***Write-Ins and other info

Is there a kick-off party planned yet?

Yey write ins! I'm thinking of having one on Monday Nights either at Caribou or Papa T's in Eagan (more details to come obviously, but this is just for a heads up).

Monday works because I don't close and my husband is usually out all night playing poker. Otherwise I may also do another one on Friday night, but I don't know what my work schedule is going to look like just yet.

I will however be running word wars/writing sprints (whatever you want to call them, they're the same thing) for anyone who's interested.

Wassa word war? Sounds fund just as long as nobody gets injured...hahah.

Eagan is close to me, I might come on Monday nights! I vote for that over Friday, which I would never be able to make.

Word wars are timed sprints where all you do is write and you see how many words you can get in that timed period of time. They're short, maybe about 15 minutes a time, and then we break in between to regroup and what not. They're fun. :)

Eagan is close to me, too! I can do Monday nights--keep us posted on time and location.

Renee

I'll try to keep the 7:00 every Thursday (except Thanksgiving) at Nina's tradition. I got quite a bit done during those times.

So some possible locations for write in's in Eagan:

Papa T's (by shooters on 13). It's a Chicago style eatery, UBER CHEAP with TONS of food options and good portions. I think they have wireless too and are open pretty late.

Caribou on Duckwood by TownCentre. This is my caribou shop...which means hook ups with the drinks and what not, and slight hour extensions to finish thought bubbles if needed. it's open later than the location on cliff road by an hour so...that's another plus.

There's a Cici's Pizza Buffet opening up, and I got coupons for free buffet, so I might check this place out. I don't know what the atmosphere is going to be like though or how busy it'll be because it's going to be new.

any of those sound preferable?

I don't know Papa T's at all, but I'm open to it, especially if it has wireless. Caribou is of course good, especially to have easy access to caffeine!

In my experience, CiCi's pizza tends to be crowded and noisy--lots of kids soccer teams out after the game, etc. The pizza is cheap and okay, but nothing to write home about. Great place to take a young crowd to chow down cheaply, but they like to turn the tables over, and it probably wouldn't be conducive to sitting for a long time. Great people-watching, though, especially if you have kids in your book.

Just my two cents. I'm really getting excited to start. Thoughts are starting to gel in my head, but I have bits and pieces only, not a coherent story.

Do people usually have a complete story arc in their heads before the writing begins? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants and let your characters lead you?

Renee

Renee, usually I have a beginning and an idea of where I want to land (ending), and a few points in between that I think I want to get to, then I fly by the seat of my pants. So far it has worked really well for me. I know there are others who are successful with more detailed outlines, or ideas of their story arc, it seems to be different for everyone. Good luck!
Nell

I wish I had a laptop computer. I'm going to be a hermit in my apartment, typing on my desktop, until I can afford a laptop. :( Oh well. Maybe I can just handwrite during a write-in and then transfer the material to my desktop later. I think I might just do that.

I'm writing a memoir, and have an outline all written out, so I know exactly where my novel is going. But a lot of people just kind of have an idea and go with it. It's totally personal! I like structure, so I felt compelled to make an outline.

Silverbean3 - I've done that when I've had a little time between work and class and haven't wanted to lug the laptop around. I had pretty good luck with it. It helps to print out the last paragraph before you leave home so that you know where you are in your story. It's actually kind of fun to type it up later, because you get to just type and type and watch all those words pile up!

Megan

I have the same problem. I really want to go to write-ins, so I bought myself a super-special NaNo notebook and my favorite pens to use to make up for my lack of a laptop. I am pretty fast at typing so it won't take me long to transfer it to my computer.

I love writing in notebooks! Sometimes it's really nice for the creative mojo, and when I retype it always find myself adding to it. :) I have a laptop but I might just use a notebook or something for write-ins too.

I'll do a test to see how busy Papa T's is on the weeknights or something and what not. I can't have a lot of noise otherwise I get distracted. I'll try it next Monday or something. :) Since that's the potential write in night and what not. See how late they're open, what they're wireless is like, etc. The thing that's nice is you can get a bucket of fries for like...$2, no lie, and huge pizzas for cheap too. They also have pasta and hot dogs and things. There's a caribou across the way from it if you need to run over and grab a coffee quick too.

Caribou is always a good option and I know that my store isn't busy at nights and it's big too, so there's a nice little writing area towards the back for people to chill at. Couches, etc. etc.

I know that the week that nano starts I don't work on Friday night that weekend, so if anyone wants to do a write-in that night, let me know. That would be November 2nd. I'd do one on the 1st, but I have to lead youth group at church that night. But Friday I think I'm open. Saturday I could do the afternoon I think, and maybe Sunday afternoon too unless I desperately need my weekly four hour nap. lol.

As for pre-plotting. I usually fly by the seat of my pants, but this year I'm doing a very general event outline so I can make sure I don't plot hop like usual. Like.

Character goes to ____.
Character does (insert major event here).

Vague enough that I can work around it, but enough that when I get lost I know where to go again.

I'm glad I am not the only one without a laptop. I think I will just go out, buy a notebook, and buy some awesome Gelly Roll pens- they're my favorite. :)

The queen of writing her novel by hand is our own Nell Morningstar, who has done at least three by hand. If you're lucky, maybe she'll share some secrets with you. I remember one year she used a lot of colored pens ... and I think BenPanced also did his by hand one year ...???

I love notebooks and pens -- LOVE them -- but I would rather type. Although I hate lugging around my heavy ol' laptop.

I didn't know this. I'll have to ask her for some tips next time I see her. :)

I also have no laptop. This is also my first time doing nanowrimo. I have a desktop PC, a community center with PC's and a library next door. I want to come to write-ins so I think I'll buy a notebook for that. I like the idea of fun pens! I can transfer easily enough out of my notebook and plan to put everything on a flash drive. That way I can wander around to the different PC's I have access to for different scenery. If you see someone at a bus stop scratching her head and holding a flash drive, point me toward a computer 'cuz I've lost my way and my mind!

Gelly Rolls are like my crack. >.>

Let me know how the Papa T's test run goes. Maybe we can alternate between Papa Ts and Caribou for a change of scenery. I think I'm good for Nov. 2nd if you want to do a write-in that night.

I am very undisciplined, so I know if I'm meeting with people, it will keep me on task!

Yay, I have got more than just a glimmer of a plot! I was reading a book called 20 Master Plots, and it really clarified what was bugging me. I was trying to plot my story from the perspective of my protagonist, but the book pointed out that a mystery is really TWO stories: the story of the villain or "bad actor", and then the story of the protagonist in figuring out the villain's story. Each story has to stand on its own. Once I thought about it from that angle, I was able to put together a complete story for my villain, complete with its own tension and motivation. D'OH! I should have thought of that.

Now I can proceed with outlining. :-)

BTW, everybody get your flu shot before Nano starts!! I came down with the flu on Saturday, and I have been wiped out since!! I had 103 fever, and I thought my brains were going to come out my ears. It's nasty, and it will set you back badly if you get it in November. Just my two cents...

Renee

I ended up buying a folding keyboard for my Palm Pilot to use for mobile writing. I think it's going to work great, but I haven't done much with it yet.

There sure are some cheap deals on laptops right now. My home computer is a bit over a year old, and there are some laptops with similar computing power available right now for less than $400!

My daughter has been wrestling with an ancient laptop for some time now-- it has only a 20G hard drive, and the drive is constantly pushing its limits. Might be time to upgrade...

There are also times when a pen and paper just feel good though, aren't there?

Renee

Yes, it is true, I've done 5 years (this will be my 6th) of Nano all written by hand. I started with it because I had no laptop until last year, I didn't even have a computer of my own until last year. But, I also relish the feel of handwriting, I've been writing since I was 10 years old, and I am of an age (to put it delicately) that computers are relatively new to my writing career. I still feel that I write my best first draft by hand, then I do my first round of rough editing when I type it up. I like to use composition notebooks, and I go through a variety of favourite pens (Sherri is remembering the year I discovered the Flair tropical collection!).
I actually did some research a few years ago (feeling self conscious and everyone was telling me that 'real' writers always write on computers) and found that there are lots of serious, even bestselling authors who prefer to write by hand. I used to have a list, will try to find it.. I have to say, I found it absurdly reassuring that even PUBLISHED writers might choose to write by hand!!
Try it, you might just like it!

I have a write-in scheduled on the calendar, and I should be able to be there. I've told my hubby that I'm going to be there after work for a while and what not, so...yeah. :) I'll keep everyone informed and what not.

I am hoping to make it to a couple. It will all depend on my work schedule. :)

Well, well, I finally got logged into the website.. It's been very busy! First, I must say that the Kick-Off party at Nina's was terrific. It was, an unusual experience for me to be in a room entirely filled with other writers. It was great. Enjoyed hearing from others what they intend to write on, or even, what they plan 'not' to do. It was all very unique to each person yet I suppose we all have something in common. [This November project!] Very nice to meet those that I did. Debwe, you also are a first-timer, and it was nice to meet someone else who was new to this as well. Good luck with your novel! Stuckintraffic, JDai, rjsams, Sapphirestar & ShildenInMn, it was a pleasure talking with you and I wish you all the best starting midnight Nov 1st... You guys rock!

Still have plenty of work to do before midnight Nov 1st... but I'll bet I'm not alone there.

Alright, back on subject - Write-Ins -- I am interested in the Eagan write-ins as it'll be as close as any for me - but is there something definite? I read that 'Mondays' seemed to work (which would be good for me as well), but when & where? Being new to this nano thing, I'm guessing that after a week of writing, I'd very much like to attend a Write-In. I have no idea what lays ahead, but after a week of 'trying it out' a small flock of gathering writers might appear ever so nice. So if something is set for sure, please post it so I may write-it-in on my schedule and arrive, hoping not to appear as though I've been drowning the previous week. Only time will tell.

Happy writing to one and all.

Glad to have meet the happy handful of writers that I did at Nina's.

Write On,
Betsy
aka WiseChild

Glad to hear you enjoyed the kick-off party and met a lot of new folks!

To see exactly where and when all the write-ins are, you need to look at the Yahoo Calendar mentioned in the Yahoo Calendar thread-- one of the top two posts on our forum (starts with *** Please Read). There are some write-ins in Eagan set up, and you will see the details there.

--Theresa, aka sapphirestar

Oh right! Yes I needed to check thread out too.. (the website had been so busy/slow that it took a long time just to open this thread..) Thanks Theresa! BTW, that yahoo calendar thing is a good tool, a GREAT way to list those write-in events and keep us informed. A great idea. ;)

Happy writing to you all!

Betsy

Well I feel like I am slogging through waist-deep oatmeal but at least I have started. I hope to make it to the Nokomis Beach Coffee Shop Write in tomorrow from 2-4. I have no excuse, it's just a block away!

Good luck everyone!