<o> A How-To Guide to Setting Up "Satellite" Write-ins

Hey Everybody!

So the MLs asked me to start a How-To thread about hosting satellite NaNoWriMo write-ins during the course of the event.

As busy as November can be with reckless writing abandon, a lot of Boston Wrimos have found that setting up community based NaNo events (which we like to call Satellite Write-Ins) can make the month a lot more fun and a lot more productive. I was involved last year in the Allston/Brighton neighborhoods, and we were able to pull together a really great group of people to get together once a week apart from the main NaNo events. In fact, a lot of those who attended these neighborhood events still remain good friends.

The Satellite write-ins become more and more important as the month progresses. While the first week of NaNo can be full of excitement and creative energy, as we get into weeks two and three of writing our NaNo novels, you'll notice that the insane word count can begin to become daunting, and it becomes more difficult to find the motivation to keep going. In those moments, having a close knit group of Wrimos to encourage you and draw creative energy from (or even just discuss plot frustrations with) can make a huge difference.

Since satellite write-ins can be so helpful, I'd like to do my best to make sure that the planning and execution of them go smoothly. In that spirit, I've put together a bunch of things I've learned in the course of planning satellite write-ins to help make sure you reach all the wonderful Wrimos in your area, and to make sure that things go well at the write-in itself.

When planning a write-in:

The best place to plan these satellite write-ins is at the NaNo forums. The forums are the most often visited part of the NaNo site once November rolls around, and posting information there opens it up to a wide range of people you might otherwise never meet. Here's some tips for planning when using the forum, and some general things to remember while planning your satellite write-in.

1. Before you start your own thread to plan an satellite neighborhood write-in, please look through the threads on the forum to see if there's already a thread for your neighborhood.
2. If you don't find a thread for your neighborhood, go ahead and start one. When starting the thread, consider including another neighborhood that's nearby in the thread as well. You want the area you choose to be large enough to draw in a good number of people, but not so huge as to make it inconvenient to choose a centrally located place. For instance, it would be better to start an MIT/Kendal Square thread than a Cambridge thread.
3. Be friendly and encouraging when starting a thread. Remember, you're talking to people you've never met on a medium that doesn't convey tone of voice or sarcasm well. If what you say can be construed as threatening or offensive, even if you mean it playfully, not only will you be unlikely to meet a lot of Wrimos or have someone attend your satellite write in, but you may draw the attention of the forum moderators. You'll likely get only one warning about this before being banned from the forum, so be careful.
4. Remember that not all Wrimos are over 21. Though holding write-ins at bars can be a lot of fun (writing and beer do go so very well together), choosing such a venue does automatically limit who can attend. It not only excludes those who cannot legally drink, but those who may be uncomfortable going to a bar for whatever reason. The best places to hold write-ins tend to be cafés, coffee shops, or any publically accessible place you can reserve a room (like a library).
5. Our MLs put a lot of work in to the official NaNoBoston write-ins and events. Please *do not* schedule an satellite write-in at the same time as an official NaNoBoston event. This year, these events will be held on Thursdays and Sundays, and it makes the whole region stronger and more fun if everyone comes out and attends these events instead of doing something in their own neighborhood. I know commuting to some of the chosen locations can be a pain (I live in Brighton, which is usually a good hours commute by T to where the official write-ins are happening), but it's definitely worth the trip, and you'll get the chance to meet a lot of exceptional and interesting people.

With these things in mind, feel free to launch a thread in the forum for your neighborhood and ask other Wrimos from your area for their input on when and where it will be best to meet. It might be good, in the starting post of your thread, to link to this thread or re-iterate some of these points, simply to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Once you've chosen a time and location for you satellite write-in:

So you've gotten a few people together and decided when and where you'd like to have an satellite write-in. That's awesome! However, in the days leading up to the write-in there are a few things you should do to make sure it's going to go smoothly.

1. The most important thing you should do is make sure the time and location are clearly visible in the forum. Be sure to clearly post the name and address of the location, and make note if your location is on a side-street or the entrance may be difficult to find. Posting directions on how to reach your location via public transportation can also be a huge help.
2. Let the MLs know when and where your satellite write-in is going to be held, so that they can add it to the regional calendar for all to see. E-mail Travis at letterslight@gmail.com with the time, date, and location of your write-in.
3. While smaller satellite write-ins (up to 4 or 5 people) shouldn't have any problem just showing up to a location and finding a place to settle in, larger groups should call ahead and let the store manager know you'd like to come by. While this isn't strictly required, and most places are very accommodating if you do just show up, it's a considerate thing to do. This way you can be sure no one is going out of their way to come to a write-in you won't be able to hold because there's nowhere for any of you to sit. Sometimes you may even be able to reserve a large table if you call ahead of time, so it's worth a try.
4. If someone lives really close to the location you've chosen, it might help for them to run by and look for things like tables large enough to accommodate the group (or which can be moved together for this purpose) and power outlets for laptops. Most Wrimos bring a laptop to write on, and there's nothing worse than a write-in that ends prematurely because someone's laptop battery runs out.

The day of your official write-in:

So you've settled on a time and place, and scouted the location of your satellite write-in. So far so good. However, when you're getting ready to head to it, there are a few things to remember:

1. Again, most Wrimos use laptops, and outlets are often at a premium, not only among Wrimos, but among other patrons who may be working on their laptops as well. While in the best of worlds there would always be an open outlet and hot cup of coffee waiting for you when you arrive, this is often not the reality of the situation. In this situation, bringing an extension cord to accommodate tables far away from outlets and a surge protector to accommodate the sheer volume of Wrimos can be a life saver. Feel free to suggest in your forum thread that someone else also bring some of these supplies.
2. Sometimes a Wrimo you haven't heard from on the forum may show up for the satellite write-in. Expect to have one or two more Wrimos than you've planned for, and also try to make it easy for them to find you, and for those you've confirmed are coming to find each other. There are some flyers you can print out on the site that you could hang up near where you're writing, or you could always wear a piece of easily identifiable clothing and mention it in your thread so Wrimos can look for it.
3. Don't be afraid to ask people who look like they might be doing NaNo if they are. It can be uncomfortable at times to approach a stranger and ask them seemingly out of nowhere if they're participating, but people are usually very gracious about it. In the past we've had times where Wrimos have shown up and not know where to find the other Wrimos, and been to shy to ask. Many have just left and not gotten to participate. By simply asking you may either find a lost and bewildered Wrimo, which will make their day, or maybe even get to tell a complete stranger about this crazy endeavor you're undertaking called NaNoWriMo and get them interested, which might make yours. So please, don't be afraid to ask.
4. If you're writing in a restaurant or any business, please support them by buying a little something while you're there. A lot of businesses in the Boston area have been incredibly accommodating to NaNo for a number of years, and we'd really like to show our appreciation by helping them out. Not only does this engender good will in the community about our event and the people involved, but it assures that we'll have places to keep holding NaNo at in years to come.

That should about cover the basics of setting up your satellite write-in. I'll now open this thread up to any questions or comments you might have. Feel free to point out satellite write-in threads in here, but please do not plan your write-ins here, as it will become too confusing and cluttered. If you have a question not answered above, please read through the other comments in the thread as it may have been answered already. If not, go ahead and post it, and I'll answer it as soon as I possibly can.

Thanks!

- Brandon

Edited 10/27 to change "unofficial write-ins," to "satellite write-ins," as decided by NaNoBoston09 participants.
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NaNo '08: Glitch (51,016)
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Brandon N. Schory
Extant Muser
Boston, MA
www.BrandonSchory.com