Kalamazoo/Portage

Hi -- at least there's someone else in Kalamazoo doing NaNoWriMo. If you organize something, I'd like to come.

Gail

I'll come if something's planned, as long as I don't work. Portage would be easier for me than Kalamazoo. Just throwing that out there.

Yea! Hello fellow local NaNoers!

I'm thinking of a "Kick Off" event during the day on Nov. 1 -- I'll start scooping out coffee shops in the area (particularly on the norht side of Portage). Right now I'm thinking the WaterStreet Cafe on Oakland or the Panera on Westnedge. It'll be some writing time with sympathetic souls, maybe even some word wars, and definitely some coffee!

(more details coming before Nov.1)

Other events, ideas, locations and notions are welcome!

I'll try to show up if I can.

I'm also in the Kalamazoo area. Do we have any repeat Nanoers?

I'm a repeat.
My goal this year is to beat my record of two whole paragraphs before my computer dies a horrible painful death. (Which happened last year, I blame gremlins.)

I live in Sturgis but work in Portage. I would love to make an event but that depends on the work/babysitter schedule.

I'd like to come - do we keep checking in here to find out if it's Panera or the other place, or is this an e-mail group? Either way, coffee and writing is an unbeatable combo!

I'm a repeat—fourth year. First two in Ann Arbor, where there were a couple different groups, last one in Interlochen—i.e., in the middle of the woods—where there was nothing. Now I'm at K college, so I'll see if I can work something out for transportation.

Alice

I'm also a fourth-year. Live in Gobles, working in Kalamazoo, and would definitely be up for some writing with kindred spirits. I work on-call, so sometimes making events is difficult, but I will put forth special effort. After all, NaNoWriMo only happens once a year.

Hopefully I'll have some newbies in tow as well!

Keep checking back for finalized write in dates/locals.

Other than the Nov. 1 kick off we can organize more dates too. Weekdays, evenings, weekends, whatever works! Kzoo or Portage -- Alice there will probably be one at Dino's Coffee Bar (kalamazoo) on Stadium & Academy at some point b/c I like that place :) so you won't have to get special transportation to all the write-ins. I'm hoping to give everyone a chance to be part of the community who wants to come out.

In general I'm thrilled to see so many people in the area already on the boards!

Well, I'm at the Biggby on Westnedge (by Target and Best Buy) constantly. It's quite large, if a bit noisy, and might be good for write-ins. They close at 9, however, which is early for some.

Only thing is, I'm there constantly 'cause I *work* there so chances are I wouldn't be able to write much unless it was my day off. :P

I guess it's a bit south for some of you folk, though. I'll see if I can make it further north.

Third year here.

I'm super sad that the Rocketstar closed down, it was my favorite place to go writing within walking distance from campus (I'm a WMU student.)

I don't know what I'll end up doing, though I doubt much. I have a house now instead of a dorm so it's a bit better place to write.

Maybe I'll talk to my roommates and see about hosting a small write-in or something. No promises though.

I registered six years ago and...didn't come close, but this year I'm ready. So, I'm calling myself a newbie, even though I'm one of those 50+ wrimos.

I won't be able to make it to the Nov. 1st kick off, but I would like to connect any other date. I live in Schoolcraft so Portage is closer, but I would go into Kalamazoo to meet everyone.

It's good to see there's a good number of wrimo's in the area.

Dino's is awesome. And within easy (i.e., five minute) walking distance.

Alice

Suda - I live in Schoolcraft, too! :D That's why Portage is easier for me, as well.

If there's a Nov. 1 kick-off, I should be able to come... no guarantees. I requested the weekend off work, but I think I'm going to change it to just Oct 31 and Nov 1 off... since I'm not going to GR like I was hoping to. *sad*

I wouldn't mind driving to a place that isn't super busy. I drive to Mattawan frequently but I'm not a big fan of driving in a super busy area like Kalamazoo. So count me in if the place you pick isn't overly packed with traffic. It's my first year doing NaNo and I rather jump in than test the waters for a few years before joining a write in.

this is my second year, as the first one went horribly too. I live in the portage area, so i could either make it to the bigbys, or the panera one. the panera is not too far down westenage is it? my memory this late isnt really good. I got that day off, so i could be able to show, and i will tell my nanowrimo friend about it.

suda, i also use to live in schoolcraft. small world...

NOVEMBER 1, WRITE-IN / KICK OFF

1:30 -4:30 Water Street Coffee Joint on Oakland and White in Portage.

Come and go as you please -- leave early, stay late, whatever floats your boat... er... novel. Look for the "CAUTION: NOVELISTS AT WORK" Nano flyer and you'll find me! (preview of flyer avaliable on this page. I'm going to try and get the "back room" if it's not in use with a big table, but there are plenty of smaller tables and power outlets throughout the shop either way.

Water Street Coffee Joint's website/address/directions: http://www.waterstreetcoffeejoint.com/oakwood-neighborhood.php

Other Saturday Write-Ins:

NOV. 8 -- 2:00 - 5:00 pm -- Dino's Coffee Lounge
On Stadium and Academy in Kalamazoo

NOV. 15 -- 2:00 - 5:00 PM -- Panera
On Westnedge in Portage (south of US-23 but north of the mall)

Notions for further locations and non-Saturday events are more than welcome, but I figure that this should be a relatively free time for people and that three events/chances to come are enough to get us started. :)

I'm looking forward to seeing you guys at the kick off, we'll have a great time plotting and word-warring -- and somebody bring an egg timer!

I should be able to make it to the first write-in at least. The others are right in the middle of my usual shift at work, but if I get another Saturday off, I'll definitely come. :D

I haven't got an egg timer though :(

I won't be able to make the first event (November 1), and not sure about the second yet. Saturday's are tough for me. I'll do my best...I want to meet everyone.

so...what's the agenda? Bring your own laptop and type away? Merge and purge (grin). Meet and greet and write away?

Just curious.

Is there anyone that would want to connect during the week, rather than the weekend?

Weekdays are MUCH easier for me, but my days off vary. For example, this week I have/had Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday off. I usually work Wednesdays, so that's odd. It just varies.

Anybody willing to carpool?

I've plenty of free time to meet, but I'm sans transportation (besides a bike with flat tires >.>).

(I live in an apartment on WMU's campus)

This is my second attempt at this and I think meeting up would be great! I'll be there on the 1st for sure.

Seeya!

Doug

I'll plan to be at the one on the 8th.

Works up in the air but I will try for the kick off!

I don't know about anyone else but I'll see you Saturday! *dances*

I got my idea on Sunday for my novel. It's going to be great. Well.. weird, but great.

I was wondering if anyone in my area was doing this as well. I'm a bit south of Kalamazoo but I would love to try to make a date. I work this Saturday but I'm going to try to make at least one!

I'm in Oshtemo (part of Kalamazoo, technically) and it's good to hear that there are some other NaNos in the area. I might be able to squeeze some time out of my work & school schedule on the 1st; if I do, look for a yellow motorcycle.

I'm a bit scared, though. *gulp* All you guys probably have nicely plotted out cool original stuff; I just have a fanfic that I'm going to do for now so that the good idea I have I can save for next year while I hone the universe and plot. I guess it's good practice, at least...

I'm a newbie - writer and NaNoWriMo! I live in Kalamazoo, near Parchment, and I work in Battle Creek. I hope to be there tomorrow (Nov. 1) to meet people and see what this is all about in person. I was just going to do this by myself unofficially to see if I could do it, then today I decided, what the heck, why not make it official and really have some fun. I'm really excited about this!