I am too dense to figure out who is the ML for the Little Rock area, but it seems here in early October we already have interest in a meeting, or (as I think of them) write-ins. So when NaNovember rolls around, I do hope we can have an event.
Was wondering (and I hope I'm not stepping on ML toes) if people preferred a "snacky" location, like B&N, or if a library meeting room might be considered. I'll try to attend either way (schedule & health permitting), but to me, it's difficult to hear in a bookstore/coffee shop environment. Some people don't like meeting in a library b/c the munchy options are limited, and you must bring your own.
Thought I'd toss it out and see what people thought.
Cheers!
----------
^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
0 / 50,000
oct. 10, 2008 - 03 41
I would prefer a library or other type "meeting room" myself. Of course, this is my first year, so I don't know if you actually write at a write in or mostly network. :) The library in Jacksonville has a meeting room so I would guess others do, too. I would like a place where you can park for free, say Lehman Library. At least you could the last time I went there.
42,526 / 50,000
oct. 11, 2008 - 17 21
I'm not sure that there is an ML for Little Rock. I'd volunteer, but I recently went back to work full time and I really, really don't have the time to organize the events. I'm going to do well to be able to show up, although I'm going to try my best. My writing is probably going to happen mostly on weekends and early mornings.
----------Anne
The Wench of Aramink
http://aramink.multiply.com
50,412 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 05 55
Checking on one of the NaNo info sites, I think yes it's okay for us to make our own mtg plans.
1) Would anyone like me to check with McMath library in West Central LR (on Barrow, near Parkview High, between Kanis & Col. Glenn) to see what Nov. dates they have open? Or which library (or other site) would you prefer? I do not like the Main location due to parking.
2) What times do best for people? Saturdays? Certain evenings (most libraries have one or two nights open til 8 which means mtgs have to be finished by 7:30 if I'm not mistaken)?
3) Do we want to bring beverages and munchies? Or have it at a place where we can buy light munchies and (probably caffeinated) drinks?
4) How often do we want to meet? Twice in Nov? Once a week? middle of The Dreaded Week Two? Name your ideas, not that I am expecting anyone to show up if s/he shows interest here. Life gets in the way a lot!
I am a helluvan introvert, so don't anyone expect me to be all back-clapping and taking charge, but am willing to monitor this thread to get a consensus and make contact with The Powers That Be (library heads, coffee shop managers, etc) when we decide on a place and time.
Cheers,
----------Gammy
^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
25,743 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 06 44
The Thompson Library on Rahling Circle (off Rahling Road) near Chenal is very convenient and has a great meeting room. The Diamond State Romance Authors meet there.
Any time is good for me. If on Sat Oct 18 or Sat Nov 15, I'll be in LR already but not available until after 2PM or so. We have our monthly DSRA meeting. We're always happy to have fellow writers drop by if you're around! More info: www.dsra-rwa.com And we may be romance but we welcome visits from all genres!
Cheers,
Gammy
Thanks for getting things moving!
Shayla
Shayla Kersten
----------www.shaylakersten.com
Past Lies (2007 NaNo Novel), Ellora's Cave, Available now
A Helping Hand, Ellora's Cave, Available now
Double Happiness, Ellora's Cave, Available Oct 24th
Keket's Curse in Masters of Desire, Kensington Aphrodisia, Jan 2009
Shayla Kersten
www.shaylakersten.com
Past Lies (2007 NaNo Novel), Ellora's Cave, Available now
A Helping Hand, Ellora's Cave, Available now
Double Happiness, Ellora's Cave, Available now
Keket's Curse in Masters of Desire, Kensington Aphrodisia, Jan
0 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 08 14
Saturday afternoon/early evenings would work best for me. I don't care about snack-able venues so much as not paying to park. :)
2,197 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2008 - 18 41
I'd show for a meet-up, as long as it was on a weekend or evening past 6pm. I'm flexible on location. This is my first year doing this, so not sure how everything works. Do we just hang out at these meetings and pick each others brain's or do we actually write?
----------Jas
50,412 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2008 - 03 02
So glad to see hands waving and comments flowing.
Shayla, I LOVE the idea of a pre-NaNo mtg, if we have time to do it. Anyone else?
I only went to one; Shayla and a couple others actually wrote, while the rest of us sat around and discussed plot bunnies, plot walls, recalcitrant characters, wrist pain, next year's novel (just kidding), etc.
I don't mind the Thompson library; it is nice. I don't have a relationship with the director of that one but if others think it's an okay spot, I can call her and see what's available.
And we don't have to meet at the same place every time, unless y'all think that makes it easier to remember. Flexibility (eg, one on a night and one on a weekend) might help more folks come.
This is getting exciting! Please, any lurkers, chime in, even if you think, "Aaaah, I won't crawl out of my hidey-hole and come," because you might surprise yourself. I am very shy, and I had a blast!
^o^ ^o^ ^o^
----------Shameless plug for a group to which I belong: Fiction Writers of Central Arkansas, meetings 9 AM - noon, 4th Saturday of the month at Baptist Health Ctr. in LR off I-630.
^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
42,526 / 50,000
oct. 16, 2008 - 05 56
Will any of the library meeting rooms allow drinks or munchies?
Weekends and evenings after 6 work for me. I'd love to have at least one pre-NaNo meeting.
Gammy, you're fantastic to agree to see to the details!
----------Anne
The Wench of Aramink
http://aramink.multiply.com
50,412 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2008 - 08 35
I tried to post s/t yesterday but it got Lost In Cyyyyyyberspaaaaaace.....
Dummy me, I forgot all about early voting at the libraries. So, I suggest we post like crazy here tonight and see if anyone wants to meet at (for example) Barnes & Noble on Chenal or some other place TOMORROW (Sat 18th) afternoon. I don't get out much, so y'all will need to suggest places and discuss it, also with an eye to NEXT SATURDAY, Oct 25th, at some meeting place. Don't know if Parks & Rec has indoor facilities, but may not have time to check.
Thompson only had the Saturday after Thanksgiving open -- Nov. 29th. Please let me know, here on this thread OR by NaNoMail, if that will be an okay time: some may want to escape visiting relatives and do the last-minute rush together, some may be done, or some may not want the distraction of a NaNoKlatsch.
Terry Library (WLR, not too far from I-430's Rodney Parham or Cantrell exits): available evenings are Wed 5th, Thurs 6th, Wed 12th, Thurs 13th. I would expect 5:30 for the early birds, 6 PM for the normal folks, and we have to be gone at 7:45 PM.
Fletcher Library only had open the evening of Tuesday 25th (before Thanksgiving).
Maumelle had Mon 3rd (I might not come due to conflict with Rackensack), Tues 11th, 6 - 7:30ish
All the branch libraries (unlike Main) have plenty of free parking. You may bring munchies & beverages (I'll pony up the $25 deposit); however, we must leave the room clean or I lose the money and get a bad rep.
I really apologise for not being on the ball sooner, but supposed there would be an ML taking care of things (I'm one of those horribly dependent folks who, as they say, always relies on the kindness of strangers). Please, everyone interested (you're not making a promise to attend, but stating if you hope you could come), leave a post, this weekend if possible, stating which dates might work for you, including tomorrow or next Sat or one weeknight (coffee-house venue) the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for your patience. Sounds like a fun time shaping up all the way around!
----------^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
50,412 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2008 - 05 55
It appears we won't have a pre-NaNo meeting (unless anyone is free and interested this Saturday). If anyone wanted the November library times, I'd have to fill out forms and stuff before long, so make your wishes known; otherwise it seems the other venues will be easier to plan since we can hop on this Forum and say "XYZ date at X o'clock at Such-&-Such place."
So, who's up for doing the bookstore/coffeeshop type thing any of the other Saturday afternoons or pick a weeknight?
I can't get my settings right to be updated via Notifications, but will check this thread as often as possible to see what everyone wants.
Oh, and last night I outlined about a third or a haf of my plot (finally!). Not that I plan to slavishly stick to it, but I do feel more comfortable having a direction, and I even figured out part of how Junior will find out about the gremlins, as well as making some notes to myself regarding areas which could be expanded, legitimately adding to the story, if I need extra words come Thanksgiving week.
Sooooo pumped!!!
----------^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
50,044 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2008 - 06 10
I'm up for some Saturdays in LR IF I can find the place! I think you mentioned a B&N on Chenal Parkway, and I think I can find that easy enough. (I live in HS Village.)
Mainly, I'd just like to meet other NaNo-ers and get their perspective on writing in general.
7,066 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2008 - 07 59
I'm interested in meeting! I have to work some saturdays so during the week after 5pm would be best for me.
Fletcher Library is really nice and in a little rock central location and I know the manager (through work, i'm a librarian as well).
Normally to have food or drink in the meeting room there is a $25 dollar deposit, but after the room is inspected and is clean, they give the money back to you.
so, my vote goes for fletcher library during the week!
7,066 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2008 - 08 01
Fletcher Library is really nice and in a little rock central location and I know the manager (through work, i'm a librarian as well).
Normally to have food or drink in the meeting room there is a $25 dollar deposit, but after the room is inspected and is clean, they give the money back to you.
so, my vote goes for fletcher library during the week!
PS: Terry library is cool too
0 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2008 - 16 16
I am already committed during the Saturday that's left in this month. Weekends are about my only option as things stand right now, so a weekend meeting anywhere is going to work better than a library meeting, unfortunately. Particularly with a library in Little Rock. I would have to come to Jacksonville and go to LIttle Rock from here. My two cents. There is a NaNoWriMo group on Facebook if anyone is interested. There also seems to be an email function on this website. These threads are not the most user friendly to me. So, if you get this and are on Facebook, my name there is Kathy Ivy. That's my name everywhere, come to think of it. I am down to two story ideas, still haven't made a decision.
50,129 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2008 - 17 07
Hey, guys I'm in for whatever! I would prefer the LR libraries since I am located in the middle of all of them. BN is cool too, but we might have a space issue. I'm available this Saturday and next and would love to get together as many times as everybody's schedule allows. Let me know!
----------www.associatedcontent.com/dkhinton
42,526 / 50,000
oct. 23, 2008 - 12 44
What about meeting at a church or a school? I'll call Episcopal Collegiate and ask if they will let us use the library - theere are computers for those who may not have laptops.
----------Anne
The Wench of Aramink
http://aramink.multiply.com
50,412 / 50,000
oct. 28, 2008 - 10 42
No luck with the Adult Leisure Ctr on 12th street -- I think, folks, we will simply have to meet at B&N (preferably on Chenal, for me anyway) or something similar, and stake out a claim.
So ... do we wanna try every Saturday to have ONE person agree to show up, and whoever else wants to can try? Like, maybe Shayla on the day of her DSRA meeting (not volunteering you, only suggesting) and me on another one and someone else on another, etc. And what are good places? As I mentioned, I don't get out a lot (lazy), so name your favourite local haunts. Or if someone has an "in" (such as a church or school as mentioned by aramink), speak up. I'm not a take-charge type, but am willing to show up one Saturday if possible to snag a few tables.
And what did anyone think about the Sat after Thanksgiving at Thompson -- anybody interested? I probably wouldn't be, but you never know. If several DO like that idea, I have to know SOON so I can see if they still have it open (to fill out forms, make deposit, etc). HINT, HINT.
If anyone is serious about a kick-off this Saturday, please post here or nanomail me or aramink! I can check with The Lord & Master (aka: Hubby) and see if he'd like a couple hours of peace and quiet while I steal his laptop ... or just come puterless and schmooze, er, plot doctor.
Sorry to be so uncoordinated, but maybe next year some brave soul will be a ML and we'll be good to go. Although I have written in July of my pocket calendar to contact the libraries about November. Couldn't hurt.
Biting my nails about actually writing, now that the time has almost come,
----------Gammy-the-slug (see, I named myself that for a reason!)
^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
0 / 50,000
oct. 29, 2008 - 04 36
I can commit to the Saturday after Thanksgiving, in the afternoon. As for the deposit on the room at the library, I wouldn't bring any food or want any so soon after Thanksgiving. :) My home calendar isn't going to leave room for a meeting this Saturday. ;( I have decided on my story, though. It will be a historical fiction piece about the life of a woman born in 1906 in China. As a female Fire Horse, she is doomed to a life of poverty and hardship because her sign is considered bad luck. The story will span from 1906 to 1966, the next fire horse year, and cover the historical changes in China and how a woman in the lowest class survives it. Ta-Da. :) The first few days are just doing to be outlining for me, probably. That's my fifty cent. Kathy
50,088 / 50,000
oct. 30, 2008 - 06 41
First time Author here. I'm also in Little Rock. Probably going to hermit it up, but I may write in public after work some times or drop in on the meetings. I may need some encouragement mid-month. I plan on doing a lot of my writing in the before work.
Got a handful of sci fi concepts I'm gonna try to link together. We'll see. Good luck everybody. Two days til launch!
----------"Tonight
You're holding a key
that fits in a lock
that opens a door
that shows you a room
that's holding a heart
that's pumping the blood
that's feeding your brain
with information
sweet information."
-John Hodgman/Jonathan Coulton, The Areas o
7,066 / 50,000
oct. 31, 2008 - 11 54
I can commit to the saturdays that I don't have to work :3
50,412 / 50,000
nov. 4, 2008 - 08 26
Dunno if y'all's notifications are on the fritz so am sending nanomail. Let's try to meet (and anyone else who wants to) THIS Saturday the 8th at Barnes and Noble on Chenal about 2ish or drop in thereafter, have no idea how long, couple hours maybe?
----------^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
50,412 / 50,000
nov. 4, 2008 - 08 26
Dunno if y'all's notifications are on the fritz so am sending nanomail. Let's try to meet (and anyone else who wants to) THIS Saturday the 8th at Barnes and Noble on Chenal about 2ish or drop in thereafter, have no idea how long, couple hours maybe?
----------^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
50,412 / 50,000
nov. 4, 2008 - 08 27
Dunno if y'all's notifications are on the fritz so am sending nanomail. Let's try to meet (and anyone else who wants to) THIS Saturday the 8th at Barnes and Noble on Chenal about 2ish or drop in thereafter, have no idea how long, couple hours maybe?
----------^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
50,412 / 50,000
nov. 4, 2008 - 08 27
Dunno if y'all's notifications are on the fritz so am sending nanomail. Let's try to meet (and anyone else who wants to) THIS Saturday the 8th at Barnes and Noble on Chenal about 2ish or drop in thereafter, have no idea how long, couple hours maybe?
----------^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
9,316 / 50,000
nov. 5, 2008 - 16 15
I'd drop in on the 8th. I don't have a laptop, sadly, so public writing is out, but it'd be nice to see everybody. Just put up a sign or something when you get there so I can find you!
25,743 / 50,000
nov. 5, 2008 - 16 51
I want to stop by Saturday but I'm going to a writer's conference in Maumelle that day. I don't know what time I'll be getting out of there. Maybe I'll see some of you there!
Shayla
----------Shayla Kersten
www.shaylakersten.com
Past Lies (2007 NaNo Novel), Ellora's Cave, Available now
A Helping Hand, Ellora's Cave, Available now
Double Happiness, Ellora's Cave, Available now
Keket's Curse in Masters of Desire, Kensington Aphrodisia, Jan
6,000 / 50,000
nov. 6, 2008 - 14 46
Hello everyone,
I hope it is not too late to give input on the meetings. I like the idea of meeting at episcopal. At B&N I've found they have limited plug-ins, which is a problem for me because I have an old laptop that has to be plugged in. One coffee shop that has a lot of plug ins is Java. It has two locations--one Chenal and one on Rodney Parham in the Breckenridge Shopping ctr. It is a little quieter than B&N. I may try to drop in Sat...maybe I will be fortunate enough to find a place to plug :-o
Happy writing!
ao
6,000 / 50,000
nov. 6, 2008 - 14 48
I like that idea! Any reply from Episcopal Collegiate. It would be a nice, quiet place to have a write-in.
ao
50,412 / 50,000
nov. 6, 2008 - 18 05
I've heard of Java Roasting Co ... but didn't think about them. I know some stay-at-home-moms who escape there once a month. Thanks for the suggestion.
Since I've already sent out emails about B&N, I suppose it's best to meet there this weekend, but maybe next week we can give Java on Chenal a try?
I am HOPING to snag a couple tables, and plan on bringing my extension cord and a surge protector; maybe that's not practical but we'll see as we go.
I hope you can come. Sorry about not having a good place to meet, but we didn't really jump on this early enough (typical for me!).
I'm barely up to 9K right now, but hope to keep plugging away the next couple days.
----------^o^ ^o^ ^o^
Reality is for people who can't handle writing fiction.
6,000 / 50,000
nov. 7, 2008 - 12 38
Hi Gammy,
Sounds like a plan. I will drop in for a little bit. I'm going to take his advice to try to go 1,000 in the morning, the afternoon and before I go to bed on both Saturday and Sunday. You are way up there! Way to go!! I may have to pull in some words from various unfinished short stories and somehow make it all gel, lol!
a-