Super Fabulous Write-ins of Ultimate Greatness (UPDATED - Nov. 2)

I am SO EXCITED about these write-ins!

Also, I'll do my best to bring a lamp with me to the Oh So Good write-in, so we can have the hand-writers NOT lose their eyesight :D

I've never been to a write-in, unless you count NJC and I getting together on the weekends :). It's problematic getting downtown (impossible on weekdays really), because well I hate both the bus and driving downtown (not to mention parking downtown).

I missed last year's one and only west end write. Bad me!

I'm in the west-end too, so I promise to try and fight with the other two for at least one or two write-ins this end of town. However, if you know of any good locations that would be awesome, because I have just recently moved to the west-end and haven't figured out any good hang-outs yet.

Well there are a lot of west-end options but it depends on our position on the Funk - Functional continuum. The most accessible by bus would be the OPL in the old Nepean City Hall, where Centrepointe Theatre is. No funk there though. The other option is a cafe in Westboro or Hintonburg.

Ottawa Bagel? Everyone loves bagels, they inspire creativity. Don't you know that every great author gorged on bagels before their masterpieces?

Last year the write-in was in Timothy's @ College Square, I don't know how it was for a location, but it is representative of the size of coffee places around my area.

I'm actually by Carlingwood and there is a Starbucks and a Great Canadian Bagel just outside of the mall, corner of Woodroffe and Carling. I've never been in either though so I don't know much about either. Nor do I know much about busing to those locations. What can I say, I don't drink coffee or eat bagels. Though with Algonquin on Woodroffe, you would think there would be a few hang out places..

Aaaand, here's another Westender. I liked the Timothy's. I'd be prepared to come early and help secure the seats around the sockets.

Centrepoint library is where our writing group meets. Staff's very helpful and friendly and usually organizes one of the conference rooms in the building for us. Definitely worth checking out, I'd think. There's a small cafeteria in the building, but it might be closed on weekends.

Another possible is the Juice Zone, fairly new on on Robertson Road, not large, but people usually take their stuff to go, offering free wireless internet (I can check for sockets), and their smoothies are to die for. (http://www.restaurantthing.com/ca/on/ottawa/restaurant.php?ID=1474)

I'd also like to offer our house for one of the write-ins. It's in Bells Corners, reachable by the 118 or 166.

Another west-ender here. Actually two of us (my wife's doing the Nanowrimo thing this year too). We're way out there -- between Richmond and Munster.

Having said that, we're going to try to attend as many write-ins as possible, as we hear on the forums that it's a great way to crank out the words and socialize!

Cheers,
Grant

Timothy's was fun. I'm all for doing that again although I wouldn't mind it being one of the during-the-day ones. Last year I recall not being able to fall asleep till 3:30 due to hitting too many word-count goals and celebrating each one with coffee :O

So does anyone know how to get between Ottawa U and Carleton by bus? They stop sending shuttle buses at some ridiculous time and I don't hate myself enough to attempt parking on campus, but I really want to make the inaugural write-in...

Rii,

To get to OttawaU from Carleton by bus, you have a few options. The shuttle might be your best bet (I can get the schedule for you if you want, but it's free and direct, so it'll be quicker), or you can:

1. Take the O-Train from Carleton to Greenboro, then hop a 97 to Laurier.
2. Take a 4 or 7 bus from Carleton up Bank St. to the Rideau Centre, and then either walk to Laurier (probably not fun given the weather) or change to a 16 or 5, or cut up through the Rideau Centre and take a Transitway Bus one stop to Laurier.

Hope that helps? :D

Bussing from UofO to Carleton:
1) Take a bus (any bus, really; 95, 96, 97 are the more frequent ones, but the 8, 85, 86, and 87 will do, too) on the eastbound transitway to Hurdman Station. Transfer there to the 4. Goes right on campus.

2) Take a bus on the westbound transitway to Bayview Station, then take the O-Train direct to Carleton.

Carleton has always been poorly served by OC Transpo; it's actually gotten better with the O-Train, but it's nothing like the UofO being on the transitway.

In the far west end (Kanata) you can try O'Connor's Pub at Kanata Centrum. They originally opened as a high-tech pub with laptop plugins, so could be viable. Also, they at the Kanata Centrum transitway stop, directly across from the AMC theatre. There is parking for those who drive. I'm not sure if they have a back room we could use; but that is something that could be researched. Their number is 270-0367.

Another option: Chapters at Pinecrest has a meeting room in the back. (Mensa held testing in it.) Perhaps all Chapters have meeting rooms. They usually have a Starbucks in them. We'd be surrounded by all those books that will inspire us and have access to caffeine too.

Yeah, I'm hoping for a few Kanata/Bells Corners write-ins 'cause I live in Kanata and go to Bell HS.

And I was about to ask that maybe the evening write-ins could maybe start and end earlier, being on school nights and far away from where I live, but then I remembered that people work. And stuff.

But I'll definitely try and make it to the weekend OPL ones.

Well I'm hoping to go to the Sunday meetings as I'm from the Ottawa Valley and I have college courses to adhere during the week so I'll try to make it hopefully. I'm even trying to get a few friends together to do this with me so I'll try to bring them too if they decide to actually do Nanowrimo with me. Good Luck everyone this month!!!

There is also a conference room at Pinecrest Chapters and they are one of the few that still has a dedicated seating area. Don't know if the conference room has to be paid for to use though, but it's something to look into.

Another westender here, and I live 5 minutes walk from Chapters!

It's also right off the 101 route and easy Queensway access along with tons of free parking.

Another spot might be Zavida's out in Kanata, but you couldn't have too large of a group there unfortunately. Second Cup in Bell's Corners is also an option, and they have a fair amount of seating, just not much in the way of bus action.

Hopefully I'll get to at least one write-in this year!
Hope to see you all!
~ K.

Alright guys! The MLs met up yesterday to discuss the write-ins for the rest of the month and an email should be going out to you guys soon about the ones coming up soon.

However for a little later in the month, we need some help. All the west-enders gave us some great ideas for the west end, however we also need some good write-in locations in the east end!

What we are looking for in a location is: Lots of space, lots of plugs, not too busy, and food/drink is nice but not 100% necessary.

If you know any good places in the East let us know soon so that we can make sure to get one or two good write-ins out there!

Hey guys - if you can stand one more eager newbie, I'd like to attend too.

The twist is that I actually live on the western part of Montreal - Dorval, to be precise (home of Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport and really, really noisy bungalows). I've tried to hang with the MTL crowd but they're not real newbie-friendly, and the local meetings are 45 minutes away from me and on an evening I can't attend anyway. :(

So... I'd like to attend at least one Ottawa-area write-in, preferably on the weekends (if you'll have me *puppy dog eyes).

I'm about 90 minutes away, have a reliable car, and love driving (unless it's in freezing rain). Some precise directions would be great, and I'll be without the kids from Nov 4 to the 16th inclusively. Sundays would be great, I'll add in a quick stop at the St-Laurent Mall or a LUSH store and make it a REAL party. ;)

Thanks!

I think I'm more likely to attend just the weekend write ins this year, if I can manage to get out to them at all with work being insane lately and the three buses that go near my apartment generally sucking, lol.

It'd be nice if all or most write-ins are accessible via the bus. I can borrow my wife's car, but it's when I'm not around that she tends to want to go shopping. :)

All write-ins are accessible by bus (give or take five to ten minutes of walking from nearest bus stop). In fact I believe most, if not all, are just a little off the transit way.

I'm looking forward to the marathon write-in and hope to be able to attend.

Well, poo.

I was all geared up to drive to Ottawa this morning and join you all at the OPL, and then my car starts acting up yesterday. :(

I'm now aiming for Friday's meet-up, if the car is okay by then. I'll take it in tomorrow and see what my trusted mechanic has to say. The east end might be easier for me to swing as well.

Good luck this afternoon you guys! *yay*

In regards to a write-in place in the east end...

There's a Chapters in Gloucester Centre (well, more like near/behind it via a short 5 min walk). I don't know if there's an actual area where we can congregate, but if it's like any other Chapters then there probably is.

Being in Rockland, I'd go to the Chapters at Ogilvie. Plenty of buses there.
Gin

The Gloucester Chapters has a small-ish Starbucks area were we might be able to take over. I don't remember them having any separated rooms or areas other than that where we might be able to congregate (if I remember right, the Chapters at Pinecrest has a section of couches and chairs to sort of hang out and read at, but it's been years since I've been there; they might have redecorated).

Hey all,

When is the next west-end write-in? With our hectic schedules, it's extremely unlikely that my wife and I will be able to make it to the Market tomorrow night. Which is a shame, because we really want to experience our first write-in! :-)

Cheers, and good luck to everybody.

Grant
(Oh, and I have to brag: I'm three days ahead of my word quota! Yay me!)

Any decisions on Friday's write-in location? :)

Hi - I'd like to know as well, I was planning to attend this one...?

The Friday Nov 9th write in will be downtown, my email says:
World Exchange Centre. A map to this event can be found below. When you enter the building, go up to the second floor, into the food court. Follow the signs for the bathrooms in the food court, and they'll lead you to our little room.
From 5:30 to 9:00.

Last time I had a really tricky time finding it, it's a little bit hidden. It's on the south side of the building, hiding down that bathroom hallway.
I'm hoping to go for more of the time this time around, and get more words than last time too :)

Rats! I'm going to miss my second write-in in a row because my dad's putting up a play at the high school. It wasn't supposed to happen like this, but the fake 911 calls that forced the school to push everything back two weeks. Ah, well, at least I'll be cultured.

Maybe you could work the play into your novel? ;)

I'd have to leave in 4 minutes to make it there, so I'll pass, sadly. I'm still on track for the Marathon on the 17th though.