Westchester

I'm up for it if I'm available on the days you want to meet up.

Hi Everyone,

Sergio here and I am looking forward to this years Nano more than ever. Having finished my second year and failing last year, I want to get back on track in 08. Choosing the route of hibernating and late night writing sessions, in my kitchern, saw me fall short by some 20k words. i truly think a few write-ins here and there and I would have made it. So, I hope to meet up with some of my fellow Westchesterians and grind it out on the old keyboard.

Cheers,
Sergio

(Yorktown here)...I would like to...depending on the schedule of course.

I'm in Pleasantville and I'd definitely be interested in some write-ins. Sunday afternoons/evenings are my best weekend time. Weekday evenings might be ok too depending on how marathon we want our write-ins to be.

Anyone interested in meeting for a kick-off party?

I like to spend my write-ins bouncing ideas off people, but I also like spending that time online doing research, so I prefer to meet somewhere that has free wi-fi. Then when I'm on my own I can focus on writing and not have to do research then.

The earliest I get home from work during the week is 6:00, so I'd need the write-ins to be on the semi-late side. Exceptions include Tuesdays the 4th and 11th when I'm off for Election Day/Veterans Day.

If we don't organize ahead of time (or even if we do) we can always post impromptu write-ins, like "I'm heading over to (place) tonight around (time), anyone who wants to join me can stop by."

I'm in Tarrytown, and out of the three years I've participated, haven't hit the 50k goal yet... so I really, really need to go to some write-ins. It's likely I'll be at Coffee Labs on Main Street in Tarrytown, but I'm up for any write-ins involving coffee!

I have never been to that place, although I have heard of it. Is it a comfortable environment to hang out in?

I like the idea of a kickoff meeting...maybe we can discuss ideas and plots before we begin. Sometimes by asking questions of people's plots and brainstorming may lead to epiphanies. I am game for scheduled meetings as well as "I'll be at such&such place tonight."

Sometimes libraries have basement rooms to use...I know the John C. Hart library in Shrub Oak has one. I will try to see if Ossining and P-ville have one. Even to meet at diner and bring our notebooks & discuss what we're doing may be helpful.

Hi Again,
Ossining and Mt. Pleasant libraries have a meeting room for use. Of course, we have to call to "book" the room. Ossining has a large room that will hold 35, but we can still reserve it.

Mount Pleasant has a room, but no availability left in October. They have several Monday evenings open in Nov. And also, Tuesday, Nov. 11, Sat. Nov. 8th and they *might* have Sat. Nov. 15 and Sat. Nov. 22nd.

Of course, those are just options...

Libraries are an option, but it depends on when they close. I like places that are open late so that if I get on a roll I don't have to leave just so they can close up for the night. I also hate the quiet (yet I work in a library, go figure) and like being able to talk during write ins.

There are several Starbucks locations in the area, but the WiFi is not free. There's a Panera in Yorktown Heights, and that one does have free WiFi. I'm not sure what else is around but I'm open to discovering new places.

Panera in Yorktown sounds like an excellent choice. It is big, they leave you alone--and I did not know about WiFi, but that would be great. I don't know their hours. Can check on it.

Last year my group up in Poughkeepsie met at the Panera up there for our write ins. It was great. I didn't buy anything but nobody ever bothered me about it. I don't know the hours off hand.

Since I live in Yorktown, Panera sounds like an excellent, excellent choice!!!

Peekskill for me, first year too. I'd love to meet others that are doing this, but I'm not sure I could make it anywhere... Sucks being only 13. xD

Cyma,
There is also that cool coffee shop across the street from the Paramount. Don't know if you could get there or if anyone else is willing to meet there...

I would be up for a "kick-off" party if it were next Sunday. It also happens to be my birthday. I would like to give myself several K as a present. Is there a place to meet in Pleasantville? I also could do Panera in Yorktown, which was already suggested. How would that work for folks?

I live in Orange County, but close enough that the Panera in Yorktown would be doable.

Should we decide that we meet for a kick-off party (whatever that is!) at Panera in Yorktown on Sunday afternoon, say around 2 or 3? Who could make it then? Let's talk about it here.

That sounds good. I went to the Poughkeepsie area kickoff yesterday, but their meeting next Sunday is further away so I'd rather stay closer to home and meet you guys.

Just to give you an idea, here's what we did yesterday:
- Introductions including name, how many years we've done/won NaNoWriMo, brief idea of novel plans
- Winners of previous years answering questions asked by new people
- Drawing pictures of our Inner Editors, then locking them up in envelopes for the month
- Writing exercises to help prepare for noveling
- More in-depth talk about our novel plans, if we have any plot or characters ideas yet
- Lots of chit-chatting and catching up with people we haven't seen since last November

We can do some of that if you're interested (let me know and I can bring supplies). Or if you prefer to just spend time working on our novels that works too.

Wow. I really like those ideas. As a newbie I would welcome input from folks who have done this before, as well as the other activities you mention. What time would work for everyone?

So Sunday, November 2nd at 2:00 works for me. I definitely need feedback on my plot as I think I hate it now after thinking about it for over a month or so and am considering changing to another story entirely.

Okay, 2:00 works for me too. I made a new topic for our meeting, and hopefully more people will join us. :-)

You mean the Peekskill Coffee house?

Yeah, that would be a great place for a smaller one, as it's a pretty small place!

The coffee house would be great for a small one, I hope it can be aranged at some time. It might be the only one I could make it to.

Hey Cyma, I'm from Peekskill too! I think the woman who was arranging write-ins at the Coffee House isn't NaNoing this year, but my mom and I were hoping we could keep doing it anyway. Would you be able to go/interested in going? If so, are there any days in particular that would work for you?

Count me in as a Peekskill person (though not a ML this year). Any night at the Coffee House would be fine except Tuesdays (I work Tuesday nights). I'd be happy to join up with anyone who wants to go and write there, and that includes younger people (a couple of years ago we had a whole slew of high school kids, and nearly all of them won!).

Oh, Westchester! My former home. :(

I live at Bennington College during the nano months now... but I will always miss the Black Cow and the Peekskill Coffee House. So sorely, I shall!

Let me know if you guys decide to do weekend write-ins/a write-in on the weekend of Thanksgiving. Because I might try and book it to one at the Peekskill Coffee House, if I can! :)

I think that a write in at the coffee house would be pretty awesome!

We should plan one as soon as possible!

Weekends work best for me, otherwise, I could do Monday and Thursday nights!

My mom and I would be available for a Coffee House write-in at around 3 tomorrow. Would that work for you?

I might be able to be there. Not 100% sure yet. You do mean the Peekskill Coffee House across the street from the Paramount, right?