South Shore NaNos....Welcome to the Madhouse

Hi, Jen.

Thanks for being ML. Another possible location is Barnes and Noble in Braintree. There's a lot of parking and plenty of seating in the Starbucks cafe. And it's just down the street from South Shore Plaza should a little retail therapy be needed. (I can't be the only one who bribes herself with a new something-or-other if I meet my writing goal).

I actually am not sure if I'm doing the official NaNoWriMo or revising the novel I wrote last NaNoWriMo. I've been terrible about working on it after making a great start last year.

Take care!

Hi there!

I know there was one other lovely NaNo gal from Sandwich who posted the other day, but some of the posts got lost when the NaNo crash occurred, so I hope she will please repost so we can keep up with her!

And Jandie, the B&N in Braintree sounds great. Any nights you prefer? I'm kind of going with Mondays and Wednesdays and weekends, but nothing says I have to be there. :) Let me know what you think and I'll put a couple of dates on the calendar.
Jen

I'm back! I've actually spent quite a bit of both time and money at that particular B&N :)

I'm fairly wide open, seeing as how I will be unemployed as of November 1... having something to write down on my calendar will make me feel important!

-Caitlin

Hi there!

There's also a Barnes and Noble in Hingham, if anyone's interested.

I'm in Randolph, Braintree would be nice!

OK, check out the Google calendar. I have write-ins scheduled into mid-month, at B&Ns in Braintree and Hingham, Borders in Braintree, Panera in Hingham and the Plymouth Public Library. Toss me more ideas.....I'm trying to do different days of the week so that everyone can come to at least a few.

This is going to be a lot of fun, you guys.

Is anyone interested in having a kickoff gathering before November? Like Oct. 30 somewhere? I wouldn't go so far as to call it a party but we could all meet for coffee somewhere, talk about our projects, etc. Let me know what you think, and where would be a nice place to have it.
Jen

My husband and I are new NANOs. And we're new to the South Shore--we just moved to Easton a few months ago. We worked with the Easton library to create a writing space for NANOs to use this November. Here's info from the library. Hope to see some of you there!

Christine

The Ames Free Library at Easton is delighted to host a series of drop-in writing sessions for those who would like to participate this year.

The drop-in writing sessions will be a great way for local writers to meet, discuss ideas, and support each other during their months efforts, and most of all, to have a time and place away from home to get writing done. It is free. It is fun. It is rewarding.
A special Yahoo group has been set up for all potential Eaton novel writers. Subscribe at EastonNano-subscribe@yahoogroups.com if you want to communicate speedily with this group.

• All sessions will take place at the Cottage, 56 Main Street, Easton (across from the historic Richardson library building).
• Kick-off reception: Tuesday, October 28, 7:00 to 7:45 p.m.
• Drop-in writing sessions will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on November 4, 6, 13, 18, 20, and 25
• Participants bring their own laptop/writing equipment and a fund of creativity.
• Free and open to all age groups (however, there will be no library supervision).
• For more information, contact the Ames Free Library at 508-238-2000 or e-mail info@amesfreelibrary.org.

Christine,

YOUR AWESOMENESS KNOWS NO BOUNDS!!!

I'm scheduling all these write-in dates on our calendar. Miraculously, they didn't conflict with anything I already had. :)

Thsi is good, guys, because I think we're covering a nice wide range of locations. Keep the ideas coming.

Now, here's a question: Should this Oct. 28 kick-off reception should be our official one? Or is it too far away from most of us? I have no problem with it. Maybe we could call the library and see if we can bring food. If we want to have a different locale for the official South Shore NaNo kickoff, let me know.

Jennsaf, you made my day! :)

I'm 99% sure we can bring food. The cottage even has a little kitchen area (and bathroom, FYI). I emailed the librarians to double check on the food, and I'll post again once I hear.

Thanks to Jen and Christine for setting up dates/times - you two are the best!

Hi again--
We can bring food to the cottage, we just have to make sure to take out any trash and clean up crumbs, etc.

We might all barricade ourselves in for 30 days, and have friends and family do food drops at the door. :)

No, I'm kidding. Well, sort of.

So at least we know that for the write-ins, we can indulge in the coffee/chocolate/anything but alcoholic vice of choice.

As for the official kickoff, any thoughts from anyone else?
Jen

Hi, everyone.
I'm Brian, Christine's HusboWrimo. 10/28 in Easton obviously works for us for the official kickoff, and Easton seems to be a good midpoint between those who are farthest south (Plymouth) and farthest north (Braintree) in our little south-of-Boston region. But obviously, Christine and I are open to meeting anywhere. And if 10/28 is too close to D-Day for everyone, how about something casual (like at a bookstore or a Starbucks) for everyone to meet, share ideas, etc.

Looking forward to meeting everyone.
--B.

Hi Brian, and welcome. I'll give it to about mid-month so include anyone who may not be registered yet, but let's call it the tentative, penciled-in kickoff place and time.

Hey there! Another Jen here, from Marshfield : ) Unfortunately I don't think I will be able to make the kick off, but I am hoping to make it to something either in Braintree or Hingham.

Any thought to Borders in Kingston? I work across the hall at Old Navy : )

I don't have access to a laptop this year but have no problem bringing pen and paper! I just would love to meet some local writers as well!

Hello,

I'm new to the group and NaNoWriMo in general. I'm from New Bedford, MA, and looking forward to my first NaNoWriMo experience! This is just the motivation I need to start - and finish - my first novel. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Good luck everyone!

Kelly

Jen,
Probably a silly question, but where can I find the Google Calendar?

Jen,

I'm so glad to see someone else without a laptop. The Kingston Borders is pretty close for me too. : )

Welcome Jen and Kelly and anyone else who I may have forgotten to welcome by name.

Jen, I too do not have a laptop. I'll be using my double-A battery-powered Alpha Smart, which I've been writing on for about 10 years.

The cafe at the Kingston Borders is a little small, but the hell with it, let's book a few nights there anyway. It's close to me and if at least three of us can go, let's do it. If I book a night you're working, let me know and I'll change it.

Brian, not a dumb question, because it took me like a month and much hand-holding from the NaNo office to even figure out how to make it. Go to the top of this thread and click back to the Mass:Elsewhere posts, and near the top it should say South Shore Calendar of Events.

ML Jen (Since there are two Jens, not because I'm suddenly on a power trip.)

And Kelly, we're glad you're sharing your first NaNo experience with us. I've done NaNo only a couple of years but the real trick is to have fun and keep writing. I'm a perfectionist who likes a really tight, clean first draft, and I have to make myself leave that at the curb for NaNo, where it's more like messy fingerpainting.

Anyone want to share what they're working on? Don't feel like you have to. Some people love to talk about their books and some play their cards close to their vest. I'm the latter, but I'm always up for a good listen.

I'm going to update the calendar tonight.

Here's a thought: Would it be all right if you all e-mailed me at jennsaf@yahoo.com with your names, towns, and phone # or e-mails? The last year I did NaNo, often people who really clicked wanted to have additional write-ins, or if they lived very close to one another, or sometimes I like to e-mail foolish little motivational quotes to keep our spirits up. Feel free so I can make a list. I will not share or sell your personal information to a third party. Well, depending on how much they're willing to pay, I guess.
Kidding.
ML Jen

OK, just updated calendar. We're starting to really fill up.

I still want to plan interesting writing outings for the weekend of the 22nd, and the final push the weekend of the 29th. What's awesome is that the 1st and the 30th are both weekend days, so maybe one or more of us will get to 50,000 in the presence of the rest of us.

FYI, I'm away the weekend of the 15th. I do have a good excuse - a writing weekend in Maine with my critique partner, who is also a first-time NaNo writer. So at least I'll be working.

Just checked out the calendar, it looks like there are a lot of options, so that is great! So far as I know I am not working either of those nights that you have Borders in Kingston penciled in for, I will know more after today actually (I may pick up Monday or Wednesday nights for the holidays) I am also going to try to make the Hingham write in if I can.

Any ideas for the 22nd?

So I have to admit, I am still unsure of what I am going with this year. Last year I had a plan and pretty much last minute I changed it. I have a tentative plan again but find I am horrible with outlines and the like and sometimes end up doing a better job almost making it up as I go. Last year was paranormal comedy, which yes seems odd, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. My plan is to revisit that if my other idea goes out the window (other idea right now is...complicated to say the least.)

I'd love to hear what anyone else does in terms of style or what ideas you might be throwing forth this year : )

Brian and I will also be out of commission for much of the weekend of 11/15 (my best friend from college is coming to visit from Seattle. I'm going to warn her that we'll need a few writing hours in there).

As for my book idea, I posted all I know on my novel page. I'd love to get any feedback, so please take a look when you get a chance and either personal message me or feel free to post here, too. I love writing discussions. :) I'd be happy to discuss others' ideas, too.

As for the 22nd, I don't have any stellar ideas. But Brian and I love hosting parties, so if people wanted to we could have a write in at our house and then have some snacks and drinks in the evening. (We're in N. Easton, and we have a dog, cat, and bunny, just saying that in case of allergies.)

I know I love a party, so we can talk about that when we all meet. :) And I love dogs, cats and bunnies even more.

Christine, I'm going to skip over to your page and read your idea.
Jen, a paranormal comedy isn't weird at all. Read some MaryJanice Davidson and Katie MacAllister. They do paranormal comedy like nobody's business. :)

J

Just to second what Christine said, we'd love to host one or more write-ins. We have plenty of room in our house, so we could have an area dedicated to quiet writing, but then also an area for discussing, critiquing, etc., so that everyone can get exactly what they want from their write-in session. Also, our house is walking distance from the Library Cottage where the other write-ins are to be held.

Not sure what dates. Christine and I will get back to everyone.

Hi everyone,

I'm still not 100% sure if I'm doing to do NaNo this year. Each year seems to get worse for me and I end up writing less and less. But there being a group for down here; well, that's super swank.

BTW, has this always been the location of the South Shore forums? Or is this new? Because, I've always lurked around the RI boards, figuring they were the closest, but I can't recall looking now that I think about it.

And I'm kind of psyched to see that there's something as close as Easton. Never went to any of the "events" for NaNo, but I'm tempted to do this one. I could almost walk there (no, not really).

Oh what to do....

Evil Wayne,
I'm intrigued by you, if only so far because you're Evil Wayne.:)

I didn't ML last year, but in '06 I think we posted in the same place, Mass.: Elsewhere. They just gave me a Plymouth forum, but I directed everyone here so I don't have to be in two forums at once. Plus, didn't want people to think we were only in Plymouth.

And yes, come to some events! It's fun. We all kind of feed on each other's energy, and if someone really needs help, we can brainstorm out of it. We're like nerdy cheerleaders. Well, I guess I just mean me. And well, I guess I just mean nerd. Never mind. Just come anyway!

ML Jen

Oh, is that ever a long story... Actually, no. No, it's not.

Ah, okay. I think I figured Mass: Elsewhere was for covering everything west of 495. Damnit, don't I think like a Bostonian? I'm glad I looked.

I guess the really important thing is nobody got hurt.

Whatever that means.

Thanks Jen, I'll pencil the Easton event on my calander. I still don't know if I'll NaNo this year, but I will say that just lurking around has improved my motivation and I got 21 days to mull it over.

21 days of motivation will triumph over any reluctant soul. Failing that, just try lollipops. I usually bring them to the write-ins.
J

Mmmmmmmmmm...lollipops.