I have heard no hum of a new ML.
As far as I know, there are no plans for a Big Bang Write-off for we Madison area Nano-ers.
If you were to plan it, or simply attend it, what would you want?
Where would you want it?
How would it be done?
Who would hold the keys to a place that could host a decent crowd of writers with their laptops and huge travels mugs full of steaming coffee as the clock strikes the beginning of November 1st? how many people actually attend?
Where would there be enough outlets available?
Would we have food? What kind?
Would there be the 2,700 word goal before you could crawl home?
What do you think/dream/wish/suggest?
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Laura Beck Nielsen
0 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2008 - 10 39
I've got two people within the last week that are willing to Co-ML for the Madison crowd. So, I sent their contact info up to the Mother Ship. Hopefully, they'll get their super-secret ML powers soon.
As for me, I'll be up in Calgary at the World Fantasy Convention for the first weekend of NaNoWriMo. I've sold four short stories this past year, with the first one to a major market scheduled to be published later this month. Instead of doing NaNo, I'm working more on short fiction. Right now, I'm setting myself a goal of one short story draft per week for November, instead of doing a 50K novel. So, I'll still be in town, and still writing like a madman, I'm just not technically doing NaNoWriMo this year.
- Eric
----------***
Madison, WI Municipal Liaison
Six Time NaNoWriMo Winner
50,006 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2008 - 18 24
Hey Laura,
We will definitely be having something going on! As one of the new ML's we'll be getting right to figuring out the when/where's for a kick off.
However, getting together that night sounds like a blast! Personally, I might be celebrating Halloween yet but I hope to bang out a bit when I get home. But since it's at midnight I might have to cut the partying short to have a blast with my fellow NaNo-ers.
Anywhere downtown/on campus will most likely be packed but if I think of a place for that night I'll be sure to let everyone know.
Dani
51,895 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2008 - 09 00
Here is a thought. I am not sure how they would feel about it (I will check tonight), but how about Misty Mountain Games on the east side?
There is plenty of room, we have a number of power strips available, and they stock coffee and a top selection of teas. Food is all pizza-oven, but is available. You might be surprised at the menu. If we decide to make it a whole "thing", then maybe we can even get some pastries on the ticket for the night.
If I convince the owner to stay open just for this, there might be a small charge - like a couple bucks per person with a discount on coffee/food.
Thoughts?
50,155 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2008 - 19 04
Hi all from your second ML!
I think midnight game shop writing sounds like a great plan to get November rolling, so if webtroll can arrange things with Misty Mountain Games I'd love to show up and throw a donation in the jar.
I'm also thinking we should get together before Nov hits so that we can socialize a bit before retreating into our own fictional worlds for the month. If someone has a good downtown/campus area spot we can make sure campus NaNo's are included. I live down in Verona so I'll also be arranging more west side write in's, as well. Between Dani & I we should be able to keep the write in's coming so that we'll be convenient for everyone at some point in the month.
I'm looking forward to a great month tearing up the pages with you all!
~Bex
51,895 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2008 - 06 24
I will solidify plans with the owners tonight. It is mainly a question of who is closing up. ;)
As for a downtown location, the room above the Starbucks on State Street has a lot of space. Would that work?
5,656 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2008 - 13 29
I believe they close at midnight, and I'm not sure if they will even be open that late Oct. 31 (freakfest).
51,895 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2008 - 13 33
The Starbucks was meant for a pre-launch meet up. Something to get to know each other before the midnight zaniness...
52,368 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2008 - 15 15
I won't be in town until November 2nd, but would like to be included in anything that happens after that. Any idea of how many of us there are in the Madison area? It would make finding good spots to meet easier. Willy Street Market has a community room, but it is not that big. The Brass Ring would probably welcome us. They have food and pool tables. I could talk to Larry, if we want to go that way. I like the Helen C White Library idea, because of the great view of the lake, same with the Memorial Union. Misty Mountain Games I am not familiar with, but would enjoy discovering. The capital rotunda would be centrally located...!
----------Your life is a tower you build a special way,
Only twenty-four bricks can be added each day.
0 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2008 - 20 14
I suggest nixing Helen C White unless it's in the actual HC White building and not College Lib. There are a ton of distractions, and if you're in school, way too many people stop to say hi. Brass Ring and community spots would rock. It might still be nice to have a place within walking distance of campus.
BTW, still deciding if I'm going to shoot for it this year. I didn't even start last year. :|
----------Now. Or never.
- Thoreau
0 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2008 - 20 14
I suggest nixing Helen C White unless it's in the actual HC White building and not College Lib. There are a ton of distractions, and if you're in school, way too many people stop to say hi. Brass Ring and community spots would rock. It might still be nice to have a place within walking distance of campus.
BTW, still deciding if I'm going to shoot for it this year. I didn't even start last year. :|
----------Now. Or never.
- Thoreau
50,208 / 50,000
Oct 19, 2008 - 15 42
I am all for meeting at either the College Library or the Helen White if they stay open all night.
I'll be riding my bike, but I can bring a big bag of popcorn to share?
If we had each other to help stay awake all night and get a good head start, it could be really fun!
Otherwise, I am more than happy to stay in my jammies at home with my dogs and write away until I crash.
Are we going to try to set up a first night word count competition with any other Wisconsin regions?
Where are all the other Madison NaNoers? Don't we usually hear from more by now?
----------Laura Beck Nielsen
58,431 / 50,000
Oct 20, 2008 - 04 12
OK - I'm back from my Writers' Conference -- call me "Inspired"! (I probably won't answer, but hey......). Anyway, I'll be watching to see where/when folks are thinking to gather. We do need to remember that the big Halloween Party's on campus that night....there are all-night places but I'm not sure how conducive they'd be to our purposes (Denny's comes to mind -- Taco Bells are open late).
Do have a Noble Leader or team thereof yet? Also - am I permitted one Dumb Question? When replying to this thread, is it best to reply to the last one on the list? I kinda don't get how this works.
PS Thanks for allowing a Dumb Question; I claim the right as a Person of Advanced Age
14,652 / 50,000
Oct 20, 2008 - 07 21
College Library's website claims that it will be closed at 11:45pm on that Friday. So, that's likely not our best bet... unless someone knows something that I don't.
Misty Mountain Games seems like a bit of a trek for me as a cyclist living downtown, but I could probably make it work. Any other obvious all-night spots that are central and would be easy to get to?
5,656 / 50,000
Oct 20, 2008 - 13 11
Webtroll -- ah, gotcha. I misread. :( My apologies!
50,818 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2008 - 14 26
Barnes and Noble or Borders on the west side? Are they open that late?
I shall hit google and find out.
----------____________________________________________________
"You are an illuminating anchor
Of leagues to infinite number
Of crashing waves and breaking thunder
Tiding the ebb and flows of hunger."
58,431 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2008 - 20 57
I may not be keeping up -- have we decided on a place to launch? It IS Halloween, for all the Non-Na-No types (and also for the rest of us, I guess). I think the big State Street party's actually on *the night* this year, so downtown's going to be pretty ripe up until our Launch time. Has anyone thought to ask someplace if they'd make a concession for us? Borders' West on University Avenue might let us stay in late, if not all night.....anyone know how many of us are planning to come?
I would think that the publicity (newpaper article after the fact: "Local Bookstore Hosts 34 Novelists at Midnight, 47 gallons of coffee consumed") and the realization that a group of wild-eyed rocket-speed novelists might consume Vast Quantities of whatever they have by way of caffeine and comestibles.
I've been working hard all week preparing to portray a Highly Eccentric Dead Wisconsinite and so haven't kept up as I wished, but I'd be willing to try talking to some places to see if they'd help out.
Also - I'd be willing to collect a few folks from campus to get to a site (depending). Axe murderers, whack jobs and pincoxes need not apply.
And now, back to the tomb.........
50,006 / 50,000
Oct 26, 2008 - 10 01
Hey,
Just to let everyone know, freakfest is still on the Saturday following Halloween (Nov 1st). Misty Mountain Games sounds like a good location however, the buses stop running around midnight and unless it continues until 6-6:30 I'd be stranded on the East Side.
51,895 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2008 - 08 25
Not sure if this is going to be able to happen or not. I will talk to Van (store manager) tonight since he is going to be joining me in the insanity this year. I have a granddaughter's birthday party on Saturday, so this is also dependent on my wife picking me up from the store.
At the very least I plan on challenging him to a race. First person to get the word limit for the day after midnight logs onto World of Warcraft for bragging rights in The Guild. ;)