There are about 15 Wrimos (myself included) who live within a 15 minute or less drive of Panera in Westbrook, yet I'm the only one who regularly goes to the Write-Ins there. Everyone else who attends drives quite a bit further to come, ranging from 20-25 minutes to an hour or more. Is it that Sundays are a bad day? People don't have transportation? Portland Area people don't want to write with others? Just curious.
Does anyone else have a situation like this where most attendees aren't even from the area you have the Write-in in?
Aynslie
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Municipal Liaison, Greater Portland Area
"If writers wrote as carelessly as some people talk, then adhasdh asdglaseuyt[bn[pasdlgkhasdfasdf."-- Lemony Snicket
75,286 / 50,000
Oct 26, 2009 - 15 38
Auntie - I have the same thing!!!
Jen comes about an hour to join me. Asher moved closer, but he'd been coming a distance too. And Jen will be bringing at least one person from a distance with her.
I do find it interesting that locals aren't showing up to Write-Ins but I drive well over an hour to get there. I wonder why that is...
Ken
----------ML - Maine: Portland to Augusta
"Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards." Heinlein
42,038 / 50,000
Oct 26, 2009 - 16 40
Do you suppose that a lot of the respective local wrimos are actually too young to drive? I always make the mistake of assuming most people are at least old enough to drive, but what if 90% of the Maine Wrimos are actually minor minors? That would be totally depressing. Not because there would be so many young people (which would be great) but because there would be so few people writing who are out of high school. It just doesn't bear thinking about, so I'm not going to. LOL
EDIT: Oh geez, now that I've got it in my head, I have to ask! Someone hit me in the noggin with a big honking book--PLEASE!
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Municipal Liaison, Greater Portland Area
"If writers wrote as carelessly as some people talk, then adhasdh asdglaseuyt[bn[pasdlgkhasdfasdf."-- Lemony Snicket
22,959 / 50,000
Oct 26, 2009 - 16 38
We've never had a write in up here in Aroostook County, and because of gas I've never been able to travel far, so I don't know what to tell you. I have noticed though that there are quite a few people in the Maine boards under driving age. Perhaps a carpooling arrangement might help if people knew each other at all?
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45,145 / 50,000
Oct 26, 2009 - 17 05
Well, I used to live within walking distance of that Panera, and did two NaNo's there before I moved to Brunswick. I drive the forty minutes still because I still consider those in the Westbrook write-in my friends and peeps.
That may one one reason--we go where we are most comfortable.
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Maine NaNoers on LJ
80,278 / 50,000
Oct 26, 2009 - 18 15
Well I dunno about anyone else, but I haven't been to Augusta write-ins yet because I have no license and well *points to location*. I have an arrangement set up, though, so I should be in :D
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5,559 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 03 47
For me, I didn't have my license until my third NaNo, and I still don't have my own car. Car pooling or cajoling the parents was a must at the time. I know a lot of folks without licenses and/or cars don't like suggesting to their parents that they're meeting "people from the internet." It just doesn't go over well, ya know?
(I don't remember how I did it that first year, when I first met Ken & Ellie in Brunswick. I want to assume I told the truth and Mom trusted my judgement, but she hasn't always been that way...)
Now, I'm in the Westbrook-ish area most of the week, so it's not as long a drive. And I have access to a vehicle. Sundays are iffy days because boyfriend has the day off and I like spending time with him. My efforts to drag him to Panera with me haven't worked well. :P
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75,286 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 13 54
Bethany - Mom did drop you off for that. I remember her and your former step-ick picked you up. We almost got caught talking smack about him.
I did throw a Write-In in Houlton years ago, but no one showed.
I know there's a lot of young writers in Maine - have met tons of them! And that does make it hard. But I also know that there was adult writers in Danforth, but they wouldn't come out for events. I also know there has to be writers in Augusta, but it's people from outlying areas who show up to Augusta events. So screwy!
Ken
----------ML - Maine: Portland to Augusta
"Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards." Heinlein
20,151 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 17 19
I should be coming to the Westbrook write-ins once NaNo starts. I live about a 15 minute drive away. I missed the kick-off party due to illness. :(
Is it a matter of people not having cars available? Is there a bus or something that runs by there (I haven't figured out the bus schedules and routes yet)? I only know how it was in Boston, where all the write-ins had to be accessible by public transit (preferably by subway) because 80% of us didn't own cars (expensive and you really didn't need to own one). But I imagine it's a bit different up here in Maine (most people would need a car to live here, right?).
Sundays are definitely best for me, since I work Saturdays, but if other people prefer another day, I'll deal!
----------79,790 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 17 46
just a curiousity for next time...
what is Panera's deal with Coffee? I was super confused.
----------Rebecca Susanne
Most Words in a Single Day - 8,335, Nov 1
# of Days with No Nanoing - 0
Body Count- 12
42,038 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 03 48
what is Panera's deal with Coffee? I was super confused.
I'm not sure what you mean by "deal".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Municipal Liaison, Greater Portland Area
"If writers wrote as carelessly as some people talk, then adhasdh asdglaseuyt[bn[pasdlgkhasdfasdf."-- Lemony Snicket
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Municipal Liaison, Greater Portland Area
"If writers wrote as carelessly as some people talk, then adhasdh asdglaseuyt[bn[pasdlgkhasdfasdf."-- Lemony Snicket
5,559 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 11 01
Somehow, that doesn't surprise me. ;P
I almost headed up to Augusta today, but was more eager to head south before the kiddo got too cranky.
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5,559 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 11 03
Aren't there usually free refills or some such thing...? I've never ordered coffee from there, so could you walk us through it?
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42,038 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 12 20
Oh...I don't know. I never get coffee. I always get the cafe mocha. Teresa (Meister) gets coffee. She would know. I think Ellie gets coffee, too, but I'm not 100% sure about that.
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Municipal Liaison, Greater Portland Area
"If writers wrote as carelessly as some people talk, then adhasdh asdglaseuyt[bn[pasdlgkhasdfasdf."-- Lemony Snicket
33,372 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 12 31
Not sure what you're referring to exactly Suzie... when you order a coffee you get a mug and get all the coffee you desire all day long. If you want a latte or something though, the refills aren't free.
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20,151 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 13 45
Aaaaand I just found out that I'm needed to work on two of the Sundays out of November. :( I wish I could host a write-in at work (the Animal Refuge League in Westbrook), but there's no room there for visitors. Anyone in need of an animal muse? We've got cats, dogs, birds, bunnies, and some small rodents! I've already got three cats who like to help me type at home and I couldn't NaNo without them. :)
----------5,108 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 13 55
I live on Peaks Island, so I'm probably more likely to go to the North Star Cafe write in where I can walk after I get off the ferry. Sorry.
100,016 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 12 20
I'm well over an hour away, close to 2 hours away, I've wanted to come for 7 years, yes, Sunday is the problem. I have meetings/work Sunday, Tuesday, & Thursday from 3 PM to 9PM. There is no way I can drive nearly 2 hours to get the a noon meeting, and have time to drive 2 hours back, before 3PM! I just can't do it. If the meetings were Monday or Friday or Saturday, I'd be at every one of them - and I would have been at every one of them all year for many years now and I have said as much every year here on the forums.
Thankfully, FINALLY, after years of asking for meetings more locally and not on Sunday, this year we have Wednesday morning meetings in Saco, and I've been able to go to those. Now if we can just get people to go - there are only 3 people besides myself who attend! The Saco meetings only be going through November though, so the rest of the year I'll be without access to meetings again.
I desperately want to attend the year-round meetings, and I don't mind the 2 hour drive to get to them, I just wish the time/days were such that I could attend. I drive in to Portland all the time anyways, I shop right there across the street from you - I have to since JoAnns is the only fabric store between me and Augusta. I drive by Panera every other week, and point out to my dad - "There it is, that's where those meeting I keep telling you about are held. That's the place the other writers go to. That's the place I've been wanting to go to for the last 5 years, but can't because the meetings are on Sunday." I'm probably driving my dad crazy, because he's been hearing me say that every week for the past several years now. LOL!
----------Incubus: Fear the Night
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32,207 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 12 50
I'm sad because I can't get to any of the write ins. I'm 20 and don't have my driver's license. I'm either working while the write ins are going, or my Mom is (with the family's only car). My younger sister and her two friends are all participating and are too young to have their licenses.
----------Meg
http://gotnothin.blogspot.com
50,616 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 16 51
Hi. I'm new to Nanowrimo this year, but I live close to the Panera in Westbrook. I'm assuming you guys wouldn't mind a little extra company if I were to stop by Sunday morning?
Maryann
5,559 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 01 58
Of course not. :) Just don't be shy, or we'll mistake you for a regular patron passing by -- they tend to give us a perplexed glance before taking a table elsewhere.
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42,038 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 03 45
Maryann
Holy Moly, Maryanna! Here I've been complaining because more people don't show up on Sundays and you're worried that we'd mind if you came? Bite your tongue! (but not too hard) Now that you've mentioned it, I'll be really disappointed if you don't come! And that goes for anyone else who might think we're a closed group of any kind. WE WANT MORE PEOPLE !!! : )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Municipal Liaison, Greater Portland Area
"If writers wrote as carelessly as some people talk, then adhasdh asdglaseuyt[bn[pasdlgkhasdfasdf."-- Lemony Snicket
----------~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Municipal Liaison, Greater Portland Area
"If writers wrote as carelessly as some people talk, then adhasdh asdglaseuyt[bn[pasdlgkhasdfasdf."-- Lemony Snicket
50,616 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 04 25
Haha. Ok. I'll probably stroll in in the morning, as I'm a football nerd and need to be home for kickoff!!
5,728 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 06 44
hullo.
i'm not entirely new to this game, but i've never been to a write-in. i live on the peninsula and i'm sure there must be a bus that goes out to westbrook, but i've no idea where the panera is located. why westbrook, i guess, is my more immediate question. perhaps it's that most portland writers would rather meet in town. seems to be more of a hub than anywhere in westbrook would be. maybe if you shifted location you would have more of an interest.
20,151 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 13 29
I'm doing a Portland write-in on Tuesdays 4-7pm at the North Star Cafe! Feel free to join me.
I will admit that when I first moved to Portland, I was really confused by the fact that it looked like there weren't any Portland write-ins on the main calendar. Then I found out that Westbrook is actually really close!
I don't know if this keeps people away or not, but I ended up not going to the write-in yesterday because there isn't a set time for the write-in (I know this sounds ridiculous, but hear me out!). Since it's all day, I kept thinking, "okay, I'll run a few errands and then I'll go to Panera... I'm feeling a little hungry. I'll just have lunch and then I'll head to Panera... A phone call from the fam? That's okay, because I can head to Panera later... Dangit, we really need some groceries. I'll go shopping, then unpack the food at home and then head to Panera...etc." And before I knew it, the day had gotten away from me. If I knew that most people would be showing up at a certain time, I'd probably be more likely to specifically make time to go, rather than feel secure in the fact that I can head there whenever.
Not that I think it's bad that they are all-day write-ins, by any means!!! I'm just saying that maybe weekend procrastinators like myself end up pushing off going until it's too late. :)
----------35,937 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 15 39
Aynslie
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Well fancy that, my name is Aynsley, and I'm from Falmouth. I'm not sure if I can make it to the write-ins, though...me being a minor and all, not having my own rights to just up and leave the house, let alone drive a car without even a permit, hahaha.
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Do not judge that which you cannot understand... ----------
5,559 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 04 16
I tend to get there around noon, but then I get caught in the lunch rush. There are usually a lot of NaNoers already there, and they start to disperse around 3:00ish.
If I weren't terrified of Portland, I would try to get to your Write-In. :x
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50,045 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 09 34
This is my first year and I just found out about the write-ins last night. I'm planning on going to both the Portland Tuesday write-in as well as the Westbrook Panera on the 8th. Woo!