It's traditional to get together on Wednesday evenings in the Second Cup in central station to discuss what we're doing. Certainly the gang is there during November, but some of use start gathering earlier in October.
Some people even choose their evening classes so as to be compatible with these Wednesday evenings.
I'll probably start coming to them this month as soon as I get an indication that people are going to show up. But I can't come Wednesday the 14th or 21th of October -- I have to attend a vernissage the 14th day and be present in the gallery the 21nd. But you're welcome to show up there and talk nano. Maybe we'll recruit a few gallery visItors to the cause! (my wife has paintings in the show; see her blog at http://pandorasboxinthegardenofeden.blogspot.com/ and the actual invitation at http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TxqfClo4LM/Sr5xF3kCsGI/AAAAAAAAAJI/Fx-b43VNes...)
Also, there are usually write-ins as well, in local coffee shops around town. Ground rules there are that the place has to be wheel-chair-accessible. Of course there's no real requirement that everyone show up and write only in wheel-chair-accessible locations, but I hate to exclude anyone eager because of a mobility problem.
So I propose we continue meeting in the usual place Wednesday evenings as is traditional, but again, I'm willing to consider alternatives if there are good reasons. (having a really quiet environment might be a good reason).
Last year on Thurday evenings there were gatherings at the Starbucks in the Chapters store on St. John's boulevard on the West island -- difficult to reach from downtown by transit, but the literary context made it a very pleasant and productive place to write, and it *was* wheel-chair accessible (the elevator is in the back left of the store).
There were also write-ins at a very crowded Second Cup on Monkland. Too crowded for my taste, but it was just around the corner from where I live, so I showed up anyway.
I might be able to book a room in the Unitarian Church a few blocks from the Vendome metro station now and then if you guys think that's a good idea. Daytime on weekdays might be easiest to arrange, but anytime the church is open might be possible (such as during Monday choir practice).
Discussion get-togethers tend to be noisy. Writeins tend to be quiet. Sometimes people try writing diring a discussion; sometimes people discuss plot problems durint a write-in.
Comments and proposals welcome. Actually, the way write-ins are usually organised is that anyone announces one for somewhere at some time, and then it happens.
-- hendrik
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-- hendrik
26,742 / 50,000
oct. 5, 2009 - 21 01
City transport to that WI Chapters isn't difficult for me; Adapted Transport got to it fine.
----------Every day, you wake up. Things can only go up from there.
4,871 / 50,000
oct. 6, 2009 - 06 38
I love that Starbucks in Chapters on the West Island!
I'm there almost everyday, almost. And you're right about the literary feel to the place. When things are a little dismal, I walk the aisles, browse the books, barely resist the urge to wrap myself in them and things start to feel better.
If there's a write-in, I'll be there!
----------I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
15,054 / 50,000
oct. 6, 2009 - 07 35
Yes. You made it there last year!
------------ hendrik
15,054 / 50,000
oct. 6, 2009 - 08 58
I've liked it so much that I continued going there Thursday nights for the rest of the year -- I didn't stop after November. But my attendance was subject to exhaustion, vacation, other commitments, so I made it there only about half the time.
But now, unfortunately, it looks as I am committed elsewhere on Thursdays for the next eight weeks (a QWF workshop), which pretty well covers the nanowrimo period. Maybe another night? Probably I should just leave my coML to make his own arrangements for the west island; after all, that's what he's coML for.
Of course at anytime anyone can announce a write-in anywhere. That's how the West Island write-ins got started in the first place!
------------ hendrik
10,204 / 50,000
oct. 6, 2009 - 10 27
I'm all for the Thursday night meet ups at Chapters on St. Jeans.
----------Don't bug me, I'm writing!
4,871 / 50,000
oct. 6, 2009 - 13 19
I could probably do one or two Thursdays.
How about Mondays?
----------I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
3,496 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2009 - 09 02
I'll probably be headed to the Second Cup on the corner of Parc & Milton to write, if anyone would be interested in joining me please let me know when you'd be available... I'm usually free any evening other than Thursday.
25,633 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2009 - 17 36
I work at the chapters in the west island and would love to meet up after a long shift to discuss and plot and solve! What time do people usually meet up at? Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays are good for me.
4,871 / 50,000
oct. 8, 2009 - 02 41
Hi everyone,
I've created a new thread for the West Island.
Post the days you're interested in there and let's get some days set up.
----------I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
0 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 04 55
I'd love meet up at the Second Cup on Parc & Milton. I'm free pretty much any evening except Wednesday. I'm out of town next week, but after Nov 1, I'll be there!
6,689 / 50,000
oct. 27, 2009 - 14 19
Are there very many parents in Montreal who are doing NaNoWriMo? Maybe we could have a meet up for parents, like a play-date/write-in where the kids play and the adults write.
----------"Put seatbelts on your ears, Roy, because I'm about to take them for a ride!" -Moss from The IT Crowd
zoot_justzoot aka Saraline
26,742 / 50,000
oct. 27, 2009 - 16 37
Are we planning a meet tomorrow night? I have to reserve my Transport in the morning.
----------Every day, you wake up. Things can only go up from there.
72,503 / 50,000
oct. 27, 2009 - 17 03
I should be at the Central Station Second Cup around 7 p.m. and from this thread: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3316179 I'm guessing a few others might make it.
----------8,190 / 50,000
oct. 27, 2009 - 17 55
I have three kids, 8, 6 and 1 yr old. I could certainly go for weekend playdates where we could write. I could pass the baby off to a willing family member and get the boys and bring them somewhere they could play.
Who has kids? What age? What kind of thing could they do, should we try for a kidzone or something?
Brainstorm!
Annie
----------"An 8 year old, a 6 year old, a 1 year old, school, work, house... Nano? Least of my problems!"
6,689 / 50,000
oct. 27, 2009 - 18 42
I have one kid, also a one year old. Unfortunately my family doesn't live here so I can't pass him off on them, lol.
I'm new to the whole mom thing and taking kids out for something to do. I just took him to the park a lot in the summer but now that it's getting cold I don't know where I could take him to play. Where do you usually take your kids in the winter?
----------"Put seatbelts on your ears, Roy, because I'm about to take them for a ride!" -Moss from The IT Crowd
zoot_justzoot aka Saraline
28,074 / 50,000
oct. 27, 2009 - 19 28
I have two boys (5 &3) but I have a hard time writing when they're around. Usually for write-ins I'll leave them home with mom for the evening, since they're asleep before 8 anyways. I can't see myself at a playdate with writing involved, they're just way, way, way too active.
15,054 / 50,000
oct. 28, 2009 - 08 38
See you guys tonight (Wednesday the 28th) at the Second Cup in the Central Station main concourse, 7-9PM.
----------I'll be wearing a too-bright yellow Nanowrimo T-shirt. I might be late, or massively early. depending on things I have very little control over.
-- hendrik
8,190 / 50,000
oct. 28, 2009 - 08 58
I can juggle two babies (not literally). You want to do a get together where I take both babies while you write (in my basement lets say) and then I write and you take both babies? We'd need earphones so we don't get distracted, but I'm willing if you are.
In the winter, babies can still go out, we just have to dress them appropriately. There are little parks like kidzones they can play inside too.
A lot of parents tend to take babies to walk around in the mall, which isn't a bad idea. One of us could write (we rent a 2 kid stroller at customer service like at Angrignon mall) while the other walks around with the kids. Then the other...
Other ideas?
Annie
----------"An 8 year old, a 6 year old, a 1 year old, school, work, house... Nano? Least of my problems!"
28,074 / 50,000
oct. 28, 2009 - 09 34
I'll definitely be there tonight as well, since I'm working across the street from Central Station today, rather than in the West Island. I'll probably be there early, because the alternative is staying at work for 2 hours longer than necessary.
6,689 / 50,000
oct. 28, 2009 - 11 39
I think that taking turns with the babies is a great idea. I have a wagon that has two seats in it so one of us could walk them around the park too while the other one writes. I think the mall sounds like a good idea.
----------"Put seatbelts on your ears, Roy, because I'm about to take them for a ride!" -Moss from The IT Crowd
zoot_justzoot aka Saraline