To participants in the Richmond area:
This is Joe, here. I'm helping out our ML Jean (luckyjean) this year with the NaNo events. We need all the help we can get.
Writing a novel in a month, I've found, is hard work, but rewarding. It's easier, though, when you get to meet and connect with people who are taking the same venture at the same time. It's harder when you don't have anyone or anything to hold you to your goals of finishing that novel.
This is why Write-Ins and the Kick-Off Party is important. We get to meet each other, talk about what we're writing, and have a sense of accountability (and sometimes friendly competition) to motivate us.
I'm going to have this thread used primarily for the Kick-Off Party, since that is the closest and requires the most planning.
We need a few suggestions as to which restaurant in the Richmond area might be good for hosting a large group. A private section where we can get a bit loud would be preferred.
We also need an idea about exactly what day at the end of October would be available to everyone. I'm sure some people are going to have to miss out, as much as we'll try not to allow it, but we want to find a time when as many people can come as we can.
So if you have a suggestion about a restaurant, put it here. If you have a few days you think you can come for the Kickoff Party, put that down too. This way, we also get a rough idea about how many to expect.
Thanks guys. Looking forward to meeting all of you. By the way, feel free to email me with any questions. My email is joewrotehaikus@gmail.com.
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0 / 50,000
sept. 27, 2008 - 07 49
As you know in my e-mail to you earlier, I suggested the Midlothian Capital Ale House.
As far as when I'm free, uhhh... NOT the 25th. I know that much. lol.
I'll get back to you on that, and with any other ideas I have.
3,242 / 50,000
sept. 28, 2008 - 11 49
Kick-Off Party locations
Once again Warning this may have un-pc statements, double entredra and bad spelling.
Captial Ale house (Southside), if you didn't read the write-in e-mail first. Lynchburg much! other than that, there is a lot of space, however the mezzane is not open to anyone under 21.
Forrest Hill ave offers a number of places, I believe there is a 5 guys burgers and fries, a Mexico resturant and an O'Charlie's, There is also the Paradise Diner in the Strafford Hills shopping center, but I personally have never been there. I do like the Positve Vibe Cafe (the wait staff is HOT!) but I don't think it really has enough space.
Futher on Huegonut there is the River City Diner, but they stay pretty busy. Chesterfield town center has a Red Robin, but once again Busy.
These are the suggestions I have.
14,010 / 50,000
sept. 29, 2008 - 09 05
Yeah, I hope nobody decides to have this opening party at a place that doesn't allow anyone under 21 in, seeing as how I am 17. Problematic, I think so.
Panara has a comfortable atmosphere and Richmond has a lot scattered over the area. So, maybe that would be a good idea?
As for when in October the get together should be...maybe a friday sometime? Like the 10th....or 11th....or 12th? Those dates would be awesome. ;D Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights are probably better for most (assuming you are a student or a teacher).
53,046 / 50,000
oct. 2, 2008 - 17 38
I have only a few days free in October! On the weekends, at any rate, and I can't imagine holding a Kick-Off Party during the week would be as much fun.
My completely free dates: October 12, 18, 26.
I could manage October 11, 19, 25, but I'd have to miss a previous commitment on each of those days. Still, NaNoWriMo gets priority here, so if the 12, 18, or 26th don't work out, let's look at the 11, 19, or 25th.
53,408 / 50,000
oct. 2, 2008 - 18 08
I can't do Wed-Sun evenings, but I'm available all day all week.
----------"Soldiers get killed, sewing is only slightly less lethal."
--Sophia Templeton, "The Amber Rose"
6,067 / 50,000
oct. 4, 2008 - 12 24
I vote the weekend of October 24-26.
53,408 / 50,000
oct. 5, 2008 - 11 41
Seconded. I'd just need to know at least a week before so I can make arrangements.
----------"Soldiers get killed, sewing is only slightly less lethal."
--Sophia Templeton, "The Amber Rose"
1,447 / 50,000
oct. 6, 2008 - 09 10
my vote is the 19th or 26th.
{crosses paws that I can come}
14,010 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2008 - 09 36
Where are we meeting though? And what day exactly?
0 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2008 - 10 41
Just joined and came across the thread this afternoon. I'm not sure about where everyone lives, but what about Cafe Gutenberg in Shockoe? They seem to enjoy hosting local events upstairs. Or perhaps one of the local libraries would be able to accommodate a group of considerable size.
3,100 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2008 - 14 51
I like the idea of Panera.. But on the other hand I guess it would be nice to have a private room.
I'm 17 so I definitely second the under-21 thing.
As for dates, the 17th (anytime), 18th (anytime), 24th (afternoon or evening), 25th (afternoon or evening), and 31st (anytime) all work for me.
Definitely looking forward to it... Thanks for coordinating!
5,718 / 50,000
oct. 8, 2008 - 15 35
First of all, welcome!
I like the sound of Café Gutenberg. I went to their site and, although it appears to be malfunctioning at the moment, the pictures of the place look very nice. Question-- what's the parking like? I don't live too far from there, but I'm not too fond of parking in the city..
If all else fails, my vote is for Panera as well.
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0 / 50,000
oct. 9, 2008 - 11 53
Thanks for the welcome, chaundra! If you aren't bothered by background music then Cafe Gutenberg (CG) is a nice writing spot on a rainy day. It's also a nice spot for people watching. I absolutely abhor parking in Shockoe, however, I have never had a problem finding parking near CG. There is usually an abundance of parking on both sides of 17th street on Sundays.
Here's a photo of the inside of CG. It may not work out as an option for the kick-off event, but it's worth considering in the future.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tfenderson/506785968/
Thanks again for the welcome. :o)
52,663 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 18 58
Please note that these are my opinions only, I do not speak for others:
I know this is late, but I wanted to state once again, holding a "kick off party" for NaNoWriMo in a place that serves alcohol just doesn't seem right with underage people present. Since my posts on this subject were wiped during the NaNoWriMo hard drive crash earlier this month, and my not being able to log back on for some strange reason, my opinions on this matter were of course mute during the final decision process.
I will be checking out the Bleu Bistro, and if it's too much like a bar, I probably won't be participating in the kick off party. I have personal reasons why I am not comfortable where alcohol is being served. Those reasons do not extend to other NaNoWriMo participants. If people want to drink and party in a place like that, that's their prerogative.
If I am not comfortable with the place, I will be holding my own kick off party on the Southside.
If the Bleu Bistro is a decent enough place and family friendly, count my family in. That will be four of us, my wife is unable to join us this year.
Luckyjean & joewrotehaikus, I know it's a tough decision to make and I don't envy your positions at all. I know you guys can't please everyone. Thank you for your hard work in trying to pull this together.
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"May blessings be upon the head of Cadmus,
the Phoenicians, or whoever it was that invented books."
Quote: Thomas Carlyle. 1795 - 1881. Scottish essayist
50,443 / 50,000
oct. 11, 2008 - 21 18
There shouldn't be a problem. We're getting a private room. So if there is any drunken debauchery, it'll be our fault, not the restaurant's usual patrons.
We went to Olive Garden last year, which does serve alcohol. There was no trouble, to my knowledge, other than maybe the service there. But no one became visibly drunk arousing trouble. I can't remember anyone even ordering a beverage. And at my own table, there were minors.
I think your concern comes from the suggestions for the Write-Ins. Yes, some people want to drink and type. But you can't reasonably do that at a bar, so most likely we're thinking along the lines of something like a coffee shop that happens to have wine. We'll have to wait and see if someone knows such a location and enough people want to go to that particular place, and you will have the option to go to a different write-in location if the wine bothers you.
0 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 11 06
I might be there. I assume it's all right to say yay, but if I am tired after my book signings day before, may not come. it will be me only. My husband is not a writer, so it will be only me.
Pamela K. Kinney
http://FantasticDreams.50megs.com
http://www.myspace.com/PamelaKKinney
http://PamelaKKinney.blogspot.com
Be prepared to take a journey into Pamela K. Kinney's fantastic dreams of horror, science fiction and fantasy, plus the ghosts and legends of Richmond in the nonfiction ghost book, Haunted Richmond, Virginia.
Coming soon: my story based on a real legend of New England, "Pukwudgies: The Little Monsters of New England" will be availabe in Northern Haunts: 100 Terrifying New England Tales anthology. This anthology, which all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society is available for preorder for both trade paperback and hardback at http://www.shroudmagazine.com/northern-haunts--100-terrifying-new-englan... .
Also aka Sapphire Phelan
http://FantasticDreams.50megs.com
www.myspace.com/SapphirePhelan
http://SapphirePhelansPassionCorner.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SapphirePhelansParanormalNewsletter
Go beyond the usual, instead take the unusual that stretches the boundaries and find romance with Sapphire Phelan's aliens, werewolves, vampires, fairies, and other supernatural/otherworldly heroes and heroines.
Available now: Shifting Desires--print anthology of three feline shapeshifter novellas by Sapphire Phelan, Skylar Sinclair, and Jude Mason from Phaze Books. Get it from Phaze, Amazon, and BarnesandNoble.com
Available in November 2008: Unwitting Sacrifice, an erotic Lovecraftian horror novella from Under the Moon Publishing. eBook, then three months later a print chapbook.