Bismarck NaNo

Where will the meetings be? I'm pretty sure Parallax will still be welcoming, as long as an appropriate night is picked (i.e., not in the middle of the Yu-Gi-Oh tournament). And if people buy snacks and drinks, especially. :)

I'm actually looking at a wide range of places.

Barnes & Noble, Parallax Computers & Games, Tricia's Bakery, and of course, our traditional one at grrrrltalk's house! That is, as long as she'll have us.

B&N is to try to attract those who wouldn't have heard of NaNo will see it and maybe a few of them will join. Other than that, I'm exploring all kinds of ideas.

;)

Ok, now that I've FINALLY gotten my computer back to 95% of what it was before my meltdown, I can start working on NaNo again!

So, everyone who is interested in having a kickoff party, speak up! I'm interested in hearing days to have it and locations... and to lead the way, I'd like to start off with my day/suggested location:

Tuesday, October 28 at Barnes & Noble

The location will be so that other potential writers can see us and potentially start writing with us as well. The other thing is that several Wordsmiths marked B&N as the center of all of our locations, so I'm hoping its still fairly central. The day is far enough ahead to give everyone a buffer between the party and the start of NaNo as well as being the last day off I'll have before NaNo begins.

I'm writing behind a huge obstacle this year: two jobs which eat up an enormous amount of my free time. Hopefully, I can inspire others who are finding it hard to find time to write.

Oh, and I am PUBLISHING this year's novel. I've got a goal of doing this, and if no one will publish a 50K word novel, I'm doing it myself. Yes, I'm talking about starting a publishing company to make sure there is a place for WriMos to publish their hard work.

So, let the suggestions begin!

Hello everyone! I would love to attend a Bismarck NaNo get-together! This is my first year doing NaNoWriMo (although I've been writing for as long as I can remember), so I'd love to meet other area writers. ^_^

Barnes & Noble is always a good spot, and I have a great deal of love for Parallax as well - although there, I risk running afoul of one or more ex-suitors. o_O Anyway, whatever the masses decide is fine with me, and I'll do my best to make an appearance!

Let's keep this thread alive, Bis-Man writers! ~.^
~~*astro-pez-monkey

Pookel, I love the signature. Its awesome.

Astro-pez-monkey: we'd love to have you! This is my third year and I am working on some cool "non-NaNo" stuff to promote it with, using the name Wordsmiths... which would also love to have you.

Speaking of the Wordsmiths, is there any others reading these threads yet?

I can't take any credit for the signature, August made it. There's a huge thread for getting sig banners made, I forget which forum it's in though. All I did was pick photos and put in a request (and I'm thrilled with the results!).

As usual, North Dakota is a very, very small world. I am sure I have seen you around at least once. ^_^ I was the female end of the trio who wanted to run The Spoils tournaments and tutorials. (Now none of us get along so I have no one to play Spoils with. U_U() ) Also, I tagged along when the aforementioned males made the very first two purchases at Parallax. That was pretty nifty. ^_^

Well, I love to be had. XD This is the first time I have (er, will be) completed (completing) a novel since the summer of 2002 - basically, I'm the writer who doesn't write o_O - so I'm a little daunted. But after my best friend gave it a try last November, I couldn't resist jumping on the bandwagon.

I look forward to meeting you all! And one more question - is this party just a Barnes & Noble, or Parallax, or wherever, shindig, or does it progress along the lines of bar-crawling, adult beverages and loopy shenanigans? ~.^ (I suppose that sort of thing would depend on whether any of our BisMan writers are under 21...) Just curious - I don't get out much, so even a "party" where cappucino or Jones soda is the drink of choice, is a good time in my book. ^_^

Well, I'm going to be out of town for a week, but when I get back I hope to find that this ensemble has come to some sort of decision as to the date, time, and location of the pre-NaNoWriMo celebration. ^_^

Until then, may the creative forces be with you!
~~*astro-pez-monkey

I see on the NaNo site that the SF Bay folks are doing a big write-in on Nov. 15, which is a Friday. What would you guys think about doing something similar here? It's halfway through, so it seems like that would be good timing. And if we do it at Parallax we can stay pretty damn late (I'd say 2 a.m.-ish, probably not ALL night, but Andrew says he can hand it off to me so he can have the kids and I can keep the store open and write with you guys).

I would guess no bar-hopping, astro, judging from the crowd in previous years, but I may be proved wrong! Sadly, I have a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old and a full-time job of my own (on top of Andrew being busy with Parallax), so I just don't have the time for that kind of thing that I used to.

I'll be participating again this year as well. I may even find a willing (and free!) babysitter for my little guy, so I should be able to attend during whatever times work for the rest of you.

OMG YOU HAVE A BABY?

Wait, I probably said that last year. I don't think I've seen you in a couple years!

Anyway, that's lovely and you have to bring pictures, if not the actual child, to the write-ins. Please? :)

I am all for the progression of the party into alcoholic beverages... and, yes, some of the NaNo participants are under 21, so that would mean that party would have to be a two parter.

:)

I am all for a massive write in on the 15th. Hopefully I've also mentioned that there will be a consistent write in schedule through out NaNo... AND BEYOND! Yes, I'm hoping the Wordsmiths will be reborn, like the Phoenix... not the city, the fictional bird.

:)

Hey Everybody! This is my third year doing NaNo and I plan to actually finish this year. I'm up in Minot and don't have the opportunity to get down to Bismarck that often, but I'm hoping to attend at least one event with you all this year. I found a friend up here who's interested in attempting to complete, so I'm not totally alone, but I was wondering if there is anyone else on this board who lives in Minot or anywhere close so that we may be able to get together a couple of times throughout the month.

Let me know and we'll see what we can set up.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Right? Well, I'm on that second try again (third time overall). Maybe that's what it takes.

Hello, Bismarckers! This is my second year in NaNo. I didn't finish last year; I only managed 7,000-plus words. I didn't get to attend any events in town, either.

I want to get serious about writing this year, so I hope to attend as many meet-ups as I can. Hopefully I'll be inspired by the company of other writers.

As of this moment, I'm planning on running write-ins up the wazoo. There will be at least a couple a week and I'm trying to figure out how to spread them around without watering them down too much because I want to attract as much attention as I can.

Parallax is excited about hosting them, though, so they're looking like our primary location at the moment (i.e., there will be more than one here).

Also, as I've stated in either this post or another one in the ND region, I plan on running YEAR ROUND write-ins. The Wordsmiths, which is the writing group that was formed after last year's NaNo, is interested in returning to regular meetings and rather than being more critique-centric, I want to be more writing-centric. We'll still critique, too, but I want to actually write at writing meetings. Also, I'm just going to have an "open invitational" write-in once a week at a predetermined location so that I can revamp my NaNo novel this year for publication and start on other novels, too!

For those wanting to meet everyone in Bismarck's NaNo circle, my goal is to have near 100% attendance from Bismarck at the first meeting, after which, schedules may vary.

I've got lots of plans and I'm already planning through to next year's NaNo, too... I want other regions to be jealous of the cool stuff I'm working on and when it's executed, I want other regions to wonder why they aren't doing it, too. This year will be good... next year will be spectacular... the year after that, who knows?

Do we have a definite time and place for the first meeting? I think it would be really cool to have a late-night kickoff party on Halloween, and start writing at midnight (which I think we could do at Parallax).

I will be working on Oct. 28, but if the meeting is at around 6, I can be there for an hour on my dinner break, maybe a little longer.

Quoted from above:

"Tuesday, October 28 at Barnes & Noble"

I'm thinking 6pm is a good start time, too. Since I've given up trying to reserve space in B&N, we'll just take over the cafe area.

Wondering what I mean? I've tried to reserve space in B&N for the Wordsmiths on multiple occasions and every single time no one knows what I am talking about when we get there, so I stopped trying. I really love B&N but that really pisses me off. So, I've just learned to move into a corner, and as people show up, expand until we get areas around us! Besides, that style of take over will get us noticed and hopefully that attention will be from other potential writers!

Ha! That's great! B&N really should be supporting NaNo.

LimeCat, do you have any flyers for NaNo?

I have made none, I am sad to admit. My two jobs have been almost overlapping in how often I've worked over the course of the last three months and things are finally starting to thin out... FINALLY.

I did have a design made up and I will do my best to have some ready for the kickoff party but I can't make any promises at this point. I have also been unable to order ANY stickers, or other NaNo sponsored swag because none of the links work. I am in contact with the head honchos about this.

This is all rushing at me so fast... I had so many things planned that went down the tubes because of a computer crash and work. Wow.

You may all want to pelt me with soft, fluffy things... because that wouldn't hurt so bad. :)

North Dakotans! Sweet! Unfortunately, I'm one of those teens you all spoke of earlier. Only for another six months though as I'm twenty next year! ;) I'm a winner in last year's nano, and could be interested in the get together. But seriously, Is there ANYONE attending who's a fellow youthful genius? Kidding of course, about the genius part anyways.

You can never fail if you never give up.

I am one of the charter members of Wordsmiths (which I would LOVE to see reborn!!!) I've done NaNo four years, won the last three, even though last year was a nightmare. (I want a repeat of the year before when I finished WAY before everybody else, including LimeCat!)

When Wordsmiths fizzled, I got lonesome for like-minded buddies, so I became involved in a private animal rescue that our local big pet store supports. I hung around there so much the managers finally started telling me I should punch in, so I did. Right now I am juggling that along with my regular professional caregiver job and a cleaning job, and fostering five kittens. And my dad has been in the hospital for the past week and isn't doing very well. I have done almost no writing since last year's NaNo. I have absolutely no clue what to do for this year. I haven't even thought about it yet. I am probably insane to even try this year, but it's addictive.

Wednesday nights are perfect for me right now for any and all meetings. Tuesday nights may be possible. I will try to be at the meet and greet, but I have to go out to the farm and bring my mom up to the hospital, so we'll see. For anybody who doesn't already know me, I'll be the haggard one with a shirt full of cat hair. See you then!

I'm not actually from Bismarck, but my wife and I did stop in to Parallax on Sunday: I didn't even know Bismarck had such a store, and we were pretty excited about it. I have yet to find a group of people to consistently play games with in Fargo, but here's hoping that will change.

Also, astro-pez, I have about three or four decks of The Spoils cards that are just itching to get a workout. Great to meet another fan of a wonderful game.

Sounds like the local writing scene in Bismarck is pretty kicking.

Hi there Bismarck Nanos! It was great meeting you, all the best and sending inspiration and bliss your way for the beginning of an exciting month!

Hi, Pookel got me into this! ;) I'm having fun. I hope I can make one of the meetings. I've got a little one too.

Writing my first Nano!

Hi Limecat and Bismarck! I will be in Bismarck on Sunday night the 12th, is there anyone who would be able to meet up for a mini write in? I am tied up until 8PM but any time after that is good for me. I will probably just be at B+N unless I hear otherwise.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make anything that late. I have to be up at 4am on Monday to work at the post office and getting enough sleep means going to bed at or before 8pm. I'd loved to have done it, though!

And on a side note: since the snowstorm hit I haven't gotten a chance to write anything! Won't get anything written today, either.

Wow, that is totally ok, I understand! Next time. I just dug myself out here in Minot as well. Its beautiful and I think I may take the dog for a long walk to enjoy the sun for a bit. Side note I am a couple thousand below my daily goals, sigh. But progressing in the story very nicely.

That's next Wednesday night, right? I won't know my schedule till this Thursday, because I just changed my availability at work, but I'd like to come.

LimeCat, are you still having the Wednesday write-ins at Tricia's Bakery? I will try to be there this week, if you are.

Well, I got called in to work, so THAT fizzled. I hope nobody was waiting on me! :(

Nope, I was there last week. You look like you are cruising along with the wordcount though- great job!