For those that haven't checked, the Northeast New Jersey region does not have a Municipal Liaison this year. That means if we're going to have any write-ins or other meetings, we have to work it out together. I figure it would be a good idea to start a thread to work through the planning process together.
Does anyone have any suggestions for locations?
For those who have attended these functions in the past, what were the locations that worked well?
I know two suggestions were thrown out in the "um hello?" thread: Cafe Eclectic in Montclair and Mara's Cafe in Denville.
I'd like to nominate the Borders in Ramsey on Rt. 17 as a possible location. I'm in there all the time to write papers and the staff is very accommodating of my buy one drink and sit there for hours policy. Plus, Borders now has free Wi-Fi. Most of the staff knows how to make a good latte, though they've recently started to cut back on milk in the large size by filling the top with extra foam. It can get pretty busy during lunch hours and weekends, though mornings and nights are pretty empty.
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http://www.trentsketch.com
7,639 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2009 - 05 33
i dont think i could make anything being that i have no transportation or laptop to write anyway (id have to hand write if i went anywhere) but i hope others could get together, it sounds like a good/cool idea..
----------35,568 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2009 - 10 20
I'd be in for any meetup at Cafe Eclectic, and I'm willing to go further afield if anything gets put together.
18,157 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2009 - 10 24
I live in Livingston, so the Borders in Ramsey is a bit of a hike for me. Do all Borders now off free wifi? The one by my house didn't use to, so I switched and started Nanoing at Panera in Essex Greens.
44,000 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2009 - 11 51
The free wifi is supposed to be a new corporate policy at Borders, though I can't guarantee all the stores have added access yet.
----------http://www.trentsketch.com
0 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2009 - 12 17
I'm a fan of Eclectic, but I'm not opposed to borders. They have a fairly spread out setup and we can fit a good amount of people there.
----------Reviled I did Live.
Evil I did Deliver.
40,150 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2009 - 18 25
My first thought was the Starbucks in downtown Newark but that thought left my head as soon it came. Depending on time of day, it is not the best place to be...and I say this as a person who lives there.
My second thought was either the Barnes and Noble in Livingston Mall or the Livingston Borders on West Mount Pleasant Avenue. Both, I believe, have some type of cafe where we could gather . Now that I think about it, the B&N - Livingston Mall isn't all that busy usually...maybe because the mall, itself, isn't all that busy.
----------Nano 2009 - Howling Storms - Hoping for the best :)
Nano 2008 - Ying ang Yang - WON!!
18,157 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2009 - 18 55
I live right by the Livingston Mall, so if you ever want to meet up, must let me know and I will join you.
35,568 / 50,000
oct. 12, 2009 - 21 48
Panera at Essex Green piques my interest as well, I imagine its a nice environment to write in and its in a pretty easily accessible location.
12,982 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2009 - 13 37
I know there's a great Panera nearby... Paramus, maybe? It's in a complex with a kid's hair place, Annie Sez, and I think Kohls and Daffys. I like writing there when I can. They have a separate room and I'm pretty sure it's wi-fi equipt. However, I also love the idea of Borders. :)
----------NNWM 2008 - Beyond Rebellion, 63k - WON
SF 2008 - Midsummer's Nightmare, 100 pages - WON
NNWM 2009 - Sevens - We shall see...
7,682 / 50,000
oct. 13, 2009 - 17 36
Newark actually works for me since i both work and go to school at Rutgers - which, btw, there is a Starbucks on campus but it gets very crowded!
I could only meet somewhere I can get to by train/mass transit, since I don't drive, but basically anywhere on the Dover/Morristown line (there's a bookstore in South Orange I can see from the train in the mornings that looks promising, anyone familiar with that place? would they be willing to host a meeting you think?) ... or there's a Starbucks in Summit with Wi-fi access. I may be able to get to Denville.
Montclair is out for me.
26,000 / 50,000
oct. 14, 2009 - 16 53
I am willing to travel just about anywhere, as long as it is in Northern NJ....I live near Montclair....
12,982 / 50,000
oct. 16, 2009 - 17 53
Montclair seems to be a pretty populous area. I'm about 20 minutes away, I think.
----------NNWM 2008 - Beyond Rebellion, 63k - WON
SF 2008 - Midsummer's Nightmare, 100 pages - WON
NNWM 2009 - Sevens - We shall see...
50,244 / 50,000
oct. 16, 2009 - 19 03
Across the River just a few minutes away on the PATH: Any Hudson Co. Folks floating around here?
Thinking of crossing the river to take a peek, but not ready on a work night to shlep much further than that.
----------2006 - Faire Gypsy, Faire Game - winner
2007 - Immortal Jeopardy - winner
2008 - Armor of Sight - winner
2009 - The Minstrel -
Gone Writing.
34,013 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2009 - 10 10
Hmmm ... wondering how the foliage is across the Hudson. Might be inspiring to walk around there for a bit. Catch a write in and sip some hot cider.... I'm feeling warmer already just thinkin' about it.
PS. long hand shouldn't stop anyone from attending a write in. That's how I'd be doing it and I've attend several with spiral and a print out in hand.
I'll keep the tea steeping
----------After turning 40 I decided to; Live a passionate life, a life filled with becoming who I was meant to be, and being surprised. That led to a husband who led me here.
0 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2009 - 14 19
HI. I just joined today and saw that in earlier posts everyone was pretty much either a teenager or in their twenties.
Wondering if since that time - anyone older has joined. And I am wondering if there's anyone else here who's very experienced in writing. I'd like to consider meeting up with y'all, however, I think I may be in a different place in life. And wondering if the younger members of the group here are open to elders (man, what a horrible word, "elders," lol) and if there's anyone else who's already written. I don't want to be the only Obi-Wan.
I'm open-minded, but it would be a little more fun for me to know I'm not the only non-beginner. : )
Okay, at ease: carry on with your weekends...
3,239 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2009 - 17 32
Hi there Beentheredonethat... I'm new here, first time and forty-something....heck, never backed down from a challenge, haven't published any of my work yet but looking to invest in self-publishing my children's book. I'm in it to force myself to write something within a deadline and not use "not enough time" as an excuse...so I'll be sitting at the "elders" table during this writing experience.
----------Ev
4,561 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2009 - 18 06
I'm a big fan of Cafe Eclectic in Montclair. It's where the writers group I attend meets and I go there regularly to write. Nice atmosphere, free wi-fi, friendly staff.
----------My blog
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50,324 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2009 - 18 20
FYI, Mara's in Denville isn't too long a walk from the train station, so that might work for you. I live a couple blocks away, so I wouldn't be able to come up with a good reason to skip any meet-up that was held there. I'm a big fan of "But I'm in my jammies already" laziness.
I could do Montclair, but I think Livingston would be better in terms of parking. I haven't been inside the new B&N, but I'm sure they have room. The place is huge.
Oh, and I'm past my 20s, too. Maybe not that far past, but I think I probably belong at the elders table now. :)
44,657 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2009 - 18 53
If you live near campus, I can pick you up at the Museum. I work at the Newark Museum and know the area well. for what, two or three write-ins? Not a problem.
suelder
----------Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the cha
3,239 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2009 - 19 12
At the risk of sounding like the 'rookie' that I am...being this is a first for me, does everyone have to attend the meet ups? and...what's the agenda? getting to know each other, work on our writing.... a little help please.thanks!
----------Ev
35,589 / 50,000
oct. 18, 2009 - 04 24
Anyone interested in a meet-up at the Barnes and Noble on 22 in Springfield? We're trying to set one up on the CNJ board, but I thought I'd cross-post since I'm not sure how to classify Union County...
34,013 / 50,000
oct. 18, 2009 - 12 16
BeenThereDoneThat,
Hello, and welcome. In your post you Wrote "I saw that in earlier posts everyone was pretty much either a teenager or in their twenties.
Wondering if since that time -- anyone older has joined. And I am wondering if there's anyone else here who's very experienced in writing. I'd like to consider meeting up with y'all, however, I think I may be in a different place in life. And wondering if the younger members of the group here are open to elders (man, what a horrible word, "elders," LOL) and if there's anyone else who's already written. I don't want to be the only Obi-Wan.
I'm open-minded, but it would be a little more fun for me to know I'm not the only non-beginner. : )
My husband has been part of this endeavor going on 4 years now and is past the midway point in life. (Over the age of 35) and I myself am over the age of 45. We have each been writing for better than well over 10 years. Some of my work has appeared in local newsletters and some now defunct online sites as well.
Speaking on behalf of those overlooking the hill we'd love to see you at a write-in or three. :-)
----------After turning 40 I decided to; Live a passionate life, a life filled with becoming who I was meant to be, and being surprised. That led to a husband who led me here.
30,231 / 50,000
oct. 18, 2009 - 12 25
I am exit 145 of tpe parkway. i'm pretty much good to go anywhere, so long as the place has outlets we can use, because the battery life of my laptop it limited to like an hour. it seriously sucks.
----------~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Nano '07 - Participant
Nano '08 - Won!
Nano '09 - crossing my fingers!
44,657 / 50,000
oct. 19, 2009 - 03 37
Yes, that's in Paramus on Route 4 - it's on the westbound side, right across from the Bergen Mall. It's probably the place closest to where I live that's been mentioned so far.
Suelder
----------Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the cha
7,682 / 50,000
oct. 19, 2009 - 06 52
plantagent, i used to live right off the Grove St. path, but no longer... i'm in the burbs now. i still occasionally go visit people in the old 'hood, though my favorite cafe shut down which makes me very sad (they had awesome croissants)
Suelder, don't live in Newark, but I do work on the campus. I actually live in Summit, which is why Montclair is kinda hard for me with no car (on a different train line) ... thanks for the ride offer, it's the getting back home that's the problem, but I'll try to see if I can coerce my husband into driving to montclair if that ends up being more convenient for everyone else.
11,635 / 50,000
oct. 20, 2009 - 17 38
So far, the Panera is the only place suggested that I can make it to. I would be using public transit. So, Montclair is pretty much out of the picture from where I am in Hackensack. I have no useful suggestions.
52,236 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 18 21
Age 49, been a professional writer for 25 years. I'd be happy to buddy/Nano with you! What's your background?
------------Deborah
South Orange, NJ
52,236 / 50,000
oct. 21, 2009 - 18 24
Sorry, that was random -- responding to the older writer's post.
I live in South Orange, so Panera at Essex Green, Livingston, or Montclair are all okay for me. To the person that asked, you don't have to go, by any means!
------------Deborah
South Orange, NJ
35,568 / 50,000
oct. 23, 2009 - 14 37
Posting here as well to say I've got a car and am willing to pick up anyone who is itching to attend a meetup but can't get there due to the inconvenient public transport around here and lack of a car.
0 / 50,000
oct. 23, 2009 - 20 08
friends who have organised meetups consider those who do not have cars and extra cash -- sometimes schedule meetings at public libraries so they will be 'free' and easy to get to. (ie, within walking distance of train lines.)