008 - 13 10
Personally I'd be good with meeting at a library. I'm sure we can't get too loud unless they have a room where we all could sit. Food/drink might be an issue if they don't allow something at all. Dunno. Might be an option for us in South ATL for standard write-ins.
-Cel
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Oct 13, 2008 - 21 41
i love love love the borders on cobb parkway (if it is the one i am thinking of..)- it's got a delightful outdoor patio, which could be lurvly early on in the month...
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Oct 14, 2008 - 04 00
Yep, that's the same one.
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Oct 14, 2008 - 06 12
The Borders on Cobb Parkway is nice...and it is easily accessible from both 285 and 75
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/178419/the_eskimo.html
----------http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/178419/the_eskimo.html
51,998 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2008 - 04 53
Of course, I'm usually on them in the Five Points and surrounding area during rush hour. Maybe it's just picking the right location and time of day?
I'm down with a MARTAfest if we could do it somehow.
Writing on MARTA trains is an acquired skill. it takes practice and determination :-) Actually, I started writing on the train with free write journaling, and the people shuffling made for great observations when I had nothing else to focus on. Now, I've started doing it in search of characters.
You've seen the art students speed-sketch someone across the aisle? Just for practice. I speed-depict someone before they hop off the train. "Where are they going? why do they smell like brussel sprouts? Where did she get those shoes?"
Avoiding 5 pts at rush hour is important, because you need to have a seat and room to look around. avoiding days when there are braves games and concerts is also crucial. :-)
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2006 - 35K words of "Lorne" (as LiLi3333)
2008 - Children of the Moon
50,022 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2008 - 09 34
My favorite place to write is Gathering Grounds in Kirkwood. It's a beautiful space, quiet, friendly staff, good coffee & snacks, and allows me to get lost in my writing for several hours without interruption. It's also nice to support local businesses, instead of only the big corporations.
www.gatheringgroundskirkwood.com
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Oct 20, 2008 - 17 39
Is there any good location around Kennesaw? How do we find out what is scheduled and where?
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Oct 20, 2008 - 17 41
No clue, but if you find out, post it because I'd love to go to the ones locally versus over in Gwinnett.
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Oct 20, 2008 - 18 55
Judy and Konflicted,
There are some gatherings around Kennesaw. That area actually has its own ML, redcurlkennesaw, and, as she is studying abroad for a few more weeks (in Italy, luck girl) and assistant ML, Safira, who is handling the ML duties for the Kennesaw/East Marietta area. If you go to your Author's info page and select My Regions, you can choose to see the Georgia::Elsewhere forums. This includes areas like Statesboro, Dalton, Columbus and Augusta, but also the Cobb County/Paulding areas. Here's the link to the NW Metro thread, but if you want to find out more about that area, I would recommend setting it as one of your regions. Thankfully the powers that be at NaNo let you have more than one region selected that you participate in.
And while we in Gwinnett would love to claim you, I know that's a long way to go!
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2006: The Queen of the Corn Palace (Winner)
2007: A Man, A Plan, A Canal; Panama (Winner)
www.toboldlynano.com
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Oct 21, 2008 - 06 26
My favorite spot is PJ's Coffee on the town green in Suwanee. I'm there several times a week, tapping away. Plenty of room, good munchies, nice folks. At night the bar opens, so beer and wine is available.
54,676 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2008 - 15 41
Hey, all those places sound like good ideas, but could we maybe go somewhere that's not in the heart of Atlanta? Not everyone who is signed up for this region lives in Atlanta (myself for example), so somewhere, but not in Atlanta might be convenient. I'd love to meet some of you!
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Oct 24, 2008 - 18 26
Sunstarmoon, have you tried looking in this thread?
----------If there still isn't anything convenient, maybe you could set up a get together in your area? We're always encouraging more! :D
Writing Journal: http://utensil-drawer.livejournal.com/profile
A fine is a tax for doing wrong, a tax is a fine for doing well.
50,018 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2008 - 09 06
Is anyone close to Newnan or Lagrange? Its probably too much to hope for, but I thought Id ask. We could have a write-in in a coffee shop in downtown Hogasnville.
50,018 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2008 - 09 08
Is anyone close to Hogansville? I'm hoping for a write-in somewhere close by, or perhaps in Newnan or LaGrange.
55,194 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2008 - 09 50
I'm game anywhere from Columbus to Atlanta, but the closer to Hogansville the better.
They have a neat little combination coffe/antique shop named for Mark Twain right on main street, within five minutes (and no extra turns) off exit 28. There's also always cheesy places like McD's on practically every exit, though a real(er) restaurant is better, and a coffeehouse even better.
Hodges' Rule of Thumb:
----------Do not expect reasonable behavior from anything with a thumb.
Hodges' Rule of Thumb:
Do not expect reasonable behavior from anything with a thumb.
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Oct 29, 2008 - 11 01
Any Buckhead writers out there? Borders on Peachtree and Wieuca is a great place, there's also a Caribou Coffee further down the street on Peachtree and Piedmont across from the new Terminus building. Any takers?
----------The Trace-Meister Cometh
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Oct 29, 2008 - 11 05
I'm game anywhere from Columbus to Atlanta, but the closer to Hogansville the better.
They have a neat little combination coffe/antique shop named for Mark Twain right on main street, within five minutes (and no extra turns) off exit 28. There's also always cheesy places like McD's on practically every exit, though a real(er) restaurant is better, and a coffeehouse even better.
Hodges' Rule of Thumb:
Do not expect reasonable behavior from anything with a thumb.
My parents live in Newnan. I could do a Newnan write-in. There's a Starbucks on Hwy 34 in the Harbor Imports antique shop, there's also a huge B&N at the Newnan Bypass where all the new shops have been put in. I'm open to suggestions.
The Trace-Meister Cometh
----------The Trace-Meister Cometh
50,048 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2008 - 11 09
My good buddy are I are down in East Atlanta, Grant Park. Anybody else? This is our first NaNoWriMo. There are lots of great places around there. We're meeting at Joe's on Flat Shoals this weekend.
50,086 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2008 - 10 52
I'm in East Atlanta too. This is my first NaNo too! What day / time are you going to Joe's?
----------Kristin
"A writer is someone who has written today."
How many times have I told myself that? When is it going to stick?
This month, I'm a writer EVERY day!