Hi all,
We're still a month out from November, but everyone wants to know about write ins. So here's what we're working on right now.
International Drive: Tuesday Nights - Whole Foods on Sandlake Road, probably from 6-9. We're checking to see if they'll donate the community room for our use. But it's an excellent afterwork meeting place because it has it's own food buffet as well as plenty of take out food in the same center. (Both MLs will be at these meetings.)
Waterford Lakes area: Saturday afternoons - Waterford Lakes. Hosted by Marie. Probably the Barnies. This will be a bit of a test location. I live minutes from there but have had trouble finding good spots to meet since it tends to be crowded. I've walked into Paneras and not been able to find a single seat open. (If Waterford Lakes is crowded, I'm wondering if people would want to move down the road to Bubbalous BBQ for writing with food.)
Altamonte Springs: Detail being arranged. Probably Saturday or Sunday, hosted by Elizabeth.
Colonial Drive: Sunday 5-7pm at Starbucks in Colonial Plaza, at Colonial Drive and Bumby Av. These meetings are hosted by the Wannabee Writers. They are an established group that meets throughout the year but who are opening up their meetings for November. And perhaps they'll find some members who want to stay after November.
We're open to other experienced members or existing groups holding meetings. We'd like the area or time to be unique enough that it doesn't class with an existing meeting. And we're trying to make Tuesday's the core meeting night since we have both MLs on site. But that leaves plenty of opportunity.
Note: We are imposing some rules this year -- if you propose a meeting, you are the host for that meeting and responsible for arranging all details. We don't want to hear about meetings that are advertised on the forums where the person starting the thread never shows. Also, we will limit people to ONE meeting announcement each week since despite the sincerity of the offers, we doubt one individual is going to make three different locations at the same time.
(We'll have a more low key "meet up" thread where people can post if they're heading out somewhere and just wondering who will join them. But we still don't believe you can be in more than one place at a time.)
So, if you'd like the be a meeting host, please post or email us the proposed details so we can see what works out best. We need:
Proposed day or dates and the time of the meeting.
The location, please include the address, number of people who can comfortably attend, parking details, whether or not there is free internet access or power outlets. Oh, info on potential food and drink is also useful.
Whether this is an ongoing group meeting or a Nano-only event.
Tina Marie
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ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
2,128 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 07 55
Waterford Lakes area: Saturday afternoons - Waterford Lakes. Hosted by Marie. Probably the Barnies. This will be a bit of a test location. I live minutes from there but have had trouble finding good spots to meet since it tends to be crowded. I've walked into Paneras and not been able to find a single seat open. (If Waterford Lakes is crowded, I'm wondering if people would want to move down the road to Bubbalous BBQ for writing with food.)
I don't think, for our purposes, the aforementioned locations would accommodate us. I think Bubbalou's would be too uncomfortable, and any place in the Town Center too crowded. For this side of town, I think Avalon Park would be a better fit. It's still relatively uncrowded, there's a couple possible venues to use, and it's still very accessible to anyone who lives on this side of town.
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 08 08
Avalon seems to be quite an additional distance from where I am. It's not really a central location but more remote and geared toward people who live in Avalon Park. I want to make it convenient for those in the Rio Pinar/ Dean Road area as well as UCF. Avalon Park would probably discourage them.
Tina Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
41,205 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 10 56
I thought the Tuesday meetings were going to be at a Barnie's near the Whole Foods? o_o Or is that only if Whole Foods says we can't use their community room?
----------29,001 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 12 06
I would like to make a suggestion.
The Panera at Florida Mall has a glassed-in private meeting room. You can reserve it for $50 OR there just needs to be $50 in food purchased.
I used this for my writer's group once. We only had about $42 of food purchased, but they let it go anyway. If we're going to be there for a few hours and a good amount of people come, there should be no problem reaching the $50.
It has free internet and plenty of electrical outlets.
----------http://www.twitter.com/sarahnfisk
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 13 02
Barnies next to Whole Foods is too small for the whole group. They are side-by-side so essentially the same location. But since Whole Foods is larger, we're checking to see if we can camp out there.
Tina Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 13 08
Whole Foods is larger and going to be easier on the budget and we're checking to see if they'll let us have the community room as a donation. But we're checking with Panera for other events, but at this point any place that will offer is free space gets business before anyplace that costs. Since we're going to be running a number of meetings each week and Elizabeth and I would be responsible for any outstanding bills, we can't afford to risk not hitting the minimum fee for fee-charging places.
Tina Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
41,205 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 14 31
Ahh yeah, I thought it might be. 8] Groovy.
----------39,330 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 15 17
I work Mon - Fri until 9pm so weekly write-ins for me (less for Fri nights) will be impossible. That said, I want to do any and all write-ins for the weekends. I'm in the South Orlando/Kissimmee area and work by the Orlando airport. Is there anyone in this area who would like to get a weekly meet-up going? Just wanted to see if the interest was there.
----------~Shannon Chenoweth
Musings of a Writer
0 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 16 36
maybe i am getting ahead of things, but when and where is the kick off party?
\m/
----------:blog:: http://mreynoldo.blogspot.com
:AIM:: polypatterns
2,128 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 18 11
Tina Marie
Oh, okay. That makes sense then. I still think though the Bubbalou's would be something of a pain considering the crowd. There's a starbucks in side the barnes and nobles. There's lots of space for writers to stretch out, as well as lots of opportunity for research. I don't think the barnies in the town center is in business IIRC. The panera isn't a good alternative either. There's the Urban Flats which may be good which is across the street from the Town Center proper.
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 04 53
There is a writing group that meets in Celebration but we don't know if they'll be doing Nano meetings yet. But if you have a good meeting location and time in one of those areas, let us know and it can be posted as a meeting location with you hosting it. There are generally people throughout the Orlando area who participate. However, we have found over the years that posts that just suggest meetups generally are far less successful than those that propose a specific time, date, and location.
Right now, you've proposed two locations. Both will have interested people and neither of those groups is likely to drive to the other location. You can't be in both locations on the same day, so if both locations respond and want to meet, you can't support both groups. It will be better if you choose which location you want to host and make a commitment to making arrangements for it.
Tina Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 05 51
We're planning the kick-off party for Sunday, November 1. But we're still looking at locations. We'd love to try someplace funky, but there's still the matter of balancing funds (we have none) and never really being able to predict who will show up. Where ever it is, it will be a "buy your own munchies" event.
While many Nanowrimo regions have been doing a bit of fund raising each year so they have a little money to splurge on their kick-off event, no one has ever tried that for Orlando. We my have to look into some options this year that build for next year.
Tina Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
39,330 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 16 20
Well, if Whole Foods' community room is available that day, might be an option. And, some sort of fund raising sounds great. Definitely worth looking into.
----------~Shannon Chenoweth
Musings of a Writer
33,189 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 18 20
Love the sound of an Altamonte meetup! I live out in Lake County, so south Orlando stuff is quite a hike for me... but I work in Altamonte during the week. It's pretty much my other hometown.
So yay! Maybe I can actually go to some write-ins this year! Thank you MLs! :)
----------(Photo Source)
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 18 30
We have confirmation for the Colonial Drive meetings. Sundays from 5-7 at at the Starbucks in Colonial Plaza, at Colonial Drive and Bumby Av.
We're tying this in with an existing group which can help provide post-Nano support for those in the area. But it also means, the group will keep their existing schedule and location as much as possible. But it also gives people a Sunday location.
(I'm still trying to track down the Kissimmee area groups, so if anyone knows of one, send them my way.)
Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
39,330 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 19 13
(I'm still trying to track down the Kissimmee area groups, so if anyone knows of one, send them my way.)
Marie
I'm not aware of a Kissimmee group, but I am planning on checking with the Kissimmee Starbucks (by the Osceola Mall) this weekend to see if they would be okay if we met there at some point during the weekends in November.
----------Also, is there a group in Celebration? It's a little drive for me, but I love that area, so I'd love to go write there sometimes.
~Shannon Chenoweth
Musings of a Writer
160,160 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 20 12
I know there is a group that meets in a small cafe near the courthouse on Thursdays [unless things have changed], but when I attended a few meetings last September / October, they weren't very receptive to the entire NaNo philosophy or the idea that anything that took less than three years to laboriously construct was worth their time or effort.
Shame, really, they seemed like otherwise nice people.
----------http://erinfoster.webs.com
Purchase the AugNo 2009 Anthology or my 2007 NaNo
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 02 45
I think that may be one of the groups that I was thinking of. I knew people in it who did do Nano. They also tended to read the forums.
Perhaps Rangerchic will find a meeting spot.
Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
51,346 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 05 13
Hi Marie,
I live in Celebration and can do some research or leg work - and would sponsor an event here, however I don't know what to tell the business I approach... any guidelines? Something like, 3-4 hours, lots of coffee, relative silence for long periods punctuated by intermittent interludes of mass hysteria and revelry. Approximate number of people? No promises of revenue (of course) but plenty of goodwill...
As an FYI - The downtown area of Celebration has a little lake with lots of places to gather and write outdoors and no one's permission is necessary. If we met up there, it would be more advantageous as a daytime event because lighting is limited in the evenings. But, November should grant us some nice weather. There are limited places for electric however and no internet. We don't do write-ins at houses, do we?
There is a Celebration writing group here but I don't belong to it. I can post a note on the intranet (Front Porch) and see if they are into NaNo.
Celebration has a Starbucks but they have an outdoor patio. The inside is way too small (assuming the size of crowd I've seen at write-ins before and they are wickedly busy on weekends. A larger Starbucks exists on 192 at the entry to Celebration (I've honestly never been into it...) Now that my brain is working - there are a few places in Watertower (shops at entry of Celebration, off 192 and 417) that might be accommodating. Lots of restaurants there. My favorite coffee shop in the area is Clementines. As for me, I will be at the Whole Foods writing events, that is only 15 minutes up the highway !! So if anyone in the Celebration area wants to car pool, let me know.
Iris
----------"Never, never, never give up." Winston Churchill
2,128 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 05 22
I think the kick-off party could combine a fundraiser as well. Would be a nice way to motivate NanOrlando not only for a great November, but a good promise to join in next year as well for a fun kick-off and perhaps a bit more rewarding wrimo. Also, I think that the Colonial meet-up is a lot more reasonable than the ones last year out on the West-side. I was just aiming for less than a 20 minute drive and I think this colonial location sounds good.
Just as a heads up, if anyone wants to carpool for this. Or if you live in the UCF area and rely on public transport and/or your feet, let me know and I'll be willing to offer my passenger seats (although I only have 3). I think the best course of action is to consolidate our meet-ups to maximize group support as opposed to having small parties sprinkled all over.
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 06 39
Elizabeth and I are trying a bit of a different strategy from the last few years. Rather than focusing on getting everyone out to the "official" write-ins, we want to get write-ins going where the writers are. Since we can't be everywhere, we're reaching to other groups and individuals who might be able to help. We'll also be trying to have more online support for those who either can't make it to write-ins or just prefer to nano from home.
I should make sure I'm reminding people that they aren't restricted to just attending write-ins in one location. Feel free to attend as many as you want. We're all part of Nano after all.
Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
10,000 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 06 55
If I understand what you are saying correctly, you're on the same wavelength as Tina Marie and me. The meetings can be extremely motivating to people because it gets us around other writers who share our same goal and who understand our enthusiasm about a month-long writing event. But having the official meetings at just one location limits the number of people who can make it out; that's why we're splitting things up to several completely different locations this year, to ensure that there will be meetings at multiple places in the region every week.
Elizabeth
----------Orlando ML
10,000 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 06 55
I had a feeling you'd be responding to his post with that information! That's why I just wrote about the split of our locations we're doing, so as not to re-post everything you'd be posting. We're psychically connected today Tina!
----------Orlando ML
29,001 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 07 05
Is there a way someone could keep a calendar of all of the write-ins? It gets rather confusing trying to track it all down in the forums.
I'd be happy to create a Google Calendar with all the events. The organizers can email me to add events or I can add everyone as an 'admin' and they can create and edit their own events. This can be embedded into a website and people can subscribe to 'reminders.'
If you'd like me to do this, just say the word. If not, I'd still like to see a dynamic calendar somewhere. :-)
----------http://www.twitter.com/sarahnfisk
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 07 09
For general write-ins, you just want to ask the manager or owner if they object to having a group of writers at the location for 3 hours or so once a week and if the time/date you have planned is a good one. Generally, no one objects, but we have had locations suggest a change in meeting days if they feel the day we want to meet is too busy or is the day of another event (say a poetry reading day.)
If there are power outlets available in the location, we ask if they will mind us using them. Again, it's seldom a problem, but some books stores seem to hide the outlets.
Also check out the parking situation. It can be a bit tricky for people if they have to parallel park and/or pay for parking.
Now, on our end, we do ask people attending a write-in to purchase something from the location hosting it, even if it's a cup of coffee or a soda. And at a coffee shop, try to leave a tip. Winning over the staff always works in our favor.
Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 07 29
We'll be creating the calendar as we get things firmed up.
Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com
11,154 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 12 57
Coming from the UCF area too, I'd love to carpool. I can offer up three seats as well, for anyone who wants to go (or we could switch off every week! Saving on gas is always a plus.) I'll also be bringing as many power strips as I can from my own personal collection, so hopefully there will be enough plugs for everyone who needs one. I know I sure as heck need to keep my laptop plugged in...
39,330 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 18 26
I am going to try to go by the Kissimmee Starbucks tomorrow after my doctor's appointment (half day at work), if so I'm going to scope it out and speak to the manager about write-ins there. I'll post if I find anything out tomorrow. Also, I'm going to see where else we might be able to meet on weekends in the area. I can go by the Starbucks near my job by Lee Vista and the airport if there is enough interest for that area.
----------~Shannon Chenoweth
Musings of a Writer
39,330 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 18 29
Didn't make it over to the Starbucks in Kissimmee on Wednesday, sorry about that. Might just have to call them unless I can make it down there this weekend.
Is there any interest in the area by the Airport?
----------What about other areas between Kissimmee and South Orlando? Just curious how many people would be interested. I'm thinking of a weekend meet-up, so this would be weekends.
~Shannon Chenoweth
Musings of a Writer
45,000 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2009 - 04 33
It really does work better if you chose a location that you think will be a good central spot and set up a time and days to host the meeting. The problem with asking if there are people interested in meeting in various locations is that the answer is always -- yes, that area will be good for someone. Another area will be good for someone else. So, then you have to choose one location and disappoint the people in the other. While we are asking for help, we're not wanting any one member to overburden themselves by trying to host too many meetings throughout the month.
So, please, choose ONE location where you'd like to host a meetup and let us know the location, dates and times of that meeting and we will place it on the calendar.
Tina Marie
----------ML for Orlando, Florida; Mod for the Erotica forum
http://mariedees.com