Royal Oak/Clawson/Troy write-ins?

Black Lotus? Where's that?

~ Doc
2004: When All's Said and Done (won)
2005: When the Gods Cry (won)
2006: Fate and Second Chances (uncompleted)
2007: Sequel to Fate and Second Chances (uncompleted)
2008: Awakenings (uncompleted)
2009: The Last Colony
www.embklitzke.com

I started the Clawson write-in last year, and enjoyed it enough to organize one this year. I'm thinking of Tuesday or Wednesday evenings this year, depending on when the music is quieter. (Also it shouldn't clash with the Z's Villa write-in in Detroit.)

Black Lotus is a brewpub at the corner of 14 Mile and Main St. (Livernois) in Clawson. Their food is good, the atmosphere was fine, and I got a lot of writing done. There's plenty of parking behind the row of stores there. They welcomed teens last year, but I'll double-check.

I'd prefer Black Lotus but there will definitely be a Royal Oak/Troy/Ferndale area write-in somewhere.

Wes the Bricoleur
Co-ML, Detroit region

I can't make Wednesdays, but Tuesdays would be great. They have great food and good beer too.

There totally needs to be one in RO/Ferndale. I can't suggest anyplace cuz I'm new to the area, but. It needs to happen. I will be there. :D

"Rise up and abandon the creeping meatball! See you in Chicago! Yippieee!" -Abbie Hoffman

I sometimes hang out at Bean & Leaf Cafe on Main and 11 to get writing done. That's another possibility, maybe for informal meetups.

When I'm not at OU or my house, I tend to land either at the Panera at 16 and Rochester or the Starbucks at 16 and John R -- I like both because they're within walking/biking distance of my house and are...well...usually not too loud and full of good smells.

~ Doc
2004: When All's Said and Done (won)
2005: When the Gods Cry (won)
2006: Fate and Second Chances (uncompleted)
2007: Sequel to Fate and Second Chances (uncompleted)
2008: Awakenings (uncompleted)
2009: The Last Colony
www.embklitzke.com

Count me in for Black Lotus, Troy Library or other possible RO/Ferndale sites. Nothing like writing with a nice cold beer (and food).

Just keep going.

Hi there,

I'm new to the whole shebang. How does a write-in work? You meet, eat and write silently? Do you need a laptop, because I don't have one.

When everyone is writing is it okay to say anything. Is it okay to hum or tap your toe? What if I lose my writing mojo halfway through the month and there's a write-in scheduled. Do I attend anyway for the hot wings and Diet Coke?

Do tell.

Cardiogirl
www.cardiogirl.net

Cardiogirl: 19% body fat, 100% fun
http://www.cardiogirl.net

Write-ins are a fun, social part of NaNoWriMo! We get together for motivation and support, order some food if you want (most do), and hang out! We get writing done, but it's not a library atmosphere. There's usually constant conversation (unless we're having a word war).

The idea behind a write-in is to keep each other going. It's hard to write 50,000 words in a vacuum! Friends and family can be great support systems, but nothing beats the cheers of the crazy people who are doing this with you. The time can be used to socialize, brainstorm, challenge each other, develop characters and worlds, or anything else you want. Most people bring a laptop, but you can also bring any number of portable devices, or just plain paper and pen.

Regarding what happens if you lose your writing mojo, that's exactly what a write-in is for! If you're stuck, feel like this was too big a challenge, don't know where your plot is going, or any number of roadblocks that NaNoWriMo throws at you, the write-ins are a perfect place to get ideas and restart your writing engine. We all know how tough it gets, and we're here for each other. I often get some of my best inspiration (and word count) at write-ins.

Hope that makes sense. Apparently, the wordiness that NaNoWriMo requires is already flowing out of my fingertips...

Owen, theboysgonehome
Co-ML, Detroit Region
nanowrimo.detroit [at] gmail [dot] com

I am seriously pumped about nano this year, I've cajoled a couple of sophmores in highschool into doing it with me. Are there any plans to have writeins at somewhere like a coffee shop where 15 year olds would feel welcome? I'm not sure they'd be comfortable somewhere serving alchohol[let alone their parents] Like a 24 hours Starbucks or maybe a Biggby Coffee? There's a Starbucks around 13 and woodward that would probably work and I know of a Biggby Coffee at 13 and John R... Neither place is very big, but I don't really have a good sense of how many of us there are in the area so maybe they're big enough :]

Coffee Beanery around 12 and Woodward is a great place for writing too, and it has much more room than the 13/Woodward Starbucks.

I won't go to a Starbucks, and the Beanery at 12/Woodward is kinda small for our group. Plus lots of people use that as a gathering spot, so if you think you still want to meet there, talk to Dan (the owner) first. They have live band nights, open mic nights, etc...

The Bean and Leaf in royal doesn't have the kind of gathering room needed for any type of group and there aren't nearly enough outlets. Plus with it being so close to OCC, it's often full of college kids, so finding one table, let enugh three or four is probably impossible.

Black Lotus was a geat spot (even if they don't serve bourbon) and they had amazing nachos - does anyone remember the nachos? Holy frijoles, those were good! Plus there's plenty of parking,. we can commendeer a corner and they won't ignore us.

Too bad the Beanery on Ferndale closed - that was a great spot!

Eravamo cosa siete. Siamo quello che diventerete.

Professional Site:
www.montileestormer.com

MMmmmmmm. the nachos were awesome! Of course so are the burgers, root beer and yeah, pretty much all of it. But there is a special place for the nachos.

I vote for there.

Current favorite quote/phrase:
What is this?
Its soilent green
What's it taste like?
Oh, it varies from person to person.

I haven't had the nachos at Black Lotus (yet), but I have had their wasabi salmon wrap, their reuben, and their burgers. And, of course, their beer. All of them were excellent. Love that place.

I live in Rochester Hills, but work in Troy, so will probably be more likely found at the Troy write-ins than the Detroit ones. The food does sound amazing at Black Lotus. I just rediscovered nachos...

Either Tuesdays or Wednesdays work for me. I have a previous commitment on Thursdays and staff meetings on some random Mondays throughout the month.

Do we have an idea on times? I'm really looking forward to having actual write ins to go to. Last year my little brother and I flew solo most of the time.

"I opened the fire door to four lips, none of which were mine, kissing; tightened my belt around my hips, where your hands were missing." -Ani DiFranco, 'Fire Door'

Ummmm....nachos.

Carry on.

Just keep going.

Black Lotus has made an art form out of making nachos! They ROCK!!!

Watch for an announcement shortly for Tuesday nights at Black Lotus, 7-9 (ending around the time the live band starts playing).

Unfortunately, the Troy Library write-ins will not be repeated this year. So, due to requests in this topic, I will scout out a coffee house for a Saturday afternoon write-in. I'm thinking of south Troy or somewhere near Oakland Mall. That's a little trip for the Berkley-ites. Candidates for likely locations are Caribou Coffee, Panera Bread or Barnes & Noble. Anywhere else that's welcoming to up to a dozen novelists with laptops?

The Borders INSIDE Oakland Mall will soon have Wifi, too (I work my second job inside the mall, so I keep seeing posters for that). I'm not sure about outlets there, though (I've never really looked) but some of the staffers there are really nice.

~ Doc
2004: When All's Said and Done (won)
2005: When the Gods Cry (won)
2006: Fate and Second Chances (uncompleted)
2007: Sequel to Fate and Second Chances (uncompleted)
2008: Awakenings (uncompleted)
2009: The Last Colony
www.embklitzke.com

Would really love to see a write in in the Ferndale area. Royal Oak is okay, but a pain in the butt to park... that is why I had to stop going to a writers support group that met every month at the Bean and Leaf.

Burger King and Wendys has free WiFi as well. McDonalds you have to pay.

Not that I nessisarily think these are classy joints, but they are roomy and the nose level is definately down after dinner rush.

Besides, they have cheap food for starving authors to buy!

Geez, you all sound pretty young. If I hang out with you guys, am I going to be the geezer? I haven't finished one of these yet. I'd really like this to be the year. Any prep suggestions?

Nope. Some of us are at the curmudgeon stage, working on geezer. :-)

Quick question to By-George: when does the writing group meet at Bean & Leaf? Are they open to new members? Any other details (like do they require you to write in a particular genre? Is it a write-in or a critique group? Stuff like that)? I live within walking distance from there and would love to meet with writers even after the NaNo madness is over.

Whew...good to know. Makes me feel better. Thank you! :)

You may be concerned about being a geezer, but I am concerned about being the baby. (I'm always the baby, everywhere I go) because I'm only 15. We oddballs can buddy up.

JULIA

Some thoughts on a Saturday afternoon write-in. Would 1-4 PM be good for folks? I am favoring two locations, and I'd like to hear what other people have to say.

First is the Coffee Beanery on Woodward Ave south of 12 Mile Rd. They have a big seating area where it looks like we could move tables together for a dozen people easily. It's 7 miles and 20 minutes from, say, Rochester Rd at Wattles in Troy. It's laptop-friendly and as MontiLee said, a place where groups go to meet. Not sure whether the menu includes sandwiches or not.

Second is the Panera Bread on 14 Mile Rd. east of John R. This is just east of Oakland Mall. We should be able to seat a dozen people in a few booths or at tables near each other. It's got a good soup and sandwich menu and is also relatively laptop-friendly. It's 6 miles and 15 minutes from, say, 12 Mile and Coolidge in Berkley.

The best place is one where WriMos can sit for a few hours writing, on a main road with decent parking. It should also be near other destinations for those who are getting rides.

I have some other places to check more or less on Woodward, Big Beaver and John R, but these are the leading contenders.

Wes the Bricoleur
Co-ML, Detroit Region

I'd pick Panera over Beanery because it has better parking and a better food menu. I'm up for a Saturday afternoon write-in.

Okay, for Saturday afternoons I previously suggested:

• Coffee Beanery on Woodward Ave. in Berkley
• Panera Bread on 14 Mile near Oakland Mall, Troy

Here's a third choice: Panera Bread on Big Beaver Rd near Rochester Rd, in Troy. This one has a good layout, including lots of outlets, one big table and several we could put together. Because it's in the plaza near Loehmanns, it's not nearly as busy as other Panera locations. For our interested Berkley WriMos, it's 7 miles and 20 minutes. There is some shopping nearby and Somerset Collection is three miles away, for those who have drivers to please.

I'd rank these as Coffee Beanery first, Panera on Big Beaver 2nd, and Panera on 14 Mile third. A couple of the Caribou Coffees in the area are marginally okay, and both the Barnes & Noble and Borders cafes are not that suitable for groups.

So, speak up about your preferences until about Wednesday, and then I'll set something up for sure. Younger WriMos, which of these places can you get rides to? (Reply here or send a private message.)

Wes the Bricoleur
Co-ML, Detroit Region

Younger Nano replies:

Anywhere in Troy is probably good for later in the afternoon. And on Saturdays early in the afternoon I'm all set for RO because that's where I'll be all Nov. in the a.m. on Saturdays.

JULIA

That sounds like a plan!